About Us
At CSI, we are a family.
We are proud to have experienced staff who work seamlessly with each other to provide students with the guidance and tools they need to succeed. |
Donna DesimoneOur program instructor, Donna, began her career
at Bergen Center for Child Development as a classroom teacher. Her focus was on functional academics and everyday life skills, with emphasis on a multi-sensory approach. She was involved in curriculum development and programming. After many years as a classroom teacher she created and ran the Alternate Learning Environment, (A.L.E.). The A.L.E. classroom was designed to accommodate students experiencing frustration and exhibiting behaviors that interrupt their learning experience. She found a niche within the transitioning population and opened the Community Based Instruction Department with Pene Weber. The main focus of the department was on functional academics, life skills, and career training. She worked with the CBI team and maintained schedules, programs and monitored instruction. After 25 years of teaching Donna came to Cresskill in 2009 and opened the Community Steps to Independence program. Donna loves the flexibility of the CSI curriculum, and the nature of working with students in a holistic way. |
Pene WeberOur transition counselor, Pene, holds a NJ Teacher of the Handicapped certificate along with a Structured Learning Experience Certificate (SLE). Her SLE endorsement from the state of New Jersey enables her to place students in the community in internship experiences. She helps equip students with the resources for success and independence. Pene began her career working in a private ABA school for students with Autism. She coordinated and implemented the Independent Living Skills Program for the upper school students. Pene moved on and ran the vocational department at Bergen Center for Child Development. While at Bergen Center she completed her SLE coursework and together with Donna revamped the program and opened the Community Based Instruction Department. Pene was an integral part of revamping the life skills curriculum and developing the career readiness curriculum. In 2009 Pene came to Cresskill to open the Community Steps to Independence Program.
|
Kristen SellixKristen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, serving as a clinical support for the CSI program as well as a member of Cresskill Public Schools Child Study Team. Kristen has several years of experience in both the adult and youth services sectors in supportive housing, adult day-hab, supportive employment, and outpatient behavioral and mental healthcare treatment. Well-versed in the application process for the Division of Developmental Disabilities, Kristen is a resource for our families looking for a better understanding of adult service linkage. Kristen conducts a weekly social skills/transition support group for the students at the CSI house in collaboration with our speech therapist.
|
Shara HirschShara is our speech therapist who pushes-in to our Friday social skills/transition support group. She focuses on pragmatics; specifically, she helps to sharpen the social skills that will assist our students in their transition to the larger community.
|
Melissa Van CleftMelissa has been with CSI for 6 years, and has prior experience working within the district. She enjoyed working in our preschool program, and carries that same passion into her work with our CSI students.
|