Meet Our Staff

Kathie Gass is Co-Coordinator and teaches ELP English Language Arts and coordinates and teaches the ELP Visual  Arts program. Her work with students focuses on developing reflective thinking and the ability to effectively communicate ideas via words and images. 

She received her training in Special Education and Visual Arts at SUNY Geneseo, NY, and Visual Art Education through Upper Valley Teacher Institute, NH. Literacy and Gifted and Talented Education coursework was completed through the  University of Maine, along with additional graduate certificates in Literacy Education and Nature-Based Education. 

When not gardening, hiking or kayaking, Mrs. Gass may be found drawing and painting. She strives to connect students to new ideas, people, and our environment in creative ways.

I am the new ELP teacher at the Captain Albert Stevens School.  What you will want to know about me is that I have been a teacher for almost 20 years.  I had a long career in the financial services industry as a Financial Advisor for a fortune 500 company called UBS when I was in my twenties.   After ten years working in the financial services industry, I  decided that I wanted to make a bigger difference in the world, so I left my job and went back to school.  In 2004, I graduated from the University of Maine with a Masters of Science Degree in Education.  

I arrived in RSU 71 with lots of different experiences. I recently spent an exciting year teaching Marine Science and Aquaculture at Herring Gut Learning Center.  

Personally, I love the art of photography, reading, and watercolor art.  I really enjoy being outdoors, hiking, skiing and walking with my dogs, Hank and Percy on the beach.  I love projects and getting kids involved in their community. Most of all, I have loved working with students in Maine’s public schools from grades K-8.