MEET THE TEACHERS - Trumbull County Board of Developmental Disabilities

AllPreschoolGym/SwimTherapists

Preschool

Kathy Fleming

Preschool

Holly Heikkinen

Preschool
Cheryl Vanatsky (Weathersfield-Seaborn)

Occupational Therapist - Contract
Margaretha Logue

Speech/Language Pathologist
Erica Snelson

Speech/Language Pathologist
Lisa Pelligrini

Adapted Physical Education Teacher
Keith Pruitt

Preschool

Kathy Fleming

Kathy has a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Masters of Education in Early Childhood Education. She has taught at Fairhaven School since 1982. She enjoys her job and loves working with preschoolers. She serves on several committees and is in charge of the Books are Fun and Book Fair events.

Email:[email protected]

Preschool

Holly Heikkinen

Holly graduated from the Mount Union College in 2002 with a bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education. She started her teaching career in a kindergarten classroom and then moved to Florida, where she was a preschool special needs teacher for two years. In 2009, she and her family moved home to Ohio. She continued her passion for teaching special needs children and started working at Fairhaven in 2010 as an Early Intervention Specialist, which lasted five years. When a position was available, she became a Preschool Intervention Specialist. As a teacher, she continues to take additional coursework in special needs education to further her knowledge. She is married and has three children. Her entire family enjoys spending time outside and being active in sports.

Mail:[email protected]

Preschool

Shannon Lesnak

Shannon has a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from Kent State University. She also attended the Kent State University graduate program and earned a Reading Endorsement and Early Intervention Specialist Certificate. She has a masters degree in Early Childhood Special Education. Shannon has previous experience as a first grade teacher and a kindergarten/first grade reading intervention teacher and joined the Fairhaven team in 2016. She believes in the importance of building a caring classroom community and providing hands-on learning experiences that integrate literacy, math, and science.

Email:[email protected]

Preschool

Erin Morris

Erin has a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Intervention Preschool-Grade 3 mild/moderate/intense and an Intervention Specialist License K-12 moderate/intense, both from the University of Akron. Erin taught one year in a primary MD self-contained classroom (K-5) prior to coming to Fairhaven in 2013. She is on the Special Olympics committee and the Instructional Cabinet committee. She enjoys running, reading, being outside, and being with family. She is fond of the Bill Gates quote, “The first five years have so much to do with how the next 80 turn out.”

Email:[email protected]

Preschool

Lisa Moser

Lisa has been working with preschool aged children in both private daycare and public schools since 1984. She has a BS in Christian Education from Cincinnati Christian University and went to Youngstown State University to complete coursework for her teaching license. She worked for the Mahoning County Educational Service Center for 19 years before joining the Fairhaven family in 2016. She enjoys reading and hanging out with her grandchildren, friends, and family in her spare time. She is an avid Ohio State fan. O-H!

Email:[email protected]

Preschool

Danielle Mrofchak

Miss Danielle has been a member of the Fairhaven Preschool Family since 2017. Prior to Fairhaven, Miss Danielle worked as a Kindergarten teacher and also an Early Intervention Specialist. Miss Danielle received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Akron in Early Childhood Intervention Specialist and Intervention Specialist Mild to Moderate. She continued on to Youngstown State to complete her Master’s in Advanced Early Childhood Studies. Miss Danielle resides in Poland with her husband, two daughters, Allie and Emma, along with their dog Bailey. Miss Danielle truly believes preschool is the foundation building blocks to education. It is our job to teach the little ones how to LOVE learning.

Email:[email protected]

PreSchool

Molly Spisak

Molly has a BA in Elementary Education (K-8), Education of the Handicapped (K-12) and Early Childhood Intervention Specialist (Pk-3) from Walsh University. In addition to completing courses through the Autism Certification Center, she has completed the TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communication related handicapped Children). Molly has been at Fairhaven since 2015 and has many years of teaching experience across all grade levels, preschool through age 22.

Email:[email protected]

Preschool

Cheryl Vanatsky (Weathersfield-Seaborn)

Bio to come.

Email:[email protected]

Swim Instructor

Angela Verostko

Angela has a BA in Special Education (K-12) from Cleveland State University. She has been teaching at Fairhaven since 2013. She is the Lead-Teacher for the Summer Enrichment Program (a summer camp for special needs students). She is also the Special Olympics Swim coach for TCBDD.

Email:[email protected]

Occupational Therapist

Kathryn Bayuk

Kathryn graduated from Clarion University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and received her Masters in Occupational Therapy from Chatham University. She has been practicing as an Occupational Therapist for over 20 years and has been providing therapy services to Fairhaven School students since 2011. Kathryn enjoys volunteering for the Go Baby Go program and Therapy missions organizations. She also enjoys spending time with her family hiking, kayaking, reading, and traveling.

Email:[email protected]

Occupational Therapist

Jennifer Haines

Jennifer graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and received her Master of Occupational Therapy degree from Cleveland State University. She has been practicing as an occupational therapist for over 15 years. Her career at Fairhaven School started as a contract therapist in 2013, and she was brought on as a permanent member of the therapy staff in 2016. Thoughtful and creative problem solving is one reason Jennifer chose a career in occupational therapy. She truly enjoys her role in developing impactful solutions for children to gain independence and to discover their own unique role in this world. Jennifer grew up in California, and even though her family is still there, she has considered herself a Buckeye for 25 years. When she isn’t back home visiting family, she loves finding last-minute local adventures, traveling, going to concerts, day-hiking and gardening. Most of all, she enjoys spending time with her fiancé, five children, two grandchildren and giant golden retriever, George.

email::[email protected]

Occupational Therapist - Contract

Margaretha Logue

Margaretha (Marieta for short) graduated from the University of Stellenbosch Medical School with a B.Sc in Occupational Therapy. She as been at Fairhaven School since 2016, through an agency contract with Diamond Therapy, and previously worked at UPMC Jameson Outpatient Rehab for 18 years where she worked with children of all ages. She enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters hiking, biking, and listening to classical music.

Email:[email protected]

Physical Therapist

Loni McNany

Loni attended Lake Erie College for her undergraduate degree in Biology and Youngstown State University for her Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Loni started as a Physical Therapist at Fairhaven School in 2016. Prior to working at Fairhaven full-time Loni worked at Easter Seals and Mercy Health as an outpatient Physical Therapist. Loni enjoys spending time with her husband and her three children (who all attended Fairhaven Preschool) and traveling.

Email:[email protected]

Speech/Language Pathologist

Erica Snelson

Erica obtained both her Bachelor’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology/Audiology and a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Kent State University in 1995. She has been a Speech-Language Pathologist for many years working with children in pediatrics in a variety of settings: Early Intervention, outpatient speech and hearing centers, University level graduate student supervision, and school-based therapeutic services. She began he career at Fairhaven School working in Early Intervention (birth to 3) in 2009 and presently works with both Pre-School and School-Age students. She has a passion for knowledge, daily researching, and seeking out new strategies and best-practice interventions to help all of our students reach their communication potential. Outside of school, Erica enjoys spending time with her husband and two son, volunteering at church, watching football and playing golf.

Email:[email protected]

Speech/Language Pathologist

Connie Sulc

Connie graduated from The Ohio State University with her Bachelor’s Degree in Speech and Hearing Science, and from Kent State University with her Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology. Connie has been at Fairhaven School since 2014 and previously worked at Easter Seals of Mahoning and Trumbull Counties where she provided outpatient speech and language services to children of all ages, as well as some adults. She enjoys spending time with her husband, three children, and her dog Bentley.

Email:[email protected]

Physical Therapist

Barb Thomas

Barb attended YSU for both her undergraduate in sociology and her graduate degree in Physical Therapy. Barb started as a contract Physical Therapist at Fairhaven School in 2004 and became an official Fairhaven School employee in 2016. Prior to working at Fairhaven fulltime, Barb worked at Children’s Rehabilitation Center as an outpatient therapist and did evaluations for home-schooled children. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with family and friends including her husband, Tovy, and two children Aven and Kiki.

Email:[email protected]

Speech/Language Pathologist

Lisa Pelligrini

Lisa Pellegrini has been a speech-language pathologist Since 2009. Lisa graduated from Ohio university with a bachelors degree in hearing, speech, and language sciences in 2007, and a Master of Arts from the university of Akron in 2009. Lisa has worked for many different school districts and currently works part time for diamond therapy. When she is not working at Fairhaven, Lisa and her husband have three children who keep them hopping.

email:[email protected]

Occupational Therapist

Carla Nicholas

Carla graduated from Kent State University in 1992 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Education and did some substitute teaching at Fairhaven School before returning to school for her masters. In 1996, Carla graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Master’s of Science in Occupational Therapy and at one point provided OT services to preschoolers at Fairhaven School through an agency contract with Children’s Rehabilitation Center. She started at Fairhaven School this school year through an agency contract with Diamond Therapy. She loves being a bulldog! Outside of school, Carla enjoys spending time with her husband and family, doing crafts and breaking in a new puppy.

email:[email protected]

Adapted Physical Education Teacher

Keith Pruitt

Keith has a bachelor of science in Education with licensure in (K-12) Physical Education and Health Education. He also has a bachelor of science in exercise science with a minor in psychology. He is currently attending grad school at Wright State University. Keith obtained his Step Up to Quality certification for advanced preschool instruction in 2023. This is his first-year teaching at Fairhaven. He previously taught at Bristol Local schools for 15 years.

:[email protected]

Preschool Teacher

Jessica Logan

Ms. Jessica Logan has been a preschool teacher since 2005. Prior to Fairhaven, Ms. Logan worked as an Early Childhood Intervention Specialist for Trumbull County Educational Service Center in their Preschool Autism Unit and most recently for Warren City Schools in an inclusive preschool classroom. Jessica received both her Bachelor’s degree from Youngstown State University in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education with a Concentration in Autism. She continued her post graduate work in the Teaching of Reading at YSU. Ms. Logan lives in Cortland, Ohio and is the mother of two boys, Spencer, age 22, and Coleton, age 16. Ms. Logan believes that children learn best through hands-on, play-based activities in a warm and loving environment. She prides herself in creating positive relationships and experiences for her student’s and their families. Ms. Logan’s classroom was originally housed at Fairhaven school when she first began teaching preschool for TCESC and she is so happy to officially be a part of the Bulldog family!

:[email protected]

Preschool Teacher

Heather Hawkins

Heather graduated from the University of Findlay with a Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education, she has a Master’s Degree also from the University of Findlay in Administration and Supervision. Her second Master’s is from Liberty University in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis on Student Services. Heather has taught Preschool Special Education, Kindergarten, Second Grade, Third Grade and Reading Intervention. She recently moved to NW Pennsylvania to be closer to family. After serving Greenville Elementary in Greenville, PA as building principal Heather decided to return to her first love, teaching. Heather has two teen daughters, three dogs, a cat, and a few fish. When not teaching she enjoys reading, watching movies with her daughters and spending time with family. She is excited to serve the students and families at Fairhaven.

:[email protected]