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
CO-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.

Sandra Soucy
 T/Th Teacher and CO-Director

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, all now grown and pursuing their own interests. Sandra lives in Fairfield with her husband of thirty years and their two cats. 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.

Kat McGorry
Full-time Teacher 

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/Early Childhood Special Education. She has two children who have both graduated from Poker Hill, Ember and Nova.  They live in Underhill with their dog, cat, rabbit and a flock of chickens. When Kat is not teaching, she spends time investing in the Vermont Ultimate (Frisbee) program as the Executive Director.  In her free time, Kat enjoys playing games, camping with her friends and family, participating in tae kwon do, and traveling for Ultimate tournaments.

Katina Combs
Full-time Teacher 

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. She lives in Jericho with her husband, Steve, and their dog, Lucy. Katina enjoys scrap-booking, hiking, crafting and camping with her family.

Meghan Conroy
Full-time teacher

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 three children, River, Eden, and Wilder and their two cats and a dog. She enjoys reading, running, baking, and being outdoors.

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 Oko. Thea enjoys sewing, reading, art projects with her girls, restoring old furniture, and being outside.

McKinley Fargan-barry
​​MONDAY/WEDNESDAY/FRIDAY Aide

McKinley lives in Johnson with her partner, Julienne, and their two daughters, Reason and Lyla. She graduated from Hawaii Pacific University in 2009 with a B.S. in Marine Biology. In 2016 she completed Champlain College’s Teacher Apprenticeship Program with a focus on middle level math and science. Since graduating from TAP, she has worked throughout MMUUSD while also homeschooling her oldest. McKinley loves to swim, hike, and snowboard.

Sharon Gilmer
T/TH TEACHER, MWF AIDE

Sharon graduated from Murray State University in 2003 with a Bachelors of Science in Health and Physical Education (K-12). She started subbing at Poker Hill School in 2014 while her daughter attended and has been working here on and off ever since. Sharon lives in Jericho with her husband Andrew and daughter Quinn. Her hobbies include travel, baking, crafting, reading, and loves being in nature

Alana Callen
T/TH AIDE

​Alana hails from the drastically different mountains of the Arizona desert and graduated from Arizona State University in 2011 with her bachelor’s degree in Political Science, with emphasis on Mass Communication and International Relations. She switched gears and earned her post-baccalaureate in Elementary Education from Rio Salado College and has worked in various capacities in the education field as a kindergarten aide, substitute teacher, and second grade teacher before moving to Vermont with her family in 2015. Motherhood was the catalyst that piqued her interest in early childhood education. She joined the Poker Hill team after her children began elementary school, drawn to its philosophy in crafting a first schooling experience for children that celebrates their innate curiosity and develops a lifelong appreciation for the natural world. In her down time, Alana enjoys photography, sewing, drawing, running, yoga, skiing, camping, and any time spent outdoors with her family. She resides in Richmond with her husband Trevor, sons Levi and Silas, and a menagerie of many creatures, furry, scaled, and feathered.

Buddy Dubay
Music Teacher & After School Teacher

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. Buddy's daughter, Emma, who graduated from Poker Hill School in 2002, lives 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.

jessica bortz
FULL TIME AIDE AND AFTERSCHOOL TEACHER

Jessica graduated from Northern Vermont University in 2023 with an Interdisciplinary degree with a focus in Education and Psychology. She has worked with children for over six years and is working on achieving her Vermont teacher's license.  Jessica lives with her boyfriend and dog in Underhill. She likes photography, hiking, expanding her knowledge of teaching and playing with her dog. 

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.

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.