Arianna Chase. Kids Kitchen

Arianna is Head Chef in the Kid's Kitchen Program, having graduated from Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School in 2025 with a focus in the Culinary Arts. For the last three years, she has competed in the SkillsUSA Baking Competition at the state level. She will be attending Bridgewater State University and majoring in Elementary Education, marrying her passion for teaching and culinary. She hopes her students learn the ways food brings people together, whether it's working with each other to make the dishes, or sharing a special meal with their families. She hopes students take away a few technical lessons as well as learn to be creative in the kitchen. 

Ruby Garcia Carrillo. Kids Kitchen 

Ruby is one of the chefs in the kids kitchen program and a recent graduate from Diman Regional where she was in the culinary arts program. She has a passion for cooking and is so grateful that she has the opportunity to share that passion with the kids. She hopes that she is able to start children off on their own culinary journey or, at least, make sure they have a good time in the class.

Ryan Charest. Minecraft

Ryan is currently a junior at Somerset Berkley Regional High School. He hopes his students see the bigger picture within the popular video game - the importance of creativity, quick thinking skills, cooperation and how to support other people. A big part of his childhood was connected to this game, and there are many important qualities to be learned from it that he hopes to share with his students.

Lauren Farinha. Creative Writing 

Lauren has her undergraduate degree in English and a Master's in teaching from Bridgewater State University. She was a 6th grade ELA teacher for 11 years and is currently teaching 11th grade ELA at Joseph Case High School. She absolutely loves to create new worlds on the written page and is so excited to bring this writing class to life in her sixth year at the Kids Summer Learning Center!

Daniel Gagne. Robotics

Daniel attended Somerset Berkley and graduated in 2021. He is currently employed as a paraprofessional at The Berkley Community School. Teaching for The Kids Summer Learning Center for the last five years, he wants his students to harness their ability to think critically and solve problems while heavily encouraging creativity, teamwork, and the fundamentals of STEM.

Jessica George. Creative Corner

Jessica graduated from Westport Junior Senior High School in 2022. Currently at Umass Dartmouth studying English and education, she will be graduating in Spring 2026. Growing up, she loved any chance she had to be creative and work with her hands. Her students get the chance to express themselves in a less formal manner, take risks and learn that there are no mistakes when it comes to art. 

Jaimee Martin. Ultimate Challenge

Jaimee is a Somerset resident and a teacher at West Bridgewater Middle Senior High School. She sees the Kids Summer Learning Center as an opportunity to get involved and share her passions with her local community. She hopes that her students gain problem solving skills and attack future challenges with joy and creativity.

Owen Meehan. Flag Football

Owen is currently pursuing Physical Therapy at Bridgewater State University. A 2023 graduate of Somerset Berkley, he was a two-year starting varsity quarterback for the Raiders and team captain his senior year. Through years of experience in coaching and refereeing youth sports, he is committed to developing a passion for training, skill development, communication and sportsmanship.

Steve Meehan. Drawing / Program Director

Steve has his BFA in Graphic Design and his Masters in Art Education from The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. For the last 26 years, he has been teaching young people to make art and think visually at Somerset Berkley Regional High School. An oil painter that has spent most of his life looking at and learning from the landscape of Southeastern New England, he has taught for the last 10 years at The Kids Summer Learning Center and is passionate about craftsmanship, exploration of materials, color, music, communication and humor.

Brian Michaud. Keyboard. Guitar. Drums

Brian holds a DMA from Boston University, a Master’s Degree from the University of Connecticut, and his Bachelor’s Degree from Berklee College of Music. During the school year, he teaches general music for grades K-4 and 3rd and 4th grade chorus at Dighton Elementary School in Dighton, Massachusetts. He has been a part of the Kids Summer Learning Center for many summers - his students learn both songs of their choosing and techniques that can be applied to all songs and styles of music. 

Melinda Pimental. Photography. World of Tim Burton

Melinda has earned a BFA in Photography as well as a Masters in Art Education from The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. She has been teaching art at Joseph Case Junior High School in Swansea for the last 18 years. She believes that art allows students to explore their identity, build confidence, and develop critical thinking skills in ways that traditional subjects often can’t. Photography, in particular, teaches them to see the world through a new "lens" - helping them find beauty in the everyday and express their unique perspectives.

Sophia Schoonover. Jewelry Making

Sophia attended Somerset Berkley Regional High School and graduated in 2023. She is now a rising junior at Stonehill College, majoring in Criminology with minors in Communication and Political Science. Making art has always been something she's truly loved and has been passionate about. She loves teaching this class and hopes that her students can learn to love expressing their creativity by making tons of unique pieces throughout the week! 

Faye Silvia. Drawing

Faye has a Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Illustration and a Master's in Art Teaching from MassArt. She has been an artist as long as she can remember, and an art teacher for 6 years. Both in the classroom and in her own art, she focuses on upcycling, accessibility, and core fine arts skills while still having lots of fun. She pushes students to explore an individual studio process- artmaking skills and habits they can carry throughout their whole life.

Ethan Lazaro. Act It Out! Workshop

Ethan is very excited to share his passion for acting and the arts with all our students. He is an SBRHS Alumni and graduated from Dean College with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre. Alongside acting, and musical theatre, Ethan also plays and sings professionally at various New England locations. He believes the next generation of stars, actors, and award winners are on the horizon, and with the Act It Out! Workshop, he wants to help kindle the love of acting for students alike, curb stage fright, and have fun all at the same time!

Louise Caso. Fashion Design. Theater & Music. Dance

Louise has been a dancer since she could walk and has been a professional teacher for years. A recent graduate of SBRHS where she took fashion and advanced fashion classes, she originally learned to sew from her grandmother. She is excited to share her knowlege of the fine and performing arts with her students!

Owen Lambert. Basketball. Soccer

Owen is a 2026 grduate of Somerset Berkley and a varsity Soccer, Basketball and Baseball player. His multi-sport understanding of athleticism and spotsmanship makes him an invaluable resource for young players. He hopes to instill in young players the benefits of being a student-athlete and strengthen pride in SB Athletics.

Julia Costa. Basketball. Soccer

Julia is a 2026 grduate of Somerset Berkley and a varsity Soccer, Basketball and Softball player. Recognized as a leader in sportsmanship by the MIAA, Julia has mountains to offer young athletes. Her mix of knowledge and communication skills make her a vital part of our program.

Ashley Aadland-Lessa. 'Zine Creation

Ashley Aadland-Lessa is a local freelance writer and teaching artist. She holds a BA in Writing, Literature and Publishing from Emerson College and is a certified English teacher for grades 5-12. Ashley loves incorporating social emotional learning into the creative process and helping her students to express themselves through their writing and art work. She has nearly a decade of experience working with students in a wide variety of educational settings, including after school programs, homeschool co-ops and in the traditional classroom. This will be her 3rd year working with the Kids Summer Learning Center!

Jessa Oliveira 

Madalyn Gerraughty. Fashion Design

Gabriella Farias. Theater & Music