Danielle Fisher Barschdorf

Science Department Chair
dbarschdorf@nya.org
Ms. Barschdorf’s Page

Danielle Fisher Barschdorf grew up in the great Garden State of New Jersey, but has been happy to call the great Pine Tree State of Maine her home since 2003.  Danielle is a graduate of Penn State University and is currently close to finishing her Masters in Environmental Science Education at the University of New Hampshire.   She has been at NYA since 2004, teaching a variety of science, mathematics, and life skills classes in the Middle School.  Currently, she is the chair of the science department, teaches 6th and 7th grade science, coordinates the Experiential Education program in the Middle School, and coaches Middle School girls soccer.  

Danielle came to teaching in the classroom through her experiences as an outdoor educator.  She tries to instill a love of the outdoors and a desire for lifelong learning in all of her students.  While at NYA, Danielle has traveled to many areas of the world to learn more about science.  She climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and explored Tanzania on safari, developed new field science techniques in Montana and Texas, studied and helped monitor the coral reefs in Thailand, and also studied marine and forest ecology in Belize. 

Outside of NYA, Danielle enjoys spending time with her two children and her husband.  Danielle is trying to figure out how to get back into training for triathlons, while including her family in all the fun!

---

Barbara Farrell

bfarrell@nya.org
Ms. Farrell’s Page 

Barbara Farrell has taken an interesting path to the field of science education; she began as an art major at the University of Delaware and eventually earned a B.S. in Environmental Planning and Design, with an English minor, from Rutgers University.   She worked as an Environmental Specialist for five years in an engineering firm in New Jersey before moving to Colorado to complete a teaching certification program at Colorado State University.   Barbara has lived in Maine and taught science for 14 years, 7 of which have been at NYA.  Currently she is teaching 8th grade Human Biology & Related Chemistry, 10th grade Biology and AP Biology.  Barbara has also taught a course she designed called Genetics, Oncology and Forensics, as well as chemistry, environmental science, aquatic ecosystems, physical science, and English.  She also tutors students in study skills.  

Outside of NYA Barbara enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and dog and doing many different forms of artwork in her studio at home.  She also volunteers for Ronald McDonald House and is on the Board of Trustees at her local library.  Someday she might even finish the novel that she started writing many years ago. 

---

Deb Adams

dadams@nya.org
Mrs. Adams’s Page

Deborah Adams joined the NYA faculty in 2008. Deb is a 1992 graduate of the University of Vermont (B.S.) and is currently working toward a M.S. degree in Secondary Education. She taught math and science at Central Maine Community College for more than 6 years before moving to secondary education. Deb’s first career, however, as an R&D Engineer in the medical industry, afforded her the opportunity to work with some of the top orthopedic surgeons in the country. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys being active with her husband and two children on the playing field, in the mountains, or on the water.  

---

Eric Austin

eaustin@nya.org
Mr. Austin’s Page

Originally from New Hampshire, Eric Austin moved to Maine with his family in the summer of 2000 and began teaching math and science courses at NYA that fall.  He has been an independent school teacher for 22 years, and, in addition to serving as math department chair, he currently teaches AP Calculus, AP Statistics, Advanced Physics, and Pre-Calculus AB. Eric has a B.S. in Physics from the University of New Hampshire and a M.S. in Environmental Management and Policy from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.  He loves teaching at NYA, a school he considers to be “the best independent day school on the coast of New England.”

Eric lives in North Yarmouth with his wife and two daughters (NYA ’15 and ’17), along with one dog, three cats, and twelve chickens. 

---

Liz Smith

lsmith@nya.org
Mrs. Smith’s Page

Liz Smith began teaching at NYA in the fall of 2008. A 2005 graduate of Wheaton College (IL), Liz holds a B.S. in chemistry with a concentration in biochemistry. As an undergrad, Liz toyed with several career paths, including education but ultimately decided upon medicine. Intending to enter medical school, she took a year off following graduation to teach English at a private language school in Tianjin, China. It was there that she discovered her passion for teaching and returned to Wheaton to enter a Master of Arts in Teaching program—a title that she will officially hold when she finally completes her thesis! 

Liz currently teaching all levels of chemistry at NYA, where she is the chemical hygiene officer and serves as an advisor to the senior class and to upper school students. She is also the varsity girls basketball coach. 

Liz enjoys training for races that she never seems to end up running, both watching and playing basketball, and spending time with her husband and son. 

---

Nate Smith

nsmith@nya.org
Mr. Smith’s Page

After a short stint in the environmental consulting world, Nate Smith quickly realized his passion was to spend his days with middle school kids, both as a teacher and as a coach. Nate earned a B.S. in Environmental Science from Allegheny College and a Masters of Education from Wilmington College. He taught for a year in Wilmington, Delaware, before coming to NYA in 2005. At NYA, Nate teaches both math and science in grades 6-8. He also coaches 8th grade soccer and runs the ski club that takes trips to Sunday River. Other activities that he has led or is currently leading are futsal (indoor soccer), ultimate Frisbee, acoustic jam session, and Google Sketchup club. Outside of NYA, Nate enjoys playing guitar and competing in local soccer leagues and triathlons. He loves living in Maine and enjoys spending his free time exploring this wonderful area with his wife and two daughters.