Who We Are

Mr. and Mrs. Fish are legendary pioneers in elementary marine education. Their innovative, creative dramatic teaching methodologies have been utilized in schools, aquariums and museums through-out the world.

Mr. and Mrs. Fish have performed in such venues as the Royal Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, The Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., as well as most every major aquarium in the United States.

They have also won numerous awards for their work including:

• The Thomas Jefferson Award for outstanding public service to the environment
• The National Water Environment Federation 1994 Schlenz Medal for nationwide contribution to teaching about clean water
• Gulf of Maine Visionary Award for their work with students and teachers in Northern New England and Canada
• The James Centorino Award for excellence in leadership in marine education
• The Gulf of Maine Marine Educators’ Association President’s Award to celebrate the joy and knowledge Mr. and Mrs. Fish bring to the children of the world
• The National Marine Educators’ Honorary Award lifetime membership in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Fishes’ pioneering efforts in national marine education
• Maine Science Teachers Association’s “Phil Marcoux Award” for excellence in ocean science education
• 2005 Coastal Living Magazine Award for Education

Elementary schools and families were Mr. and Mrs. Fishes’ primary target audiences, although programs were adapted to any age level.

Meet Mr. Fish

Jeff Sandler, a.k.a. Mr. Fish

Jeff Sandler, a former President of the National Marine Educator’s Association, is known in 20 countries and throughout the USA as “Mr. Fish” of the award-winning “Mr. and Mrs. Fish Marine Education Program.” During the school year, Jeff and wife Deb (Mrs. Fish) traveled to elementary schools throughout the world teaching young students about life in the sea.

In the summer, Jeff and Deb ran Fish Camp, an educational ocean day camp at their Fish Building on the campus of Southern Maine Community College in South Portland, Maine.

Jeff is known for his wonderful sense of humor. Kids really connect with him! He is also a brilliant communicator, adept at taking complex marine concepts and simplifying them so they become easy-to-understand for young students.

As “Mr. Fish” he is a fun, dynamic educator with a charismatic presence who captivates audiences when he is on-stage or in the front of a large group.

Jeff holds a graduate degree from Boston University where he taught environmental education while serving as Resident Director of Boston University’s Environmental Education Center at Sargent Camp in Peterborough, NH.

Jeff got his start teaching ocean science at Cape Cod National Seashore and is proud to have worked with Outward Bound, SURGE and Project Adventure back in the day.

A student of how life works in the sea, Jeff has always had a love of the ocean. As a young man he was a Lifeguard at Old Orchard Beach Maine, and a surfer. These days he relaxes by playing golf, cooking, and following the New England Patriots football team.

Meet Mrs Fish

Deb Sandler, a.k.a. Mrs. Fish!

Deb Sandler, the founding President of the Gulf of Maine Marine Education Association, is known in 20 countries and throughout the USA as “Mrs. Fish” of the award-winning “Mr. and Mrs. Fish Marine Education Program.”

During the school year, Deb and husband Jeff (Mr. Fish) traveled to elementary schools throughout the world teaching young students about life in the sea. Their travels have taken them to work with children in England, Scotland, American Samoa, Japan, Israel, Palestine, Indonesia, Canada, Bermuda and all over the Caribbean.

In the summer Deb and Jeff ran the Mr. and Mrs. Fish Summer Marine Education Program, affectionately known as Fish Camp. Fish Camp was an educational ocean day camp at their Fish Building on the campus of Southern Maine Community College in South Portland Maine. It gives Deb great joy to know that she and Jeff created this happy, fun, laughter-filled learning environment for so many children.

As the former Director of the Ocean Park Environmental School in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, with degrees in both Elementary Education and Marine Biology, Deb came to the “Mrs. Fish” position full of energy, ideas, enthusiasm and a love for the ocean. That has translated into an incredibly successful career of inspiring and educating about the world of water.

Keeping the Mr. and Mrs. Fish Program running takes lots of various skills. Deb’s creative gifts help create and design new costumes, while her managerial skills keep the books in order and camp running smoothly. Her curatorial skills enable the fish in the tanks to stay healthy, and her singing skills enliven the camp bus with song. Her acting and storytelling skills keeps the many educational shows sparkly and fascinating, while her love of science and the ocean brings the joy of discovery to life. Most of all, her love of children makes the whole picture work.

During her down time Deb loves to be in or on the water either sailing, kayaking, swimming, snorkeling, diving… or on land walking, snowshoeing, skiing, bicycling. She also loves to work with her hands gardening and around the house. Deb believes in service and gives back to the community in many ways… serving on several boards and singing in a choir.