Early
Intervention Providers
(scroll down for bios)
Front (L to R): Elaine McCullough (Family Resource Specialist/ECSE), Susan Ridenour (Success by 6 Family Resource Specialist/LCSW), Lacey Novak (KU Community Health Student Intern, Fall 2007), Jessica Dameron (ECSE), and Ana Williams (Occupational Therapist).
Back (L to R): Dena Bracciano (Coordinator and ECSE), Molly Rutledge (Speech-Language Pathologist), Megan Rierson (Physical Therapist), and Ashley Baehr (ECSE).
Not pictured above: Kristina Poracsky (Success by 6 ECSE Specialist), and Loletha Clark (Secretary).
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 certifed 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.
Dena
Bracciano
Coordinator
and Early Childhood Special Educator
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.
Secretary
I am originally from Lawrence. I began working part time with tiny-k Early Intervention in September 2006. I spend much of my time providing respite care, as well as working with adults that have special needs. In my spare moments I enjoy spending time with my family & God’s children.
Jessica
Dameron
Early
Childhood Special Educator
Degrees:
Bachelor's in Communication Sciences and DIsorders, Kansas State University
1997
Master's in Early Childhood Special Education, Kansas State University
2001
Experience/Field
of Interest:
Jessica worked in a school district setting as a speech paraprofessional
for two and a half years. After receiving her master’s degree, she
began working for tiny-k in 2001.
Personal
Information:
Resides in Eudora with her husband and two children. She enjoys spending
spare time playing with her children, going for walks, and getting together
with friends for play-dates.
Elaine
McCullough
Family
Resource Specialist / Early Childhood Special Educator
Degrees:
MS Education
MS 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 the director of the children’s program of St. Joseph,
Missouri United Cerebral Palsy Center, director of community based Early
Intervention programs in Kansas and Missouri, and taught in private therapeutic
preschools. Throughout her career, Elaine has provided consultation and
technical assistance to other pro-fessionals in the field of Early Childhood.
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 one incredible, precious grandbaby. She loves KU Basketball,
travel, reading, and singing in the Lawrence Civic Choir.
Lacey
Novak
KU
Community Health Student Intern, Fall 2007
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:
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 classroom the setting as well as experience providing services in the
home.
Personal Information:
Kristina grew up in Lawrence, has lived several other places but came
back here to raise her family. She enjoys spending time relaxing with
family and friends, traveling and any sort of adventure. Kristina is
married to Michael and has two sons, Finley and Sawyer.
Success by 6 Family Resource Specialist / LCSW
Licenses and Degrees:
Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker, 1991
Licensed Master’s Degree in Social Welfare, 1985
Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development/Communications, 1983
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, 1978
Experience/Field of Interest:
Susan has nearly 30 years of professional experience working with people of all ages in a variety of settings. Strengthening family interactions and the social-emotional development of infants/young children and their families is a lifelong passion of Susan’s. She also enjoys assisting families with community networking/collaboration and self-advocacy as a way of enhancing their natural support systems. In addition, Susan offers training in play therapies for children and their families.
Personal Information:
Susan and Marc have been married for 25 years and she is a native Lawrencian/Jayhawker. They have two sons - a 21 year old KU student and a 16 year old sophomore in high school. Susan enjoys music, dance, and theater, as well as spending time with family and friends whenever possible.
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 pediatric physical therapy services for over 7 years. While leading the orthopedic inpatient team, she initiated an outpatient pediatric physical therapy program for Valley of the Sun Rehabilitation Hospital in Glendale, Arizona before joining the Cave Creek AZ school district motor team as its physical therapist. She was the PT for Lawrence Public Schools for 6 1/2 years prior to joining tiny-K in July 2007.
Personal Information:
Megan is married and lives with her husband and pets in Lawrence. She is an avid KU sports fan, holding football and part-time basketball season tickets. She enjoys reading, crafty endeavors (sewing, embroidery, painting), music, playing sports/working out, and spending time with her family and friends.
Speech-Language Pathologist
Degrees:
Bachelor’s in Speech-Language Pathology, University of Kansas 2002
Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology, University of Kansas 2004
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.
Aña
Williams
Occupational
Therapist
Degrees:
B.A. Human Biology and Psychology, University of Kansas 2001
Masters in Occupational Therapy, Rockhurst University 2005
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.