Our Community
Our Community
Founder’s Note
I remember so well a phone call I received one evening at 11pm. As the founder and principal of Touchstone, I often got calls in the evening—parents who wanted to talk about their children, a teacher with a curriculum question, or Ms. Angela calling to discuss an issue that had come up during the school day. But this call was different. The caller was an 8-year-old Touchstone student who was crazy for math. He wanted me to see a very cool fractal that he had found on YouTube, and it just couldn’t wait until the next day.
Years earlier, a group of ten families and one extraordinary teacher embarked on a mission to start an elementary school. A school where students design, organize, present, examine, improvise, perform, hypothesize, identify, publish, and build. An extraordinary school.
The 8-year-old caller personifies what the founders hoped would happen to our students — that they would get excited by and engaged in their learning. Little did we know they would sneak out of bed to call their principal about math!
Founding Touchstone with these families and Ms. Angela, and working with the teachers, students and families of Touchstone ever since has been the most rewarding experience of my life. Tasha vanderLinde, Founder
Our Principal
Dear Parents,
It is my pleasure to introduce you to Touchstone! The unique learning experience we provide stems from two fundamental beliefs. First, every student has unique talents, needs, interests, and learning styles. Second, a strong partnership between home and school ensures each child is reaching his or her greatest potential. At Touchstone, we carefully tailor students’ educational plans as they learn at their own pace. Our passionate and experienced teachers employ creative teaching and assessment methods to meet each student’s needs. Through a well-rounded and challenging curriculum, we strive for academic excellence. We believe in developing leadership and critical thinking skills so that our students become confident, inquiring, and compassionate life-long learners. We also believe in the dignity and integrity of each student. Partnering with parents, we support the development of the whole child.
Our website will answer many of your questions, but the best way to get a feel for our unique school is to come and visit us. I invite you to book a tour so you can see our teachers and students in action. You will leave knowing that education can be a fun and extraordinary experience for your child. I look forward to meeting you and your child!
Warm regards,
Angela Campbell, Principal
Our Staff
A fun and creative bunch, our dedicated faculty and staff make every day an extraordinary experience for the kids at Touchstone Academy.
Elspeth Adams – Preschool Teacher
Angela Campbell – Principal
Alison Campbell – Music Teacher
Meghan Clarke-Forret – French and Physical Education Teacher
Jennifer Cyr – Preschool Teacher
Marcia Dysart – Grade 5 Teacher
Cindy Gowan – Junior and Senior Kindergarten Teacher
Katie Hunter – Grade 3-4 Teacher
Christina Keirstead – Office Accountant and Manager
Aisha Kindred – Grade 1-2 Teacher
Kelsey Levenshulme
Abby Nice – After School Teacher
Our Board of Directors
The Board of Directors are elected and appointed by the Parent Body. The Directors actively support and promote the school’s mission, vision, strategic goals, and policy positions.
2020-2021 Directors
Angela Campbell – Principal
Jessica Cormier – Chair, Parent
Steve Carson – Community Member
Candace Davis – Parent
David Donovan – Parent
Johannes Dunn – Parent
Lindsay Langille – Parent
Brent McGovern – Parent
Tasha vanderLinde – ex officio, Founder