Our Board of Directors

Profession(s): 

From 1980-2018, Joan was a Professor of Internal Medicine in the School of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania (Penn Vet). She served as Dean from 2005-2018, and retired to Maine in 2018.

Connection with Pineland Suzuki School:

Both Gardiner-based granddaughters began taking lessons with Betsy Kobayashi after being inspired by Anne McKee. Joan also began taking lessons with her then-4-year old granddaughter in 2019. Everyone stuck with it, and both granddaughters are now accomplished, advanced violinists. Joan enjoys playing when anyone will allow her to.

What Joan enjoys most about Pineland is the delight of seeing the students' and families' joy as they develop poise, mastery, and the ability to have fun playing music.

Paths to Help PSS:

Joan want to help Pineland to expand its reach and impact throughout the Central Maine area--and beyond!  The ultimate dream would be to have endowed funds to provide access to all, and to support professional leadership.

Some fun things: 

Joan enjoys her wonderful dogs and family and enjoys exploring her adopted home state of Maine.

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Profession(s):

Monica is an RN by trade but currently  holds the role of stay at home homeschool mom of three girls.

Relationship to PSS:   

The Fisher family PSS journey began before they knew it had begun! All three of girls attended the Kennebec Music Together program until the oldest aged out. At that point their teacher advised on what would be the next options for musical instruction. She listed off options of violin, guitar or piano lessons with instructors she knew of in the area. The oldest said right away with no hesitation,  violin! It may have been influenced a bit by having enjoyed very much the times Lori Scheck had substituted in class and played her violin!! That was always a huge hit for the girls. They began lessons with Lori soon after that and have been happily learning so much ever since. We are very grateful for the path that Pineland paves for the kids musically and otherwise. 

Paths to help PSS:

Monica hopes that her involvement in the Board may help her to lead other families to this joy as well. She feels it is crucial to the Pineland School to continue to increase enrollment.

Her focus as a Board Director will be on assisting new young families feel that the undertaking of becoming part of the seemingly overwhelming and at times truly overwhelming Suzuki method of learning is attainable in order to increase and retain young new enrollment.

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Some fun things:

The Fisher family loves time spent at their camp in the summers and downhill skiing in the winters among many other fun outings and vacations they enjoy going on together.

Profession(s)
Martha is a lifelong resident of Maine.  She graduated from the University of Maine, Farmington,  with dual degrees: in special education and elementary education.  She later earned a master’s degree in literacy from U.S.M.  Martha taught second grade for the Augusta School Department for 35 years.  She then tutored for the Special Education Department for 5 years before fully retiring.

Relationship to PSS
Martha’s granddaughter Olivia, age 11, is a student at PSS. When Olivia was 3 years old she attended a concert at Snow Pond and became enthralled with the music and stage presentation put on by Betsy Kobayashi and her PSS students. A few years passed and her desire to learn was still there so her parents signed her up for classes with PSS and bought Martha a violin for her 70th birthday.

 Paths to help PSS
Martha hopes her willingness to work and bring people together will help PSS to continue to flourish and enrich the communities it serves. She was impressed by the purposes of PSS set forth in the bylaws, especially the part that reads, “This organization is dedicated to nurturing each student’s character through the beauty of music, by developing musical excellence in a joyful, non competitive environment, and by enriching and educating the community through public performances.” She will strive to keep these thoughts in mind while serving on the board of PSS.

 Some Fun things:
Martha takes long walks through nature to enjoy, appreciate, learn about and marvel at God and His creation.  She plays and works with family and friends and also appreciates music, art, good food and company. She enjoys playing bridge and tennis.  She cross country skis, knits, listens to good books, likes to fix things and solve puzzles!

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