Our Wayfinder Team
ANDREA VASSALLO - executive director
Andrea has called midcoast Maine h0me since 1995, and she has been with Wayfinder since 2009. She holds a BA in Political Science from The University of Massachusetts and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Southern Maine’s Stonecoast Program. She has worked in education and non-profit development for most of her career. She has also been a freelance writer, newspaper reporter and writing instructor. She was a 2016 Maine Literary Awards finalist, a Pushcart Prize nominee, and has been cited in Best American Essays. She serves on the board of Amherst Writers & Artists and co-chairs their Northeast Chapter. Andrea is the founder of Damariscotta River Writers, where she runs writing workshops for women and teens. She is the proud parent of a Hampshire College student, and she spends as much time as possible with her extended family along the Damariscotta River.
Cindy stevenson - passages program director
Cindy joined Wayfinder in 2013. She grew up in Auburn, Maine and received her Associates Degree in Dietetics from University of Maine at Farmington. After interning with Central Maine Medical Center, where she later became an employee, she decided to continue her education at the University of Maine Orono, where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Family Life/Health Education. Cindy has had the pleasure of working one on one with students in Lincoln and Knox counties and, as this will be her 12th school year at Wayfinder, she embraces her new role as Passages Program Director. She looks forward to sharing her knowledge and experiences in teaching but is more excited about learning from staff and students. An African proverb that resonates with Cindy is,“It takes a village to raise a child.” Cindy and her husband Andy have three adult sons who bring them great pride, keep them “in the know”, and all have Stevenson humor! In her free time she loves being in nature, gardening, hiking, baking and let’s not forget Yahtzee and cribbage. She loves her pets: dogs Copper and Blue, cat Tinkles, and her increasing flock of chickens!
becki Anderson – School administrator
Becki was born and raised locally in the midcoast Maine area. She received her Associate’s Degree in Accounting from Husson College. After having children, she became involved with school by volunteering, substituting and working in the school office. She quickly realized that her love for business was deepened when connected to supporting a school. Becki loves a variety of tasks, the ability to learn and grow personally in order to help the school do the same and to assist the staff, students and their families. She was excited to find Wayfinder and join the team! When not working, Becki enjoys spending time with her family, especially her three daughters, and friends. She also enjoys hiking/walking/running, exploring new places, especially within Maine, listening to music and finding new recipes to try out.
diana Mullins - development Manager
Diana has lived and taught in Maine for many years. She began as a teacher who customized lessons for individual students and took her insights with her as she became a writing workshop teacher in middle schools in Fairfield and Biddeford. She has also been a developmental reading teacher, a literacy coach, and a drama director. She studied at Lesley University and UC Irvine, earning two graduate degrees in education. Her research on collaborative writing and revision practice has been published by Harvard University Press, and her poems, short stories, and creative nonfiction pieces have been published in literary journals. She enjoys knitting, cross country skiing with her husband, cooking, painting, drawing, and teaching writing workshops for adults.
Cathy Ames-Cruz – Passages Teacher
Cathy has been working at Wayfinder since 2000. Cathy was born in Camden, attended Camden Rockport High school, and later, studied English and education at The University of Maine, Augusta. Cathy has four children, and in 2009, she became a proud grandmother! Cathy loves working at Wayfinder because she loves kids and believes everyone needs a chance in life. Cathy’s mission at Wayfinder is to help give kids the tools to be successful, and also to help make sure they are eating more than ramen noodles when they grow up! Cathy lives in West Rockport, and when she’s not at the school, she can be found cooking, baking, or camping and swimming in the outdoors.
Wendy Newell Dyer - Passages Teacher
Wendy joined Wayfinder in 2022. She has lived on the coast of Maine her entire life, growing up on Little Deer Isle then raising her family in Jonesport. She attended the University of Maine at Machias earning her bachelor’s degree of College Studies with a concentration in literature and professional writing in 2003. Wendy was a caregiver to her husband for ten plus years then later for her adoptive parents. She is a Hospice trained bereavement facilitator and has been employed as a Family Service Coordinator for Head Start, a CNA, an ED Tech III and a Title 1 Reading Teacher. She has worked for three newspapers and is a published author with stories in several books, newspapers and magazines. She testified before the Maine Truth and Reconciliation Commission after discovering that she was a member of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at the age of twenty-five. Wendy and her husband homeschooled their three sons through high school. Her hobbies include hiking, biking, mountain climbing, running, swimming, travel, reading, writing, and home renovation.
Andrea itkin – Passages Teacher
Andrea grew up in New City, NY (not a city) and moved to Maine in 1982 by a very circuitous route. After 5 years in Portland, Andrea then moved herself and her two children to the midcoast, where after another 5 years, she met her second and final husband, Ben Ellison, who taught her to love boating and to appreciate the magic of living in one place for decades. Besides temp work, Andrea spent 12 years in the food service industry, and 10 years at New Hope Midcoast. In 2003, after finally attaining both writing/literature and teaching degrees from Vermont College, she was hired as a Passages Teacher at The Community School, now known as Wayfinder Schools. She eventually became the Program Director and then retired in 2014. Her service continued as a member of the Board and the Development Committee. She has since stepped off the Board and onto the teaching staff once again! Her side hustles include: acting, song and monologue writing, and various volunteer activities, including directing and emceeing the Finding Our Way fundraiser. For relaxation, she shares meals and laughs with her fabulous blended family, hikes in and out of town, and attends as many live performances as she can.
Ida Koller – Passages Teacher
Ida grew up in the midcoast of Maine. She tried leaving a handful of times, and travelled a great deal before moving back to the coast of Maine to raise her family. Ida graduated from Goddard College in 2005 with a degree in English and poetry. She returned to school after the birth of her youngest child in 2013 to complete her teaching certification, and while on this journey discovered that not only did she love to teach, but she loved learning about learning and the human capacity to survive when things feel impossible. She completed her Masters of Special Education and is heavily weighing the notion that perhaps she could in fact go to school forever. Ida has three amazing daughters and a stepdaughter, who keep her life very interesting, exciting and full. When not teaching or enjoying her family, Ida loves to read, write, and play with her dogs outside. One of her favorite quotes is: “The most important thing to remember is: to be ready at any moment to give up what you are for what you might become.” - W.E.B. Dubois
Julia Kosowsky – Passages Teacher
Julia is passionate about connecting with others and building a world where everyone gets to do what brings them joy. She is overjoyed to be able to do this with the Wayfinder community this year. Julia grew up in Lincolnville, wandered away for 10 years, and then came back home. While wandering, she got a bachelor’s degree in American Studies and Community Health and a teaching certification from Kentucky and then from Maine. She gained seven years of experience teaching in public high school classrooms, and with Schooner Adventuress, Hurricane Island Outward Bound, Seeds of Peace, and Blueberry Harvest School. During summers and sabbaticals, she has worked as a caterer, farmer, and carpenter. Julia loves to be outside, to build things, to play music, and to share stories and food with loved ones. She lives with her partner, two dear friends, and three dogs.
Phyllis Wentworth – Passages Teacher
Phyllis joined Wayfinder in 2023. Although she left Maine for college and lived in different parts of New England as an adult, she was happy to move home again, and currently lives with her husband on the road she grew up on. Phyllis holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and art history from Boston College and graduate degrees in psychology from Mount Holyoke and UNH. She is an adoptive mom, with two young adult children who are her pride and joy. Phyllis has worked in education her whole career, with students of all ages and walks of life. She’s thrilled to be part of the Wayfinder team especially because of the individualized approach to teaching and learning. Phyllis enjoys gardening, birdwatching, walking/jogging, reading, and beginner knitting projects that often take her a whole year.