Meet your 2022
sfoa teachers

Tennille (Clemens) Moore joined SFOA as a wee camper back in 1988 and since then has been an apprentice, assistant, teacher, assistant to the director, registrar, board member, and president of the board of directors. Tennille holds bachelor degrees in Music and Mathematics, and a Master of Education and is currently employed as a math teacher at MDI High School. She has extensive dance training in ballet, jazz, African, tap, clogging, and highland dance; plays many instruments; has performed on stage in many roles; enjoys crotchet and cross-stitch as hobbies; and is a proud mom of a 9-year-old SFOA camper. Tennille is very excited to work with the Sprite program this year!

This year the Sprites will explore different dance forms, musical styles, and storytelling paired with our favorite books.  Get ready to move. learn, explore, and have lots of fun!

Dezirae Ellen Zaman grew up in Bar Harbor, Maine and graduated from Mount Desert Island High School in 2020. This year will make it 14 years straight at SFOA, starting as a student and working her way up to where she is now as a teacher. Dezirae currently attends Elon University and is majoring in cinema and television arts with a minor in theatre arts. With a passion for the arts that began at SFOA Dezirae is very excited to be back sharing what she loves with others. 

Maggie Murray

I am a 19-year-old college student who has been attending SFOA since I was a sprite, over 11 years! SFOA was my introduction to the arts and a place where I found a passion for performing and creating. I have been in numerous musical productions and plays throughout my time in SFOA and high school. In my own time, I pursue painting, drawing, digital art, and origami.

Grace Gershenfeld
Hi! My name is Grace, I am 25 (and a half) and I normally live in Chicago. I grew up in Boston, and I am spending this summer back on the East Coast. I primarily work as a circus photographer, but I have job and performance experience in lots of creative fields. I am also currently technically in grad school for science stuff, but kind of taking a break right now. Some fun facts about me are that I have a twin brother, I have been to 30ish countries, and I went on a month-long camping trip last summer by bicycle only.  

Lindsay (Lew) Worrell

I am a 19 year old from Washington State. I am currently a rising sophomore at Reed College and am majoring in political science. I love doing art in my free time; I typically draw, but I have also experimented with ceramics, digital art, photography and creative writing. I do not have any experience with SFOA but I am very excited to be teaching this year and am looking forward to working with students!  

Jane Eschholz

I am an avid artist, dancer and performer and have been drawing and painting since I was very young. I have participated in both private and public art classes as well as being a member of many dance shows. I love all forms of art from the stage to fine arts and am looking forward to an amazing summer at SFOA this year.

Hilary Chermak hails from Wisconsin where she was an art teacher for 10 years. She has a master’s degree in art therapy and counseling and a master’s degree in applied behavior analysis. Hilary moved to Maine in 2013 in search of a new adventure. She loves to hike, bike, paint, and play with her 6 kitties. She Is an independent art therapist at Metamorphosis Art Therapy Studio in Southwest Harbor, and teaches introduction to art therapy at the College of the Atlantic. Hilary is excited to share ideas and creativity with everyone.

Isabella Wellman-Webster (she/her) is a visual and performance teacher at SFOA. She is an MDI local who loves to dance, practice yoga, and do ocean dives with her dog, Stella. Isabella is entering into her senior year at St. Lawrence University and is studying Creative Writing and Public Health.

Rosie Avila grew up on MDI, and was last at SFOA as a Sprites assistant in 2017! She moved to Santa Barbara, CA after high school, and then attended Santa Barbara City College where she recently graduated with a degree in Early Childhood Education. Rosie has been working as a nanny for a family for the past five years, and in her free time she enjoys photography, theatre, astronomy, and swimming in whichever ocean she's closest to. 

Nick Roberts is a musician, artist, and writer from Connecticut, currently living in Mount Desert Island. He recently published his first book, has taught music lessons for the past 12 years, and his paintings can be found in several galleries and shops throughout New England. His experience working with kids ranges from after school programs to full time programs. You can often find him deep in the woods, taking in all life has to offer.

Dan Mills is currently a director of musicals at Daytona Playhouse in Daytona Beach, FL.  He has written many short plays, including five times winning the Surfside Playhouse 10 Minute Play Contest.  In Maine Dan has directed at local high schools, including MDIHS, and has directed community theater, and three childrens' theaters.  He is the author of "Stress Free Directing and Coaching Pre-Broadway Actors".  He is excited to be teaching again for SFOA.

Isabelle Peterson is an avid reader and writer with a passion for the arts. A previous SFOA alumni, she has been widely involved with both the visual and performing art scenes on the island since her first arrival at the age of eight. Isabelle lives on the "quiet side" of Mount Desert Island, surrounded by her three family members, and an innumerable amount of trees, books, and ideas.