Our Staff

SJ & Associates is proud to have a talented team of individuals ready to provide the best service for you and your child. Our staff is comprised of licensed and certified professionals with a wealth of experience in serving children with a variety of special needs.

 

Partner and Operations Director: Angela Mertens

Partner and Clinical Director: Audra Ludlow

Rockland County Coordinator: Lori Perini

Ongoing Service Coordinators

  • Lyn Gagnon, OSC Supervisor

  • Linda Astacio-Holdampf

  • Erica Delehanty

  • Amy Fontana

  • Jennifer Hopkins

  • Chastity Kiely

  • Siy Madera

  • Jennifer Pesta

  • Janet Vargas Reyes

  • Marcie Salit

  • Karol Saquinaula Perez

  • Erica Scalamandre

  • Kimberly Schulman

  • Aileen Vanderpool

 

Physical Therapists​

  • Lorene Allspach, PT

  • Victoria Arduini, PT

  • Cindi Butler, PT

  • Margaret Caffrey-Neil, PT, MS

  • Susan Chako, PT, MS

  • Kaitlin Rickerd, PT

  • Izabela Roman, PT

 

School Psychologists

  • Kathleen Anesko, Ph. D

  • Monica Azzaro, M.S.

  • Erika Butler, M.S.

  • Heather Doherty, Ph. D

  • Carol Frankel, Ph.D

  • Lyza Granata, M.S. Ed.

  • Kathleen Keefe-Cooperman, Ph. D

  • Rebecca Lew, Ph. D, NCSP

  • Julia Montoya, M.A.

              Bilingual - Spanish

  • Wendy Peguero, M.A.

   Bilingual - Spanish

  • Awilda Schofield, M.S.

              Bilingual - Spanish

  • Emily Tedeschi, M.S.

   Bilingual - Spanish

 

Occupational Therapists

  • Jannell Colon, OTR/L

  • Emily Davies, OTR/L

  • Christine Krasny, OTR/L

  • Erika Moson, COTA

  • Elizabeth Oelofse, COTA

  • Alexa Petrassi, OTR/L

  • Nataly Quezada, COTA
            Bilingual - Spanish

  • Caitlin Sorrentino, OTR/L

  • Stephanie Zbylut, OTR/

Special Education Teachers

  • Patricia Bauer, M.S. Ed.

  • Claudia Bulacio-Cobo, M.S. Ed.
         Bilingual - Spanish

  • Laura Cutrona, M.S. Ed.
         ABA Teacher

  • Lydia Delgado, M.S. Ed.
         Bilingual - Spanish

  • Anna Demirer, M.S. Ed.
         ABA Teacher

  • Tara DiRocco, M.S. Ed.

  • Grace Fitzgerald, M.S. Ed.
         ABA Teacher

  • Maribeth Garrity, M.S. Ed.

  • Victoria Johanet, M.S. Ed.

 Bilingual - Spanish

  • Victoria Kamlet, M.S. Ed.

  • Jolene Keegan,  M.S. Ed.

  • Jessica Klausner, M.S. Ed.   
         ABA Teacher

  • Mia Orser, M.S. Ed.

  • Kelly Pluchino, M.S. Ed.

  • Laura Pollard, M.S. Ed.

  • Lisa Quimby, M.S. Ed.

  • Sylvia Ripps, M.S. Ed.

  • Sandra Rodriguez, M.S. Ed.

             Bilingual - Spanish

  • Francine Rykman, M.S. Ed.

  • Mary Ann Sacino, M.S. Ed.

  • Alyssa Saladino, M.S. Ed.
         ABA Teacher

  • Sabrina Sandler-Morea, M.S. Ed.

  • Wendy Steckmeister, M.S. Ed.

  • Jeannette Toscano, M.S. Ed.

  • Cheryl Volpe, B.S. Ed. 

  • Kathleen Walsh, M.S. Ed.

  • Miriam Zisman, M.S. Ed.

Bilingual - Yiddish

​

Office Administration

  • Debra Albrecht
         Operations Associate

  • Christina Cruz
         CPSE Coordinator

  • Siy Madera
         Operations Associate and OSC

  • Lauren Martorelli

  EI Coordinator

  • Sarah McKiernan

  ​Operations Associate

  • Anthony Morabito
         CPSE Coordinator

  • Kerri Motta

             HR/Operations Coordinator

  • Kelly Pluchino​
         EI Evaluation Coordinator

  • AnnMarie Scotti

              Billing Coordinator

  • Aileen Vanderpool
         CPSE Assistant

  • Janice Vincenzo   
         CPSE Coordinator

Speech Language Pathologists

  • Yelena Ayupov, M.S./CCC-SLP

  • Leah Backenroth, M.S./CCC-SLP, TSSLD

            Bilingual - Spanish/Yiddish

  • Lauren Bassel, M.S./CCC-SLP

  • Erin Bullock, M.S./CCC-SLP, TSSLD

  • Agnes Caniza, M.S./CCC-SLP

            Bilingual - Spanish

  • Jennifer Carota, M.S./CCC-SLP

  • Brinn Castagna, M.S./CCC-SLP, TSSLD

  • Pamela Cerrato, M.A./CCC-SLP, TSHH

  • Marina Colon, M.A./CCC-SLP, SLPD 

            Bilingual - Spanish

  • Carmen Cruz, M.S./CCC-SLP
        Bilingual - Spanish

  • Gianna DelleRose, M.S./CFY

  • Anne Dunitz, M.S./CCC-SLP

  • Kelly Ferrara, M.A./CCC-SLP

  • Filomena Gamez, M.A./CCC-SLP

​Bilingual - Spanish/Italian

  • Alyssa Gentile, M.S./CCC-SLP, TSSLD

  • Jessica Greher, M.S./CCC-SLP

  • Amy Kern, M.S./CCC-SLP, TSSLD

  • Nancy Kurlander, M.S./CCC-SLP

  • Rebecca Layman, M.S./CCC-SLP

  • Audra Ludlow, M.S./CCC-SLP

  • Laurie Luther, M.S./CCC-SLP, TSSLD

  • Rachel Mann, M.A./CCC-SLP, TSSLD

  • Erin McGrath, M.S./CCC-SLP, TSSLD

  • Christy Miller, M.A./CCC-SLP, TSHH

  • Kim Moore, M.S./CCC-SLP

  • Lori Neilson, M.A./CCC-SLP, TSSLD 

  • Kellyann O’Connor, M.A./CFY

  • Lori Perini, M.S./CCC-SLP, TSSLD

  • Nicole Peterson, M.S./CCC-SLP, TSSLD

  • Jennifer Shapiro, M.S./CCC-SLP

  • Joann Spina, M.A./CCC-SLP, TSSLD

  • Chani Steinmetz, M.S.E., M.S./CCC-SLP

Bilingual - Yiddish

  • Stacy Van Dam, M.Ed./CCC-SLP

​

Social Work

  • Denise Lasky, LCSW

  • Jennifer Lowe, LMSW

  • Teresa Luongo, LCSW

  • Michele Sevigny, LMSW

​

Group Aides

  • Nicole Calvario

  • Jannelle Ginebra 

  • Melissa Hoffman

  • Jamiee Nigro

  • Ally Rastelli

  • Chelsea Santiago

  • Danielle Seara

  • Alexander Slaybaugh

  • Bindia Steinman

In addition to language delays/disorders and articulation/phonological disorders, many of our therapists are experienced working with oral motor and feeding difficulties and are trained in American Sign Language.

 

SJ & Associates providers have all been thoroughly screened in accordance with New York State personnel guidelines. Along with New York State, the agency requires its providers to pursue continuing education in order to keep up-to-date on the most current and effective therapeutic and teaching techniques.

We are always looking for motivated professionals to join our team - Head over to our Jobs page for details!