LAURA E. ZAFERAKIS M.S., Spec.Ed., CAS Ed. A. | Vice President - Liberty POST
Education/Certification/Awards:
Prior to her current role as Vice President, Laura served and continues to serve as Regional Director for the Syracuse area. Laura has been working in Special Education for over 25 years and in Early Intervention and Preschool for 19 of those years. Her areas of special interest include Early Childhood Development, Autism, Assessment and Screening and providing professional development for those working in the field of Early Education. Laura has been working as the Syracuse Program Director for almost 9 years and became the Director of School Administration in 2014. Laura sits on several professional committees and organizations including the NAEYC, the LEICC, the Onondaga County Preschool Coalition and several special interest groups in the area.
Laura’s passion is working with children and families to develop relationships with them and supporting them through the Special Education process, which can be an overwhelming. Laura grew up in Auburn, NY and attended college in southern Virginia. After college, Laura returned to Central New York, where she lives with her husband and two sons, Ian and Cole. In her spare time, Laura enjoys reading, gardening and spending time at her favorite beach spot in Wells, Maine.
Buffalo Team
GARI-SUE JOHN, PT, MS, MBA | Regional Program Director
Gari-Sue has been the Regional Program Director for the Liberty POST Buffalo-Niagara region for over 10 years. She has a Master of Science in Physical Therapy and an MBA through Syracuse University. Gari-Sue has worked with children and families, both as a provider and program manager, for nearly 20 years. She has been involved in the development of fitness programs for children with and without disabilities. In addition to working with children and families, Gari-Sue has served as adjunct faculty and guest instructor at local colleges and universities. She has also provided health and fitness assessments and wellness training for various organizations and corporations.
Gari-Sue lives in Kenmore with her son. Prior to college, she attended a professional training school for ballet and tries to keep dancing and exercising as much as possible. Gari-Sue is an avid Buffalo Bills fan and enjoys riding the motorcycle with her boyfriend whenever Western NY weather permits.
“I feel incredibly lucky to be a part of the Liberty POST team which offers a wealth of support from our multiple locations across NY State. I have always been proud of our providers’ commitment to excellence and the commitment, at a corporate level, that Liberty POST makes to our providers as well as the children and families that we serve.”
LORI CIESIELSKI | Related Services Supervisor
Lori has been the Related Services Supervisor for nearly 10 years. She earned her BS/MS in Occupational Therapy in 1995 from D’Youville College and has spent her career working with children and their families. She has had extensive training in sensory integration, neurodevelopmental treatment, and DIR Floortime.
Lori is an active member of the DIR Floortime community in the Buffalo region, working with professionals and families from Liberty POST as well as other area agencies. When not working, Lori enjoys spending time with her wife and family, chasing after her pets, travel, and all things Buffalo.
“I feel so fortunate to work at Liberty POST. Our Buffalo team is filled with providers who have a true passion for the work they do and it’s a privilege to help support them in their efforts.”
JODI JONES-WOLF | Special Education Supervisor
Jodi has worked for Liberty POST Buffalo-Niagara for nearly 10 years. She has a Master of Science in Special Education as well a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Finance. She has many years of experience working with children birth – 18 years old throughout Western NY; both as an ongoing service coordinator for medically fragile children as well as a special education teacher.
Jodi is married and she and her husband care for a few animals, many of them rescued from local shelters where she volunteers her time. Jodi is an avid hockey fan and can often be found working in her office with sports radio on in the background. Jodi always tries to enjoy each day by doing simple things like go for walk or spending time at the gym. Her weakness is orange chocolate.
“I can’t say enough great things about the company and my coworkers. I love my job and how different each day is. The children and families I work with give me inspiration and I love how we work as a team in the Buffalo Office.”
MILAGROS KELLAM | Executive Assistant
Milagros has been with Liberty POST for more than 10 years and has worked in administration for over 30 years. She is responsible for managing all administrative tasks required in the Buffalo-Niagara office. In addition to these duties, she also provides translation for the Spanish community when needed.
Milagros was born in Bronx, NY but has lived in Buffalo for most of her life. She has been married for 16 wonderful years and has a son and 4 grandchildren. When not at work, Milagros enjoys riding the motorcycle with her husband, baking, dancing, and crafting in her she-shed.
Rochester Team
LISA DIEHL, MSEd | Regional Program Director
Education/Certification/Awards:
Lisa is a New York certified Special Education PreK-12 teacher and has over 30 years of experience working with children at the early childhood age and over 18 years of supervisory and leadership experience. Lisa completed the Leadership Rising Management Development Program via McArdle Ramerman Inc. in 2006.
Lisa has been married for over 29 years. She and her husband have 2 daughters; both attending college in the Buffalo area. Lisa enjoys early mornings at the gym, hiking, and vacations on the beach!
SANDRA DALTON, MA CCC-SLP | Speech/Language Team Leader
Education/Certification/Awards:
Sandy is especially interested in using child directed, play based approaches with children and families, working with children on the Autism Spectrum and who are medically fragile, providing feeding therapy to children enrolled in the Early Intervention program, and participating on evaluation teams.
Sandy has been working within the Early Intervention and preschool programs with Liberty POST (formerly ITG) since 2009, serving as the Speech Team Leader since 2020. She currently provides direct therapy to children as an itinerant therapist, conducts speech and language evaluations, and works to support the speech department from a clinical perspective. Sandy lives in Henrietta with her husband and two daughters. Outside of work, Sandy enjoys horseback riding, running, and going on adventures with her family.
MELANIE M. CHALACHAN, OTR/L | OT/PT Itinerant Team Leader
Education/Certification/Awards:
Melanie’s special Interests include: working with low-income and minority families, navigating challenging behaviors, treating the anxious child, exploring sensory processing and implementing unique treatment plans, treating delays in bilateral integration and motor planning, and addressing needs of the whole child within the family and community.
Melanie has been working in Pediatric Occupational Therapy for 21 years and employed by Liberty POST (formerly ITG) for 10 years. She has occupied the Team Leader role since 2013 and currently provides direct therapy to children as an itinerant therapist while clinically supporting the Itinerant OTs and PTs at POST.
Melanie lives in Penfield with her husband, two teenage sons, and daughter. Outside of work, Melanie enjoys camping, watching live music and attending outdoor festivals with her family.
MELISSA MARR, MSEd | Educational Specialist (STARS Preschool)
Education/Certification/Awards:
Melissa has been working in the field of early childhood special education for the past 14 years. Her professional background has included teaching in an integrated preschool setting, leading an 8:1:1 classroom for two years along with several years of working as an itinerant teacher. She had the pleasure of working for Daystar For Medically Fragile Children, Inc. as the Center Director for three years where her leadership role was instrumental in the development of a more education centered curriculum and building stronger partnerships with the children’s early intervention providers to enhance the growth and carry over of therapeutic interventions as needed. Melissa returned to POST four years ago and has held the position of the Special Education Team Leader since August of 2014. She is a play-based therapist who understands that each child and situation is unique and embrace the differences and potential challenges one may face when working in the early childhood special education field. In addition, it allows her to spend time developing a quality relationship with the child, their teachers, caregivers, and their families.
Personally, Melissa enjoys being a mother to her two children Lily and Samuel. When not attending various sports activities that her children are involved in, they enjoy spending their days together at the zoo, The Strong Museum of play, taking hikes together, and their annual vacation to Rehoboth Beach, DE. Melissa also enjoys attending concerts and area festivals, is an avid runner, and enjoys coaching cheerleading.
Syracuse Team
ANN WASHELESKI, OTR/L | Occupational Therapy Supervisor
Education/Certification/Awards:
Play is a child’s primary occupation and has been the main focus of therapy for children and families for many years under Ann’s guidance. Ann enjoys working as an occupational therapist with children birth through five, providing both home and center-based services. For Ann, family centered therapy, team collaboration, and child-directed play have been staples in supporting children in reaching their developmental goals. Ann has a strong passion for continuing education, knowledge and staying abreast evidence-basedsed practice. She has advanced training in Ayres Sensory Integration, has studied the Developmental, Individual-differences, Relationship- based model (DIR) of practice for working with children with social-emotional challenges, and participates in regular mentorship experiences with experts in their field of study. As part of Ann’s role at Liberty POST, she acts as a supervisor for her department, provides mentorship and support to fellow co-workers, serves as the fieldwork clinical coordinator, and presents on sensory processing development. Ann is Liberty POST’s continuing education consultant for AOTA, supporting staff development and trainings, collaborating and developing topics for both internal and community based workshops.
Ann has a love for animals, which include her two horses, two dogs, and two cats. During her free time, Ann enjoys both recreational and competitive horseback riding, staying physically active around her small farm, and engaging in the study of yoga and mindfulness. Ann loves spending time with her family and friends.
JILL GILLETTE, DPT | Physical Therapy Supervisor
Education/Certification/Awards:
Jill loves working in the field of physical therapy as it allows her to share in first milestones with families year after year. Physical therapy challenges her to constantly think about what that next step or goal is that is needed to be achieved. She loves working with families as it allows her to spend quality 1:1 time with them in their most natural environment…their home. She loves the accomplishments that each of her clients makes, but she also loves being able to help the families be an active part of that success with a child that is struggling developmentally. Jill’s approach to children and their families is very child directed. She challenges herself to treat each child as an individual and really attempts to allow their individual interests shine during their sessions together. She enjoys the challenge of using a toy that a child is interested in to help them reach their goals together.
Personally, she has a wonderful family that includes her husband, son, and daughter. She feels very blessed every day to have her family. They enjoy camping together and many other outdoor activities including kayaking and hiking. Jill is on track to have climbed all 46 Adirondack High Peaks in 2018. They are a family that truly enjoys their pets! One of her most favorite pastimes is walking her dogs on her country road.
SUSAN SCOTT, M.S., CCC/SLP | Speech/Language Pathology Supervisor
Education/Certification/Awards:
Susan has treated infants, children, and adults with a variety of speech-language disorders for over 18 years. She has performed evaluations and treatment of feeding and swallowing disorders, articulation, and speech-language disorders in the itinerant population as well as at the school aged level and previously in care facilities. Susan enjoys working with medically fragile children, premature infants, children with Down Syndrome, and particularly children presenting with difficulties with feeding and/or swallowing. She a part of the Liberty POST C.A.R.E.S. diagnostic team as well as an MDE Core evaluation team. Her approach to evaluation and therapy with children is relationship based and child-directed while appreciating the use of behavioral strategies to teach skills for feeding in a natural environment. She has been working as a supervisor for most of her career in various capacities and feels proud of the accomplishments that Liberty POST has made in terms of teaming and collaboration. Susan enjoys speaking to, mentoring, and supervising students at the high school and university level and annually presents continuing education topics in feeding and swallowing for staff and students. She is part of the Continuing Education Unit at Liberty POST to plan events for staff and serves as the CE Administrator for ASHA in order for Liberty POST staff to receive required continuing education hours for certification/licensure.
Susan is married and she and her husband, Dave, have five children. They have enjoyed attending many sports and band events over the years as the oldest three completed high school and continue to be busy with two teenagers still at home. Susan loves to travel and has been throughout the US and Canada, as well as travel to Europe and Africa. Her family enjoys a variety of outdoor activities and sports including; hiking, surfing, biking, and swimming. Susan loves animals and has rescued several animals over the years, finding many loving new homes including the family’s own cat and dog. At one point, the family had two dogs, a cat, a toad, crickets, and hermit crabs.
Hudson Valley Team
APRIL ANGIOLILLO| Regional Program Director
Education/Certification/Awards:
April has been working with families since 1990 in various capacities, beginning her journey as a Case Manager. She later became an Ongoing Service Coordinator and then an Ongoing Service Coordinator Supervisor. April joined Liberty POST in November of 2013 as an Ongoing Service Coordination Supervisor. In December 2015 April received the Spotlight on Excellence Award which recognizes employees that perform at a level above and beyond the agency’s expectations. April was honored by this award because it was a result of her excellent work and her concern for the quality within the agency. In May 2016 April was promoted to the position of Regional Program Director for Liberty POST Hudson Valley as a result of her commitment to excellence. April’s motto is “The only way to do great work is to love what you do”. April lives by this motto and does all she can to ensure that her employees that she values enjoy their work and love what they do too. Outside of work April loves spending time with her family and friends. April enjoys yoga, exercising, hiking and running. April believes in living a balanced life and living well.
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