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First Children School Staff

Administrative Staff

Kathy Gorski

Kathleen McCarthy Gorski, M.Ed.

Principal

Ellen D’Amato, PhD

Ellen D’Amato, Ph.D.

School Psychologist & Clinical Administrator

Zakkiyyah Sally

Zakkiyyah Sally

Vice Principal

Holly Pedicone, LCSW

School Social Worker

Jessica Maldonado

School Coordinator

Teachers

Kristie Bell

Teacher of the Deaf

Tricia Colaneri

Teacher of the Deaf

Jomarie Diaz

Primary School Teacher

Debbie Earley

Primary School Teacher

Allyson Katz

Elementary School Teacher

Christina Korecki-Diaz

Middle/High School Teacher

Christa Lavin

Preschool Teacher

Kristen Pinto

Preschool Teacher

Renee Torre

High School Teacher

Dawn Wasserman

Primary School Teacher

Brittany Whelan

Middle School Teacher

Debbie Winter

Teacher of the Deaf

Mary Wisneiwski

Teacher of the Deaf

Peggy Yorkovich

Teacher of the Deaf

Nursing Staff

Susanne Spirko

School Nurse Coordinator

Ann Marie Marshall

School Nurse

Lisa Peter

School Nurse

Mary Ellen Lerie

School Nurse

Therapy Team

Occupational Therapy Team

Kim Apel

Occupational Therapist

Barbara Barry, COTA

Occupational Therapist

Mary Frese

Occupational Therapist

Mary Reilly

Occupational Therapist

Renee Sebok

Occupational Therapist

Heather Scheuer

Occupational Therapist

Physical Therapy Team

Victoria Belkewitch, PT, DPT

Victoria Belkewitch, PT, DPT

Physical Therapist Coordinator

Cathy Hirshhorn

Cathy Hirschhorn

Physical Therapist

Nicole Jay

Nicole Jay, PT, DPT, MS, COMS

Physical Therapist

Janet Maninno

Janet Mannino

Physical Therapy Assistant

Lucyna Golenia, Physical Therapist Assistant

Lucyna Golenia

Physical Therapist Assistant

Speech Therapy Team

Amanda Holtz

Speech-Language Pathologist

Stephanie Murrasso

Speech-Language Pathologist

Xiomara Rosado

Speech-Language Pathologist

Megan Rozycki

Speech-Language Pathologist

Rebekah Strombom

Speech-Language Pathologist

Pamela Welch-Reinoso

Speech-Language Pathologist

Anna Gokhberg

Speech-Language Pathologist

Interested in working with us? View our open positions!

Interested in working with us? View our open positions!

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First Children Services is an equal opportunity employer and provider. Our agency prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. All individuals featured on our website and social media have expressed written photo consent.

Kathleen began her career in education teaching for 17 years with Bayonne Public Schools.  She then went on to become an administrator with Millburn-Short Hills Public Schools, serving as Vice Principal of the middle school in the district.  She later moved on to Cranford Public Schools where she served as a Principal for 8 years before joining First Children in 2010. Kathleen is a certified school superintendent, principal, supervisor, teacher of the handicapped and elementary school teacher. She holds a Master’s degree in Teaching from Marygrove College and a Master’s in Educational Administration from Kean University. Some of her accomplishments/awards are state model of the Olweus Bully Prevention program, assistant director of the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development-northeast region, Principal of the Year-Cranford Public Schools 2003/2004 and NCASES board member and commissioner. As a certified mediator Kathleen has been appointed by the New Jersey Supreme Court to be a fee arbitrator for attorney conflicts.  Kathleen is a passionate educator and visionary of academic excellence for all children.

Ellen has devoted her entire career to the delivery of services to students with developmental disabilities. As a special education teacher, learning disabilities teacher-consultant (LDTC), and currently as a school psychologist, she has developed and implemented intervention programs for students ranging in age from infancy through high school. Her area of expertise is the education of students who have significant cognitive, communication, physical, and medical challenges. She is experienced in the identification and provision of individualized supports to students who have multiple disabilities.

Ellen earned her Ph.D. in educational psychology from Fordham University where her research focused on the needs of families of students with disabilities. She is the co-author of Tips for Teaching Infants and Toddlers– a resource for parents and early intervention teachers/therapists.
 
As the school psychologist at First Children School, Ellen coordinates a multi-disciplinary team of speech, physical, occupational, and behavioral therapists, serves as liaison to local child study teams, and provides educational and therapeutic support to the students, staff, and families of First Children School. She is a member of the Council for Exceptional Children (Division of Early Childhood) and the American Psychological Society- Division 33 (Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) and Division 16 (School Psychology).
Zakkiyyah began her career as a teacher in the year of 2000. Over the years, Zakkiyyah has taught middle school science and math in East Orange and Orange, NJ. Zakkiyyah has also taught special education for grades First through Fifth in the Bronx, NY. Additionally, Zakkiyyah has served as an Early Childhood School Director within several preschool programs throughout the State of New Jersey including a day care center she owned for over 5 years in the City of Newark. Zakkiyyah has experience working in the private school setting, charter school setting, public school setting, as well as community-based programs that support schools.
 
Zakkiyyah also has experience serving in the community as a Family Worker Coordinator, Advocate for Children and Families, Behavioral Specialist, Residential Group Home Assistant Manager for adolescent moms and their babies, Assistant Director of Behavioral Health, a Professional Development Trainer in Early Childhood Education, an Early Literacy Program Director at Rutgers University in Newark, and as a Mental Health Clinician and Screener.
 
Directly before coming to First Children School, Zakkiyyah has served as a Vice Principal for two years and then as a Principal for 2 years at a Charter School in Newark, NJ.
 
Zakkiyyah holds a Bachelors Degree from Rutgers University (Douglass College), a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from Seton Hall University, a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University, and additional Master level college credits from CITY College of New York in Special Education. Currently, Zakkiyyah is pursuing her Doctorate Degree with a concentration in Trauma Informed and Responsive Care for children in schools. Zakkiyyah has credentials through the NJ Department of Education to serve as a teacher and principal in the State of New Jersey. Also, Zakkiyyah is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Screener in the State of New Jersey.

Holly Pedicone’s primary focus has been assisting families of children with disabilities in obtaining services for their child and providing support for parents as caregivers.  This has included educating parents and families about services such as health services and financial assistance when needed and also registering with state and federal programs for children with disabilities.   In addition, at First Children School, Holly provides support programs for the families of our students.  She has been a part of bringing educational speakers to meet with parents and providing special days for moms, dads, siblings and extended family to participate with their student in fun and educational ways.  Since family involvement is a very important piece of the education of our students, these events are one-way families are able to share in the school experience with their student.

In addition to her work with our school families, Holly has a private counseling practice working with adults, couples, families, and children.  Holly graduated from New York University with a master’s in social work in 1978. She is a member of the New Jersey Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.

Jessica has been with the company as an instructional assistant for four years prior to the promotion as the school coordinator. She is currently pursuing her studies in the area of education at Middlesex County College with a transfer to Kean University. Jessica brings her child care experience, communicative bilingual skills, and team building approaches to her new position. She continues to collaborate with school districts, busing company’s, and First Children’s administrative team in order to manage all school documentation and policy procedural guidelines. Jessica enjoys supporting staff members and communicating with families.

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