Poker Hill School Vt

Our Staff

The staff of Poker Hill School bring a combined 80+ years of teaching experience to the PHS program. The teachers, holding a mixture of undergraduate and graduate degrees, bring unique talents of art, science, woodworking, musical ability, drama, recreation, language arts, animal care, and world experience to enrich the school and students with diverse indoor and outdoor programs.

Grace Marek
Director

Grace Marek graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2000 with a degree in English Literature. She has a Masters Certificate in Early Childhood Education Administration. Grace worked as a children’s programming assistant at several libraries. Grace taught at Poker Hill School from 2014-2017, and served as the Secretary and President of the Poker Hill Board of Directors. Grace lives in Underhill with her husband Tony, and daughters Annie and Zoey. She enjoys volunteering in the community, reading, traveling, and camping.

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Stephanie Brogle
Full Time Teacher

Stephanie graduated from UVM in 2004 with a degree in Early Childhood Education with a concentration in Psychology. She has been working with children ages birth through kindergarten since graduation from UVM. She has been a licensed teacher since 2006 and continues to work on professional development credits. Stephanie joined Poker Hill School in 2011. She lives in Underhill with her partner Jake and dog Kaiya. When not busy with the kids she likes to hike, run, and walk her dog. She also loves spending time with friends, and working on craft and repurpose projects. Family is also very important to her so she travels often throughout New England.

Kat Hamilton
Tuesday/Thursday Teacher & Wednesday Aide

Kat has been teaching at Poker Hill School since 2008. Kat graduated from The University of Vermont in 2007 with a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education. She concentrated her studies in Art and Communication, focusing on American Sign Language. Kat and her family, which includes her husband Jon, step-daughter Satori, daughters Ember and Nova live in Underhill. Kat and her family enjoy animals, the outdoors, camping, and gardening.

Katina Combs
Tuesday/Thursday Teacher & Monday/Friday Aide

Katina, mother of three former Poker Hill School students, Austin, Mason, and Dylan has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Johnson State College. Katina joined Poker Hill School as a teacher in 2010. Katina enjoys scrap-booking, biking, and camping with her family.

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Thea Korczykowski
Monday/Wednesday/Friday Teacher

Thea graduated from Northeastern University with a degree in Psychology in 2000. She moved to Alaska with her husband, Mike, where she taught preschool and studied Early Childhood Education at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. In 2010 they moved to Richmond, where they currently live with their two daughters, Lily and Charlotte, and their husky Merlin. Thea enjoys sewing, reading, art projects with her girls, restoring old furniture, and being outside.

Kristen Vella
Monday/Wednesday/Friday Teacher

Kristen lives in Essex with her husband, Chuck, and two children, William and Kate. She graduated from Johnson State College with a double major in Elementary Education and Psychology in 2004. After working as a preschool teacher for several years, Kristen decided to stay home with her children as they both attended Poker Hill School. Currently Kristen is pursuing her Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education through Champlain College. She enjoys nature, reading, camping, and traveling the world with her family.

Sandra Soucy
Full Time Teacher

Sandra earned a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Boston College, completed her Master’s in Early Childhood Education at Champlain College in December 2017, and has maintained a teaching license in New England since 1990. She has worked with young children for over thirty years in settings as diverse as a state-run home for children in Bethel, Alaska to a Jewish Community Center preschool in Brookline, MA. But she considers her greatest teaching accomplishment to be home schooling her own four children. Sandra lives in Fairfield with her husband of twenty-six years, her youngest son, Leo, and their cat, Milo. Sandra’s other three children are pursuing college degrees themselves. Sandra spends time outdoors in all seasons, and keeps active by running, skiing, biking, hiking and snowshoeing. She especially treasures time spent with her family.

Meghan Conroy
Tuesday/ThursdayTeacher

Meghan graduated from St. Lawrence University in 2004 with a degree in English Literature and a minor in Outdoor Studies. In 2009, she graduated from Oregon State University with a Master of Arts in Teaching with the focus on Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Meghan has worked in a variety of school settings including preschool, elementary school, and high school. Meghan lives in Underhill with her husband, Joe, their three children, River, Eden, and Wilder and their two dogs, Petey and Jakey. She enjoys reading, running, baking, and being outdoors.

Buddy Dubay
Music Teacher & After School Teacher

School
Buddy graduated from Mount Mansfield Union High School in 1979 and then earned a degree in Elementary Education from the University of Vermont. He has been teaching young children in Vermont since 1984. He has been a teacher at Poker Hill School since 1998. He lives in Huntington with his wife Melissa and his daughter Emma, who attends St. Olaf College in Minnesota. Buddy loves music. He plays several instruments and sings. He has released three CDs of children’s music, facilitates a non-profit musical group called the Minor Key Youth Music Programs and runs a musical afterschool program in the Chittenden East District. He likes gardening, swimming, and traveling.

Katie Amadon
Administrative Director

Katie joined Poker Hill School in 2011 after working with children and families for over 15 years in many different capacities, including teaching preschool. Katie graduated from UVM with a degree in Early Childhood Education and received a Master of Social Work degree from Wheelock College. Katie and her husband Rob live in Cambridge with their two daughters Charlotte and Willa, and black lab Calvin. Katie enjoys sharing her love for the outdoors with her family, reading, gardening and cooking.

Poker Hill School Vt

Beth and David London
Buildings & Grounds Maintenance...and so much more!

Beth and David both graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with degrees in education. Together they ran Poker Hill School from 1978-2012. They have two daughters and three grandchildren. They continue to live across the street from the school caring for the animals, gardens and grounds. Your children will see them often and work with them in the gardens.