Meet Our Staff

Sometimes a young child with a disability needs more than one type of specialized service to achieve success. Whenever possible, having a team of specialists who work together, sharing their talents and expertise, helps maximize the child’s success. When team members can communicate with each other and with a child’s parents about how their strategies affect different areas of development such as cognitive, language or motor skills, each specialist can reinforce the work of the whole team.

At High Peaks we have been able to organize teams from our staff to work with children in their homes, day care settings or preschools. We have been fortunate to develop an excellent working relationship with Baldwinsville Nursery School, Lafayette H.S and UCC where our team consisting of a special education teacher, teaching assistants, speech pathologists, audiologists, and occupational and physical therapists have created an exceptional nurturing environment for children with a variety of educationally challenging disabilities.

Speech-Language Pathologists
Judith D. Swanson, M.S, President
Leigh C. Smith, M.S., Director
Patricia Driscoll, M.S.
Sally Jo Easton, M.A.
Andrea Benz
Lisa Semenza, M.A.
Hilary Usiatynski, M.S.
Laurie Obrist, M.S.
Cheryl Rogers
Cathey Massey, M.A.

Careers at High Peaks

Physical Therapists
Donna Owens, B.S.
Johndette Cruz, B.S.
Kelly Grier, B.S.

Careers at High Peaks

Special Education Teachers
Jacqueline Bruffett, M.S.
Gail Fiztpatrick, M.S.
Debra Joseph, M.S.
Jennifer Kilmer,
Robin Nicholson, M.S.
Paula Rowell, M.S.
Judith Rusho, M.S.
Deborah Starczewski, M.S.
Rhonda Dantuono
Jennifer Kraus
Martha Rodriguez
Nicole Parks

Careers at High Peaks

Occupational Therapists
Kelly Buschle, B.S.
Justine Shay, M.S.
Patricia Cole
Jonathan Reid
Cheri Haven, B.S.
Robert Trapani, M.A.
Cathy Barone
Careers at High Peaks

Audiologists
Robin Ngumbi, M.A. CCC-A
Jo Manette Nousak, PH.D

Careers at High Peaks

Teaching Assistants
Gina May

Careers at High Peaks

Psychologists
Christina Smith, M.S.
Joyce Toper, M.S., CAS
Careers at High Peaks

Office Manager
Holly Earl
Careers at High Peaks

Billing Manager
Erica Crumb
Careers at High Peaks