Michelle Whitten-Sawyer, Owner and Center Director
Michelle has been the owner of The Back Cove School since 2014. Prior to owning the business, she was the director for ten years. Michelle believes, “It’s not what you do for children but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings.” When she is not working, Michelle enjoys reading, spending time with her family, and watching her son, Dean, play hockey.
Madison Mitchell, Director of Enrollment
Madison has been working at The Back Cove School since 2017. As a former BCS student, Madison can attest to the value of the educational and social foundation that the program provides. She has experience in all of our programs including the summer camp program. Her favorite thing about teaching is watching each child expand their personalities and abilities. She has her Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Management, and in 2023, she was promoted to Director of Enrollment and works to help enroll new families, manage the website, and answer inquires. In her free time, Madison likes to listen to music, read, and go to the beach.
Angela Wade
Angela has worked at The Back Cove School since 2012. She was a certified medical assistant but felt passionate about the teaching profession and found a home at BCS. As a former BCS parent, she believes that the program gives children the skills to be 100% prepared for elementary school. While she prefers the fast-paced environment of the preschool program, Angela has experience in all of our programs including the summer camp program. Outside of BCS, Angela enjoys being outside, taking hikes, walks on the Old Orchard Beach strip, and spending time with her family.
Debi Vandersea
Debi has been working at The Back Cove School since 2018. Ever since she was a teenager, she has loved taking care of children, especially infants. She has worked at two other childcare centers in Burlington, Vermont, and she was a nanny through Portland Nannies for ten years. Debi loves watching your babies grow into little humans. She enjoys walking her dog, Safie, and has a lot of passion towards animals. She hopes to one day rescue more dogs. In her free time, Debi enjoys working out, watching sports, and going to the beach.
Hailey Cameron
Hailey has been working at The Back Cove School since 2021. She used to be a camp counselor for school age kids and is excited to work with a new age group. She loves spending time with children because each child has a unique personality and something new to say. She has her Bachelor’s degree in Public Health but is still trying to find the career path that suits her best. A fun fact about Hailey is she moved to Maine from Arizona on a cross country road trip. When she is not at BCS, Hailey enjoys spending time with her dog and cat.
Annelies Sugar
Annelies has been working as an infant teacher at The Back Cove School since 2022. Prior to working at BCS, she was a preschool teacher in Burlington, Vermont. Since she gets to care for our youngest infants, Annelies enjoys watching the babies grow up and form their personalities before they move to the older infant and toddler rooms. Outside of work, Annelies is a seamstress and enjoys sewing.
Sarah St. Laurent
Sarah has been working as a toddler teacher at The Back Cove School since 2022. Prior to working at BCS, she worked at a daycare in Maine, and she has also nannied and babysat. Sarah’s favorite thing about working with children, especially toddlers, is watching them make connections and have fun. Outside of BCS, Sarah also works as a dance teacher to children ages two to eleven.
Bethany Petrin
Bethany has been working as a toddler teacher at The Back Cove School since 2022. She previously worked at a daycare in Maine, and she is also a dance teacher. Bethany loves watching the children explore and develop their personalities. When Bethany isn’t at BCS, she is usually dancing or teaching others how to.
Dean Sawyer
Dean has worked at The Back Cove School since 2019 first as a volunteer and now as a floater, primarily in our preschool rooms. The school has been a second home to him since he was a student. Dean is everyone’s big brother as he teaches soccer and T-ball lessons and plays games with the kids on the playground. He is also our handyman and enjoys joking around with the kids. Outside of BCS, Dean will be attending SMCC for sports management, plays hockey, and likes spending time with his family.
Jaslyn Goode
Jaslyn has worked at The Back Cove School since 2023. Jaslyn realized that she enjoyed working with children after working as a swim instructor with toddlers. She loves how genuine the children are with one another and how pure and contagious their happiness is. Jaslyn is also a student at the University of Southern Maine working towards her Bachelor degree in Sociology and Women and Gender Studies. Outside of work, Jaslyn enjoys going to concerts and hopes to travel more.
Molly Rose Kingsbury
Molly has been working at The Back Cove School since 2024. She has experience working with kids ages 2-4. Prior to working at BCS, she worked at two other daycares in Portland. Molly is currently working on getting her degree in Fine Arts and Early Childhood Education. She loves to teach through art and create fun learning projects for the kids. She loves to see the kids grow and develop their skills. Outside of work, Molly loves making artwork, whether it’s painting portraits, sewing costumes, or creating clay animals.
Amanda Curtin
Amanda joined the Back Cove School team in 2024. Prior to working at BCS, she worked as a nanny for about twelve years. She is also a graduate student at the University of Southern Maine’s Counselor Education program, hoping to work with children and families as a play therapist post graduation. Amanda has always loved how children view the world with great enthusiasm, curiosity, and creativity. In her spare time, she loves skiing, reading, and spending time with her animals.
Cass LeFay
Cass has been working at The Back Cove School since 2024. She previously worked at as a private in-home caregiver and has 10 years of Certified Nursing Assistance experience, specifically with the dementia population. Cass adores working with children and watching their imaginations & personalities develop, as well as watching them discover new interests and building bonds with other children. Outside of work, she spends a lot time upgrading her home, spending time with her animals, as well as taking care of her 100 house plants, and often finding new places to explore with her dog, Lucy!
Gail Whitten
Gail works at The Back Cove School during the summer and school vacations. During the school year, she works as a bus attendant for Portland Public Schools. Gail enjoys seeing how much the children grow up every summer, and the kids thrive in the warm and patient environment she helps create. Outside of work, Gail likes to garden, be with her friends and family, and walk her two dogs.
Junior Staff
Delaney Whitten
Delaney started at The Back Cove School as a volunteer in 2019. She now works as a floater in all of the classrooms. In the summer, she joins the school-aged children on field trips. Delaney is a student at the University of New England, studying Dentistry. Her interests include spending time with her family and friends and playing sports.
Chloe Whitten
Chloe started working as a volunteer at The Back Cove School in 2019. She currently works in all of the classrooms and is a counselor for the summer camp program. Chloe is a student at South Portland High School. In her free time, Chloe enjoys spending time with her friends and family and playing softball. Chloe is sweet, kind, and loves being with children. After graduation, she hopes to study Pediatric Nursing.
Andrea DiMauro
Andrea has been working at The Back Cove School since the summer of 2022. She floats around to each program but works the most with our toddlers and preschoolers. Andrea is calm and compassionate, which helps give the children the space they need to express themselves. In her free time, Andrea enjoys playing softball and hanging out with friends and family.
Rachel DiMauro
Rachel has been working at The Back Cove School since the summer of 2022. She has experience in all of our rooms but particularly enjoys being with the infants and summer campers. Rachel brings high energy and laughter to our school, and the children love being with her. Outside of work, Rachel plays softball, listens to music (especially Taylor Swift), and spends time with friends and family.
The Back Cove School 