Teacher Bios

Taryn Colby: Dance and Drama Teacher

Taryn started teaching at North Country in 2017. She earned her BA in Interdisciplinary Studies at Johnson State College (now Northern Vermont University) in 2016. At the high school, Taryn is the Auditorium Technical Director, Varsity Dance Team Head Coach, and she also directs the Fall Musicals. In all her free time, she enjoys traveling, gardening, tending to her chickens, and hanging out with her three dogs - Parker, Graham & Luna. Taryn is most excited about welcoming her first baby girl into the world this fall!

April Caspari: Visual Arts Teacher

April has been involved in the visual and performing arts for over 30 years. She grew up in Littleton, NH, but would often travel to New York City to visit her grandmother who was an art therapist. Her earliest memories include learning the value of the artistic process. She received her Master's of Arts in Teaching with a concentration in Instructional Practice from Upper Valley Educator's Institute in 2018. April has taught Ceramics & Sculpture at North Country since 2017. She believes having an artistically literate community is essential and must be intentionally fostered!

Colleen Deeb: Mathematics Teacher

Colleen Deeb has been teaching mathematics at NCUHS since 2011. She earned her BA/MA in Mathematics and her BA in Education for SUNY Potsdam in 2010. In high school and college, Colleen loved playing the flute and participating in technical theatre. She loves singing along to musicals and attending NCUHS performances.

Jeffrey Deeb: Science Teacher

Jeffrey Deeb has been a science teacher at NCUHS since 2011. He earned his BA in Chemistry, with a minor in Physics, and an MA in Science Education from SUNY Potsdam in 2010. At North Country, Jeffrey has taught ACA Physics and been involved in building the sets for the school musical. Jeffrey can play the violin and has participated in technical theatre at SUNY Potsdam.

Natalie Guillette: Visual Arts Teacher, Fine Arts Department Liaison

Natalie is a Syracuse, NY native who has worked as a professional artist since 1999. She trained in the Fine Arts at Plattsburgh State University graduating Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Fine Arts Degree where she focused on painting and worked extensively in ceramics. Natalie got her foot in the door in education as a Para Educator in 2007 drawing from her previous experience as a Direct Support Specialist for the ARC in New York. She moved into the K-12 professional teaching practice in 2010 as a member of the Fine Arts Department at NCUHS. She has continued the Department’s legacy of creating global citizens through both the Visual Arts New York City and Europe Trips where every student has opportunities to earn both high school and college credit. She has experience managing an organic dairy farmer where she focused on haying and milking. She is a cow whisperer and loves raking hay. She and her husband are proud to be a Licensed Foster to Forever home. Natalie fills her spare time by operating her two small businesses, Cedar Creek CSA, a vegetable farm, and The Creative Buzz, a paint entertainment enterprise. Natalie’s classroom door is open to all students and she looks forward to meeting you!

Daniel Johnstone: Choral Director

Daniel Johnstone is the director of choral music at North Country Union High School where he teaches Advanced Music Theory, Piano, Music in Movies, and Chorus. He also directs extracurricular ensembles, is Co-Director of the Northeast Music Festival, and music directs the NCUHS Fall Musical. Daniel holds a bachelor's degree in Music Education from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam and a master's degree in Music Education from Kent State University. He enjoys performing in choral groups - he is a past member of Northsong and a current member of the Halcyon Chorale - and musical theatre, most recently portraying the titular characters in Jekyll and Hyde: The Musical with Vermont Family Theatre.

Brian McCrae: Social Studies / Visual Arts Teacher

I teach digital art, photography, graphic design, and video. I was named for the actor Brian Keith, but didn’t become one myself until a few years ago! I also teach 2-D classes and 3-D art classes because I still love to draw and do sculpture and pottery. I was one of the founders of our Arts & Communications Academy because I thought it would be fun for students to learn through the arts. I grew up here in Newport, but have lived all over the US, and even in Germany and Britain. I went to NCUHS, where my Dad was one of the first teachers when the school opened in 1968. When I was in school I liked to draw and hoped to be an illustrator when I grew up. While I was in high school, I learned about photography and took some pictures for the yearbook, and I played trombone in the band. I was also part of the audio visual club here and started working with cameras and editing. I had a career in art for 20 years as an illustrator, photographer, and graphic designer. I then switched to teaching those things when I started my career at North Country. Over the past few years, I have also been involved in theater, where I have painted sets, run tech, and have acted and sung on stage, often with past students! A couple of years ago I even got a chance to illustrate a book! Like many of you, I have a love for all types of art.

William Prue: Band Director

Bill Prue graduated from NCUHS and returned to teach Band, Jazz Band, Rock Band, Advanced Rock Band, Beginning Guitar, Composition, and the History of Rock & Roll. He is a Co-Festival Director of the Northeast Music Festival. In December 2016, he was listed in the School Band & Orchestra Magazine’s “50 Directors Who Make A Difference” and was the “Teacher of the Year” at NCUHS for the 2018-2019 school year. He was President of the Vermont Music Educators Association from 2019 to 2021. During the 2024-2025 school year, Bill received a fellowship from the Rowland Foundation to explore greater collaboration between NCUHS and the greater community. He plays several instruments in the local volunteer band and has played in rock, jazz, dixieland, country, and soul bands as a bass player.

Meg Norman: ACA Lead Teacher/Social Studies Teacher

Meg Norman helped to found the Arts & Communications Academy in 2008, when she started teaching at NCUHS. Meg graduated with BA in Politics, Philosophy, and Law from Binghamton University in 2002, attended graduate school at St. Michael's College and Concordia University and has a Master's of Education in Curriculum & Instruction with a duel concentration in Teacher Leadership and Social Studies Curriculum. In addition to a love of history, Meg also loves the arts, especially musical theater, and has performed with QNEK and Vermont Family Theater but her favorite role has been stage mom to her singing, dancing, and acting grown and flown daughter!

John Griffin: Language Arts Teacher

John Griffin has been teaching Language Arts at NCUHS since 2024, including class on the graphic novel and creative writing. John graduated from Albion College with a BA in English and History with a concentration in creative writing in 2017, and graduated from NYU with an MAT in teaching social studies in 2021. John grew up in the metro Detroit area and has shown mixed media collage works at a couple of galleries in the city. Currently some of John's visual art is on display in a window on Seymour Ln in Newport.

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