About Our Teachers

My name is Sarah Drowne Surrette. I have been an educator for 10 years. Currently, I am a first grade teacher in Hopkinton, NH. I absolutely love working with children and watching them enjoy experiences in the classroom and in our natural environment. 

In 2003 I graduated Plymouth State University with a BS in Childhood Studies with both reading and integrated arts options. I went on to teach private kindergarten in Bedford, NH at the Bedford Village Morning School for one year.  In 2005 an opportunity allowed me to return to my cooperating school in Gilford as a second grade assistant teacher. The following school year I began the exhilarating adventure of becoming a classroom teacher.

Along with a strong literacy and arts integration background, I have also developed a passion for environmental education. In 2010 I had the opportunity to collaborate with NH Fish & Game for 18+ months to align our science curriculum with the state standards or frameworks. This was at a point when the new Common Core standards were being introduced. There was, and still is, a strong need to develop and implement the science process skills at the primary and elementary level.

 I continue to collaboratively engage my students in environmental education and outdoor learning. My first graders are able to observe, collect, organize and analyze data, make predictions and reflect on their field studies. Children in my classroom are exposed to higher order of thinking skills and vocabulary and are encouraged to take risks as learners. 

In my personal time (which is limited starting having a family), I love to mountain bike and road bike, cook, read, play the piano, spend time with my family and garden. My husband and I welcomed our first daughter, Olive, into our family in September of 2012. She has been our joy and happiness ever since. Now we're preparing to welcome Baby Girl #2 around Thanksgiving 2014!

I look forward to providing your child with a rich and natural outdoor experience.

Hi, 
I'm Stephanie Tortorello. I LOVE children. I work with newborns and kindergarteners for 3 years at Ma Petite in Hampstead. I also spent 2 1/2  years with children from newborn to age 5 at Storybook Station and NHTI daycare. I've babysat for a couple of different families from ages infant to twelve years.  I studied at NHTI and I'm currently continuing my Early Childhood Education at Northern Essex in hopes to become a Kindergarten teacher! 

I love to teach, care for children and make them smile! I also love to learn from them as well.  They always make my day brighter! In my free time I love to do anything involving the outdoors; hiking, kayaking, fishing, four wheeling, biking, camping and riding my motorcycle. Traveling up to northern NH is my favorite thing to do! I'm a big animal lover! Crafts and painting are also a big interest of mine! I enjoy connecting nature to any type of teaching/lesson plan! Other things that make my life as happy and bright as it is, is being with my family and friends!