Early College Educator Advisory Group

Pronouns: she/her/hers
Institution: Marlborough High School – Early College High School through Quinsigamond Community College
Courses taught: Sociology 101 and Psychology 101

Sarah Casey began teaching eleven years ago at Springfield Central High School where she taught World History, US History I, and American Government. Five years ago, she came to Marlborough High School and taught World History, US History I and Psychology. She began teaching Psychology 101 and Sociology 101 three years ago through the Early College High School program at Marlborough High School in partnership with Quinsigamond Community College. In addition to her work in the classroom, Sarah also enjoys coaching volleyball and working with the leadership team as the Intervention Lead Teacher.

Pronouns: she/her/ella
Institution: North Shore Community College
Courses taught: Composition 1&2, Understanding Higher Education and Public Speaking

Emily L. Cakounes is an Instructor of Liberal Arts at North Shore Community College, with a focus on the Early College population. Prior to her current position, Emily taught 9th grade English at Greater Lowell Vocational High School in Tyngsboro, MA, and earned a B.A. and an M.A.T in Secondary Education from the University of New Hampshire. Emily joined the Early College program as an Instructor in September of 2021, and now works on the NSCC Early College team full-time to make high quality, academically rigorous courses accessible to high school and college students across the North Shore. When not on campus, Emily can be found assembling Lego models with her husband, Chris, their two children, Evan and Libby, and Leonard the Wonder Dog.

Pronouns: she/her
Institution: Merrimack College
Courses taught: Politics of the U.S.; Comparative Politics; Democracy, Development, and Violence; MA State and Local Politics and the Environment; Rebels, Riots, and Revolution; Youth to Power: Activism and Research

Dr. Kirstie Lynn Dobbs is an Assistant Professor of Practice in the Department of Political Science and Public Policy and in the Early College Program at Merrimack College in North Andover, MA. Her research specializes in youth and political participation, and she teaches courses on democracy, democratization, and youth activism. Dr. Dobbs engages in multiple projects with community partners investigating how the government, educators, and civil society can support youth empowerment after the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information on Dr. Dobbs’ work, please visit her website or LinkedIn page.

Read more from Kirstie: Curriculum And Instruction: Three Frameworks For Engaging Students

Pronouns: she/her
Institutions: Salem State University, Bunker Hill Community College, Lynn English High School, Lynn Classical High School
Subjects taught: Philosophy, Religion

Mandy Lobraico is a Salem State University and Bunker Hill Community College Professor, Lynn English High School and Lynn Classical High School Early College Professor, and a Study Abroad Faculty Leader. A native of Chicago, she now resides in Marblehead with her wife, daughter (11), two dogs, bunny, bearded dragon, and saltwater fish.

Pronouns: he/his/him
Institution: Bunker Hill Community College
Courses taught: Principles of Psychology; Principles of Sociology; Sociology of Race & Ethnicity (taught in Early College); HUM 120 (Learning Community Seminar); LC Cluster with American Literature; Sociology of the Family; Sociology of Organization

Carlos L. Maynard is a Professor of Sociology in the Behavioral Science Department at Bunker Hill Community College. He is an Afro-Latino Educator who advocates for equity, justice, and fairness in education and life. He is passionate about student success and has been actively involved in several Equity oriented initiatives at BHCC such as the Latinx Student Success Initiative (LSSI), the HOPE Initiative, and the Center for Equity and Cultural Wealth (CECW). He has been a faculty member of BHCC Early College Program since 2015.

Read more from Carlos: Reading List for Early College Educators: Using Culturally-Centered Pedagogy to Create a Successful Early College Experience

Pronouns: she/her
Institution: Bard College at Simon’s Rock
Subjects Taught: Psychology, Statistics, Research Methods

Anne O’Dwyer has taught psychology at Bard College and Bard Academy at Simon’s Rock, located in the Southern Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, for over 25 years. She currently serves as Associate Professor of Psychology. Anne was involved in the accreditation (with NECHE) of the Bard High School Early Colleges in New York City and Newark, NJ (as branch campuses of Simon’s Rock) and is teaching for the first time in Fall ’23 in the Southern Berkshire Regional School District Early College program with Simon’s Rock.

Read more from Anne: A Day One Guide For College Faculty Teaching At A High School

Pronouns: she/her
Institution: Quinsigamond Community College
Courses taught: Introduction to Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Theories of Personality, and Human Relations in Organizations

Maura Stickles serves as Professor and the Department Coordinator of Psychology at Quinsigamond Community College. Maura has over 30 years of demonstrated professional experience in the areas of community college teaching, academic administration, academic advising, leadership development, and program development. In addition, for the past two years Maura has collaborated with the Early College team at QCC to develop programming and provide professional development opportunities for faculty and teachers facilitating Early College coursework.

Pronouns: she/her
Institution: New Heights Charter School of Brockton
Subjects taught: Mathematics

Tami Dashley Shah serves as Early College Liaison Teacher at New Heights Charter School of Brockton. Tami has taught at early college high schools, community colleges, and colleges for the last fifteen years since graduating with her bachelor’s in mathematics and master’s in teaching mathematics. Tami has taught mathematics at early college high schools and college levels for many years in Massachusetts, Colorado, and her home state of Texas. She has gained valuable experience from this and from serving for several years as a math department head, as a Dean of STEM, and as an Early College liaison teacher. Tami is excited to be a part of the first early college in Massachusetts and contribute to the great educational work being done at New Heights Charter School of Brockton.

Read more from Tami:

• Communicating Positive Expectations For Early College Students
• Supporting Diverse Learners Through Differentiated Instruction

Pronouns: she/her
Institution: Northern Essex Community College
Courses taught: Composition, Film Studies, Children’s Literature

Elle Yarborough is a Professor in the English Department at Northern Essex Community College. Before achieving her lifelong dream of teaching at a community college in New England, she worked as Assistant Director for the Center for Film, Media and Popular Culture at Arizona State University. Elle has been involved in Early College programs for almost twenty years in various roles, including as coordinator of a program in Arizona, as a coach, and in her favorite role of all, as a teacher. Elle loves reading, writing, teaching reading and writing, and talking about reading and writing with other people.

You can learn more about the Early College Educator Advisory Group and the Alliance’s work with early college educators by contacting Marissa Cole, Director of Policy and Practice, at marissa@ma4ec.org.