tiny-k Early Intervention

Dena Bracciano
Coordinator - tiny-k Early Intervention
(785) 843-3059
tinykdena@sunflower.com

Degrees:
B.A. - Human Development and Family Life, University of Kansas 1986
M.S. Ed - Special Education, Early Childhood, University of Kansas 1997
Holds Teaching Licenses in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education

Experience/Field of Interest:
Dena has worked in the fields of Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education since 1986. She has worked as the Coordinator of tiny-k Early Intervention since June 1995. Her experiences include working with children with a variety of disabilities and developmental delays, with a special interest in babies who are born prematurely or are medically fragile.

Personal Information:
Dena is a Lawrence native. She lives with her two sons and dog Happy. She enjoys playing golf, softball and volleyball, as well as watching basketball and football. Other interests include gardening/landscaping, reading, and hanging out with friends and family.


		*Board Members* (scroll down for bios) Front (L to R): Mike Malm (Board Treasurer), Dana Peterson (Board Co-Chairperson), Jamie Sweeney (Board Co-Chairperson), Mellisa Goreham (Secretary). Back (L to R): Rusty Schnur-Shelton, Michelle Kueser, Robyn Elder, Dena Bracciano (Coordinator), Kristen Paulson, Leslie Miller, Nancy Longhurst, Greg Cromer and Teresa Schwab. Not pictured above: Stacey Anderson and Becky Cheek-King.

			*Stacey Anderson* *Physician’s Assistant at Family Medicine Associates* for the past 8 years. rsa4ku@sunflower.com Interest in tiny-k Early Intervention: Special interest in working with developmental disabilities led to an interest in a medical career. Personal Information:** Stacey is a graduate of the University of Kansas and Wichita State University. She is originally from Valley Center, Kansas. She is married to Ryan and has one daughter, Ashlee and a dog, Jessica.

			*Dena Bracciano* Coordinator - tiny-k Early Intervention (785) 843-3059 tinykdena@sunflower.com Degrees: B.A. - Human Development and Family Life, University of Kansas 1986 M.S. Ed - Special Education, Early Childhood, University of Kansas 1997 Holds Teaching Licenses in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education Experience/Field of Interest: Dena has worked in the fields of Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education since 1986. She has worked as the Coordinator of tiny-k Early Intervention since June 1995. Her experiences include working with children with a variety of disabilities and developmental delays, with a special interest in babies who are born prematurely or are medically fragile. Personal Information: Dena is a Lawrence native. She lives with her two sons and dog Happy. She enjoys playing golf, softball and volleyball, as well as watching basketball and football. Other interests include gardening/landscaping, reading, and hanging out with friends and family.

			*Becky Cheek-King* Team Leader, Child & Family Services at The Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center jasonandbecky@sunflower.com Interest *in tiny-k Early Intervention:* I’ve worked with children and their families since getting my masters in clinical psychology and over the years it has become so clear that the earlier problems can be addressed the better. I’ve often referred families to tiny-k to get screenings and services, and then I had a child of my own with special needs. I was so impressed with the services that my daughter received from tiny-k that I’ve wanted to stay involved with them even though my daughter is now too old to receive their services. Personal Information: I’ve worked at Bert Nash for 9 years now running a team of therapists and case managers that provide services to children and families in their homes and communities. Before that, I commuted to Topeka for five years to work at the mental heath center there. I have a wonderful husband and a 3 ½ year old daughter who is the light of our lives. We enjoy dancing to silly music, singing in the car, and lots of Chutes and Ladders games. I love to sing, dance, cook and work in my flower beds.

			*Greg Cromer* President and Broker, American Real Estate & Investments, Inc. *Interest in tiny-k Early Intervention:* Child received quality services for low muscle tone. Personal Information: Greg has spent most of his life in Lawrence, attending both Lawrence High and Kansas University, where he majored in English. Prior to his present position with a local commercial real estate firm, he lived in Chicago for ten years working for a regional chemical company. He has assisted various benevolent organizations pro bono with their commercial real estate needs. He is on the Board of Directors of Princeton Children’s Center, Original Art, Inc., and Cheer Pole, Limited. Greg also helped with major fund raising efforts to construct Corpus Christi Catholic Church. His interests are sports, original art collecting, landscape gardening, museums and history, and fine cuisine served up by his lovely wife, Michele.

			*Robin Elder* Parent Educator (785) 594-7050 relder@usd348.com campelder@hotmail.com *Interest in tiny-k Early Intervention:* As a Parent Educator with the Baldwin Parents as Teachers Program I work with families that have children ages birth to three. Occasionally my families need tiny-k Early Intervention services and I enjoy working with this organization. I believe early intervention is essential to growth and development in the first three years of life and look forward to further supporting this organization and that cause. Personal Information: I have a Master's Degree in Education and have been in education for 15 years. I have been married to my husband, Dan, for 21 years and we have three children-Beau and Mackenzie, 18, and Hannah, 16. We live in Baldwin City where we enjoy lots of outdoor activities and all high school events.

			*Mellisa Goreham* Social Worker for Olathe School District within Alternative Education (785) 838-4817 mgorehamae@olatheschools.com *Interest in tiny-k Early Intervention:* My oldest son, Wyatt, began receiving services from tiny-k when he was 8 months old. Even though I had some knowledge regarding child development, I was not well versed in early development. From Wyatt receiving services such as speech, PT, and OT our family was able to clearly understand the importance of early intervention. With each milestone that he met, our family and his team celebrated. Personal Information: My husband is Mark Hutchinson. He owns his business as a professional photographer. We have two boys. Wyatt who is 5 and will be starting kindergarten (yikes) this year. Beckett is 2 1/2 and continues to go to preschool. I have been a social worker for 10 years. My focus has been at-risk youth. Finally we have two dogs Wally and Sasha. Our home is either filled with kids running and yelling or dogs barking!!

			Michelle Kueser Director / Owner Princeton Children’s Center mkueser@sunflower.com princetoncc@sunflower.com Interest in tiny-k Early Intervention: I have great respect for early intervention programs, I have been very impressed with the Wonderful support that has been provided for children and staff at Child Care Centers I have been involved in Lawrence. Personal Information: I have lived in Lawrence Ks for 10 years moving here with my family from Australia, husband Jeff and 3 children 18yrs, 15yrs and 13yrs. I have worked in the early childhood field for more than 23 years. During this time, I completed my BA in Early Childhood Studies. I love to travel and spend time with my family.

			*Nancy Longhurst* General Manager nancy@eldridgehotel.com *Interest in tiny-k Early Intervention:* To provide the best opportunity for children to grow and thrive at an early age. Personal Information: Married with two children. Loves nature, traveling, and the Ozarks.

			*Mike Malm* Board Treasurer - tiny-k Early Intervention

			*Leslie Miller* Partner at Stevens & Brand, LLP (785) 843-0811 lmmiller@stevensbrand.com *Interest in tiny-k Early Intervention:* Our youngest child received services. Personal Information: I have lived in Douglas County for 14 years, where most of my family also resides. I graduated from Washburn University School of Law in 1997. I am an attorney with Stevens & Brand, LLP. I am a new Board member for the Douglas County Historical Society. I am on the Executive Committee for the Judge Hugh Means Inns of Court. I am in the 2007 Leadership Lawrence class. I have served with numerous organizations in various capacities in the past. I am married with two children.

			*Kristen Paulson* Therapeutic Case Manger (785) 242-8965 ext. 6311 kristenpaulson@yahoo.com *Interest in tiny-k Early Intervention:* Since beginning to work with children with disabilities 7 years ago, it has become apparent to me how vital it is to assess, identify and begin to address the developmental needs of children at the earliest age possible. My personal belief is that most important treatment occurs within the natural family environment. tiny-k's service delivery within the home is especially unique and important to me. Personal Information: Graduating with a Master of Social Work from Washburn University in 2007, I currently work in the child welfare system, assisting children in foster care gain permanency either with their natural families or through adoption. I also facilitate Applied Behavior Analysis session for children with Autism in their homes. In the future I plan to work towards a Certification in Play Therapy. I have lived in Lawrence for the past two years and enjoy traveling abroad, recently traveling to Romania to work with orphaned children in rural peasant villages.

			*Dana Peterson* Co-Chair - tiny-k Early Intervention *Research Assistant at the Kansas Applied Remote Sensing Program, University of Kansas* *Interest in tiny-k Early Intervention:* Parent of a child who previously received services through tiny-k. Personal Information: Dana and her husband have lived in the Lawrence community since 1996. Dana earned a Bachelor's degree in the Department of Environmental Studies and a Master's in the Department of Geography from the University of Kansas.

			*Rusty Schnur-Shelton* Co-Chair - tiny-k Early Intervention Lawrence Early Childhood Special Services Facilitator (785) 832-5098 x206 rschnur@usd497.org *Interest in tiny-k Early Intervention:* Rusty has been involved with the ICC for many years as the district's liaison for transitions for children who may qualify for continued services past age three. In this capacity, her interest is in making sure that families have access to the services and resources they need. Rusty wants to make the transitions for these families as easy and seamless as possible. She has been working in the field of Early Childhood Special Education since 1983. Personal Information: Recently married and moving to the city, Rusty remains an avid outdoors person. She enjoys hiking, flyfishing, running, biking and horseback riding. She also enjoys the quieter pursuits of reading, knitting and gardening. Rusty spends time traveling to exotic and not so exotic destinations and trying to spend as much time with her large extended family as possible. She has been a volunteer with THRIL (Therapeutic Horseback Riding In Lawrence) for 6 years.

			*Teresa Schwab, LMSW Executive Director, Oral Health Kansas, a statewide oral health coalition* brats@sunflower.com *Interest in tiny-k Early Intervention:* I have a son receiving services through tiny-K Early Intervention. He has progressed beautifully with the support of tiny-k staff who have been great with him and our family. I have always worked outside of Lawrence, but now that I have young children, am very excited about becoming more involved in my local community. Personal Information: My husband, Brad, and I both grew up in Western Kansas. After college, we made a decision to join the US Peace Corps and served in the Solomon Islands from 1995-1997. Upon completion of our tour, we moved to Lawrence so that I could complete my Master’s Degree in Social Work, which I earned from KU in 2000. I have used my degree working in not-for-profits, primarily doing advocacy work and administration. Upon graduation, my husband and I chose to make Lawrence our home. We have two young sons and are expecting our third child this summer.

			*Jamie Sweeney* Co-Chair - tiny-k Early Intervention
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