Lead Teacher, Mathematics

Liezel brings more than 15 years of experience teaching mathematics across middle school, high school, and the university level. She is certified by the Maine Department of Education to teach Mathematics in grades 6–12 and holds Education Technician III certification. Most recently, she has supported students in Portland Public Schools at Amanda C. Rowe Elementary as a building substitute and math interventionist, providing the kind of targeted, one-to-one and small-group help that builds both skills and confidence. Liezel began her teaching career in the Philippines—including at Rizal High School, recognized as one of the largest high schools in the world—where she learned to reach learners of every ability and was named a national top-ten awardee for innovative practices in teaching mathematics. Over her career she has also served as a mathematics coordinator, grade-level chair, and mentor to fellow teachers and math-competition teams. She earned a master's degree in education with high honors and a bachelor's in secondary education with a major in mathematics, and is fluent in English and Filipino. At MOXIE, Liezel is excited to design varied, inquiry-based learning experiences that meet each student exactly where they are. She lives in Portland, Maine.

Community Educator

Paloma joins MOXIE as an AmeriCorps Community Educator, bringing a deep commitment to service and a genuine curiosity about people and their stories. She comes to MOXIE having just completed her first AmeriCorps year at Windham Primary School, where she served as Student and Community Engagement Coordinator. Paloma holds a B.S. in Biology from Warren Wilson College, with several years of experience in laboratory science and healthcare. Throughout her career, she has been drawn to work that strengthens community ties—volunteering with food-distribution and community-garden programs, tutoring students in subjects ranging from English language learning to middle-school math and reading, and serving as a camp counselor. A quick learner who meets people where they are, Paloma is energized by the chance to support students one-on-one and in small groups, helping each learner build skills and confidence. At MOXIE, she's excited to make a tangible, everyday difference in students' lives while growing as an educator.

Lead Teacher, Special Education

Heather is a dual-certified educator with more than 15 years of experience supporting diverse learners across special education, literacy, and project-based settings. She is Maine certified in Special Education (282, K–8) and conditionally certified in English Language Arts (7–12)—a combination that fits naturally with MOXIE's interdisciplinary, personalized model. Over her career she has developed and managed individualized education plans, led literacy and numeracy interventions (including the Wilson Reading System and Lindamood-Bell), and collaborated within multidisciplinary teams to help students thrive. At the Aucocisco School, she taught multi-age students through project-based, cross-curricular instruction; at Loranger School in Old Orchard Beach, she launched an equine therapy program with the school's therapy team. Heather grounds her practice in a simple conviction: for many students, the difference between struggling and thriving comes down to whether someone truly sees them. A certified social-emotional learning and mindfulness facilitator, she works to weave SEL and self-regulation into everyday learning.

Lead Teacher, Multilingualism

Tatiana is a bilingual educator who brings a builder's mindset, a designer’s eye, and a deep commitment to community to the classroom. A native Spanish speaker with almost a decade of experience in education and visual communication, Tatiana is passionate about celebrating language as an asset and ensuring that every student feels a profound sense of belonging. Tatiana’s connection with MOXIE began from the heart, where she first met the team while serving as an interpreter at a Portland community open house. She thrives in collaborative, foundational environments and previously helped launch Falmouth Elementary's Pre-K Enrichment Program in 2023. Tatiana holds Maine teaching certifications as a Multilingual Teacher, Spanish Teacher (K–12), Art Teacher (K–12), and Early Education Teacher (PreK–3). She is also currently pursuing her Master’s degree in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) at the University of Southern Maine. In the classroom, she blends her background in graphic design and multimedia communication with her pedagogical training. She loves helping students create polished, public-facing projects while utilizing tailored instructional strategies to ensure all multilingual learners can confidently access complex and creative content. Tatiana is thrilled to bring her dual-language expertise, creative energy, and inclusive approach to MOXIE’s founding year, and she looks forward to warmly welcoming families to be an active part of our new school community.

Lead Teacher, Social Studies and Humanities

Isaiah brings seven years of middle-school teaching experience, primarily in the humanities, with a focus on helping students think critically, work with primary and secondary sources, and connect their learning to the real communities and systems around them. As a founding teacher at Excel Academy in Rhode Island, he helped build a school community from the ground up—developing curriculum, establishing culture, and contributing to schoolwide gains that earned the school the highest student growth in Rhode Island in both English Language Arts and math, with recognition from the state and the governor. He also serves as a Teaching Fellow Mentor, coaching newer educators through observation and feedback, and as a DEI facilitator. Isaiah holds a Master of Arts in Teaching (cum laude) from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and is a firm believer in experiential, place-based learning. Beyond the classroom, he stays connected to students through coaching—volleyball, basketball, soccer, flag football, and cross country—and by leading clubs from chess to culinary to outdoor adventure. He's relocating to Maine and is excited to help build MOXIE from day one.

Lead Teacher, English Language Arts

Megh brings more than a decade of classroom experience and a deep commitment to project-based, student-driven learning. A State of Maine certified teacher of English/Language Arts and Social Studies, she spent nine years at Gorham Middle School, where she served as ELA department head, sixth grade team leader, and helped lead the district’s shift to proficiency-based education. In addition to working with school-aged learners, Megh supported fellow educators as Gorham’s district coordinator of internships, an intern mentor, and adjunct faculty at the University of Southern Maine. She began her career at Richmond High School in RSU 2, where she designed a new Humanities curriculum and served on the Multiple Pathways Committee, expanding learning opportunities aligned to students’ individual interests. Megh’s commitment to learners has been widely recognized: she was a finalist for the Brassil Distinguished Educator Award and a nominee for Cumberland County Teacher of the Year. Beyond the classroom, she founded and runs a community-centered events business—an experience that informs how she prepares students not just for college and careers, but for meaningful contribution to their communities. She earned a master’s degree in education with a focus on teacher leadership from the University of Southern Maine and a bachelor’s degree in English from Keene State College. At MOXIE, Megh designs learning experiences that hold every student to high expectations while honoring that the path to mastery is not one-size-fits-all.

Student Support Manager

Jamie is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Nationally Certified Counselor with more than ten years of experience in the mental health field, including the last eight working directly with children and families in school settings. As MOXIE's Student Support Manager, she coordinates the wraparound services, advisory relationships, and family support that help every student feel known and cared for. Most recently, she served as a Preschool and K–5 Clinician at a local nonprofit, where she managed a caseload of young students, supported emotional regulation and positive peer relationships, partnered with families through quarterly goal-setting, and advocated for continuing services in IEP and transition meetings. With a Master of Science in Counselor Education, Jamie brings a strong foundation in trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, and culturally responsive support. She's also a natural builder—known for launching the kinds of small, culture-strengthening initiatives that make a community feel whole, including a beloved passion project bringing a therapy dog in for monthly visits. Jamie is energized by the chance to help build MOXIE's student support systems from day one.

Associate Teacher

AssociateTeacher

Xander is a student-centered English educator who pairs a passion for relationship-driven teaching with a strong record of leadership. He holds a B.A. in English and a secondary education teaching license, and he is drawn to MOXIE's belief that learning is most powerful when students connect it to their own identities, goals, and lives. During his student teaching at Vallivue High School in Idaho, he designed a multi-week unit on The Alchemist and differentiated instruction for a class made up of 60% multilingual learners—work that included helping a once reading-averse student find such joy in reading that he volunteered to read Romeo aloud, more than once. Most recently, he has supported students in grades K–8 with diverse academic, behavioral, and emotional needs as a teaching assistant and behavioral health professional in South Portland. A former Student Body President at Lewis-Clark State College, Xander brings the collaboration, mentorship, and initiative that build a positive school culture inside and outside the classroom.