Meet Our Faculty and Staff

Cynthia Bayne (joined WRUS in 2019) earned a B.A. in Secondary Education from West Virginia Wesleyan College, and specializes in Social Studies and Dramatic Arts. She also holds a Maryland Educator Certificate. Cynthia brings experience from public and private school settings, as well as abroad, having taught in Hong Kong and South Korea. She has also led learning expeditions to Thailand, New Zealand, China, and Italy. Cynthia has been instrumental in developing an engaging curriculum across content areas, structuring systems for mentorship, and providing specific support for students with Executive Function needs. Cynthia is dedicated to connecting with students and helping them become compassionate global citizens.

Elizabeth Greenwell (joined Wye River in 2022) teaches Spanish at WRUS. She holds a BS with a concentration in Education and MS in Community Counseling from Wilmington University and is a doctoral candidate in Special Education. Elizabeth has over 20 years of teaching experience in the United States and Costa Rica at the middle, high school, and college level. Elizabeth is a member of the Eastern Shore Writer’s Association and the author of 4 children’s books about adoption and diversity. She enjoys civic involvement with the town of Betterton, where she lives with her husband and three children.

Jamie Caron (joined WRUS in 2023) joins the WRUS faculty as a graduate University of Virginia with a Master of Education with a focus in Literacy (Chair’s Fellow) and a B.A. in English from Skidmore College. Jamie brings experience teaching at Horizons of Kent and Queen Anne’s County, Kent School, and Gunston School. Raised on our very own Eastern Shore, Jamie is thrilled to work and serve his local community.

Kirsten Mosher (joined WRUS in 2018) brings over 30 years of experience that she gained by teaching high school students in Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Economics from the University of South Carolina. Kirsten later earned her Teaching License in Mathematics and Certification for Highly Qualified Teaching in Middle/Secondary Mathematics. Before moving to the Eastern Shore in 2018, she taught high school math for 27 years. She was also the coordinator for the Teacher Education Program at Sewanee for two years. Kirsten aims to help students reach their fullest potential through participation in engaging learning experiences at Wye River.

Michele Cheyne (joined WRUS in 2023) comes to Wye River with over 30 years in science teaching and science teacher education. Michele taught biology, chemistry, environmental science, and genetics in summer school enrichment and remediation programs in Wisconsin. She then taught in the graduate science teacher education program at the University of Pittsburgh, preparing science teachers in grades 7-12. While at the University of Pittsburgh Michele worked with Pittsburgh Public schools to open two new schools: Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy and Milliones 6-12. Following her work at the University of Pittsburgh, Michele worked for the Knowles Teacher Initiative, a not-for-profit supporting early career math and science teachers. In her work there, Michele developed curriculum for these teachers as well as for school districts on fee-for-service agreements. Michele most recently has supervised and mentored pre-service teachers for Salisbury University. Michele is passionate about developing a science curriculum that provides opportunities for students to explain real-world phenomena.

Tom Fleagle (joined WRUS in 2020) earned his degree in Secondary Education for Mathematics at Penn State. He currently teaches Algebra, Geometry, and Physics. Tom comes to Wye River with a background in sales and property management. Wye River’s unique size and mission statement grabbed his attention and prompted him to return to the classroom. He hopes his students gain a better understanding of the big picture and appreciate the intricacies and beauty of math. Tom is originally from a small town in eastern Pennsylvania and has lived at Lake Tahoe, Reno, Honolulu, Copenhagen, São Paulo, and other unique places.

Dr. Amy Littlefield (joined WRUS in 2023) brings with her over 20 years of teaching neurodiverse students in all levels of education including post-secondary. She received her PhD in 2011 with a focus in Educational Psychology from The Catholic University of America. Amy also holds an MA in Learning Instruction from CUA, an MA in International Affairs from American University, and a BA in Psychology from Baylor University. Amy enjoys her newly established home on the Eastern Shore with her husband near her children.

James Martinez (joined WRUS in 2002) received his B.A. from Texas Tech University and an M.F.A. from the University of Delaware. He has taught fine arts at the University of Delaware and Delaware College of Art and Design. James teaches Makerspace and Project-Based Design at Wye River. He has led the school in the development of a new Makerspace which is a place for students and faculty to collaborate in the creation of hands-on projects utilizing high tech and low tech tools. James is the faculty advisor for Project Based Learning (PBL). He also supports students in portfolio development for graduation and college applications. James is a founding teacher at Wye River.

Jon Baker (joined WRUS in 2018) has an impressive work history and two Master's Degrees; one in English and one in Library & Information Science. In addition to teaching English Literature here in the US, he has also taught conversational English in South Korea. Jon has led many outdoor programs for students including biking, hiking, skiing, and paddling. He also prepares students for a healthy lifestyle by providing them with insights on nutrition, consciousness, and stress/anxiety reduction. Overall, he loves the challenge/reward balance of teaching in such a creative, agile, and research-informed learning community.

Lydia Meeks (joined WRUS in 2006) received her B.A. in History from the College of Wooster. Afterward, Lydia completed several post-graduate credits in teaching. She has been teaching, substituting, and tutoring for over 15 years at Wye River. Lydia is dedicated to bringing history to life and helping students to build connections between themselves and the past. She wants students to leave social studies classes with the ability to have an opinion, fact checks that opinion, and then support it. Today's world needs citizens who make independent decisions and Lydia teaches students with that goal in mind.

Shawna Buckley (joined WRUS in 2023) serves as our School Counselor. An experienced educator teaching Spanish to all grade levels for seven years at an independent school on the Eastern Shore, Shawna received her Masters in Social Work from Howard University in 1993 and served as a social worker in the District of Columbia, Connecticut, and on the Eastern Shore before transitioning to education. Her focus in social work entailed working with children and families in community and clinical settings marshaling appropriate therapeutic and academic services to meet the needs of clients to help them maximize their potential. She is excited to bring this experience to WRUS. Shawna lives in Chestertown with her husband and four children.