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.

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.

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.

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.

Laura first became acquainted with The Island School in 2006 when she joined the community as a humanities teacher. After three years on the island, she moved on to pursue other opportunities in the US. She continued her work with non-profits and unique educational models, serving as the Director of Admission and Advancement for the High Mountain Institute and most recently as the Director of Communications for the New Hampton School in New Hampshire. In 2020, Laura returned to Eleuthera to lead the marketing and communications program at The Island School, better support the foundation, and share the organization’s inspiring story. She lives on the Cape with her husband Ben and two children Mia and Finn.

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.

Josie is a Boston native and graduate from Elon University, NC. She holds degrees in both Communication Design and Media Analytics. The focus of her projects at Elon were usually around social equity, climate change advocacy and sustainable practices. She has worked at several agencies that helped her become a well-rounded designer. In addition to her creative side, she enjoys running, hiking, fostering dogs and DIY projects. It’s these qualities and experiences that excited her about the role of Digital Content Associate at The Island School.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 and led Down Island Trips for the Semester and Summer Term. Lauren is currently the Treehouse Dorm Head, Histories teacher, and Assistant Dean of Students.

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.

Kirra is from San Clemente, California, and fell in love with the ocean at a very young age. During her free time, she can be found at the beach: surfing, paddle-boarding, diving, or playing beach volleyball. Kirra attended Point Loma Nazarene University to earn her bachelor’s degree in biology, while performing research in locales from South Africa to Costa Rica. She also worked as a math tutor and surf instructor, and soon realized that teaching was her core passion. She obtained teaching credentials in mathematics and life science, as well as a master’s degree in teaching. She is eager to teach on Eleuthera, an island she loves and has been visiting regularly since she was little.

Katherine grew up in Big Sky, MT. She took a year off before heading to college, getting her W-EMT, volunteering on Big Sky Ski Patrol, and returning to India to study Hindi. Katherine attended Bates College in Maine and majored in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Law and Politics. Throughout school she worked as a general writing tutor as well as a TA for biomedical ethics and global environmental politics. Katherine spent summers back home in the rocky mountains, guiding on the rivers and in the mountains of Montana, Idaho, and Colorado. In her free time, she loves to ski, run with her dogs, kayak, read & reread her favorite books. She is eager to spend time in a warm climate, exploring the ocean and spending time with students.

Jayna was born and raised in London and began diving while backpacking in the Philippines where she completed her open water to rescue courses. She went on to do her dive master in the UK before completing her IDC in Roatan, Honduras. She has previously worked in Jamaica, The British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands as a dive professional. Jayna has a distant tie to The Island School having taken part in a turtle tagging volunteer program in Eleuthera and is returning almost a decade later in a full circle moment.

Maura grew up in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York where she fostered a passion for being on the water. She studied Marine Science and Education at the University of South Carolina, while working in a handful of research labs focusing on plankton, reef ecology, and ecotourism. Most recently, Maura worked in Savannah, Georgia after completing a teaching fellowship with Georgia Sea Grant. Her experience in marine education also spans along the East Coast and California, including teaching positions at Catalina Island Marine Institute and Duke TiP. Through her education and professional experience, Maura fell in love with using the ocean as a space for experiential education and place-based learning, and continues to pursue this love at The Island School. Maura is a big dog lover and also enjoys snorkeling, playing softball, and eating seafood. She is grateful to be a part of The Island School’s intentional community and is excited to continue to learn from fellow faculty and students.

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.

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.

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.

Katherine hails from Nassau, The Bahamas. She earned her B.S. in Environmental Science from Drexel University, and worked as a research assistant and environmental educator before becoming a full time teacher in 2019. She is excited to blend her experiences from both of these professions to provide her students with rich, stimulating, and lively lessons! Katherine currently lives in Deep Creek with her pet rock, Rubble. In her free time she loves beaching, dancing, and socializing.

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 in May of 2023, 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.