About Our Team

Teresa believes that everyone thrives in a world that promotes and supports creative thinking. She loves nothing more than helping others give voice to their unique perspectives through art. Teresa holds a BA in education and began her career as an elementary school teacher in Pasadena, California. Over the years she also worked as an children’s occupational therapy assistant in Amman, Jordan, taught classes for gifted students in Minnesota, and opened a preschool in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Since moving to Vermont 1999 she has been enthusiastically focused on gifting individuals of all ages with a life-long love of the arts. Teresa founded Davis Studio in 2003.

Lyndsy is devoted to encouraging young children to learn through creative play, discovery and exploration. She believes play is as essential as the air we breathe. She has been a preschool teacher, ski instructor, adaptive sailing instructor, case manager for students with Autism, Special Educator, Educational Consultant, as well as mom to four amazing girls! She holds a BS in both Psychology and Education from Muhlenberg College and a MEd. from the University of Vermont. Lyndsy founded and operated Wildflowers, a children’s maker-space prior to joining Davis Studio in 2020. Lyndsy thrives when sharing a sense of wonder, a creative spirit and out-of-the box thinking with her students.

Sami believes art and play are essential for lifelong learning! Sami is an artist, teacher, and office aficionado who leads with creative expression, empathy, and a growth mindset. They hold a BS in Art Education from the University of Vermont and have worked in both the art education and office administration realms for a variety of creative spaces – including startups, art classrooms, and museums. She lives in Burlington with her partner, Simon and three cats, Miko, Soba, and Salem. In their personal creative time, Sami loves creating botanical illustrations, tufting rugs, playing video games, and tending to their plants.

As a life-long lover of the arts, Renée has spent nearly two decades as an educator; with a focus on art-making and program development for youth and families. She believes that the arts and PLAY are essential to all and loves sharing those ideas with others. When not teaching or being the tech-guru for Davis Studio, Renée enjoys spending time with her son and her nieces. She is an accomplished photographer and loves travel, Star Wars and planning her next adventure. She just completed her second solo cross country road trip and has now accomplished her goal of visiting all the lower 48 states. Renée received her BA in History and Minor in French from Vermont State University-Johnson.

Amanda absolutely enjoys teaching kids how to express themselves through their art work. She also loves watching kids grow and take pride in what they can achieve through art. Her specialties are painting, photography, and pottery, but truthfully she enjoys nearly anything creative. She is currently teaching high school art and also has a strong background in theatre. Amanda is excited to spread her love and passion for creativity with everyone! She grew up in Long Island, New York and came to Vermont to attend UVM in 2005. She has a bachelor’s degree in art education and has been happily teaching art ever since.

Katie finds inspiration by being in nature and from working with children. She is a painter and illustrator who graduated from the New England School of Art and Design. She spent many years working in a public school as a literacy interventionist and would often go into the classrooms to story-tell on the whiteboards and bring art projects in for kids to do during indoor recess days. Katie lives in Charlotte with her husband, 2 cats, a bunny, a horse, and a snail. When she’s not teaching, you can find her happily creating art in her studio surrounded by a plethora of animals who cheer her on as she paints.

McKenna encourages children to explore, be curious, and collaborate with others. She believes that self-directed, hands-on, iterative experiences provide the best learning opportunities. McKenna is an artist, maker, and naturalist. She studied fine arts and environmental studies at Saint Michael’s College. In her own art, she conveys relationships between nature and culture, relying on research, observation, and fabrication. McKenna has spent the past several years working in a variety of creative settings including galleries, studios, classrooms, and makerspaces. She focuses on sharing her enthusiasm for the natural world, along with her passion for project-based learning with her students at Davis Studio.

Eve supports students by creating experiences and environments that boost confidence in their own creative potential. Not only does she do this at Davis Studio in her many art classes, she also helps develop confidence as a private tutor in math, writing and study skills. Eve’s role models are Leonardo DaVinci and sculptor Dorothy Riester. Eve began her career as a Middle School English and Social Studies teacher after studying Elementary and Special Education at State University of New York, Geneseo. After college, she moved to Vermont for its nature, music and art. She continues to pursue her interests in education as well as in art and art history and enjoys collage as an outlet for her own artistic expression.

As an instructor, Madeleine emphasizes imagination, color, expressive line, and the power of following one’s joy during the making process. Madeleine grew up at a pottery studio in Bradford, Vermont, where she learned to love making things. Clay, visual art, and professional theater defined her childhood. In college, courses in psychology, English, and studio art led her to classes in religious theory. Fascinated with how people make meaning, overcome adversity, and find inspiration, she earned her BA in Religious Studies from Connecticut College. Madeleine started selling paintings and illustrations in 2016 and now has collectors in Washington, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire.

David recognizes that creativity and personal expression are the keys to developing passionate life-long learners. He loves helping students express their unique perspectives and ideas through art. He takes great joy in helping them develop a sense of pride in their craft. In addition to the visual arts, David is enthusiastic about music, community building, and all things outdoor-related. He holds a BA in art education and an MFA in Painting. He has worked as an art educator in public schools and in museum education for the past seventeen years. David has recently relocated to the Shelburne area after spending ten years teaching K – 8th grade art at The Dorset School in Dorset, Vermont.

Creating a comfortable environment for young artists is Mary’s top priority. She knows that creating art takes the courage to be vulnerable and experimental, so a safe and welcoming space is of utmost importance. Mary loves supporting her students and helping them develop their creative and technical skills. She grew up in Maine and also spent time in New Hampshire. She is a new Vermont resident and is so excited to explore this beautiful state. Mary currently teaches art at Davis Studio and Vermont Commons School. Mary graduated from Plymouth State University with a degree in Art Education and a Minor in Art History. In her personal art practice, she particularly enjoys pottery and oil painting.

As an artist and art instructor Kat is guided by creativity and compassion. She is passionate about providing her students with opportunities to develop authenticity as well as technical skills in drawing and painting. Kat has a strong background in art education with over 12 years of experience in public schools, alternative and charter schools, as well as non-profits. Her recent artworks include large scale colorful acrylic paintings and mural installations as well as linoleum block printed patterns made to inspire joy and to empower others. Kat was raised in Charlotte, Vermont and received her BFA in Painting at Rhode Island School of Design and her Master of Arts in Teaching at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon.

Jackie strives to create a learning environment that is comfortable and creative, where students will see themselves as artists, be inspired to follow through with their ideas and bring their artistic vision to life! A Burlington-based artist, Jackie works in fused glass and illustration, often combining the two. She received a BS in Multimedia and Graphic Design and a BS in Professional Writing from Champlain College. She has done professional work in marketing, design, and development over the years. She spends time creating from her studio space in Winooski, VT. You can find her selling her glasswork locally, under her company name ‘Melted Glass’. She also enjoys spending time outdoors: hiking, camping, snowboarding, and doing as much exploring as much as possible.

Melissa believes that creativity is a powerful tool for self-expression and for tapping into the reservoir of peace, joy and magic that is always there. She believes everyone is an artist and has something to express no matter their level of experience. In her classroom Melissa creates a supportive and light-hearted atmosphere full of possibilities. Melissa recently made Vermont her home. She lives with her husband Jesse and her baby, Ava. She has lived all over the world and has created a body of work that includes portraits, murals, books & more. She currently has a personal studio at S.P.A.C.E. Gallery on Pine Street and some of her recent botanical work at Frog Hollow. She loves sharing the skills she has developed over the years with her students. 

Jason believes the skills of listening and humor to be powerful tools in building effective relationships in the classroom. He recognizes the capacity of arts education to foster personal and professional growth. Jason has over 15 years experience as an artist and educator. He has worked in the commercial arts, higher ed and currently in special education. Jason is a curious teacher who loves learning alongside students and coworkers alike. In the classroom he strives to give practical feedback and critical responses while maintaining a kind, fun and humorous tone. Raised on the east end of Long Island, NY he studied sculpture, drawing and art history at Maine College of Art. Later he received an MFA with a concentration in painting from Indiana State University. His genre influenced paintings, drawings and occasional sculptures can be seen on Instagram @jasongorcoff

Melissa values creativity as a medium for human connection and individual expression. As an artist, she cherishes both independent and collaborative experiences. Her years of teaching have shown her art is a skill anyone can learn as long as they have passion. Melissa is a native Vermonter and licensed art teacher. She is endlessly enthusiastic about guiding others through their creative journeys. Melissa seeks inspiration from her travels to new places and indulging in delicious food and sweets. She also loves a hot cup of coffee or tea, camping, and mystery novels. You can find her and her art and events in the greater Burlington area and Instagram @msauerart

Micaela loves working with students of all ages while sharing her passion for glass. She began her glass journey working with stained glass over fifteen years ago. Her love of glass inspired her to explore fused glass as well, which she has been enthusiastically doing now for several years. She has taken a number of advanced fused glass courses from a variety of places including the Studio at Corning Glass in Corning, NY. In the Spring of 2011, Micaela’s fused glass work was juried into the Vermont Handcrafters’ Association. Her work includes fused glass plates, platters, bowls, candle lights, sterling wire wrapped jewelry and stained glass sun catchers.

Elsa believes in teaching to individual children’s strengths and encouraging their own inquiry to inspire learning. By using emergent curriculum inspired by Reggio Emilia and the arts, she cultivates a joyous environment for learning and sees children’s self -esteem and love of learning soar. She earned her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Champlain College after receiving her Child Development Associate degree, as well as a bachelor’s in Sociology and minor in studio art from UVM. In her free time she loves traveling, playing outside, creating art, and spending time with her husband and children.

Sugar encourages children to ask a gazillion questions, try new things, get messy, and make mistakes because that is how they learn and grow. She focuses on designing opportunities for each child to explore, experiment, and create. Sugar holds an Elementary Education degree with a concentration in Art from UVM. Additionally, she has been a yoga instructor for over twenty years. She taught preschool for five years and was also a puppeteer with Puppets in Education. Sugar took a break from teaching to pursue writing and become a mother. She is thrilled to be back in the classroom. In addition to teaching, Sugar loves animals and spending time in nature. She plays guitar, draws, sews, and bakes. She loves to make meaningful connections with students and their families while sharing her many passions and excitement for life.

Claire delights in spending time outdoors, singing songs to celebrate daily life and making up fascinating stories. She is always eager to learn alongside the children in her care. Claire encourages her students to build confidence through the development of emotional regulation skills. She loves nothing more than empowering a child to be curious and actively explore the world around them. She holds a BS in Elementary Education from Green Mountain College. Her career path has encompassed stints in public, private, and Waldorf schools, as well as many years working as a nanny for groups of young children. In her free time you can find Claire puttering around her garden, visiting local bakeries, and curling up with her two cats, her partner, and a good cross-stitch project.

Chelsea is an enthusiastic proponent of play-based learning that includes music, artistic expression, and scientific inquiry. She brings a fresh take on fun educational adventures as she seeks to explore the world through a child’s curious eyes and open heart. Chelsea focuses on building strong relationships by creating positive interactions between teachers, students, families, and members of our surrounding community. She creates a nurturing and inclusive environment to ensure diverse and equal opportunities for all learners. Chelsea’s skills have been honed through a variety of educational teaching experiences across the state of Vermont and also in Massachusetts and Florida. In her time away from work, she enjoys gardening with her cat, Loki along her side, and with the loving help of her partner, Chris.

Josie is a strong advocate for performing arts, play, and outdoor exploration in early learning. She believes that children thrive when they are offered the opportunity to be curious, creative, and collaborative. Josie has an extensive background teaching dance and movement in preschools, summer camps, and public schools. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Early Childhood Education at Champlain College, and also holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Theater and Dance with a Virginia PreK-12 License to teach Dance Arts. Outside of work, Josie enjoys singing, playing the ukulele, spending time with her family and friends. She is so excited to be a part of both the Community School and Preschool classrooms here at the Davis Studio!