ClearWater Academy - Our Staff
| Lynne Kassem, Founder | |
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| Sharon L. G. Collins, Director | |
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Sharon Collins describes herself as a “student, soldier, schoolmarm, and servant.” Born and raised in
Sharon Her formal education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Lock Haven University, Pennsylvania; a Master of Education from the University of Georgia; and coursework towards a Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University, Florida. Mrs. Collins’ enthusiasm and visionary spirit for the |
| Shelley Drummond, Lead Teacher | |
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Shelley Drummond has a B.S. in Agricultural Communications and a B.A. in Special Education from the University of Georgia. She has served at ClearWater Academy as a lead teacher, and has also taught children in the Deaf/Hard of Hearing and TRIAD (Autism/Aspergers Syndrome) programs in the Fayette County Public School System. Shelley is a certified instructor for Riders with Disabilities (Certified Horseman's Association). She has taught riding instruction to children with a variety of physical and cognitive disabilities at the Caalvin Center. She also completed a yearlong training and instructional course in the DIR Floortime Program sponsored by the Interdisciplinary Council on Development and Learning Disorders. |
| Abbie Huber, Lead Teacher | |
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Abbie Huber began her teaching career 16 years ago in Alabama. She has taught Pre-K through 4th grade, taking time off in between to raise her three children, who are 12, 13, and 15. She and her family moved to Peachtree City in 2003. She enjoys reading, watching her children’s sporting events, and spending time with her family. She feels very blessed to be a part of ClearWater Academy, and is excited about beginning her second year as the teacher for the youngest students. She deeply loves the children and spends much time thinking of new and exciting ways to help them learn in a way most suitable for them. She received her teaching degree from Auburn University at Montgomery and has completed a year of coursework at DIR Floortime Atlanta, and plans to continue working toward certification. “There is nothing more rewarding than seeing the gleam in a child’s eyes when he feels a sense of accomplishment.” |
| Debbie Burran, Paraprofessional and Art Instructor | |
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Debbie Burran is a certified Georgia Paraprofessional and has worked with Dr. and Mrs. Lynne Kassem, school founders and owners, for several years. She is a native Georgian, born in Atlanta. She is blessed with the gift of love, compassion, and acceptance. Her hands and eyes are touched by God to be able to create all types of artwork in many different mediums. With her crooked smile, open arms, patience, and listening ears, she has helped children along their life journeys by teaching the basic principles of nature and its beauty. Her birds, dogs, and cats are a big part of her life. As a mom with grown children, she looks forward to sharing life lessons learned along her journey. She is trained in DIR/Floortime methods, and naturally incorporates this approach in her everyday work with children. Debbie is excited about working at ClearWater Academy because of her ability to bring out the creativity and gifts of each child in a developmentally appropriate setting and integrative approach. She is ready to enter the classrooms and use both Floortime and sensory-based techniques to relate to and enhance each child’s confidence and ability. |
| Lynn Schriver, Paraprofessional | |
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Lynn Schriver is a Georgia certified paraprofessional in her second year with ClearWater Academy. Lynn has an Associate’s Degree from Harcum College, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. She and her family have lived in Fayette County for 13 years. She brings many years of office management experience in the business and legal fields to our school. She will attend the 2009-2010 DIR®/Floortime™ Educational Program sponsored by Floortime™ Atlanta. She is excited to learn and incorporate strategies to engage and interact with our children in small groups and one-on-one settings. Lynn believes that each child’s individual learning differences should be embraced. |
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Michelle Deutscher, OTR/L, Occupational Therapist |
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Michelle Marchese-Deutscher obtained a Bachelors of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from Keuka College, New York, in 1994. Since 1997, Michelle has specialized exclusively in pediatrics. She has experience working in a variety of settings to include hospital settings, private outpatient clinics, and public and private school systems. Michelle and her husband own and operate a private pediatric practice, Hands On Healing, located in Fayetteville, Georgia. Michelle is certified in Neuro-developmental treatment for pediatrics and has extensive training in sensory integration. Michelle is also certified in the Therapeutic Listening Program and has experience implementing the Alert Program. Michelle resides in Peachtree City, Georgia, with her husband and three children. Michelle has a passion for missions work and has led two therapeutic mission trips to a third world country. |
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Leane Bowra, Occupational Therapist |
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Leane Bowra has a Masters degree in Occupational Therapy from Brenau University and is certified as a hippotherapist. She has served at ClearWater Academy and Hands on Healing as an Occupational Therapist and hippotherapist for about a year and will begin Aquatic Therapy this year. She has enjoyed working with the children at ClearWater, and is excited to see the accomplishments from their second year. Leane was born in Austin, Texas, and raised here in Fayette County. Her interests include softball, ultimate Frisbee, waterskiing, Braves baseball, and spending time with family and friends. Leane has one pet, a 4-year-old rabbit named Candy, who has been used as a therapy bunny.
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Adra Mayfield, Speech Therapist |
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Adra Mayfield is a speech language pathologist who has been working in the field since 1999. Adra received a Masters of Education in speech language pathology from State University of West Georgia in 1999 and is a certified teacher. Adra received a second Masters degree of Science in which she obtained her ASHA Certification in order to practice as a speech language therapist. Adra has experience working in the public school system, hospital environment and the private clinical settings. Adra treasures the professional time spent working with her mother as they have teamed up to offer a unique story telling program. Adra provides the expertise in the area of speech language development while her mom provides years of training as a media specialist and professional story teller. Adra is skilled at planning and leading therapeutic groups and addressing social skills within the context of a group situation. During her free time, Adra enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 ½ year old son. Adra also enjoys reading, hiking, and swimming. |
| Anne Wallace - "Teller-in-Waiting" | |
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Lisa Freeman, North American Riding for the Handicapped (NARHA) Certified Instructor |
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Lisa Freeman is a Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructor, certified by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association. She says she was born in love with the horse. As a two-year old, Lisa was fairly certain that she would be able to convince her father to buy her a horse, so they could keep it in the basement of a Chicago apartment. That idea was never bought into, but her determination never stopped. She rode and showed horses as a child, and then pursued that same passion with her own children as they got older.
Lisa Freeman has been teaching riding lessons to children, and wanted to reach children on a larger scale. She was familiar with therapeutic riding because a friend of hers had become a therapeutic instructor years before. Around the same time she was enthralled by the concept in a book called Hope Rising. The idea of pairing horses and children for learning and healing was everything Lisa believed in. It so motivated her that she actively pursued the steps needed through NARHA to become certified. Her volunteerism, teaching, and testing requirements were met at the Premier Riding Center in Buckhead – Chastain Horse Park. This facility involves people from all walks of life. This opportunity allowed her to see and work with every possible disability. After years of experience, she was ready to bring her knowledge to her own farm in Tyrone. Now she has the opportunity to do what she loves the most: to use the healing power of horses, and at the same time teach children. Lisa feels blessed for the opportunity to be paired with ClearWater Academy.
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| Chris Zelski, B.A. Recreational Therapist, Learning on the Log | |
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Chris Zelski has been involved in early intervention programs for children with autism and related disabilities since 1992. Before co-founding Learning on the Log in 2000, he served as the classroom coordinator and case manager of the Pre-K classroom at Emory University's Walden Early Childhood Programs. He also served as resource assistant at the Emory Autism Resource Center conducting research, supervising and training support teachers, evaluating children and working on developing language/interaction and increasing social skills. Chris served as the Program Coordinator for group based sensory-integration program at Speech Pathology Services for three years. He has worked as a home school instructor and therapist and as an aquatic swimming instructor for children with disabilities. He has also created and implemented recreational and social skills programs for the Hirsch Academy, Lionheart School, 504 school, and other programs and facilities for children with learning disabilities. Chris lives in Decatur along with his wife and two daughters.
Chris is excited to work with ClearWater Academy for the second year. He shares the belief that each child’s individual learning style and sensory diet must be respected and honored. He is thrilled to be affiliated with an organization that supports and encourages his passion for helping children develop social and emotional skills through sensory-based recreational activities.
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| Jim Fisk - Information Technologies Director | |
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| Tracy Thomas, Support Specialist | |
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Tracy Thomas, a native Georgian, is a graduate of McIntosh High School, Peachtree City, GA. She serves ClearWater Academy as a support specialist. She ensures the facility, grounds, and transportation are safe, clean, and operationally sound. A former nanny, Tracy enjoys working with children, celebrating their differences, and learning about their dreams.
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