The Spinning Wheel:
- 7 years: “District Speech/Language Evaluator” - Evaluated and diagnosed all ages 2yrs.-21yrs. Reported on findings at CPSE-CSE meetings and connected with the parents.
- 4 years: CSE-CPSE Chairperson - Chair the Committee on Special Education meetings.
- 12 years: Speech/Language Pathologist - Built a specialized intensive language based program (IMLI) in the M.S. –H.S. to address decoding, comprehension, spelling and writing skills.
- 1-2 years: Speech/Language Pathologist - Conducted therapy sessions in West Hurley and Phoenicia.
Fondest Teaching Memory:
I had a 20 year old drop out student who entered back into high school so he could attend my class. Fast forward-I’ve recently helped his son be able to read on grade level, so the son won’t have a difficult time going through school.
Biggest Teaching Debacle:
I went to a Speech/Language conference with Barbara Boyce in Boston. During the conference, I had my purse with the keys to the car (I was the driver) stolen. As a fairly new employee, I thought I would be fired for sure.
Plans for Retirement:
Since retirement hadn’t been on my mind until the threat of another therapist losing her job appeared on the lay-off list, I haven’t been making plans. Don’t worry, I will make some. My memories of my job will always be particularly heart- warming. There hasn’t been a child that I didn’t care for and that I couldn’t help. I loved them all. My desire is to open up a private practice and continue doing what I love the most-helping kids.
Maybe with some free time, I’ll improve my tennis game, hike a few more mountains, swim more laps, and most importantly, connect with friends that mean so much to me. Fortunately, I have a loving, supportive husband, three lively, fascinating, grown children and two loyal dogs waiting for me to spend more time together.
Thank you to all the staff members (you know who you are) who made my job more enjoyable by providing lots of good humor with enthusiasm to make it possible to do the job the best that could be done.
A special thank you to MaryAnn Fraser for being a wonderful colleague to share ideas, concerns, and solutions within the speech department for Bennett Elementary.
A special thank you to Amy Gustafson, Melanie Feldman, Colleen Young, Carol Murphy for making the room environment so pleasant and supportive.
To all the DAT members - it was such a pleasure to work with some the top professionals from Onteora. I learned so much from all of you and I never laughed so hard. We were doing what now is being recommended across the country as an efficient method to streamline the process.
A special thank-you to Jane Chicoine for working with me to design the IMLI manual for struggling children.
A special, special thank-you to Margaret, Amy and Beckie for all the encouragement and support.
A special thank-you to Maureen Spada for her wealth of knowledge, good spirit, and friendship.