About Us
We are a group of professionals, parents and educators who are committed to free, democratic, Sudbury school for students ages 4 - 18 at the Jersey Shore.
Jeri Quirk, Ph.D. has a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Mental Health Counseling. She has been a teacher and administrator in public and private schools for over 20 years and was a co- founder of another Sudbury school, Spring Valley School, in Palm Harbor, FL in 1997. She deeply enjoys the myriad learning pursuits of children who are free to follow their inner passions. As a psychotherapist, Jeri has long been apprehensive about the negative impact of coercive education on children, teenagers and our society. Her doctoral research documents her concerns about traditional schooling and demonstrates the more positive and holistic development of students at Sudbury schools.
Katie Quirk Finn has been a proponent of Sudbury education since she read Free at Last over ten years ago. She is a graduate of Wake Forest University with a bachelor's degree in Communications. Katie worked as a Youth Development Specialist in the suburbs of Boston and then served as Director of Communications for a county Sheriff's office before she left to pursue her dream of a film career. She is now the co-owner of quirkish films where she produces and acts in independent films. She is married to Robert Finn and the proud parent of a one year old son who she credits as her inspiration for helping to start The Jersey Shore Free School.
Robert Finn, a native of Ireland, is the Head of FX Complex Risk trading for North America at Deutsche Bank, NY. He received his undergraduate degree in Pure Mathematics and Statistics from Queens University in Northern Ireland and went on to get a Masters in Financial Mathematics from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. He moved from London to the United States in 2003 when Merrill Lynch recruited him for their New York desk. He and his wife Katie have been summering on the Jersey Shore for five years and moved here permanently with their son last year. Robert has been a self-directed learner with a love of math his whole life. He knew all of his multiplication tables at age 4 and no one knew how he learned them! He was bored when he had to sit and be 'taught' at school. He is thrilled that his son is going to get the opportunity to flourish in this environment.
Heather Cosimano is a graduate of West Virginia University with a B.A. in Communications and has received a CEC (Certified Empowerment Coach) and an AELC (Accredited Energy Leadership Coach) from iPEC Coaching School. She works as a Life Coach and is the owner of BEE Coaching (Balanced Empowered Extraordinary). In her 'past life' she worked as a Human Resource Manager for Ann Taylor in NYC where her interest in people and learning styles developed. She is married to Michael Cosimano, and is the mother of two busy young boys. As she watched them progress, she noticed that they were often deeply involved in their play activities. She listened as her older son commented that he didn't like his nursery school when they 'made him' come to circle time when he was in the middle of playing something important to him. As she researched the value of play in children’s development, she discovered Sudbury education.
Sherry Goldman, LCSW, is a psychotherapist and Life Coach. She uses innovative techniques
to facilitate true healing such as EFT & Energy Psychology, The Law of Attraction, Hypnosis, EMDR, and other Transformational
Processes. Her specialties include Emotional and Performance Breakthroughs, Abundance
and Prosperity, The Law of Attraction & Positive Thinking, Freedom from Emotional Eating, Smoking & Habit Control, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. She does private work, couples,
workshops, and teleclasses. Visit www.sherrygoldman.com for information. Sherry
knows, in her heart, that her use of the Law of Attraction helped bring the Jersey
Shore Free School to this area, because she wanted it so passionately. She is
more than thrilled that her 5 year old daughter, Nelia, has been a student at
this wonderful school since the first day.
Debbie Peterson graduated from Muhlenberg College with a bachelor's degree in psychology and completed her master's degree program in writing and publication design from the University of Baltimore in 1995. She has taught literature and writing classes at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island and more recently at Brookdale Community College. With her husband, Doug and two children, Ty and Jamie, Debbie resides in Oceanport and is currently the leader of the Monmouth County chapter of the Holistic Moms Network. Certified in health and nutrition counseling from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and Columbia University, Debbie owns her own counseling business called 180 Health, dedicated to spreading awareness of a healthy lifestyle. Debbie’s personal mission, to inspire positive change in the world, has also been a driving motivation in her helping to start the Jersey Shore Free School, a Sudbury School.
Dr. Douglas Peterson, originally from Nutley, NJ, works as a general family dentist at Lincroft Village Dental Care in Lincroft, NJ. Prior to receiving his doctorate degree from the University of Maryland at Baltimore, he obtained his undergraduate bachelors degree in Mathematics and Natural Science from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA. Dr. Peterson was the Director of Dental Services for the East Bay Community Action Program in Newport, RI, a branch of the US Public Health Service. The Petersons moved home to NJ to be closer to their immediate families. Dr. Peterson became inspired to help start the Jersey Shore Free School after attending one of Dr. Quirk's talks about the more positive academic and psychological development of children in the Sudbury education model. He wants the absolute best for his children and believes their self esteem will soar as they follow their inner passions in learning and life.
Dawne Vrabel is an Integrative Nutrition practitioner, Certified Herbologist, Reiki Master and Molecular Biologist. She educates and empower mothers and moms-to-be through her private practice and as Co-Leader of the Monmouth County Chapter of the Holistic Moms Network (www.holisticmoms.org). She is Co-Founder of Citizens for a GMO Free World (www.gmofreeworld.org), Nutritional Advisor for a Candida awareness and support organization (
Dawne is mom to 2 naturally birthed boys, ages 2 and 6. She is passionate about educating moms about mindful parenting, conscious health and food choices and child-directed education.
©2008 The Jersey Shore Free School