MEET THE TEACHERS

Transition Team

Kristina Angelo

Kristina graduated from Youngstown State University with a Bachelor of Science in Education as an Intervention Specialist (K-12): Moderate/Intensive. She also graduated from Grand Canyon University with a Masters of Arts in Autism Spectrum Disorder. She been with Fairhaven since 2013. Kristina enjoys volunteering at a local animal shelter and spending time with friends and family.

Elementary

Laurenn Barthlemess-Shafer

Laurenn graduated from Youngstown State University in 2015 with a BA in Special Education moderate/intense disabilities. She worked for 7 years as an Intervention Specialist in Northwest Ohio. Laurenn recently moved back to the area and started at Fairhaven for the 2022-2023 school year. In her free time she enjoys the mountains, country music, anything Disney related, and hockey games (Go Penguins!). She is excited to be working with the Bulldog Team!

Transition Team

Kelli Caraway

Kelli graduated from Youngstown State University in 2001 with a BA in Special Education with a license in mild to moderate and moderate to severe handicap. She started her teaching career at Fairhaven in 2002. Prior to being hired as a full-time teacher in 2002, she was a substitute.  For 11 years she taught children who ranged in ages from 5 through 22. In 2007, she earned her Master’s degree in Special Education at Grand Canyon University. Then, in 2013, she earned her Early Intervention Specialist certification and taught in the Fairhaven Early Intervention program for 3 years. She is currently teaching elementary and continues to take additional course work in special needs education to further her knowledge. Kelli is married with two children and resides in Mineral Ridge.

Intermediate

Lisa Diamandis

Lisa graduated from Youngstown State University in 2001 with a BA in Special Education with a license in mild to moderate and moderate to severe handicap. She has a Masters in Special Education from Walden University. She has also completed the TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communication-related Handicapped Children). Before joining the teaching staff at Fairhaven in 2018, she taught at Youngstown City Schools. She continues to further her education by taking classes in Applied Behavior Analysis to become an ABA Therapist in the future to add to her education. Outside of teaching, Lisa enjoys spending time with her family; her husband and two children.

Secondary

Marie Downs

Marie received a Masters of Science in Education and a Bachelors of Science in Education, both from Youngstown State University and has been a teacher at Fairhaven since 2011. Marie is proud to be a Fairhaven Bulldog! She believes “Where ever you are, be there!” as you will typically find her at the Special Olympics basketball games running the scoreboard. Outside of Fairhaven, Marie enjoys time with her husband, Casey, and their two daughters, Abigail and Anna.

Secondary

Tara Foster

Tara graduated from Kent State University in 2011 with a BA in Education and has a Masters of Science in Education (Special Education) from Grand Canyon University. She was a substitute teacher at Fairhaven from 2011-2013 then taught at Leonard Kirtz School in Mahoning County for 6 years. Tara is very grateful for the opportunity to be back at Fairhaven as a full-time teacher! She enjoys spending time with her two children, Jasen and Tegan.

Transition Team

Jessica Mazei

Jessica has a BA in Special Education (Mild/Moderate and Moderate/Intensive, K-12) and a Masters degree in School Administration both from Youngstown State University. Jessica has also completed courses from Wright State University towards her Principal licensure. Jessica has been at Fairhaven since 2009.

Transition Team

Lorie Preston

Lorie has a Bachelor of Science in Special Education (K-12) with a license in Developmentally Handicapped and Multi-Handicapped from Youngstown State University graduating in 1987. Lori spent many summers as a teenager working in the Fairhaven summer program which inspired her to choose her career path. She began as a Substitute at Fairhaven School in 1999 then became a full-time teacher within the Elementary Unit in 2004. She has been a Transition Intervention Specialist since 2016 and is now at the Verostko CITE Center. Lorie enjoys spending time with her husband, two sons and her daughter-in-law, but her best times are spent with her two grandsons.

Transition Team

Jill Puckett

Jill graduated from Youngtown State University in 2001 with a BA in Special Education (Moderate/Intense, K-12) and has a Masters of Science in Education (Special Education) from Grand Canyon University. She has been a teacher at Fairhaven since 2002. Jill enjoys spending time with her husband, Marty, and their two sons, Ty and Kyle.

Intermediate

Joe Shewell

Joe graduated from Kent State University in 2006 with a BA in Integrated Social Studies (7-12). In 2010, he started working at Fairhaven as a substitute teacher. He then went back to school and received his degree as an Intervention Specialist (K-12) from Kent State University. Joe became a full-time intermediate teacher at Fairhaven in 2014. Outside of school, Joe enjoys spending time with his wife, Elizabeth, hiking and playing the piano.

Secondary

Deborah Snipes

Deborah holds a BS in Music Education (K-12) and a Masters of Science in Early Childhood Education and Special Education certification (K-12) from Youngstown State University. Deborah has been trained in TEACCH and has completed coursework from YSU, Kent, Walsh, Drake, and VESI and has received the Walter Horn Excellence in Education award in 2004. She has taught in Youngstown City Schools, YSU (as a part-time instructor), and Fairhaven for a total of 38 years.

Elementary

Autumn Spuhler

Autumn graduated from Kent State University with a BA as an Intervention Specialist for Moderate to Intensive disabilities (K-22). Prior to being hired as a full-time teacher in 2019, she worked at Fairhaven as a substitute classroom assistant for two years before finishing college. Autumn enjoys spending time with friends, family, and her two dogs, Minnie and Lola.

Elementary

Cassandra Yargo

Cassie graduated from Youngstown State University with both a BA and Master’s in Special Education (Mild to Moderate, Moderate to Intensive). She has been at Fairhaven since 2019 and previously worked at the Rich Center for Autism for 4 years where she worked with children of all ages. She enjoys volunteering with Special Olympics, walking her dog, June, and spending time with her husband and her family.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

Ryan Divens

Ryan Divens is a new member of Fairhaven Schools. Prior to Fairhaven, Ryan worked as an Athletic Director and Physical Education teacher in Miami Beach, FL. Ryan grew up in Howland and received his Bachelor’s Degree from Kent State University as an Intervention Specialist Mild/Moderate. He continued his education, completing his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership. Ryan loves watching sports (Go Steelers!) as much as he loves playing them. He is an avid golfer and plays any chance he can get. He is very happy to be back in the community and is excited to be a Bulldog!