TEACHERS & STAFF

 

Undoubtedly, Lionheart’s greatest asset is its staff. The school’s concentration and caliber of teachers and licensed therapy professionals is unmatched by any other Special Ed program in the Southeast.

 

Lionheart Professionals

 

	Elizabeth Dulin, M.Ed. is the Director of Education and Admissions at Lionheart. Elizabeth is a Master level teacher, certified to teach pre-K to 12th grade. She received her degree in Special Education from Vanderbilt University. Elizabeth has worked over 20, years with children in various settings, that included both private and public school, and private practice with families. She has a blend of sound teaching practices and specialized training to work with children. During the past two summers, Elizabeth has attended the DIR Institute in Washington, D.C. and is a certified DIR faculty-in-training specialist. Elizabeth has also attended the Schools Attuned Mel Levine training and works closely with the staff to implement strategies for the individual students. She has a remarkable understanding of children, and uses the relationship-based approach to foster the growth and progress of each child. Elizabeth supervises the implementation of DIR principles into the curriculum. She also works with children in small groups utilizing floor-time. Elizabeth is a licensed professional special educator in the state of Georgia.
	Victoria A. McBride, M.A., CCC-SLP is a certified and licensed Speech and Language Pathologist and Director of Special Services at the Lionheart School. Victoria is one of the original professionals that started with Lionheart in the Fall of 2000. She has a wealth of experience working with children in both private practice and school based settings. At Lionheart, Victoria works with children on their pragmatic language skills, articulation and oral-motor difficulties, as well as other language based challenges. Victoria is also a DIR certified specialist, embedding DIR principles in her intervention strategies while working with the students and supervising curriculum objectives. In the Summer of 2005, Victoria attended the training level for Mel Levine’s Schools Attuned progam and utilizes the strategies from that to identify and meet the individual profiles of the students.
	Carol Spadafora, M.Ed., Dir-Specialist and educator has an education degree with a Specialization in Early Childhood Education. Carol works with children on their social and emotional challenges utilizing floor-time as the primary mode of intervention. As a parent of two children, Carol uses her professional and personal experience to help families learn to interact and engage with their children. She co-teaches parent training courses with Dr. Barbara Dunbar, a professional consultant for Lionheart. Carol has attended the DIR-Institute in 2005 and will attend again for certification in the Summer of 2006.
	Heidi Schaffner, B.A., joined Lionheart during the 2002-2003 school year and works as a Teacher assistant in one of the classrooms. Heidi has a Psychology and Studio Art degree from the University of Vermont. She blends her different talents to work with the students at Lionheart. Heidi uses her art talent to enhance self-expression and visualization skills. Her past experience as a book project coordinator and after school literacy program coordinator lends itself as a bridge to helping with reading and meeting curriculum goals. Heidi's resourcefulness and flexibility is utilized across the many different settings at Lionheart. She has training in Yoga for special populations and has used Yoga with children at Lionheart. Heidi is also ropes-course certified and works with the students on their recreation therapy goals.
	Gail Nearing, B.S., has worked with Lionheart since Fall of 2004 as a teacher assistant. Prior to that Gail worked four years in the preschool program at the Alpharetta Presbyterian Church Dayschool. Since July 2003 she worked with a special needs child utilizing floor-time. She works within the DIR framework helping meet academic goals for the students in her classroom. In the Spring of 2005, Gail attended the Infancy and Early Childhood Training Course in Washington, D.C. to gain a better understanding of DIR principles and supplement her training and education.
	Jody Kershner, M.T. - B.C. is a board certified music therapist. Jody works with all students at Lionheart on individual and group music. Jody started working with the Lionheart School in 2002-2003, employing her music experience to enhance self expression and social interactions. Jody has a background in both school and private settings.
	Ann Leverette, M.S. directs the assistive technology component for the students at Lionheart. Ann has been teaching children in some capacity for 30 years. With an undergraduate degree in Environmental studies, she spent many years involved with outdoor and experiential education. Drawn to helping the few children with disabilities who came with their class to outdoor experiences overcome the obstacles of camping, climbing, paddling, and ropes courses, she found her niche: guiding children with disabilities to achieve their fullest potential. With a masters degree in Therapeutic Recreation, Ann went on to co-develop a program at The Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia that taught children with Spina Bifida to be independent in their communities and families by learning social, recreational, self care, and problem solving skills. After 7- 1/2 years, at Shepherd, Ann went to The Marcus Institute in Atlanta to develop and run the child-life and Lekotek programs. Computer play became a vital part of the program as many children no matter what the disability could manipulate technology to help control their environments and engage in play activities. After five years with The Marcus Institute, the love of academics and learning sent Ann to the public school system. Here she was able to incorporate her experiential teaching background, her experience with learning difference and styles through work with the LD summer school, and the use of assistive technology to increase students’ capacities to learn and be successful in the classroom. Anxious to spend more time one on one with students and impact their learning she started ATL3, Inc in the summer of 2001. At Lionheart, Ann incorporates her experience in helping identify available technology tools for each student.
	Bryon Bartholomew, B.A. joins Lionheart as a Support Teacher for the new adolescent program. Bryon received his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the Southern University at New Orleans. He has received his Child Development Associate (CDA) credentials from Georgia State University. Bryon brings to Lionheart experience working with older students in after school programs in Georgia and at St. Leo the Great Catholic School in New Orleans. He has worked as a teacher in a Georgia certified Pre-K program. He has experience preparing and implementing weekly lesson plans for different age groups as well as organizing field trips relevant to recreational and academic activities for the students. He has served as a summer camp coordinator and mentor for students, providing counseling and helping with reading, writing and computer skills. Bryon joins the teacher in the classroom for the adolescent program and is involved with recreational goals and objectives for all the Lionheart students.
	Nancie Murray, M.Ed., Ed.S. has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Special Education, a Masters of Education in Special Education and Learning Disabilities. In addition, Nancie is certified as an Education specialist in Special Education and in general Early Education. She is the lead teacher for our Middle School students. Nancie has a number of years of experience in the public school setting with both middle and elementary school-aged children. Nancie has attended and completed the Mel Levine training for educators. She will complete the introductory DIR training course.
	Tamara B. Spafford, MBA, serves as the Executive Director for Lionheart. Tamara has a concentration in computer information systems and small business administration, working in various areas both as an employee, business owner and consultant. For the past five years she has attended continuing education seminars in learning disabilities and special education areas. Tamara attends to the managerial aspects of Lionheart, maintaining financial records, hiring professionals, negotiating contracts, taking care of payroll, overseeing professional development, and facilitating admissions. Tamara is one of the founding parents with a child at Lionheart.
	Sarah Provow, B.A., serves now as a volunteer and board member for Lionheart.  Previously, Sara severed as administrative Director for Lionheart. Sarah has a degree in Education and has been involved in education for 20 years.
	Jill Snell, M.Ed., has a Masters in Early Childhood Education for the Handicapped (N-3) and a Masters in Mental Retardation (N-12). In addition Jill has a B.S. in Physical Education. Jill comes to Lionheart with a wealth of teaching experience. She has evaluated children that have been referred to the school where she was teaching, she written IEP’s and has implemented educational plans. Jill will be the lead teacher for the youngest children at Lionheart.
	Christina S. Monahan, B.S. in Psychology from James Madison University. She is currently working on her Masters Degree in Special Education from Georgia State University. Chrissie joined Lionheart in 2006 and is currently a lead teacher in a classroom. Chrissie comes to Lionheart with an unbelievable passion for our special population of children. She works within the DIR framework to enable the children in her classroom to meet and surpass all of their academic goals. Chrissie has attended the DIR Conference in Washington DC and other workshops that have allowed her to continue to grow educationally.
	Craig Martin Canedy has been teaching both yoga and music in the Atlanta area since 1999. Craig has a bachelor’s degree in both Music Composition and Psychology. Craig is an internationally certified Kundalini Yoga Instructor. Craig is the owner and director of Muse for Life music, dance, & yoga studio in Sandy Springs, where inspiring inclusionary programs are offered for all ages. Currently, Craig is finishing his course-work for a master’s degree in music therapy at Georgia College & State University, and he is specializing in whole-body, multidimensional educational and therapeutic methods that incorporate music, art, and movement into standard academic curriculums. At Lionheart, Craig teaches yoga, music, and music learning. Craig believes that the whole body and senses should be involved within the learning process, and he incorporates this belief within the programs and activities he offers and develops for Lionheart.
	Kati Keyes,  serves as the Development & Marketing Coordinator for Lionheart. Kati has bachelor's degrees in Classical Culture and Latin from the University of Georgia. She will be aiding in Lionheart's fundraising and media relations efforts, maintaining foundation correspondence, and representing the school at awards functions and benefits. Kati's prior experience includes interning for The Atlantan Magazine and serving as the office manager for an Atlanta-based marketing firm.
	Lise Coston, M.A., OTR/L joins Lionheart as our licensed and registered Occupational Therapist. Lise earned a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from New York University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Miami. She previously worked as a provider of OT services in private practice, home and school-based settings for children ages 1 month through 16 years in Atlanta and New York. Additionally she has received DIR® and sensory integration training, and has years of experience working with children who have learning, sensory and motor challenges. We are thrilled to have Lise join our team at Lionheart.
	Paula Brooke, M.S., C.T.R.S., co-teaches a classroom and heads the vocational/transitional program for the older Lionheart students.  Paula realized her passion for working with individuals with disabilities through her undergraduate studies at Pennsylvania State University.  Although she majored in Biology, the additional coursework and volunteering experiences that Paula pursued opened the door to her future career aspirations.  She continued her education at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and obtained a Masters of Science degree in Therapeutic Recreation.  Certified by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation, Paula addresses students' quality of life goals using innovative recreation and leisure experiences as the medium.  She has worked and volunteered with people with disabilities in multiple settings for over ten years.  Over the past fifteen years, Paula has held several lifeguarding/swim coaching positions and is certified to lifeguard for Lionheart.  Paula's greatest enjoyment stems from empowering others to realize and utilize their strengths and abilities and to live every day to the fullest.
	James Haefner, M.Ed, received his undergraduate degree in Environmental Science from Allegheny College and his M.S. in Education from Duquesne University. He is dually certified in both Elementary and Special Education. Jamie’s previous teaching experience occurred in emotional and autistic support classrooms in private school settings with both elementary and middle school students. Jamie is actively training in the DIR approach and is excited to be joining The Lionheart School this fall.
	Ashley Cauthen joins Lionheart with a year of teaching experience at a school for special needs children in Atlanta. She received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Childhood Development from The University of Georgia, and she was recently accredited to begin the ICDL online training course. She had an incredible experience working with Island Dolphin Care as an intern researching and participating in dolphin therapy in 2006.  She went to China during summer 2008 to work with children with special needs alongside teachers and therapists, and is eager to share her experiences.  She is thrilled to begin the 2008 school year as a Lionheart team member.
	Audra Olazabal, B.A., serves as the Administrative Director for Lionheart. Audra's passion for experiential education started in her adolescence, when she became a founding member of The Home Project, a youth education program that supported adolescents in developing and implementing projects to improve their community. Audra earned her Bachelors Degree in social science from Bennington College in 2003. Audra manages office related items and serves as the liaison between Lionheart, the Alpharetta Presbyterian Church and other community programs. Audra provides support to the staff and parents, maintains Lionheart family, professional and staff databases, and is the vital link for daily operations at Lionheart.