Marlaina Trepanier

Humanities Teacher for Grades 7 & 8

mtrepanier@oursistersschool.org

Marlaina joins the OSS community as the 7th and 8th grade humanities teacher. She started her 18-year-long career in education at a Reggio Emilia preschool program, and as a tutor and private violin instructor. She has since taught English and humanities in public high schools and private middle schools on the South Coast, provided music lessons, and coached cross country, track and field, and field hockey at the middle and high school levels. Marlaina earned a B.A. in Written Communication and Rhetoric from UMass Dartmouth, an MFA in Nonfiction Writing from Lesley University, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Education at Northeastern University. Marlaina’s doctoral research focuses on providing middle school students with opportunities that lead to student agency, and community connections that foster informed choice when it comes to post-secondary pathways. She is passionate about student-led education and offering voice and choice, and alternative assessment in the classroom. She believes in valuing each individual learner, and hopes her work will have an impact on shrinking the opportunity gap. Marlaina has lived on the South Coast most of her life, and currently resides in Dartmouth with her husband, two young sons, and a multitude of pets. When not teaching, she enjoys performing with her band, hiking, walking on the beach, sewing, and DIY house projects.