Art

Tamara Mann

I am happiest when creating.  Art is all around us every day. I was surrounded by visual images growing up in NYC  and spent many hours walking through the exhibition halls of the Metropolitan, Guggenheim and Museum of Modern Art.  I wanted to be an artist from a very young age and soaked up the variety and quality of art displayed in store windows, theaters, galleries and museums.  

Sharing my love of making art with our students is pure joy.  Art making fosters creativity, critical thinking, and cultural appreciation, nurturing well-rounded individuals equipped with the skills to express themselves and engage with the world imaginatively.

Digital Learning

Geneva Sambor

I grew up in Antwerp, Belgium for ten years of my life before moving to Plymouth to pursue my teaching degree in English/Language Arts 5-12. 

I started teaching Grade 6 English/Language Arts at PES in 2018, and I still love English just as much as I love technology. It is my passion to promote all kinds of literacy, which is why I am now teaching digital literacy to our K-8 students. Our students deserve to be ready for anything when it comes to technology, and they should strive to always be curious about how the world operates. The most important part about our digital learning class is for students to teach and reteach skills to one another. 

Health / Physical Education

Deborah McManus

It is great to be back here at PES for the 2025-26 school year.  This is my 29th year.  I teach 5th-8th grade Health and K-8th grade Physical Education.  In my Physical Education classes I encourage sportsmanship, teamwork and personal growth rather than a must win attitude.  I do this through a wide variety of activities.  I encourage sport and exercise for great stress relievers for the body and mind.  In my Health classes I promote positive decision making and goal setting behaviors for a healthy lifestyle in a safe environment where students are able to express themselves and ask questions.  

I enjoy coaching after school sports.  I find it exciting to learn more about the students as student athletes outside of the classroom.  Sports help students develop character and a positive self-esteem.  They also learn the importance of maintaining a healthy body.  

All I ask of my students is to try their best, never give up and most importantly have fun! 

Library Learning Commons

Beth Wilkie

Who doesn't love a good story? I sure do! My first love is being outdoors. I have a Bachelor degree in Outdoor Education and Parks Administration from Western Kentucky University. I have lived as far south as Birmingham, Alabama and as far west as Port Townsend, Washington - I love to travel! I moved to New Hampshire 25 years ago to ski and fell in love with the White Mountains. I did my graduate studies at Plymouth State University,  earning a Master's in Educational Technology to complement my Library Media work. I have been the school librarian at PES for 12 years.

Physical Education

Elias Chamberlain

This is my 11th year as a PE teacher at PES.  I also taught as a professor at PSU for eight years.  I hold a B.S. in Adventure Education and an MEd in Educational Leadership.  My thesis was on the motivational and behavioral impact of music in PE, so I play it all of the time!   I am certified PE K-12 and Wilderness First Responder.   I have served in AmeriCorps, been a snowboard coach, led international students of all ages in backcountry experiences and traveled all over Europe on trains, planes, bikes, boats and cars!   

If we want to compete, we need to know how to cooperate with each other, first.  My style of teaching helps students develop those skills through experiential learning.  We'll breathe hard and sweat, but we'll have a lot of fun doing so.  One thing I am REALLY good at, is playing! 

I can't wait to share some new experiences with you!

Spanish

Ursula Askins-Huber

¡Buenos días a todos!  I learned Spanish just like many of you will; at school. I was an exchange student in Spain both in high school and in college, and when I studied in graduate school, I lived in Buenos Aires for one term.  My love of the Spanish language has led me on many adventures in a variety of countries! 

While this is my first year teaching at PES, I have been teaching for 35 years, 17 of which were in elementary schools and  18 of which were in high schools. 

 My goal for my students is fthat they be able to communicate in Spanish and learn to love the language.  I am looking forward to getting to know everyone!

To see examples of our work, please visit my site!

¡Hasta pronto!

STEM 

Julie Sicks-Panus

I was honored to be named the 2023 Civil Air Patrol National Aerospace/STEM Teacher of the Year! The award is presented by the CAP National Commander Maj. Gen. Edward Phelka.

STEM (or Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) involves using what we know  (math and science) to systematically solve problems (engineering) using tools, materials and processes of technology. 

STEM Class will concentrate on learning engineering ‘habits of mind’: design, problem solving, critical thinking, innovation, collaboration, communication and trial-and-error as they apply math and science concepts to solve engineering design challenges.

This is my 28th year at Plymouth Elementary School! I am excited to begin a new year exploring the ways our students can learn and see and solve challenges they see around them in the world!