Mr. Dexter grew up on the coast of Maine, and enjoys spending time walking on the beach, hiking in the woods, and visiting coastal islands and sea ports by sail. To his childhood he attributes his appreciation for nature and the outdoors. As a young man he attended Ithaca College in New York, and graduated with a degree in English Literature. Later he attended Wheelock College in Boston to earn a Master's of Science in Education. He attended Lesley University in Cambridge to become certified as a literacy coach and trainer, and also the Education Collaborative for Greater Boston where he obtained his administrative certificate in elementary education. Most recently he was certified in Sheltered English Immersion through Gordon College. Mr. Dexter has taught grades three, four and five over the course of twenty years in the state of Massachusetts. He values a balanced program of social competence and academic rigor.