Meet The Team: staff and board
Kestrel is a collaborative learning community. Staff at all levels contribute original ideas, knowledge, and suggestions to help guide the organization. We plan together, work together, and connect with the natural world together. We pay fair wages and provide excellent training to qualified instructors.
Jessica Kagle, Founder & Program Director
Jessica holds a master’s degree from Harvard Graduate School of Education, and has a lifelong passion for playing in the woods. She has over 20 years of experience as a professional naturalist and educator, and a great love for the wildlife and lands of New England. She is also a certified K-8 science teacher with several years of classroom teaching experience in both public and independent schools. Jessica teaches primarily through asking children to design creations based on real experiences, and by encouraging them to be silly, adventurous, and muddy. She loves nothing more than educating people through relationships with wildlife. Jessica can often be found bicycling around New England or standing out in the rain watching frogs and salamanders. Jessica is certified in Wilderness First Aid, CPR, and is a certified Lifeguard..
Mat Schjetne, program instructor
Mat grew up in San Clemente, California, and earned his B.S. in Biology & Environmental Science from Gordon College and a Graduate Certificate in Geographical Information Technology from Northeastern University. He later completed his Master’s in Teaching at the University of Southern California. With over a decade of experience as a science educator, Mat designs hands-on, inquiry-based programs that invite students to think like scientists and explore like naturalists.
Having lived and worked in California, New England, and even on a small farm in Costa Rica, Mat brings a wide lens to outdoor education. He loves helping young people connect big scientific ideas to the living world right in front of them. Whether turning over rocks, wading into tide pools, or just noticing seasonal wildlife change, Mat believes the best learning happens outside—with muddy boots and curious minds.
Ethan roberts, summer instructor
Ethan grew up in Beverly, Massachusetts, and was a member of Scouts BSA all throughout High School, obtaining the rank of Life Scout. He participated in Kestrel as a camper in both the Survival Rockport Camp and Conservation Club programs. Ethan also worked with the nonprofit food-justice organization The Food Project, working on urban and suburban farms and gardens around the North Shore. Now a rising sophomore majoring in Microbiology at the University of Vermont, Ethan especially enjoys hiking, cycling, and being out on the water with the Vermont Rowing team. His passions include exploring wilderness areas while identifying, recording, and photographing the living things he observes, particularly local fungi, insects, and arachnids. On any given day, you can probably find him kneeling somewhere in the woods, trying to get a better angle to photograph a mushroom or a spider.”
Porter Danforth, Summer Instructor
Porter is a senior at Plymouth State University majoring in Adventure Education, where he has developed a passion for experiential learning, leadership, and outdoor recreation. Growing up in Marblehead, he spent a great deal of time exploring the outdoors, which sparked a lifelong appreciation for nature and adventure.
Porter has worked as a camp counselor, where he enjoyed helping others build confidence, learn new skills, and create meaningful experiences in nature.
Some of Porter’s favorite outdoor activities include canoeing, backpacking, and rock climbing, and he is always eager to explore new places and challenge himself through outdoor adventures.
Maggie knapczyk, Woodland Seekers CIT
Maggie has always loved being outdoors; attending nature camps since the age of 4. She was a member of Kestrel’s Conservation Club when she was in middle school and her cohort discovered the favorite Woodland Seekers hideout and made a documentary about its wildlife. She goes camping almost every weekend and loves to catch frogs and other creatures. Rocks are Maggie’s passion and she plans to pursue a career in geology. She is so excited to be a part of Kestrel and share her knowledge about nature.
amber espar, Substitute program instructor
Amber has worked as an environmental educator and community organizer for over 18 years. She has taught programs for ages preschool through high school with Kestrel, Groundwork Somerville, Mass Audubon, the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo, and the Cambridge School of Weston. Amber is part of the True Story Theater company, performing improvisation that celebrates human connection and promotes healing of divides. She has worked for Kestrel as an instructor on and off for over ten years, and especially enjoys bringing improvisation and storytelling into our science programs.
Tracy Bowen, Bookkeeper
Tracy is grateful to have grown up in a place and a time where she was free to roam unsupervised in the Great Sippewissett Marsh and play with the animals at neighboring Sacconnesset Farm on Cape Cod. She's a great believer in giving kids time to explore nature, and in Kestrel's mission; she's hopelessly drawn to working in non-profits. Plus, she enjoys an on-going argument with Jessica about whether cats or dogs are better (cats are).
Emma Kagle, canine staff
Emma helps out at our Woodland Seekers Camp and Conservation Club, along with making brief appearances at some of our school and other programs upon request. If you’re having a hard day, she gives out hugs and leans. She loves meeting all people, especially children, and likes pets and shaking hands for treats. She will bring you a toy. When not working at Kestrel, Emma loves swimming and more swimming, cuddling, belly rubs, and retrieving balls and toys,
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors consists of a lively mix of teachers, administrators, parents, field scientists, writers and an accountant!
Our board is highly active and involved in our operations.
Board Members and Affiliations
Anna DiPerna (Landmark School)
Bethany Ericson (Writer/Artist)
Caitlin Featherstone (Essex Elementary School)
Mark Maitland (Maitland Financial Group)
Deirdre Mulligan (Landmark School)
Justin Freedman