Staff

Joan Gearty - Principal Joan joined the staff as a full time nursery teacher in 1988. She became the Principal in 1997. She also supervises the early morning program. She has a BSEd from Wheelock College and a MSEd from the University of New England. She lives in Plaistow with her husband Dennis. Her son, Jameson, 23, is in the U.S. Marines stationed in Japan. Her daughter Wendy lives in Kingston with her husband Rob and their children Hunter, 2 and Abbie, 6 months. Her son Tim lives in Epping and has two children Teagan, 4, (a day school student) and Lily, 3.

Laura Al-Hashmi (Ms. A.) moved back to New Hampshire from England in 1999. She volunteered in our school her first year. We loved her so much, we offered her a position as an extended care teacher. She then moved into the classroom teaching four year olds. She now teaches two-day and three-day three-year-old classes in the morning and afternoon. Laura has a BA from Ohio Wesleyan University and a certificate in Advanced Professional Study from the University of Exeter in Exeter, England. She lives in Exeter and has three children Nasra, 22 (who attends Keene State College), Faris, 19, (who attends University of New Hampshire) and Raya, 17.

Sue Anderson joined us in 1997 as a nursery teacher. She teaches two-day and three-day nursery classes both morning and afternoon. She has a BA from Caldwell College, NJ. Sue lives in Brentwood with her husband Bill. They have two daughters, Jen who lives with her husband Alex, in Raymond, NH and Catherine,19, attends Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.

Nancy Borden joined our team as a supervisor of extended day in 1991. She has since switched over to a classroom aide for a few years and is back to extended day. This year she will supervise mid-morning drop off and Extended Day Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. Nancy has taken courses through Granite State College. Nancy lives in Exeter with her husband Stu and daughter Debbie (26). She has two grown boys as well, Eric and Andy.

Trina Daigle taught kindergarten at the Day School a few years back and took time off to spend with her young children. She returned in 1997 to teach nursery classes in the morning. She now teaches a three day class in the afternoon as well. Trina has a BS degree from Simmons College. Trina lives in Newmarket with her husband Bob. They have two children Lukas, 19 (who attends will be joining the US Marine Corps in January) and Katelyn, 18, who attends the University of NH. Both Luke and Kate attended the Day School.

Joetta Girard joined the Exeter Day School in 1997. She has taught our five day pre-kindergarten program since she started and this year she will also be teaching a three day afternoon class for four year olds as well as a Cooking Class. Joetta has a BS from New Hampshire College and a MSEd from Notre Dame College. Joetta lives in Stratham with her husband Mike. They have two children Keith, 20, who attends UNH, and Marie, 18 (who attends Norwich University).

Chris Gleason joined our team in 1998 as extended day supervisor. She has a BA degree from the University of Vermont. Chris has supervised mid-morning drop-off and extended day since she began at the Day School. This year Chris will be an aide in our new four day class for four year olds with Patti Styles in the morning. She will also continue to supervise Extended Day on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Chris lives in Exeter with her husband Peter. They have two daughters, Heather, 21, (who attends Simmons College) and Sarah, 18 (who attends Endicott College). Sarah was a former Day School student.

Lucy Harden joined our staff in 2006 as an aide in the kindergarten class. Last year she will be worked with Ms. A in the three day three's class and with Mrs. Styles and Mrs. Girard in the 5-day pre-k/k class. This year she will remain in the 5-day class with Mrs. Girard. Lucy lives in Stratham with her husband Rick. They have two grown sons, one living in Texas with his twin sons, and the other in Portsmouth, and a daughter who lives in Kittery, Maine.

Pam Kasnet entered our school as a parent and has been our office manager since 1992. She has a BA from the University of New Hampshire. Pam resides in Exeter. She has two children, Brad, 24, who lives in Boston and Lauren, 21, who is attending the North American Racing Academy in Lexington, KY. Both Brad and Lauren attended the Day School.

Ray Lassonde has been our music teacher since 1998. He has a BS degree from Granite State College. He teaches music classes two full days per week and runs two extra-curricular music programs as well.

Sue McColley has been working as a substitute teacher at the Day School for the past few years. She is now teaching a two day afternoon nursery class. Sue received her B.S. degree from Lesley College and her M.S. Ed. Degree from Wheelock College. Sue taught in Sandown, NH as an elementary school teacher for eight years. She lives in Brentwood with her husband Michael. They have three children, Kayla 12, Daniel 11 and Katrina 5.

Karen McQueen joined our school as a parent when her son Colin was in kindergarten, was a classroom aide to Jan Tremblay since 1995 . This will be her first year working with Abby Moreau in the 2- day morning class. Karen has a certificate from Northern Essex Community College. She lives in Exeter with her husband Kevin. They have two children, Meghan, 20, (who attends St. Michael's College), and Colin, 19 (who attends Salve Regina University in Newport, RI).

Abby Moreau joined the day school in 2006 as a two day morning nursery teacher. This year she will be teaching a two day afternoon class as well. Abby received her B.A. from the University of New Hampshire and her M.S. Ed. from Wheelock College. Abby lives in Exeter with her husband Russ. They have two daughters, Morgan, 23, (who is her graduate year at the University of Connecticut) and Caroline 19, (who attends UNH.)

Patti Styles taught in our kindergarten program for eight year. This year she will be teaching our new four day class for four year olds in both the morning and afternoon. Patti has a BS from the University of Rhode Island. Patti lives in Exeter with her husband Frank. They have three daughters, Sarah, 22, (who attends Emmanuel College), Laura, 19, (who attends Great Bay Community College) and Meghan, 15, all of whom attended the Day School.

Mary Willis Mary has been a classroom aide since 1997. She assisted Jan Tremblay and Sue Anderson for 11 years in their nursery classes and Ray Lassonde with his extracurricular music classes. This year she will be working with Sue Anderson five mornings a week and will continue to work with Ray Lassonde. She has a BA degree from the University of Massachusetts in Boston. Mary lives in Kensington with her husband Dennis and two daughters Meaghan, 26 (who is recently engaged), and Mariah 23 (who just graduated from Fisher College).