Meet our Staff.
Nancy Harris Frohlich
Founder & Executive Director
Nancy has been a classroom teacher, an innovator in curriculum design, and Head of School at The Advent School in Boston (1995-2012.) She founded the school’s Smart Lab, engineering program, and launched their Reggio Emilia-inspired Early Childhood Center. With a Masters in child development from Tufts University, she is a graduate of Abbot Academy/Phillips Andover Academy. Starting her career in a Philadelphia Friends’ school, she taught in the primary grades at Charles River School, was Head of Lower School and Director of Studies. She continues to support local schools, serving on multiple boards and advisory boards.
Susan Beebe
Lead Artist
In her 12th year with Leaps, Susan is a painter, naturalist, and teaching artist who delights in bringing art to children and adults. She has led professional development workshops for the Island Institute, Maine Environmental Educators Association, and the Farnsworth Museum, as well as Rockland’s Public Library. A graduate of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Susan exhibits her work in local galleries in and beyond Rockland, ME.
Alexis Iammarino
Teaching Artist
Alexis is an interdisciplinary artist, muralist, and ardent supporter of community arts initiatives in midcoast Maine. With a Masters Degree from Maryland Institute College of Art, she is the founding artist/mural director of Arts in Action, Community Arts Educator for CMCA, and a teaching artist for the Farnsworth Museum. Among Alexis’ most recent accomplishments are her large-scale community murals in Portland and Rockland and the Hole History Donut Exhibition. This is Alexis’ 12th year as a Leaps’ artist.
Dee Peppe
Teaching Artist
Dee is the Founding Director of the Midcoast Community Darkrooms and Coastal Maine Photo Tours, based in Rockland, ME. She teaches photography to both young people and adults and has taught at Colby College, College of the Atlantic, and Maine Photographic Workshops. Having received her Masters degree from Savannah College of Art and Design, Dee is currently on the faculty at the University of Maine. Dee has been central to the Leaps’ team for a decade.
KATIE UREY
Teaching Artist
After graduating from John Carroll University, Katie began teaching with Philadelphia’s Jesuit Volunteer Corps. She has continued her career in Maine, working in both Portland’s and Camden-Rockport’s middle schools. As the founder and director of “Ms. Katie’s ChangeMakers,” an after-school and summer program, Katie helps students explore ways to make a positive impact in the community. 2024-2025 is Katie’s first year with Leaps.
Willoughby Hastings
Teaching Artist
Originally from Huntsville, Alabama, Willoughby is an interdisciplinary, research-based artist working primarily in textiles, photography, sculpture, and social practice. Her work examines the aesthetics, traditions, and systems of whiteness, especially within the American South. She thinks critically about the environments we inhabit and how we can maintain or confront bias. Willoughby is in year two of teaching with Leaps.
Meet our Board
BETSY MORRELL, CHAIR and TREASURER
Betsy Morrell is the former owner and Vice President of Marketing, Philanthropy and Employee Development at Downeast Energy, a third-generation family owned business. Since the sale of the business in 2013 she has been serving on boards that include Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Swans Island Company, and Ashwood Waldorf School. Additional board experience includes Maine Arts and the Institute for Family Owned Business. Betsy’s passions are gardening and hiking. She has two children, ages 31 and 20, both of whom are visual artists.
JEAN MoON
Jean Moon is the Founder and President of Tidemark Institute, a non-profit organization that advances innovation and research in STEM teaching and learning from kindergarten through the college years. Prior to the launch of Tidemark, Jean was Senior Scholar for Education Strategy & Planning at the National Academies in Washington, D.C., and a Senior Program Officer and the inaugural Director of the Board on Science Education. She has advised the Exxon Education Foundation on investments in mathematics and science education and has served as an associate professor at Lesley University. Jean has three sons.
Jocelyn Paquette
Jocelyn Paquette is Manager of Wheeler Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, owned and operated by Maine Coastal Habitat Foundation in collaboration with Maine Coast Heritage Trust and Georges River Land Trust. She manages the 86-acre property with special emphasis on environmental education for young people. She comes from a varied background as an entrepreneur, health care provider in Haiti, and teacher’s aide. She has raised three children in Maine and lives adjacent to the wildlife sanctuary. Jocelyn is directly involved in habitat restoration and infrastructure maintenance, and is an active volunteer for Georges River Land Trust and Dartmouth College’s Minority Business Programs.
Sandy Weisman, Secretary
Sandy Weisman is the owner of 26 Split Rock Cove in South Thomaston, ME, an artist’s retreat, offering workshops in art making and writing. She is a book maker, mixed media artist, and published poet. Her interest in artist books comes from a long fascination with words and images. The former Director of Gallery Education at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Sandy is the coordinator of CMCA’s Look Inside, connecting students through creative observation to contemporary art. Sandy has been involved in Leaps of Imagination since its inception in 2014. She teaches in the program when the need arises. She has two children and four grandchildren.
NANCY HARRIS FROHLICH
Nancy is Leaps of Imagination’s founder and Executive Director.
See above staff info on her bio.
