Maryanne Reda
Maryanne earned a Bachelor of Science in Communications and Early Childhood Education from SUNY New Paltz, and a Master of Science in Special Education from the College of New Rochelle. She holds permanent certification in Elementary Education N-6 and Special Education, N-12. A lifelong learner, she has taken extensive coursework in literacy and school administration.
Over the course of thirty years, she has taught in a variety of educational settings and has enjoyed every minute of her career. She started her career teaching primary grades for the City of New York for ten years. She enjoys watching children grow and learn.
She was the Chairperson of the Early Childhood Committee. While raising her two children, she directed a recreational program for disabled children and adults at the YWCA. For the past 20+ years, she has worked as a Special Education Itinerant Teacher (SEIT), Special instructor (SI), Family Trainer, Special Education Consultant and Educational Evaluator. Her training includes ABA therapy and Floor time techniques. She has experience working with children with autism, PDD, social/emotional issues, learning and developmental delays, speech and language delays, and different medical issues. Maryanne is also a reading tutor.
During the past several years, Maryanne has been busy facilitating teacher and parent workshops and is registered through NYS ASPIRE. She often speaks about the importance of developing social skills, as well as other topics at different engagements. To find out more about the workshops and speaking arrangements Maryanne offers, you can contact us or visit the ASPIRE, NY Works for Children website.
Maryanne is as passionate about teaching today as she was after graduating college. She is an active volunteer at her local school and in her community as well as being a Boy Scout and Girl Scout Leader for many years. She was the Co-Chair of the PTA Special Needs Committee. She believes that all children can learn and succeed if given the right tools.
Karen Bertolacci
Karen Bertolacci graduated from Iona College with a degree in Communications. She has been a preschool teacher at Riverview Nursery School, in Nyack, for the last 19 years. Karen completed her Childhood Development Associates Credentials and is certified in Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED.
Karen has experience working with many therapists; SEITs, speech, physical, occupational and behavioral. She believes in a team approach to best meet the needs of the child. She enjoys learning and attends many workshops to further her knowledge and her ability to reach all children. “There is always something new to learn or try”.
Karen believes in encouraging self-esteem, while creating an environment that will fill a child’s mind with curiosity and imagination Not all children learn the same way, so as teachers, we must adjust our teaching styles to meet the needs of the students. Once you have found that connection with a student, teaching becomes easier. Learning through play is a basic tool. Karen feels that social and emotional skills are best developed through play or hands on experiences which is why she enjoys teaching at Clubhouse Stars.
Susan Murdoch
Susan’s passion is learning. She studied cognitive science at Brown University, where she tried to understand how people learn – exploring memory, language and the making of connections.
In graduate school (PhD in School Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University, 1998), Susan studied development, and ways to assess and encourage learning. She also developed an interest in early childhood and parenting. This led to her doctoral internship at the Early Childhood Center and Infant and Preschool Unit of CERC, part of the Rose F. Kennedy Center at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
When Susan put this understanding of learning into practice, she became even more aware of life’s complexities. She became increasingly interested in other types of learning beyond the scope of formal education, focusing more on emotional learning. She has had a wide variety of experiences supporting children’s emotional growth in many different modalities, such as Head Starts, on the PTA executive board, writing the curriculum for a potential children’s TV show, supporting a children’s weight loss group and leading story times at the Ardsley library.
Susan now enjoys helping children and adults learn how to harness their strengths and manage negative thoughts in order to cope and thrive amidst the challenges of their lives in her psychology practice in Ardsley (www.drsusanmorduch.com).
Carrie Jimenez Pena
Hello! My name is Carrie Jimenez Pena. I joined Clubhouse Stars in the 2022 school year. I will be working with the Clubhouse Girls Group at Clubhouse Stars. I’m looking forward to helping the girls learn how to navigate school, improve their social skills, make long lasting friendships and so much more!
I have achieved a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies from Purchase College in May 2012. I also graduated from Westchester Community College, where I received an associate degree in Early Childhood Education. I started my career as an Early Childhood Teacher. I have been both an Assistant Teacher and a Lead Teacher. After working as a teacher for many years with children of different ages, I realized I wanted to become more involved in my students’ lives and help them with their lives all around. That was when I decided to pursue school counseling.
I graduated from Long Island University in May 2017. I have my M.S. Ed in Bilingual School Counseling. I have been working with children of all ages for about 17 years. I currently work in the Port Chester-Rye School District and have been working there for 7 years now. I work as the District Elementary School Counselor. I service students in all four elementary schools and see students from kindergarten through fifth grade. My training and education qualify me to assist students with a variety of issues surrounding academic, emotional and social problems. My career goal is to support and motivate students, expand the minds of children in a positive environment. I truly enjoy what I do and the impact I can make on the children on a daily basis which is very rewarding to me!
Ginger Seredinsky
Ginger graduated from Lycoming college with degrees in Biology and Psychology. She has been a teacher at Christian PreSchool in Dobbs Ferry for 16 years. She has completed multiple classes in Early Childhood development through the Lutheran School Association and is certified in CPR/AED and First Aid through the American Safety and Health Institute.
Ginger is always open to new and innovative ways to teach children self esteem, cooperation and improve on their Social Emotional skills by using their own natural curiosity and desire to learn. She believes that each child is special and unique and they can bring the best out in each other through hands on cooperative play and group activities. At Clubhouse Stars, she strives to help each child achieve these goals.
She can be reached at genk70@verizon.net
Christina Gallichio
Christina joined the Clubhouse Staff in the spring of 2022. Christina
graduated from Iona College with a Associate Degree in Early Childhood
Education. She took additional coursework in psychology and Early
Childhood Education. She has been teaching preschool locally for 18
years. Christina is first aide certified. Her warm and soft nature
helps her to easily connect with children. She follows the Clubhouse
philosophy of learning through play.
Christina believes that by allowing children to learn through play, it allows them to build better social skills and discover new things on their own. We are lucky that she joined our staff. She is always looking for new ways to help children learn and develop.
Gina DePolo
Hello! My name is Gina DePolo and I am a certified Speech-Language Pathologist. I joined Clubhouse Stars during the summer of 2022. I graduated from Iona College with a Bachelor’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and a minor in Psychology. I then continued my education in Speech-Language Pathology and obtained my Master’s degree in Communications Sciences & Disorders.
The best part of my job is helping my students communicate more easily and build confidence within themselves. I believe the development of social communication skills are the foundation to successful social interactions and peer relationships. The ability to functionally communicate with others will improve a child’s ability to self-regulate and manage their emotions. These social skills will help prepare children for success in transitions, cooperative teamwork, and building meaningful relationships.
Gail McMorrow
Gail earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Early Childhood Education from, CUNY Hunter College and a Master of Science in Special Education from the City College of New York. She holds Professional Certification in both, Childhood Education and Students with Disabilities, 1-6.
Teaching for twenty years, Gail has taught in a variety of public and private educational settings and has a very strong passion of guiding students throughout the elementary years. She started her career teaching in a Not-for-Profit Agency in the Bronx, operating an Emergency Crisis Classroom for displaced children, due to domestic violence. She worked for many years in Rockland County and NYC DOE.
For the past twenty years, Gail has taught both General and Special Education. Currently, Gail is employed at a Residential School, in Ardsley, Westchester County for Autism and Intellectual Disabilities. Gail is certified in Pediatric and Adult First Aid/CPR/AED. Her educational training includes ABA Therapy, Behavior Modification Therapy, Play Therapy, Social/Emotional Learning, Teacher’s College, Wilson Language Training, S.C.I.P. Training and P.B.I.S. (Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports). She has experience working with, ASD, Intellectual Disabilities, Multiple Disabilities, Learning and Developmental Deficits, Speech and Language Deficits and Medically Fragile students. Gail is an active member in her current school, holding positions on the Safety Committee, Sunshine Committee and Spirit Team.
Gail is a resident and an active member in the Pearl River, NY community, for thirty years. She is also the mother of three adult children. Gail believes, “Every student can learn, just not on the same day, or in the same way.” (George Evans). Gail is a strong advocate for her students. The key to learning is, honoring, listening and respecting the voice inside of them.