Catherine has been a teacher at These Our Treasures, Inc. preschool since 2001. She is the head teacher of one of TOTS' 6:1:1 classes and oversees and mentors the other 6:1:1 team. Many of her students have been diagnosed with PDD/ASD (pervasive developmental disorders/autism spectrum disorders), have significant sensory needs, auditory processing issues, and/or behavioral concerns. She received a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood General Education/Special Education, with a minor in Psychology, from Manhattan College. She continued her education by receiving a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Special Education from Lehman College. Her real education started when she began working at TOTS. From observing and listening to therapists, teaching assistants, and other teachers she began to develop her own philosophy, which is always evolving.
Catherine believes that it is always important to use a child-centered approach and to always look at the whole child. She attempts to provide a nurturing, safe environment where a child's ability to explore and express himself is encouraged. She strives to let her students know that the classroom is a safe place to be fully themselves, and that her love and compassion for them will never be disrupted or lessened by their behavior, no matter how difficult. She uses a wide variety of techniques and strategies (TEACCH; PECS; DIR/Floortime; some ABA) to assist the children in moving comfortably throughout the day. Picture schedules, music, sensory diets, a simplified environment, and perhaps the most important ingredient of all, compassion, are a daily part of her classroom.
In addition to working with the students in her classroom, she participates in TOTS' home-based family training program. This allows Catherine to work with her students' families on strategies to reach particular goals, such as toileting, feeding, behavioral issues, and communication. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her own family, including her beautiful nine-month old niece, Caroline Grace. In December 2010, Catherine traveled to Ireland to marry her best friend, Shane. She hopes to spend many more years making a difference in the lives of young children and their families.
"I think once teachers can let go of that control factor, positive relationships naturally develop and real learning can take place."
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