Meet Our tiny-k Staff

Ashley Baehr
Early Childhood Special Education Educator

Degrees:
Undergraduate degree in Human Development and Family Studies with a major in Early Childhood Education at K-State
Graduate work in ECSE at KU
Kansas Certification in Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education

Experience/Field of Interest:
Ashley has worked in the field of early childhood development and education since 1993. She has taught in Kansas City; Chicago; New Haven, Connecticut, and most recently in an early childhood special education classroom in Wellsville, Kansas. She is certified in Reflexology and is a Certified Infant Massage Instructor. She co-created a parent facilitated playgroup in Wellsville, and is very interested in helping parents become active participants in their child's growth and development.

Personal Information:
Ashley is married and lives in Lawrence. She enjoys teaching new parents infant massage, reading and spending time with friends and family.

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Dena Bracciano
Coordinator and Early Childhood Special Educator

Degrees:
B.A. - Human Development and Family Life, University of Kansas
M.S. Ed - Special Education, Early Childhood, University of Kansas
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 puppy, Izzy. 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.

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Jessica Dameron
Early Childhood Special Educator

Degrees:
Bachelor's in Communication Sciences and DIsorders, Kansas State University
Master's in Early Childhood Special Education, Kansas State University

Experience/Field of Interest:
Jessica has worked in the field of Early Childhood Special Education for over eight years with experience helping children and families with multiple needs. Some of her experience comes from working in a school district setting as a Speech-Language paraprofessional helping plan and implement strategies to assist children with a variety of speech disorders.

Personal Information:
Jessica grew up near Kansas City and, after attending college, moved to Eudora in 2000 with her husband. She enjoys going for walks, riding bikes and playing with her two children.

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Jamie Gabriel
Success by 6 Family Resource Specialist/LSCSW

Degrees:
B.S. in Psychology, Emporia State University
Master of Social Work degree, Washburn University
Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker

Experience/Field of Interest:
Jamie has been a social worker for over 10 years, including experience in hospital settings and a community hospice setting. Grief, loss and adjustment issues are strong areas of professional skill, and Jamie is currently pursuing the Infant Mental Health Endorsement newly offered to professionals in the state of Kansas. She is a member of the Success by 6 Family Resource Team and has worked for tiny-K since November 2007.

Personal Information:
Jamie is married and lives in Lawrence with her two children. She enjoys reading, participating in church activities and spending time with family.

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Elaine McCullough
Family Resource Specialist / Early Childhood Special Educator

Degrees:
M.S. Early Childhood Education
M.S. Early Childhood Special Education

Experience/Field of Interest:
In over 30 years, Elaine has been a teacher and administrator in both public and private Early Childhood Early Intervention programs serving high risk and special needs children, birth to six, and their families. She has taught Early Childhood Education courses at the university level, served as director community based Early Intervention programs, and taught in private therapeutic preschools. Throughout her career, Elaine has provided consultation and technical assistance to other professionals in the field of Early Childhood Education.

Elaine serves as a board member for the Douglas County Success by 6 Coalition, supporting efforts to improve opportunities for young children to learn and grow in quality care and education settings.

Personal Information:
Elaine is married to Larry, and both are Kansas natives. She has three adult children and two grandchildren. She loves KU Basketball, travel, reading, and singing in the Lawrence Civic Choir.

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Kristina Poracsky
Success by 6 ESCE Specialist

Degrees:
B.A. in Psychology from Skidmore College
M.S. in Early Childhood Special Education from University of Oregon

Experience/Field of Interest:
Kristina began working with individuals with special needs in group home settings and then, following the completion of her masters degree, became a classroom teacher with the Portland Early Intervention Program in Portland, Oregon, from 1999 to 2002. From 2002 to 2004, Kristina spent time working with families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Currently the Early Childhood Education Consultant for Success by 6, Kristina provides mentoring and support to early education teachers and directors, as well as home child care providers. Kristina has experience in the classroom setting as well as experience providing services in the home.

Personal Information:
Kristina grew up in Lawrence and has lived several other places but came back here to raise her family. She enjoys spending time relaxing with family and friends, knitting, cooking, traveling and any sort of adventure. Kristina is married to Michael and has two sons, Finley and Sawyer.

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Megan Rierson
Physical Therapist

Degrees:
Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.E.), University of Kansas
Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT), Creighton University

Experience/Field of Interest:
Megan has provided practiced pediatric physical therapy for over 8 years. She has experience working with children of all ages. Megan has a special interest in helping kids gain independence through mobility. She was the Physical Therapist for Lawrence Public Schools for over six years before joining tiny-k in July 2007.

Personal Information:
Megan enjoys reading, crafts (sewing, quilting, embroidery), painting, music, and spending time with family, friends, and pets. She plays intramural volleyball and softball, and loves to attend KU sporting events.

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Molly Rutledge
Speech-Language Pathologist

Degrees:
Bachelor’s in Speech-Language Pathology, University of Kansas
Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology, University of Kansas

Experience/Field of Interest:
Molly has a strong interest in multicultural populations and began working for the Hawaii Department of Education in a rural district on the island of Oahu in 2004. Molly gained experience in consultation and collaboration with teachers, staff, and parents for successful therapy in natural environments throughout the school day and at home. Molly began working for tiny-k in September, 2006. Her interest continues to be in servicing multicultural populations with speech-language needs.

Personal Information:
Molly is a Lawrence, Kansas native. She is married and enjoys traveling with her husband and spending time with her family that is in the surrounding Lawrence area.

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Kristin Schneller
Speech-Language Pathologist

Licenses and Degrees:
B.A. in Speech-Language Pathology, University of Kansas
M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology, University of Kansas

Experience/Field of Interest:
Kristin has been a pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist for two years. Previously, she worked in a private pediatric clinic in Murrieta, CA, providing services for children ages one year to 18 years. Kristin has been working for tiny-k Early Intervention since January, 2007.

Personal Information:
Kristin and her husband, Steve, live in Lawrence with their two dogs. They enjoy eating out, riding their tandem bike, and running.

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Janene Snyder
Office Manager

Janene is originally from Lawrence. She began working at tiny-k Early Intervention in September 2008. Her time outside of work is spent pursuing her Graphics Design degree and improving her photography skills. In spare moments, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading and writing. Janene is married and has three daughters launching into adulthood.

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Aña Williams
Occupational Therapist

Degrees:
B.A. Human Biology and Psychology, University of Kansas
M.S. in Occupational Therapy, Rockhurst University

Experience/Field of Interest:
Aña enjoys working with infants/toddlers and their families and the excitement that comes with reaching new milestones. She has experience working with children with sensory processing disorders.

Personal Information:
In her spare time Aña enjoys spending time at the lake, tap dancing, taking her dogs to the park, and spending time with family and friends.

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