Committed in Every Way to Your Success

Ben first worked at The Island School from 2006-2009 as Science Department Chair and Dean of Faculty for the Semester. From 2010 to 2020, Ben served as the Assistant Head of School and Academic Dean at High Mountain Institute (HMI) in Colorado and as Head of Upper School at The Derryfield School in New Hampshire. Ben’s career in education began in the wilderness working for outdoor and experiential-based organizations, including Outward Bound. His educational ethos stems from the values rooted in those experiences. He continues to create learning opportunities that help students develop perseverance, personal responsibility, an understanding of ones role within a community and the ability to find joy in overcoming adversity. As an educator, Ben is foremost focused on building future leaders of the world by helping students develop competence and confidence through solving real problems and impacting their communities in tangible ways. Ben leads by example and is a collaborative colleague who understands the weight and opportunity of his position to expand the reach and impact of The Island School.

Nick is a Bahamian marine biologist that hails from the fishing town of Spanish Wells, Eleuthera. Before returning to The Bahamas to lead the Cape Eleuthera Institute at The Island School, Nick worked as Deputy Director of the Marine Institute at the University of Plymouth in the UK. He began his research career studying the ecology and biodiversity of deep-sea habitats, completing his doctoral research at the University of Leeds and Natural History Museum, London. He has since diversified his research interests and is currently focussed on sustainable fisheries in The Bahamas, particularly the spiny lobster fishery.

In 2012, Taylor returned to The Island School as a research fellow after working in marine science in California and Florida. She soon learned of her passion for welcoming young people into the program she participated in during high school (Spring 2006). Taylor joined the stateside team in 2013 to lead The Island School admissions team and has continued to expand how we market and promote all the programs on the cape.

Born in Virginia and raised in Colorado, she studied strategic communications and Spanish at Washington State University. She continued her world tour following graduation and spent a year living in Spain while traveling around Europe. With a new home-base in Philly, Anna is excited to be a part of the team working to offer students experiential learning opportunities and impactful educational experiences at The Island School.

Lindsay brings experience in development operations, campaign management, and international tourism and education from her time working at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Context Travel. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame and earned a MA in Modern French Studies from the University of Kent in Canterbury, England. Lindsay lives in Philadelphia with her husband Brandon and their daughter Quinn.

Madison joins the Admissions Team excited to share The Island School with the next generation of students. She is a big supporter of The Island School’s focus on experiential learning, which stems from her experience in Sitka, Alaska where she guided high school students through internships, jobs, and post-secondary planning. Madison studied psychology and human development at Tulane University and the University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education and looks forward to connecting students with the opportunities available at The Island School.

Megan bring experience in program management and development, volunteer coordination, and fundraising to the Foundation team. Megan began her nonprofit career in Buffalo, NY where she focused on local community development efforts. In 2017, she moved to Philadelphia, and worked with United By Blue, leading their large-scale waterway cleanup operations. She is a graduate of Houghton College, where she earned her BA in Communications and Business Administration. Megan is excited to be part of the Foundation team and to enhance the alumni experience for all Cape Eleuthera Island School alumni.

Growing up in Wellesley, Massachusetts, Jack studied Biology and Spanish at Trinity College. Following a lifelong connection with the ocean and passion to develop a career in marine science, Jack went on to work as a diver and educator for the New England Aquarium. Following this, Jack joined The Island School in 2018 on the Educational Programs team. In his three years working on campus, he coordinated short-courses, led the GAP program, and served as a Marine Ecology Teacher for the Semester. Jack managed educational programs for Loggerhead Marinelife Center in South Florida before returning to work for the Cape Eleuthera Foundation. Through fundraising and development, Jack supports The Island School’s ability to provide students with transformative educational experiences.

Courtney is an accomplished fundraising professional who brings a vast portfolio of experiences to the Cape Eleuthera Foundation.  She has successfully led development initiatives for universities, independent schools, health care institutions, nonprofit, and community-based organizations. As director of the Duke University School of Law’s reunion fundraising program, Ms. Brady raised $3.5 million in gifts and pledges in two years.  As a major gift officer, she secured six-and seven-figure gifts and pledges as part of a $350 million University-wide scholarship initiative.   Ms. Brady has a passion for the ocean and protecting our natural resources.  She is an avid scuba diver, carries certifications in reef renewal and shark awareness, and holds a master’s degree in Marine Science from Unity College.  She is a volunteer scuba diver for the South Carolina Aquarium where she performs animal husbandry and education roles in the deepest tank in North America. A graduate of Dartmouth College and the Lawrenceville School, Ms. Brady is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Lowcountry Chapter (SC), and sits of several ocean-related non profit and for profit boards.  She lives in Charleston, SC with her husband, Matt, their two daughters, Izzy and Lillie, and their two dogs.

Vernesse grew up in The Bahamas with a strong love for the arts. She studied Visual and Creative Arts at Sheridan College. She freelanced in product photography, illustration, and graphic design, which eventually led her to the world of Digital Marketing in Korea. Now at The Island School, Vernesse is dedicated to sharing authentic stories through media and marketing. She’s currently working towards a Media and Communication Arts Bachelors from Woosong University.

Megan first set foot on The Island School’s campus in 2012 as a Visiting Programs student, but that was only the beginning. Growing up in Iowa, she formed a deep-rooted passion for community, nature, and sustainability. Megan returned to The Island School in 2016 and 2017 as an intern before graduating from Iowa State University with degrees in Journalism and Environmental Science. She worked at The Island School as a Senior Communications Associate from 2018 to 2020, and now returns as our Digital Content Coordinator to share our story and amplify our mission.

Morgan is originally from Glenview, Illinois and against all odds as a Midwesterner, she was always drawn to the ocean. Her passion began at The Shedd Aquarium in Chicago where she volunteered in the guest engagement and education department. She quickly began to realize that the intersectionality between conservation, education, and marine sciences were her calling. She studied Marine, Estuarine, and Freshwater Biology at the University of New Hampshire. While in University, Morgan had the opportunity to gain scientific diving experience. Morgan first joined the Island School as part of the Summer Term faculty in 2021, where she taught Marine Ecology and earned her Divemaster certification. She is so excited to welcome Educational Programs and cannot wait to show visitors around her favorite dive sites. In her spare time, she loves spending time scuba diving, hiking, skiing, cooking, and traveling.

Dorlan is a Bahamian bioprocess engineer from New Providence. Prior to joining CEI, he worked as a Process Engineer at Verso Paper in Michigan, USA and Assistant Residence Director at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. He received a B.E. in Chemical Engineering from Youngstown State University and M.Sc. in Bioprocess Engineering from SUNY-College of Environmental Science and Forestry, During his tenure as a graduate researcher, his thesis focused on thermochemical hemicellulose extraction of invasive Casuarina lignocellulosic biomass to produce biofuels and bioplastics. At CEI, he conducts research in utilizing fungi to produce food and biomaterials.

Eric is a Senior Research Scientist and our Lab Manager. His work focuses on improving the sustainability of fisheries and conserving marine biodiversity. He has collaborated with fishers on projects focused on a variety of commercially and recreationally important species, including stone crabs, pelagic sportfish, and bonefish. Eric received a BSc in Biology from Gettysburg College, an MSc in Natural Resources & Environmental Science from the University of Illinois, and a PhD in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Glasgow. Eric is the Island School Research Class Coordinator and has been teaching The Semester Research Class since 2013.

Mia is a true CARICOM national. Born and raised in Saint Lucia, she has lived and worked in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and Dominica, among other places. She is an aquaculturist by training but her educational and professional background also expand to include environmental and marine science. Her intention is to ensure that there will always be fresh lettuce available to all on campus, among other hydroponically produced vegetables. As would be expected, she does enjoy spending her time outside, the beach is her happy place. She also enjoys watching TV and considers popcorn to be a food group.

Michael Bowleg Jr is a Bahamian sustainability and aquaculture scientist from Nassau, The Bahamas and an alumnus of The University of The Bahamas’ Small Island Sustainability program. Michael graduated with honours from The University of Plymouth with a MSc. in Sustainable Aquaculture in which his thesis focused on the application of prebiotics in salmonids to enhance growth and immune system function. He also has substantial research and husbandry experience in finfish and crustacean aquaculture, aquaponics and environmental education. Currently, Michael is a 2nd year PhD student and Teaching Assistant at the University of Exeter in the UK. Currently at CEI, Michael’s research is focused on identifying marine ecosystems relevant to Caribbean spiny lobster pueruli settlement in Eleuthera. In particular, he hopes to identify the feasibility of Caribbean spiny lobster stock enhancement and production aquaculture and grow out.

Natalia is a Colombian marine biologist who started studying coral population and growth to improve coral restoration for her undergraduate and master’s theses. Since 2008, she has been involved in many coral projects in Colombia, The Netherlands, Bonaire, Curaçao and Qatar. Now, she is applying her expertise at the Bahamas Coral Innovation Hub project, hoping to help to rehabilitate threatened coral populations by using sexual and asexual propagation to grow and research different coral species. Natalia has been teaching dive courses for the last 15 years, training beginners, divemasters, new instructors and teaching specialties like the PADI Reef Rescue Course.

Nick is a Bahamian marine biologist that hails from the fishing town of Spanish Wells, Eleuthera. Before returning to The Bahamas to lead the Cape Eleuthera Institute at The Island School, Nick worked as Deputy Director of the Marine Institute at the University of Plymouth in the UK. He began his research career studying the ecology and biodiversity of deep-sea habitats, completing his doctoral research at the University of Leeds and Natural History Museum, London. He has since diversified his research interests and is currently focussed on sustainable fisheries in The Bahamas, particularly the spiny lobster fishery.

Christina is the Director of Visiting Programs and the Summer Term. She is a science teacher, outdoor educator, and educational program administrator who has worked in the UK, Dubai, Bonaire, and the United States. She is also a competitive ultimate frisbee player, an Oregonian, and a lover of the ocean. Christina studied Marine Biology at the University of Oregon before pursuing a MA in Biology from Miami University of Ohio. More recently she attended the University of Exeter for a Postgraduate Certificate in Education. Christina is so excited to help students learn, grow, and develop as global citizens.

Meet Allie, an outdoors enthusiast whose deep bond with nature led to a lifelong passion. With a diverse background in wilderness pursuits like backpacking, rock climbing, and kayaking, she’s channeled her love for the outdoors into an educational career. llie studied Ecology and Evolution at the University of Washington before pursuing a MA in Environmental Studies and Education for Sustainability from Prescott College In her 13+ years as an educator, Allie has crafted immersive learning experiences, guiding students to learn through hands-on activities.. As The Dean of Academics, she’s committed to providing transformative education that nurtures eco-conscious, sustainability-minded, adventurous, and empathetic individuals.

Adam grew up in Baltimore, MD and was a student at McDonogh School and the University of Virginia. While at UVA, he studied anthropology and global sustainability, and joined us on Eleuthera as a CEIS intern in 2015. He has spent time studying and working on environmental issues in Hawai’i, New Zealand, the wider South Pacific, the Spanish Basque Country, and, of course, the Caribbean. Most recently, he worked for a global forestry consulting firm based in Washington, D.C., before rejoining the Island School community in June 2019 to work for the Educational Programs department. Adam is currently the Beach House Dorm Head, Literature and Writing teacher, and Head of the Exercise Program. In his free time he enjoys surfing, freediving, trying to improve his Spanish, and playing music. He is also a certified meditation teacher.

Lauren is originally from Baltimore, MD, and first joined The Island School community as a Semester student. She always knew she wanted to return as a teacher one day and that dream first came true in 2017 when Lauren worked for the Summer Term. Since then, Lauren has taught the Histories class, led Down Island Trips, and held the role of Treehouse Dorm Head for the Semester and Summer Term. Lauren is currently the Assistant Director and Dean of Students for the Semester Program.

Brian Baker grew up in Wellesley, Massachusetts and first came to the Island School as a Semester student in 2014. He quickly fell in love with the incredible ocean environment, the people, and ethos that make this place so unique. After his semester, Brian brought his love for the ocean to the New England Aquarium where he worked in visitor education. His love for the ocean continued at the University of Miami, where he studied Marine Affairs and Ecosystem Science & Policy. As an undergraduate, Brian worked on climate change policy at the state government level and returned to The Island School as a Summer Term teacher. He loves spending time outdoors in nature diving, skiing, or in any way he can!

Elsa is originally from Norwich, Vermont, where she first became enamored with the outdoors while growing up in the mountains. She studied Political Science and Environmental Studies at Elon University, and is passionate about art, action, and intersectionality in the climate crisis. She is experienced in outdoor education in forest classrooms as well as summer camps in Vermont. Having first joined the CEIS community as a semester student in Fall 2013, Elsa has now led Down Island expeditions, courses, and assisted with research with CEI Educational Programs and Island School semester since early 2020.

Güs is originally from Falmouth, Maine and first joined The Island School community as a student in Fall 2008. He graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Atmospheric Science and Renewable Energy. He spent several years in the solar industry working on utility scale solar projects before returning to outdoor education in California and Colorado. Güs is passionate about connecting education to the real world and working with students to nurture leadership skills and independence. In his free time, he can be found reading, skiing, jumping into bodies of water, and writing out elaborate Dungeons and Dragons storylines.

George grew up in Bath, UK and studied Marine Conservation at the University of Plymouth’s Marine Institute. During his studies he gained experience in field research and social science research investigating human connection to marine environments and the use of education as a means of change. He is a ‘life-long learner’ and combines formal education with real-world experience and application. George previously worked as an environmental educator, teaching students and developing other educators. He loves combining experiential education with storytelling to share the experiences of Ocean citizens around the world. He is passionate about mentoring and is inspired by the journeys shared between mentor and mentee. In his free time, George enjoys scuba diving, snorkeling and paddling.

Caroline is originally from Wellesley, Massachusetts. She majored in English with a concentration in Creative Writing at Northwestern University and studied for a semester at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. Through AmeriCorps and College Possible, Caroline served as a college counselor for low-income students in Seattle and Federal Way Public Schools. Caroline has led backpacking programs on Minnesota’s Superior Hiking Trail, Vermont’s Long Trail, Iceland’s Laugavegur Trail, and Switzerland’s Alpine Pass Route and loves to swim and bike around Eleuthera. She is grateful for the opportunity to teach and learn at The Island School.

Quinn’s relationship with the Caribbean began when he moved to the island of St. Croix to work in permaculture and sustainable systems. A lover of the humanities, he has always been interested in cultural immersion and place-based learning. While studying anthropology and archaeology at NYU, he found a way to blend these two interests, conducting fieldwork on the Caribbean coast of Belize. Quinn is eager to continue to learn and grow alongside a group of motivated students. In his free time, Quinn enjoys making pottery, running, and lounging on the beach.

Growing up in the Ocean State, Sophie spent most of her time in or by the water. Her Rhode Island roots brought her to Eleuthera for the first time in Spring 2017 as a Semester student. She went on to study at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School where she double majored in Marine Affairs and Ecosystem Science & Policy and minored in Creative Writing. She is particularly interested in how writing and art forms can be used as educational tools to engage communities in environmental policy. Having spent many summers as a camp counselor, Sophie strives to bring her energy and compassion to the communities she works with and can’t wait to inspire students to discover their own power as leaders. In her free time, Sophie loves spending time with friends and family, playing in the ocean, writing, and kickboxing. 

Annika Goldman grew up in Princeton, New Jersey and has been scuba diving ever since she was ten years old. Her love for the ocean led her to attend The Island School Semester in 2016. Annika majored in Environmental Studies and Communications at the University of Southern California and prior to joining the Semester, she worked in philanthropy at the Bezos Earth Fund. She has a deep interest in climate policy and diplomacy and can’t wait to empower students to be future change makers for our planet! When Annika isn’t scuba diving with students, she will be found doing the worm. 

Zion is from the Chicago area. Growing up as a city kid, she navigated self-expression through various cultural and artistic spaces. Eventually, she realized that dance provides a space for people of different backgrounds to come together and learn from each other. As a recent Connecticut College graduate, Zion is excited to use her double major in Dance and English with a Minor in French to continue to create and support spaces for people of different cultures to commune together. One of the areas in which she hopes to foster community is in outdoor spaces; our shared space as a people. For three years, Zion developed a deep love for the ocean as a Skin Diving instructor at Catalina Island Camps and, in the Summer of 2022, she interned at an outdoor dance intensive in Senegal. Her education and outdoor endeavors have encouraged her to find innovative ways to use dance and her love of outdoor spaces to develop cross cultural connection. 

Clara grew up in Vero Beach, Florida, a barrier island community that continues to impact her interests in marine conservation. During her undergraduate degree, she studied abroad in the Turks and Caicos, gaining field research experience at the School for Field Studies Center for Marine Resource Management. With a newfound love of scuba diving and wider scope of marine ecology, she moved to the Florida Keys to learn and work in coral restoration. She is passionate about the systems that form and impact her home and is excited to advise and assist in the curriculum both in the classroom and out in the field.

Izzy is from Sherborn, Massachusetts, and studied psychology at Dartmouth College. Since graduating in 2019, she’s hopped around from Los Angeles to Denver to Wyoming, doing social media for Spikeball and filling her free time with traveling, sports, and wandering around grocery stores looking for samples. She’s passionate about the intersection between mental health and the outdoors, and she is working on a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling.

Roxy is originally from San Francisco, California, and first joined The Island School community as a Summer Term student in 2016. A vagabond at heart, The Island School was the first of many opportunities living abroad and initiated her passion for travel and cross-cultural experiences. Before returning to Eleuthera, Roxy spent two years solo-backpacking around the world, reaching 30 countries while also earning a degree in Sociology and Media Studies from UC Berkeley. Most recently, she spent 6 months traveling through Southeast Asia, where she became a certified yoga teacher and PADI rescue diver. With an enthusiasm for community living and leadership development, Roxy is excited to encourage students to step out of their comfort zones and challenge new perspectives. In her free time, she enjoys exercising outdoors, going to farmers markets, and improving her photography skills.

Abby was born and raised in the state of Vermont. She graduated with a science education degree from Montana State University in 2021. Since then, she has been working as a substitute teacher, ski instructor, and math tutor.  She has spent several months traveling in Southeast Asia and received her yoga teacher certificate. More recently, she has worked as a long-term high school biology and physics substitute teacher. She is passionate about outdoor, place-based education and cannot wait to explore that more on Eleuthera.

Erica Allen is a native of Orange Creek, Cat Island and moved to Eleuthera after she married. She graduated from the College of the Bahamas, with a degree in Fine Arts. Before coming to DCMS, she taught Art and Craft at Windermere high school. She is passionate about the development and creativity of her students . She enjoys bringing out the unique talent in each individual.

Liz Ramnarine moved to The Bahamas from Guyana in 2002 to join her then husband, who was teaching at Windermere High School at the time. The following year, she secured a job with the government and began teaching at Preston Albury High School, where she remained until June of 2019. Liz holds a Trained Teacher’s Certificate from The Cyril Potter’s College of Education in Guyana and a Bachelor’s of Arts in English from The University Of Guyana. She has been teaching for the past 25 years, the first 8 of those being in Guyana and the remainder being here in The Bahamas, on the island of Eleuthera. She has taught grades 7- 12 Language and Literature and Grades 8 Reading. She has enjoyed working with students preparing them for the Scripps National SpellingBee Competition. She enjoys exploring nature, watching and capturing sunsets (thus her nickname, Sunset Hunter), writing short stories and poetry, embroidery and cooking. Liz is excited to be a part of the DCMS family, since it gives her an opportunity to experience teaching in a system/environment where the focus of learning is not only academic based.

Rashida Sweeting is a native of Water Ford, Eleuthera. She attended Wemyss Bight Primary and Preston H. Albury High School. Before DCMS, Ms. Sweeting worked as a special education teacher with Exceptional Education Outreach and as a tour guide at Princess Cays. She has a passion for children and Bahamian culture, and is so excited to be working at DCMS.

Kayla has been teaching for more than 10 years and is thrilled to teach in DCMS’s experiential environment. During her career, Kayla has taught all 4 core subjects which include Math, English, Science, and Social Studies, ranging from 5th grade to 8th grade in Texas. She was also the cheer coach/sponsor and previously instituted a campus step team for student extracurriculars. Her high school years were spent at Jordan Prince Williams High in Nassau, and she later received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She is the mother of one son who recently started his college journey.

Before arriving at DCMS, Anastacia spent three years employed as a teacher and private tutor in science and mathematics on various family islands in The Bahamas; most recently in North Andros. She graduated from Fisk University with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. While in university, Anastacia served as a research assistant in a structural biology laboratory and an undergraduate teacher assistant in an organic chemistry laboratory. She is passionate about education and excited to implement inquiry-based and experiential learning principles with her students. She enjoys reading, dancing, and exploring nature by hiking.

Bonnie grew up in a rural community located on Georgian Bay in Ontario, Canada, but spent the majority of her teaching career in the greater Toronto area. She is a seasoned educator, with close to 2 decades of experience in middle and elementary education. Bonnie obtained her Master of Education with a focus on International Education (policy and curriculum development) from the University of Western Ontario. She joined the ELC in 2021, and enjoys the opportunity to work within the place-based, experiential education model at The Island School.

Dan is a full time teacher at the Elementary Learning Center. In addition to being a university-trained elementary educator, Dan has a degree in Sports PR and Journalism. Most recently, Dan taught Year 5 in the UK and is excited about using the wide Island School campus as the classroom at the ELC. He is a UK world champion ultimate Frisbee player, and served as captain and coach of the United Arab Emirates national ultimate Frisbee team.

Angelica (Jelly) grew up in Deep Creek, Eleuthera. She is a seasoned ELC teaching assistant, working with the program since 2015. She brings a gentle style and genuine care for her students to her work.

Brenda is returning for her 3rd year at the ELC. Brenda takes a playful approach to learning. She is a native Spanish speaker and enjoys teaching her language and culture to the students at the ELC.

Madie is originally from Holland, Michigan, where her love for the outdoors was fostered on the shores of Lake Michigan. She studied Environmental Studies and Environmental Decision Making at Denison University and is passionate about experiential learning, community resiliency, and engaging others in the outdoors. Madie has spent time as a student and as a marine biology instructor in the Caribbean, studying climate change policy in Small Island Developing States, and also teaching and living with students on sailboats. Madie is excited to explore Eleuthera through snorkeling and hiking with visiting groups, and learn with others in an intentional community. In her free time, she enjoys creating art, diving, biking, and anything outdoors!

Hannah is from the eastern shore of Maryland, where her love for the ocean first began. Growing up on the Miles River, she spent every summer sailing, boating, swimming, and trekking around the marsh with friends. For the past two summers, Hannah has worked as a captain for a sailing program in the Caribbean, teaching young adults to sail and live aboard sailboats. Hannah graduated from Tulane University, majoring in Social Policy/ Practice and Sociology with a minor in Teaching, Learning, and Training. She has loved playing sports her whole life and expanded her fitness career by becoming a group fitness instructor at City Surf Studios in New Orleans. Hannah is incredibly excited to be a part of The Island School team and is especially stoked about teaching students all about sustainability and how to better coexist with our environment. In her free time, you can find Hannah going on little explorations or runs, finding fun things to climb, or just going for a relaxing swim.

Andrew Treat is excited to be returning to The Island School! He is originally from New England (Connecticut mostly) but he has been coming to Eleuthera every year of his life. With so many of his fondest memories on Eleuthera, it is one of his favorite places on Earth. Andrew was a Semester student in the spring of 2017 and went on to study Earth and Oceanographic science at Bowdoin College in Maine. He will be co-teaching Marine Science for the Summer Term, and a Visiting Programs coordinator in the fall. Andrew loves to fly fish, play music, and enjoy the company of those around him. After a year of meandering, he is more than ready to settle on Cape Eleuthera.

Having grown up in Charleston, South Carolina, Claire loves the coastal life, cherishing marsh adventures and sun-soaked days. An adventurer at heart, she spent many summers island hopping throughout the Caribbean, first as a student and later as a PADI Dive instructor on live-aboard sailing and diving programs. In college, Claire was eager to better understand the relationship between people and place, earning a degree in Sociology and Environmental Studies from Wake Forest University. Following her passion for exploration, she made her way to New York City to work in the travel industry. After learning the ropes of the industry, Claire is excited to return to her blue water roots at The Island School.