I was born and raised in the Hudson Valley area of NY where I developed my love and passion for education, science and nature. At the University of Vermont, I found a home and community grounded in respect, integrity, innovation and openness, a set of values which would become my own. 

Graduating into the pandemic led me to spend four years in Washington, D.C. as my partner began her teaching career. After a few jobs in the corporate and non-profit sector, I fell in love with my new career as a middle school teacher. I am a massive sports fanatic that spends my free time watching whatever game is on with my long time girlfriend and two dogs.

Meredith was born and raised in Roxbury, Vermont. She earned her BA in Education with a concentration in English from State University of New York at New Paltz. Meredith moved to sunny San Diego after college, but she eventually ventured back to Vermont to be closer to family and launch a teaching career in her home state. She started teaching high school in 2008, and in 2014, Meredith got a MA degree in English from Southern New Hampshire University. She has taught in the classroom for twelve years, both at the high school and middle school level.

Meredith believes in the power of stories: the stories we tell others and ourselves, the stories we write, and of course, the stories we read. She aims to create a safe and open environment, with the hope that students discover their voices, express themselves with confidence, and develop the skills to carve out their place in their communities. 

She loves spending time with her family and friends and her playful dog, Gusty. When she's not teaching (or reading or writing), she enjoys yoga, gardening, hiking and running. 

Jodie was born and raised in New York but her love of the outdoors brought her to Vermont where she earned her B.S. in English and teaching from St. Michaels College. After graduating she spent five years combining her desire to travel with teaching in the outdoors.  In the summers she worked as a guide in the Canadian Rockies living with and mentoring adolescents through some epic adventures.  Each fall she returned to Vermont to teach English at Mt. Mansfield Winter Academy where she also worked as a head ski coach. Later, she decided to pursue her Masters in Special Education at St. Michaels College and set some more permanent roots. 

Jodie joined the Harwood community in 1998 and is proud to call the middle school home.  She truly loves teaching this age group and enjoys supporting both students and families through this tumultuous time.  

When not at school, she can be found mountain biking, backcountry skiing and hiking with her dog, camping with her family or paddling on some body of water.