Our Story

A lifelong resident of Western Maine, Jess set roots in the community pursuing her undergraduate degree at the University of Maine at Farmington. She then went on to earn her Master’s degree in Special Education, and has remained working in the field of education for 25 years. Jess has taught grades K through 12, in addition to teaching at the University of Maine at Farmington. A first-generation college student herself, she worked for a number of years with UMF’s TRIO Upward Bound Program, a federally-funded program focused on supporting low-income high school students to become first-generation college students. She also served as the Director of the Learning Assistance Center at UMF and most recently as the Dean of Students for Accessible Education and Student Support at Bates College in Lewiston. Jess also previously served as President of the Maine Educational Opportunity Association and served on the Board of Directors for the New England Educational Opportunity Association. Jess also served on the Board of Selectman for the town of Farmington from 2011 - 2014. Jess joins the Syntiro team excited to continue working with rural Maine communities to increase educational opportunities and access.

With over 25 years of experience teaching middle and high school, Sue has dedicated her career to empowering students both in and out of the classroom. Throughout her career, she has also served as a trusted student advisor, guiding young people as they explore their strengths and pursue their college and career aspirations. Sue is deeply passionate about working with schools, educators, and students to build strong, supportive relationships that help young people thrive. Her professional practice is grounded in building strong, trust-based relationships with students, educators, and school communities—relationships that serve as the foundation for student growth and success. Sue has contributed to two federally funded GEAR UP grants and is a dedicated advocate for the program’s mission to increase the number of students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. Sue lives in Augusta with her husband and their pets, two cats and a dog. They have two adult children and enjoy spending time together as a family whenever possible. Sue is an active member of her local Elks Lodge, where she volunteers in a variety of programs that raise funds and support initiatives throughout her community. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys traveling, reading, camping, and spending quality time with friends and loved ones. One of her favorite pastimes is exploring new places by motorcycle with her husband, combining their love of travel and adventure on the open road.

Mary is a deeply dedicated educator committed to improving the future for all learners. At the heart of her work is a passion for making a positive impact on the lives of others. As the Director of Student Services for GEAR UP Maine, she leads the development and implementation of a statewide college access and readiness program serving students in grades 7–12. This role involves close collaboration with school personnel, families, and faculty and staff at Institutions of Higher Education across Maine. Believing that strong relationships are the foundation of effective programs, Mary brings a detail-oriented, collaborative, and innovative approach to her work. Her strengths as a creative problem solver help ensure the program meets the evolving needs of students and schools throughout the state. At Syntiro, she is especially proud of her team’s dedication and commitment to serving Maine’s youth. What Mary enjoys most about her role is the opportunity to build lasting and meaningful relationships with educators, students, and partners across the state.

Noelle Federico brings nearly 15 years of experience working with GEAR UP grants at both the partnership and statewide levels. As part of the Syntiro team, she supports day-to-day operations and helps keep things running smoothly behind the scenes. Noelle handles Human Resources tasks such as employee benefits, personnel records, reimbursements, and time tracking. She also enjoys working on a variety of special projects, including organizing travel logistics and creating systems to track staff and district information—always with the goal of making processes easier and more efficient for the organization. What Noelle appreciates most about her role is the variety it offers and the chance to work alongside such a dedicated and caring team. She feels proud to contribute to an organization that is committed to expanding access and opportunity for students across Maine. Outside of work, Noelle enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. She loves being outdoors and especially enjoys camping, hiking, and exploring new places with her family. She also enjoys working on a variety of special projects, including organizing travel logistics and creating systems to track staff and district information—always with the goal of making processes easier and more efficient for the organization. What Noelle appreciates most about her role is the variety it offers and the chance to work alongside such a dedicated and caring team. She feels proud to contribute to an organization that is committed to expanding access and opportunity for students across Maine. Outside of work, Noelle enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. She loves being outdoors and especially enjoys camping, hiking, and exploring new places with her family.

Alastair brings more than a decade of nonprofit experience in youth development, program design, non-profit management, experiential education, and workforce development. Originally from the UK, he has called Maine home since 2014, where his work has focused on expanding access, opportunity, and voice for young people across the state. Previously, Alastair served as the Director of the Youth workforce program, Gateway to Opportunity at the Opportunity Alliance, connecting low income high-school-aged young people with paid, work-based jobs at Maine-based businesses and nonprofits. His extensive experience in coalition building and youth-led organizing in Maine has been instrumental in shaping his approach to educational and youth development programming and has given him the opportunity to spend much of his career partnering with Maine organizations, nonprofits, schools and public health programs to increase their impact alongside young people. Alastair is also an alumnus of the Equity and Feedback Fellowship with Evident Change and Feedback Labs, where he deepened his commitment to feedback-informed practice and inclusive program design. He currently supports college and career readiness programming for middle and high school students through the GEAR UP Maine initiative.

As a Maine native, Linda appreciates all this lovely state has to offer. Growing up in Augusta and spending summers at her family camp on Moosehead Lake, Linda believes that cherished time shared with family in the Maine woods has shaped her into the person she is today. She continues to enjoy outside activities such as hiking, swimming, and boating in the summer, and snowshoeing and ice skating in the winter. In addition, Linda loves to travel and has made numerous trips to France to visit her penpal of nearly 50 years, Isabelle. A lover of art and culture, visiting new places and meeting new people, Linda plans to continue traveling in the future. Professionally speaking, Linda was an art teacher in Maine for 25 years and is thankful for the creative and memorable experiences she shared with students in her classroom which she strove to make a welcoming, safe, and nurturing environment for all. Building meaningful relationships with students is the most rewarding part of teaching, and her position as School Specialist with GEAR UP Maine affords her the opportunity to continue this tradition with students in helping them plan for their futures beyond high school. Linda currently lives in Washington, Maine, a few miles from the farm where her dad grew up. She has two grown daughters, Laura and Caroline, who are artsy and spirited and bring her life much joy.

After spending the last 12 years living out of state, Amber has realized that Maine is where her heart truly belongs. She appreciates everything the state has to offer—from the beautiful views and outdoor adventures to the close-knit sense of community. Before joining the GEAR UP team, Amber worked in healthcare, a field she still contributes to part time. She enjoys building meaningful relationships and connecting with others, which is one of the reasons she’s so excited to be part of GEAR UP. In her role, she looks forward to supporting the staff in as many ways as possible and contributing to the growth and success of the organization. In her free time, Amber can often be found outside with a camera in hand, music playing, and dancing with her daughter.

Joe Walter (he/him) is an innovator specializing in educational and non-profit problem solving. He joined the GEAR UP Maine RISE team in 2023 to coordinate the grant’s projects, partnerships and reporting. He is a graduate of the Pioneers scholarship program at the University of Southern Maine and an advocate for sustainably improving educational access for Mainers.

With over 20 years of experience in the field of education, Jen has had the privilege of working with students across a wide range of educational levels—from teaching Pre-K to working with college students to help them realize their aspirations of studying abroad. She enjoys getting to know students as individuals, recognizing their unique strengths and needs, and providing personalized support to help them achieve their goals. Jen believes deeply in the importance of lifelong learning and growth, and believes that education should be a source of benefit and opportunity for everyone.

Holly Chapdelaine, Data Manager, has had a rich and varied career in education. As a first generation college student, she graduated from University of Maine at Farmington, Thomas College, and Northeastern University. Holly has her doctorate in Curriculum Leadership from Northeastern University with a focus on improving student transition from secondary to post-secondary education. Originally from Woonsocket, Rhode Island, Holly has worked as a high school English teacher as well as adjunct instructor at a number of Maine colleges. When she is not managing data, you can find her supporting her three children in their numerous athletic endeavors and adventures. She lives in Winthrop, Maine with her husband, children, and cat. You can also find her fishing, reading, writing, hiking and roller skating with various roller derby teams in Maine.

Stacey grew up in rural western Maine and is proud to be a first-generation college graduate. As a non-traditional student herself, she brings a deep appreciation for the mission of GEAR UP Maine RISE and feels truly fortunate to be part of the team. Stacey’s career began in Patten, Maine, where she worked as a teacher’s assistant in special education. Over the years, she has gained valuable experience in social services and workforce development, always with a focus on supporting her community. Since joining GEAR UP Maine RISE, Stacey has enjoyed building connections with students and staff across rural Maine. One of her most memorable highlights this year was organizing an overnight college immersion trip, where she accompanied eighth grade students on visits to three of Maine’s colleges—a transformative experience for many of the students. Outside of her work, Stacey loves to bake, paint with watercolors, and spend quality time with her granddaughter. She is passionate about helping students discover their potential and is dedicated to making a positive impact in their lives.

Brittany Rumery is a lifelong Mainer who brings a wealth of experience in higher education, and financial systems management to her role as Finance Director with GEAR UP Maine Rise. Her hands-on experience with federal student aid programs and regulations has honed her ability to manage financial operations with precision and care. As a former teacher and GEAR UP School Specialist, Brittany also excels in fostering connections with students and colleagues, combining her knowledge of education with her passion for equity and opportunity. When she's not working Brittany is likely outdoors with her husband, children, and/or dogs enjoying all that Maine has to offer.

Jill Plummer brings over 25 years of experience in education to her role as a GEAR UP Specialist with Syntiro. Originally from New Jersey, she relocated to Maine in 1990 after earning a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Communication Arts from Salisbury University in Maryland. She later completed a master’s degree in Instructional Technology from the University of Maine. Throughout her career, Jill has been deeply committed to student growth and educational equity. Most of her teaching years were spent in a small rural district, where she worked primarily with middle school students. She is also highly experienced in designing and delivering professional development for educators, with a focus on instructional strategies and technology integration. Jill is passionate about building meaningful relationships with students and colleagues. She believes in helping young people discover their potential, set goals, and build confidence—values that align closely with the mission of the GEAR UP program. Her work with Syntiro allows her to continue making a positive impact by supporting students and collaborating with schools across the state. Outside of work, Jill enjoys spending time at her lakeside camp, hiking, kayaking, making jewelry, and foraging for wild edible plants.

Kayla Hopkins is a dedicated communications professional with a deep passion for design, a strong connection to her family, and a genuine love for all things Maine. In her role with GEAR UP Maine and Syntiro, she has honed her ability to skillfully blend words and visuals, crafting compelling narratives that inform and inspire. Outside of work, Kayla draws strength and joy from her family and finds peace and creativity in Maine’s stunning natural landscapes.

I am an avid outdoors person and biological researcher who now researches ways to help school districts create a culture of continuing education and career preparedness while students are in K-12 and beyond. I have extensive experience using databases, spreadsheets and other manners of informational accountability. I have a desire to improve the lives of todays’ children and improve lives in rural Maine; my work experiences in Maine public schools and raising a family in rural Maine myself motivated me to work with GEAR UP Maine. I am a creative problem solver and freedom of ideas while maintaining the structure to get the work done. In addition to hiking and cross country skiing, budgets, financial accountability, report writing and spreadsheets are things that I consider fun! ​Something you are proud of at Syntiro: I am proud of the work that we do to assist rural, economically challenged communities in Maine. Our work with schools and students gives these communities and their children resources that they would otherwise not have access to. What do you like most about your role at Syntiro? I am supported by my fellow staff members and feel insured by our mission. I have the freedom to creatively solve problems, and do work that is meaningful.

Jordan Singh VanderBeek (he/they) is an educator and digital media teaching artist with over a decade of classroom experience. Their teaching career began when they were in high school, serving as a Summer robotics coach as part of a GEAR UP grant at California State University Stanislaus. They are an alum of Spotify's 2022 SoundUP kids and family Podcast accelerator, created educational animated videos for the NYC DOE'S department of Family and Community Engagement (FACELAB), and have created interactive video installations for kids and families in Portland. Whether they’re teaching STEAM, songwriting, or fiction writing–they center their student’s emotional growth. They grew up in Modesto, California in a two-faith household–Sikhism on his mom’s side; San Francisco Giants’ baseball on his dad’s. Ask them for music recommendations, tips for running a good Dungeons and Dragons game, or recipes.