TNS Faculty

Christine Knowles : Executive Education Director, Humanities Teacher

Christine Knowles

Executive Education Director, Humanities Teacher

TNS Teacher since 2005
“If you cannot be a poet, be the poem.” David Carradine Language Arts teacher, Christine Knowles, studied English, History, and Women’s Studies at Keene State College. She obtained her Master’s Degree in Education at University of Southern Maine. Christine comes to us with a Professional Licensure in English Language Arts and Social Studies. Christine loves making literature and poetry accessible to everyone, and her students read everything — from the classics to comic books. Her favorite novel is Jane Eyre. Christine has been teaching at The New School since 2005 and particularly enjoys leading Fiction Writing Workshops and teaching a class she calls “The Poetry Experience.” When not at school, Christine can often be found with a cup of tea and a good book, playing with clay, traveling with her daughter Willow, whipping up something tasty in the kitchen, or playing board games with friends. christine.knowles@tnsk.org

Ally Muir : Science

Ally Muir

Science

TNS Teacher since 2017
Ally Muir grew up in New Jersey, but spent summers and college in Maine where she has always felt most at home. After graduating from Colby with a major in Geology and minor in Russian, she taught at The Ecology School in Saco. Ally recently received her Master of Education degree from Antioch University, with a focus on Problem-Based Science. She has her professional licensure for Physical Science, and loves conducting project based experiments. In the summers she lead long distance bike tours (across country, down the Pacific Coast) and backpacking trips (in the Alps). While living in Colorado she taught at an alternative, residential High School in the mountains and as a Bio & Chemistry teacher in Colorado Springs. She enjoys traveling, skiing, biking, hiking, making Kombucha, collecting rocks, exploring tide pools, cooking, eating Whoopie pies, and crocheting. ally.muir@tnsk.org

Josie Lynn Perkins : Theater Arts

Josie Lynn Perkins

Theater Arts

TNS teacher since 2014

Josie Perkins has been studying music since the age of seven. Piano was her first instrument of study followed by saxophone and private vocal training. Josie is a graduate of Point Park University where she received a B.A. in Theater Arts with a Musical Theater concentration. She comes to us as a licensed Kindermusik educator, as well as holding a certification in Life Space Crisis Intervention. In 1995 Josie joined the musical international program Up With People and traveled throughout the U.S., Canada and Scandinavia sharing the universal language of music with students and families from over 32 countries. She has seen first hand the positive effect music has on people and their lives. Josie is excited to have the opportunity to share her knowledge of the musical language and theater arts with students at The New School.

Josie.Perkins@tnsk.org

Matthew Breer : Mathematics

Matthew Breer

Mathematics

TNS teacher since 2022
Math teacher Matthew Breer is a recent graduate of the University of Maine at Farmington with B.A.'s in both Mathematics and Secondary Education.   Regarding his dual degrees, Matthew says "I have both [degrees] because I love mathematics and the relationship it has not only with the real world, but also the perfect universe that mathematics portrays.   I place a lot of value on relationships, and making sure that those relationships help to foster growth in all parties involved.   Rene Descartes once said  "I think therefore I am."  I believe in "I am learning therefore I am."  This just means that no matter how, where, or what you are experiencing, you are learning something from it, and that is an incredible human ability."  Matthew is a self-described hippy-nerd - an active individual who not only loves the outdoors, but has also coached a college level e-sports team (a competitive video game called Overwatch).     matthew.breer@tnsk.org

Myriah Davis : Humanities

Myriah Davis

Humanities

TNS teacher since 2022
Myriah Davis received a Bachelor's degree in Archaeology and History from the University of Connecticut in 2005, and a Master of Science in Secondary Education from the University of New Haven in 2007.  Myriah spent approximately two years working in experiential education at The Mystic Seaport, a living history museum in Mystic, CT, before entering into the traditional classroom setting.  She has worked in public and private schools, in general education and special education classes across three states.  Her passion for educating the whole student, and for using real world experiences as learning tools led her to The New School, where she is thrilled and excited to work with the students on their learning journeys.  When not in a humanities classroom, Myriah enjoys sipping tea while reading fantasy novels and crocheting, as well as spending time with her family, at home or traveling
myriah.davis@tnsk.org

TNS Administration

Susan Blaisdell : Office Manager/Registrar

Susan Blaisdell

Office Manager/Registrar

Susan Blaisdell joined the administrative staff of The New School in March 2021.    Susan is a US Navy Vietnam-era veteran, and has extensive administrative experience.  She has lived and worked from Maine to Hawaii and back, eventually settling in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Susan retired from University of Michigan’s Rogel Cancer Center after 25 years.  There she garnered a number of accolades in recognition of her work, teambuilding efforts, and her commitment to volunteerism.   In 2020, Susan returned to her hometown of Kennebunk.  Within a few months she was volunteering at Outta the Box and Habitat ReStore, which led her to The New School.  Susan serves on the board of the Kennebunk-Kennebunkport Alumni Association and volunteers at the Seashore Trolley Museum setting up displays for the annual Pumpkin Patch event. Susan has two grown children and six grandchildren.   In her spare time, she enjoys the beach, jewelry making, decorative painting, and crochet. susan.blaisdell@tnsk.org

TNS Community Teachers