Ever wondered what it takes to become the Maine Coast College Essay head writing instructor? Well, it’s not just a love for writing that does the trick. How about four years of Apogee trip leading experience, years of teaching, mentoring, and guiding students through the writing process—and a genuine passion for working with young people on the Maine coast? Jack DeAngelis checks all those boxes and more.
Jack first joined the Apogee community in 2017 as a leader on our Maine Coast College Essay program. From there, he went on to lead our Pacific Coast bike trip in 2018, Alps Explorer in 2019, virtual Maine Coast College essay course during the COVID summer of 2020, worked in our office as a Summer Assistant Director in 2022, and helped facilitate leader training in 2023. All in all, he spent five full summers leading trips — talk about a full-circle experience!
Jack and his co-leader Grace after completing a Pacific Coast bike trip in 2018.
Jack and his co-leader Rachel pictured on Alps Explorer in 2019.
Jack graduated summa cum laude from the University of Richmond with a Bachelor of Arts in English. After college, he moved to Maine and joined The Leadership School at Kieve, where he developed his teaching practice while working closely with students in experiential classroom settings.
He went on to teach English at Lincoln Academy in Newcastle, Maine where he has now been teaching for the past four years. During that time, he continued advancing his education and, in the winter of 2024, earned his Master of Education degree from the University of Virginia.
In the summer of 2025, Jack stepped into the role of Head Writing Instructor for Apogee’s Maine Coast College Essay program, bringing both his classroom experience and his passion for mentoring young writers to the position. Jack’s teaching philosophy centers on helping students reveal themselves to an audience through writing. It isn’t hard to recount an event with words, but it is hard to sculpt a story in a way that offers your readers a discerning look into who you are and how you see the world. During a brainstorming workshop, he guides students through harvesting memories, articulating personal values, and developing an authentic writing voice that crackles with life. Supporting students through the writing process is more than just helping them draft and revise; it’s really about helping them hold up a mirror to better understand themselves.
Jack teaching one-on-one with a student at Lincoln Academy.
Jack and his partner, Nell, have made Maine their permanent home, settling in the coastal town of Dresden. Outside of teaching and facilitating, Jack designs and makes clothing on his sewing machine at home, explores the Midcoast woods and waterways, and gets outside whenever he can — most often by running or paddling a canoe.
We couldn’t be happier to have him on board for another summer with us — and we’ll try not to take too much credit for his love of Maine, which began back in 2017.
Jack teaching a group of students at Lincoln Academy.
If you or someone you know could benefit from our Maine Coast College Essay course, we encourage you to share this note and consider signing up here for one of our limited spots that remain across our three sessions!
Jack leading Maine Coast College Essay in 2017.