Caleb Atwood
Support Staff
Hi there! I’m a Keene native and got my Bachelor’s in Studio Arts at Landmark College in Putney, VT. I spend much of my free time reading, cooking, hanging out with my cat, coordinating large get-togethers with my friends, and immersing myself in various forms of art including photography, painting, sketching, collage, and creating installation pieces. Throughout my life I have traveled to many places and been exposed to multiple different cultures, which has given me an appreciation for new experiences. I’m excited to bring my enthusiasm for helping others and my passion for creativity to MC2!
Derek Blunt
Teacher/Advisor
Hello, I am very excited to be joining the MC2 team. I graduated from Keene State College in 2015 where I earned my Bachelor’s degree in mathematics. I had previously completed the Foundations in Education program at the Concord Technology Regional Center. I have long had a passion for education anchored firmly in my beliefs that effective education is paramount to ensure a better global society. In my personal life I enjoy exploring and researching the broad world of mathematics as well as being outdoors whenever I can (hiking, camping, fishing etc..). I am also a big music nerd! Most of my free time is spent listening to music and searching for new artists to listen to and write about. I am always up for a good conversation about music, regardless of genre!
Elizabeth Cardine
Lead Teacher/Advisor/Internship Coordinator
I began my teaching career at the original Monadnock Community Connections program from 2003-2010. It was a great fit for me coming out of college with a dual degree in Physics and Studio Art. I am a Keene native married to a Swanzey local and together we have three young boys who keep us very busy and our home full of Legos. My family is a teaching family, passionate about creativity and learning, and we are all life-long participants in the creative problem-solving program Destination ImagiNation (formerly Odyssey of the Mind). I’m always ready for a pick-up game of Ticket to Ride or Ultimate Frisbee.
Rosie Minich
Teacher/Advisor
I am so excited to be here at MC2! I began my teaching career in Minnesota at various environmental education centers and public schools. I got my degree from a small college in Saint Paul, MN in education and biology. As a naturalist, I love exploring the ecosystems of new places. I am excited to hike, botanize and generally adventure in my new home. I moved to New Hampshire in September of 2019 right after getting married! My husband and I live near some great trail systems in Gilsum. In my spare time I love knitting, running, hiking and chatting. I am so excited to be a part of this wonderful community.
Sarah Stout
Teacher/Advisor
Hey MC2 community. I grew up in Fitzwilliam on a cattle farm. I also participated in 4-H and various other youth groups. My animals are a huge part of my life. I have two dogs, a horse, and two step-children, all of which keep my significant other and me very busy. When I’m not teaching or with my children, I am in the barn or walking with my pups.
I received my teaching credentials at New England College in Henniker, NH. My degree is in Comparative Literature with a concentration in Secondary Education. I began my teaching journey at a Montessori school and then moved to Marlborough Elementary before joining the MC2 team.
I have entered into my sixth year at MC2. Over the years I have seen MC2 undergo many changes. This has been a wonderful experience and great journey. I am so excited to see what the next years bring for us as an organization.
I come to MC2 with a background in birth work, childbirth education, reproductive health and specializing in helping families adjust to life with a new baby. I love spending time with my two daughters, reading, working in my garden and making herbal remedies with my plant allies. I am also passionate about designing workshops for women’s health and wellness.
Chris O’Reilly
Executive Director/School Leader
I have lived in the Monadnock region for the better part of my life and have worked in education for the past fifteen years. I have had the privilege of working for Making Community Connections as school leader since the Keene campus opened in August of 2015 and was actively involved in the planning process in the two years prior to its opening.
I completed my undergraduate work at Keene State College and attended both Antioch University and Plymouth State University where I earned my graduate and post-graduate degrees.
In my former professional life, I was a small business owner, worked in the residential and commercial construction trades, and was a technician in the recreational motorsports industry. I enjoy spending time with my family, hiking, kayaking, and cycling whenever I get the chance.
I look forward to continuing to serve the students and families in our community with an opportunity to engage in a student-centered learning environment that fits their individual needs.
Wendy Rezzonico
Support Staff
I have enjoyed being part of MC2 Monadnock since January of 2016. Born, raised, and living in Keene, I spent 20 years away to “round out my character” in diverse locations from coast to coast and in Canada. I’ve had a lifetime of community involvement through churches, non-profits, schools, co-ops, musical groups, volunteer work, working with disabled individuals and living in intentional community. Before coming to MC2 I worked three years in special education in elementary schools. I then spent 14 years enthusiastically teaching and learning from teens in KHS’s Learning Disabilities Collaborative. I ran a successful business for over 30 years and raised two children. I love the outdoors and relished 20 summers as a co-leader of Roots and Wings Nature Camp for Children. My lifelong passion for singing, especially for sacred music from various world cultures, has brought 45 years of involvement in performing and recording with a wide variety of groups. I love working with young people and am honored to be part of the MC2 community.
Danielle Sanderson
Case Manager/ Reading Specialist
After I received my undergraduate degree and teaching credentials from Keene State College, I fell in love with the quaint little town of Keene, NH and decided to stay!! I later received my Masters of Education with a focus in Special Education from Plymouth State University. After working in public schools as a Special Educator and Case Manager for 10 years (where I received multiple certifications in specialized reading programs such as the Wilson Reading System, Lindamood Bell and Orton-Gillingham programs) I decided to start my own business as a Reading Consultant, which I have been doing for the last 12 years. My love for learning differences and teaching students to learn reading in new ways has lead me to MC2! I have been with MC2 since 2015 and I’m so happy to be here! I look forward to working closely with students to help them in their journey to become the best learners they can be, along with the staff and parents who support them!
Eric Snare
Support Staff
I have been involved with theatre since early childhood, and with improvisational theatre since joining ActingOut in 2000. With a BA in Improvisational Arts from Keene State College, I have taught both beginning and advanced improv skills for MoCo Arts’ Creative Arts at Keene Summer Camp and as a Staff Member. I have also served as an Americorps Volunteer. I have seen theatre transform both the students I teach and the communities I live in, time and again. It is this capacity for spurring positive change and growth that ultimately brings me to both the classroom and the stage, and that fuels my passion for teaching.