Our Teachers and Staff

Sarah Tousignant, MEd UVM
​Founder & Director
Sarah spent her undergraduate years coaching skiing at Stowe, rowing for the crew team, and majoring in psychology at the University of Vermont. After college she spent time working with Children's Integrated Services in Early Childhood and Family Mental Health. She then pursued a master's degree in early childhood special education. In 2011 Sarah and her husband, Nick, opened Mountain Village School with a commitment to providing high quality care and education for the children of Vermont. ​

Nick Crandall, BA Whitman College
​Director of Finance and Administration
Nick wears many hats at MVS. He manages all of the business aspects of our school. He is also a builder, making us new things to play with and organize our materials. Nick grew up in Vermont, attending Burke Mountain Academy and then moved to Washington State for college. He returned to Vermont in 2001. Nick is currently working on earning his Masters in Accounting. ​

Rose Lovett, BS University of Vermont
Rose joined MVS in 2020.  Here is what she shared with our community about herself:  I earned my Bachelor’s of Science in Early Childhood Education from the University of Vermont, with a minor in Special Education and concentrations in American Sign Language and Human Development/Family Studies. I worked as a lead infant/toddler teacher at UVM’s Campus Children’s School for four years following my graduation. My teaching philosophy is grounded in being a social constructivist and is Reggio Emilia inspired. I am currently finishing my Master’s in Interdisciplinary Studies at UVM. In my free time I enjoy hiking, playing ukulele, and spending time with my siblings, parents, nieces and nephews. At MVS I’m looking forward to being part of a community that respects and values children, our environment, and education as essential and interwoven pieces of our world.

Mary Elizabeth Latch, BA Drury University & M.Ed Vanderbilt University
Mary Elizabeth joined MVS in early 2020 and is passionate about learning, teaching, reading, baking, hiking and being curious. So passionate, in fact, that she has been known to cry at beautiful mountains, touching books and a perfectly set pecan pie.  Every student is different and will be ready to tack each new life challenge at a different point in time. The role of an educator is to meet each student where they are and encourage them to face those challenges head-on.

Stephanie Satenberg, BA SUNY 
Stephanie joined MVS in 2020. She earned her bachelors degree in education and has been teaching young children ever since. Steph is an integral part of our preschool program. She is also our weekly Fruit Salad Friday chef. ​

Asha Panici, BS University of Florida
Asha joined MVS in 2020.  Here is what she shared with our community about herself:  I’m so happy to be part of the MVS family. I first worked with children as a nanny for several years. After graduating from the University of Florida with a degree in wildlife ecology, I spent the last two years doing fieldwork and trying to understand the natural world. I found I really missed working with kids and sharing their excitement for the world around them! MVS is the perfect place to combine my love for the environment and my excitement to help children grow into capable, confident individuals. In my off time, I enjoy viewing local wildlife and exploring hiking trails—bonus points if I find any neat feathers to add to my collection!

Stefany Trautner 
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Jess Barber, BA Northern Vermont University
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Kieran Campbell, BFA Marywood College,  ECE Certification Alvernia University

Megan Stapleton, MEd Champlain College
Megan joined MVS in the fall of 2015. Megan leads our infant care program. She has spent time teaching in Cambodia before coming back to Vermont to earn her master's from Champlain College in Early Childhood Education. She is committed to establishing respectful and caring relationships with every small child that she cares for. ​

Ali Gardner, BA Northern Vermont University,
​Program Director 
Ali first joined MVS as a parent several years ago. She began working at MVS part-time as administrative support and has since persued and attained the Program Director Step 1 Credential through the Vermont Department of Children & Families. She spends time in every classroom and helps to manage our summer camp. ​

​Tori Burke, BS University of New England
Tori joined MVS in 2018.  She went to the University of New England in Maine with a goal of working at a wildlife sanctuary. After an internship at a wolf sanctuary, she moved back to Vermont and found herself working at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science as a camp instructor. With her new found love of teaching young children about the natural world, she discovered the opportunity to do "camp" all year round here at MVS!  She loves watching children learn through play in nature. As their bodies and minds are constantly changing, they are able to explore the world around them. Discovering new things about their surroundings, and their own bodies with each outing. It is exciting to cultivate a deep love of nature that they will carry through their entire life just like I have.

Ryan Aldrich, BA 
​Known to our community as "Chef Ryan", he joined us in the summer of 2021. He moved back to Vermont after living in New York City for almost 2 decades. Ryan is responsible for the delicious, healthy, and creative meals that we enjoy everyday at MVS. ​

Erik Erbes, BS State College of Environmental Science & Forestry
Erik joined MVS in early 2022. From guiding youth backpacking trips through the high peaks of the White Mountains to teaching forest kindergarten in the rain-soaked forests of Oregon, Erik has worked in a diverse array of outdoor education settings. Their approach to teaching draws from the rhythms and cycles of nature, acknowledging that children, like all living beings, evolve and develop in relation to their environment. Through facilitating child-led learning and play in nature, their aim is to guide children along their own unique paths of growth, while helping them to cultivate a sense of place in the living world around them.

Miranda Olberg, BA Hulmbolt University
Miranda first fell in love with teaching outdoors as a youth cheerleading coach in her Oregon hometown. She decided to pursue a career in environmental education while studying English at Cal Poly Humboldt. Since graduating she has served in a variety of roles, including Forest School Teacher, Yoga Instructor, and Nonprofit Program Director. As an educator, her work is focused on guiding children of all ages in developing their own meaningful connections with the natural world. She moved to Vermont in 2022 and is thrilled to establish roots in a community that celebrates spending ample time outside.

Samantha Theirs ​