Communities That Care

Dalene was hired as the Five Town Communities That Care Community Coordinator in June of 2003. In her role as Coordinator and Executive Director, Dalene attends all CTC meetings, oversees program implementation, facilitates communication both between workgroups and between the Board and the Five Town Community, and maintains all records for Five Town Communities That Care. During the 2002-2003 school year Dalene served as a K-12 Science Teacher Leader for the Five Town CSD and MSAD #28, working with teachers and administration on curriculum and the development of a comprehensive local assessment system for science. Also during that year, Dalene was honored to serve as a NASA Teacher Associate for the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance, giving her the opportunity to work with science education leaders at both the state and national level. From 1993 to 2002 Dalene taught Chemistry, Natural Science, and Botany at Camden Hills Regional High School. Prior to entering the field of education, she worked as an assistant manager for a midcoast area restaurant. Dalene studied Biochemistry and Chemical Engineering at McGill University in Montreal for two years, and science education at the University of Maine at Orono. She was granted a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Science Education in May of 1993 from UMO. Dalene earned a Master of Science in Ecological Teaching and Learning from Leslie University in May of 2001. Dalene earned a Certificate in NonProfit Management from the University of Maine Hutchinson Center in 2004 and was a member of the inaugural class of the Midcoast Leadership Academy (2006).  She was also a member of the Hutchinson Center’s Partners For Success program for area nonprofits (2008). Dalene served for more than ten years on Belmont Fire and Rescue as an EMT and firefighter, and served for three years on the Morrill Planning Board. She also served as the Program Committee Chair of the Board of Directors of Tanglewood 4H Camp and Learning Center and on the Board of the Maine Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation.  In 2008 Ms. Dutton was appointed by Maine’s Governor John Elias Baldacci to serve on Maine’s Juvenile Justice Advisory Group for a four-year term. One of Dalene’s favorite ways to spend her time away from work is wandering the woods and waters of the family farm in Morrill. She also enjoys studying Mixed Martial Arts at Midcoast Martial Arts, (where she is pursuing a black belt) and cruising around in one of her classic cars.

Already a fan of FTCTC through his daughter’s participation in the STAR program, Alex joined Five Town CTC in June of 2011. He sees his role as sharing the CTC vision with the community in order to ensure its fulfillment. Alex draws on a background in PR, marketing and non-profit communications at diverse organizations including EF Education, Freddie Mac, and Broadreach Family & Community Services. Prior to relocating to Maine in 1999, he lived in the Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso, West Africa. He is a 2009 graduate of the Midcoast Leadership Academy.  Alex coaches soccer and cross-country in Appleton where he lives with his wife and two children.

Sheryl Whittier is the Mentor Coordinator For Five Town Communities That Care. She began working with FTCTC in 2004 as a Math Mentor, and accepted the position of Mentor Coordinator in May of 2006. Sheryl was trained as a Guiding Good Choices facilitator, and she began facilitating workshops for FTCTC in October of 2007. Sheryl Whittier has worked as a middle school teacher, first in Salt Lake City, Utah, and then in Camden, from 1978 to 1987 teaching all levels of Language Arts to students in grades 6 through 8 and all levels of math to students in grades 7 and 8. Sheryl has also co-authored several reading workbooks for Houghton-Mifflin publishing company. In 2007, Sheryl developed and launched the FTCTC Literacy Mentors program for use in the local area schools, grades 5-8. One of Sheryl’s greatest joys is seeing the students with whom she works gain self esteem and self confidence as they acquire skills necessary for success in school and beyond. Sheryl is an avid reader, and she enjoys spending time with her family. Sheryl lives in Camden with her husband and two sons.

Kay Stephens, a Maine freelance writer, has been writing about arts and entertainment since moving to the Midcoast in 1993.  A regular contributor to Village Soup’s magazine thescene, she also runs her own creative content and social media business. Her favorite age to work with is teens and tweens, spanning back to her involvement with Kieve summer camp, Mainely Girls, Zoey’s Room, and Zenith Alternative High School.  As the Editor of the Fivetowns CTC monthly newspaper spread, she looks forward to helping kids get their voices heard through traditional and social media.

Sandy Thomas has been helping FTCTC with its record keeping since 2007.  Sandy is trained in Business Administration and Accounting, and has worked as a payroll clerk and business manager for many local companies and non-profits.  A native of Maine, Sandy lives in Lincolnville  with her husband and her black lab.  Her grandchildren are the apple of her eye.

Danielle Dutton came to work at FTCTC a few days a week to help with extra tasks, but this soon turned into a full time job.  She graduated from the University of Maine in August 2010 with a B.S. in Ecology and Environmental Science.  She served in AmeriCorps NCCC* in 2006 where she did many projects including hurricane Katrina relief in Louisiana and Mississippi.  Her interests include mycology, entomology, bryology, astronomy, botany, and painting.   She lives in Portland with her fiancé, two cats, and a cockatiel.