Cohort+Members+Profiles

5) Place your cursor under your photo but still above the line indicating the end of your section. Type your introduction - tell us about yourself!
=== NOTE: In case the horizontal line gets lost, u se the button above labeled with a blue horizontal line across the middle to draw a line below your introduction or wherever it is needed. ===

Lisa Burr
Hello All, I am a speech-language pathologist at Lenox Schools and I love what I do and am eager to explore new ways and develop new skills so I can better meet the needs of my students. I have also worked as an SLP in a varied of settings; long term and short term rehab, nursing home, private therapy, and the VNA. I completed graduate study receiving a certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders and am the autism consultant for many students in our district. Prior to becoming an SLP I was the residential supervisor for an intermediate care facility for adults with developmental disabilities. Working with individuals with severe disabilities I have always had an interest in AAC systems, both low and high tech, and several years ago participated as a school team in a ten month assistive technology training. There was so much more than communication systems and we continue to strive to apply the concepts of universal design and assistive technology to students with a range of needs. Since that training in 2000 technology has changed drastically. While many concepts and low tech applications are still relevant, some of the software used to assist with reading and writing skills has become an integral part of operating systems and tablets and no longer necessary. In fact owning the disc is no longer relevant in today's cloud and web based applications. With changes in assistive technology and technology in general I am looking forward to learning about the exciting opportunities available. My husband, see profile below, and I share a passion for learning. For many years we have worked together and are embarking on this new adventure together.

Roger Burr
Hello everyone I work in the technology department at TD Bank as a Regional Manager for Western Mass, Connecticut, upstate New York and Vermont. Our department supports all of the technology at the bank branches as well as the back office locations. There's never a day that repeats itself and there's always new challenges to be meet. We support the physical hardware for desktops, laptops and servers as well as support and maintain the local networks. I've been at TD for just over 14 years, all of which have been in the same department but with evolving responsibilities. Prior to making my technology hobby a career, I was a Physical Therapists Assistant. Changes in the health care industry 17 years ago caused enough of a turmoil that I decided to move away from that profession. Aside from my Associates degree in Physical Therapy I have my bachelors degree in Criminal Forensics and Digital Investigation.

As I'm sure you've noticed I share the same last name as Lisa (just above my profile). We've been married for 20 great years and live in Hinsdale with our two cats. Melanie & MoMoh who are great company, endless hours of entertainment and don't accrue college tuition bills. I look forward to not only meeting all of you but I getting started on this ASTech journey.

Kathy Clausen
I began teaching 20 years ago working with preschool students and eventually taught just about every grade up to high school. Some of it was in the art world, both studio and graphic design. About half of it was in the second grade as a homeroom teacher. During the last few years, I became more interested in how children learned, or had a hard time learning, how to read. Simultaneously, the use of technology was something I was drawn to as it developed in the educational world and I embraced it whenever it was appropriate. At this point in time, I see that being able to leverage technology in the classroom can open opportunities for students. I have not had the chance to work with special needs students as I have only worked in independent schools, but am looking forward to becoming acquainted with this population. I am currently unemployed, which is a whole other story, but one that has propelled me into this //new// career.

Great Barrington is my home with my husband and two cats, and I have three adult daughters, a farmer, a studio manager, and an acupuncturist-in-training. I am looking forward to meeting everyone, although, I know a couple of you already.

Joshua Dickson


Hi Everyone,

I am a special education teacher in the Northampton Public Schools. This is my first year in Northampton, before that I was an Autism Specialist and Assistive Technology Specialist for the North Adams Public Schools. My background has been working both in substantially separate programs as well as in an inclusive setting for students with multiple disabilities and students who are on the autism spectrum. I was very excited to hear about the Assistive Technology program at the Reading Institute because it is truly one of my passions. To me there is nothing more rewarding than being able to use modern technology to breakdown barriers that are frustrating a student or having the opportunity to see a student's eye light up when they are able to do something with their peers that they weren't able to do before. My desire to become a teacher has come from my grandmother who has been a speech and language pathologist for the past 28 years. Watching her in the classroom has truly been an inspiration. I am very excited to start this new journey and see where it takes me!

Yours truly, Josh

Andrea Filkins

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Andrea FIlkins....I was born a poor black child...(just kidding. {Steve Martin comedy movie line, for those who aren't familiar.} ) I am the teacher of wonderful children, in a substantially separate, public, middle-school environment. They are in my classes because they have difficulty thriving in a traditional mainstream environment due to their inappropriate social responses to various stimuli; tendencies toward aggressive language, physical aggression, and/or other forms of negative interactions and these are inhibiting them from ...well. let's just leave it at that; it inhibits them from a lot. These conditions are caused by a lovely bouquet of reasons, from the heirloom, perennial variety of genetics to the discount house, GMO, annual variety of environmental factors. Academically, they are a mixed bag. We cater to all heads on the totem pole! Wipe that grimace from your face! Fear naught! Due the super powers of my team (two great paras and a few choice helpers sprinkled throughout the school,) we are moving in the right direction! Although it may seem we are taking the scenic route, we are getting there! I am the proud mother of a son who is 24, and a daughter who is almost 23. They are both perfectly talented geniuses with tons of artistic talents ( and good looks, like their grandparents... God rest their souls!). I like music, like to sing, write poetry, design dresses, imagine and tell detailed stories (and sometimes write them, so they can be set free instead of being trapped in my imagination; in fact, one story has been fertilized in my mind for so long, the once young characters in the story are now thinking of applying for social security!) Oh, if there was just more time int he day!

Alden Grover


Hi everyone,

I am a high school ELA teacher at the Neari School in Holyoke, MA. I started as a 1:1 at the school and got the opportunity to move up. Last year I spent my professional time with an 18-year-old blind student who uses assistive technologies to aid in his education. I developed a strong interest in this field and look forward to learning much more. After getting my bachelors degree from Westfield State I began to work in schools and have yet to change my career path. I have worked in therapeutic/ behavioral teaching settings as well as treatment facilities and special education day schools and love the work. In addition to the education field, I am a disciplined guitar player and play out with my band quite regularly. I currently reside in Pittsfield, MA but grew up in Cheshire and work in Holyoke so I drive like a mad man but feel that it is worth it. I look forward to working with all of you, and getting to know you as well!

Karen Lehtinen


I have work in the education field for over twenty years. I have enjoyed working in pre-k through 8th grade. I currently work at Southern Berkshire Regional School District and proud to be a part of this outstanding group of people. I am a special education inclusion teacher for the middle school. I am always looking for new way to capture students attention and open their minds. Knowing technology can help me enlighten my students. I am happy to see that I know a few people in class.

I live in Central Berkshire County in a small town on top of a huge mountain. I am the proud grandmother of the 2013 Berkshire County's New Years Baby. She was front page news. I have been married for over 25 years and have two daughters in their 20's.

Catherine McCabe


Mother of four, grandmother of two, soon to be three. I've been working as a language therapist for the past twenty years in public and private schools in South Berkshire County, as well as for private clients. I am a certified language therapist and have a masters in Literacy and Reading. I totally love my work, but now I want to extend what I can provide for my students.

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Hello all, I am a special education teacher at Nessacus Regional Middle School. My program consists mostly of students who present with autism and/or down syndrome. Three of my students do not communicate effectively with speech. All three use a program called Proloquo2go on their IPADs at their own level. I can't wait to learn about more technology to help these students and the rest of my students achieve to their potential.

I have been happily married for 20 years and have two teenage sons. One of my sons is starting his first journey into college life this year as he will be leaving for MCLA on Sunday.

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I am a Preschool/Special Needs teacher in the Adams Cheshire Regional School District. Our model is a side by side program where I am the classroom as well as the special needs teacher. I currently hold two Massachusetts Teacher's Licenses after getting my BA in Early Childhood Education (and a BS in Sociology) and my Masters in Special Education, all from MCLA. I have had the privilege of working with many different children with varying abilities and have learned something new from each child. The disabilities I have been exposed to include Autism, Down's Syndrome, nonverbal, osteogenesis imperfecta, deaf/hard of hearing, developmental delays and many more. This year I will be working with children with multiple disabilities and am looking forward to learning some new technology I can bring back to the classroom.=====

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I have been in this role since 2001, but took a year off to raise each of my wonderful girls. My girls are smart, loving and very busy. This year Maddie is 10 and will be entering 5th grade and Bella will turn 7 soon and be in 1st grade, both at Craneville Elementary. I have a wonderful and supportive husband, who works too much and this will be a challenge for me this year carving out time for myself to be successful in this program. While I am nervous I am excited to start this next chapter of my life.=====

Nan Smith


I am a mother of two, and a reading teacher. I live in the Berkshire Hills. I am excited for classes to begin

Fern Murtagh
I have been an inclusive preschool teacher for twenty years at the Williamstown Elementary School. Over the course of those twenty years, I have had the honor of being the first teacher to many children who have significant needs; including students who were non verbal, had physical disablities, and/or cognitive delays. I am excited about taking these classes so that I have more strategies to draw from to help these children reach their potential.

My husband and I have lived in Williamstown for twenty eight years. Our three daughters have fond memories of growing up in Williamstown even though now they each live in large cities. Our family includes, not only our three grown daughters, but two wonderful son in laws and a granddaughter. This year, I will be busy not only with these classes, but also planning a wedding to welcome a third wonderful man into our family. But, before the wedding, we will welcome another grandchild into our family.

I have one more goal before the summer ends. I want to warp my loom that has sat idle for over a quarter of a century.

Maureen Tumenas


I live in Cummington- small hill-town between Pittsfield and Northampton. I began my career as a plant and soil scientist, working at the Horticultural Research Center- part of UMass. When my children were young, I ran my own preschool for 5 years.After that I taught at BCD in Lenox for 22 years; first as a Kindergarten teacher, moving on to teach science to grades K- 3 and computer classes to an assortment of grades 1-9. I am currently a tech integration specialist at Hadley Elementary School. I have 2 children, now adults, living in Alaska and in California. In my spare time I love to read and to garden.

I got interested in AT last year when I began working in the public schools. I was exposed to a much more diverse student population and had teachers and specialists asking me for AT advice. Coming from the edtech side, I honestly do not know much about Special Education and how to best leverage the tech to help all students.