Since 2007, Jodi has served as Executive Director at The Belle Center. In this role, Jodi manages our administrative and programmatic operations, and closely works with program directors, staff, board members and other nonprofit organizations. Jodi began working at The Belle Center in 2003 when she became Program Director of our Outreach Therapy Program.
Prior to The Belle Center, Jodi worked as a supervisor for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Division of Special Education. Jodi also worked for the Department of Mental Health, and served as a service coordinator and child development specialist in Texas' early intervention program. Jodi holds a B.A. in Human Services and Psychology from the University of Minnesota – Morris.
Joining The Belle Center in 1989, Kate has served in a variety of capacities, including Classroom Teacher, Developmental Therapist and Executive Director. As Program & Community Relations Director, Kate manages the daily operations of our Center-Based Preschool Program, and oversees our teaching staff.
Before joining The Belle Center, Kate taught emotionally disturbed children through the State of Missouri. She also worked for the Special School District of St. Louis County and the St. Louis Archdiocese. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Special Education and Regular Education, K –12 grades, from Fontbonne University. Kate is certified in Early Childhood Special Education and Learning Disabilities.
Theresa began her journey with The Belle Center in 1999 as a developmental therapist, and has held many positions here. In 2006, she became The Belle Center’s Outreach Program Director. As Program & Community Relations Director, Theresa manages our therapy staff and continues providing developmental and behavioral therapies.
Theresa also worked as an inclusion specialist, and taught two-year-olds through 2nd graders. Theresa holds a bachelor’s in early childhood education and a master’s in early childhood and special education from the University of Missouri St. Louis. She also has certification in the Missouri’s Parents as Teachers Program, Project Construct, Empowerment Training and Sharing our Strengths Mentor Program.
Holly joined the Belle Center staff in August 2010. As the Development Associate, Holly serves as the point of contact for the Belle Center’s fundraising efforts, including events, grants and individual giving. Holly received her master’s degree in Nonprofit Management and a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Washington University in St. Louis. She brings a passion for serving children as well as a diverse professional background including development roles for both Washington University and the United Way.
Since 2001, Tina has enjoyed teaching in our two-year-old classroom at the Center-Based Preschool Program. Tina also provides therapies to children with disabilities at community outreach sites, and helps with many of The Belle Center’s Sibshops. Tina previously worked as a preschool teacher for a local childcare center. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education at Saint Louis University.
Lainey joined the Belle team in 1998 as a developmental therapist working with the 3-5 year olds during the day and teaching parent infant in the evenings. Her family, however, has been with the Belle Center since 1990 when her youngest brother, Luke, who has Down syndrom, attended Belle's preschool program. Lainey earned her bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Special Education from Lindenwood University and is currently the site leader for Special Education in two of our partner sites in the St. Louis area
Diane joined The Belle Center team as a Special Educator in October, 2010. She is working with children and staff at our outreach program sites. Diane has experience teaching both special education and regular education programs in public schools and private schools. She received her Bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia and her Master's degree from the University of La Verne, La Verne, California. Being a "life-long" learner, Diane has attained five certifications in Special Education and an Elementary Education certification.
At The Belle Center, Julie provides therapies to children at our Center-Based Preschool Program, as well as at the children’s homes and schools. She works with children who have cerebral palsy, autism, Down syndrome, various other genetic syndromes, orthopedic impairments, as well as general developmental delays. Julie graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a doctorate in Physical Therapy, and previously worked with diverse age groups, ranging from infants through geriatric patients. In her spare time, Julie enjoys coaching athletics and teaching swimming lessons to children with disabilities.
Nancy started with the Belle Center in 2009. Before joining the Belle team, Nancy worked in the pediatric hospital setting, working at St. Louis Children's Hospital for 11 years and La Rabida Children's Hospital in Chicago for 8 years. She has been a team member in numerous clinics and specialities including adaptive seating, burns, and NICU. She was NDT trained in 1993. She received her bachelors in Physical Therapy from St. Louis University in 1989.
Beth joined The Belle Center in August of 2008 as an occupational therapist providing services in our embedded preschool programs, at children’s homes and schools. Beth is passionate about working with children and including them into their natural inclusive environment. She received her master’s degree in occupational therapy from Saint Louis University, and has a BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute. Her background in art expands on her ability to use her acquired fine art skills and creativity to come up with strategies and fabricated toys to serve a child and their family.
Linda joined us the summer of 2010 and is working at our community outreach sites. Linda previously provided therapy services in the St. Louis Public Schools, Head Start Programs and the Special School District of St. Louis County. Linda received her degree from Washington University School of Medicine Program in Occupational Therapy
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Claudia joined us early in 2009, providing therapies at our Center-Based Preschool Program and at children’s homes and schools. Claudia previously worked at Good Shepherd School for Children. She attended Saint Louis University both for undergraduate and graduate school, and her degree is a Master of Arts in communication disorders, Speech Language Pathology. Claudia is a licensed and certified speech language pathologist.
Bridgette has believed and supported The Belle Center's mission since her youngest brother attended our Center-Based Preschool Program in 1989. She began working at The Belle Center in 2003 as a speech and language pathologist, and specializes in children from birth to age 16. Bridgette enjoys working with families, caregivers and other therapists in a variety of settings to best address children’s needs. Bridgette has a master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from Fontbonne University.
Shannon has always had a passion for working with children. The Belle Center is a perfect fit for her desire to work with children of different ages, ability levels, and backgrounds. The diverse population of children served as well as the family-centered philosophy of the Belle Center attracted her to join the team in mid-2009. Shannon provides speech and language services to children both at the Center-Based preschool location as well as in other day cares around the city, in children's homes and in schools. Shannon completed her undergraduate work in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Rockhurst University in Kansas City. She then moved back to St. Louis to complete the master's program in Speech Language Pathology at Fontbonne University with an emphasis in working with children who are deaf and hard of hearing
Ali joined The Belle Center in July 2010.. She provides speech and language therapy to children in both the home and school setting, including our embedded early education program. During her undergraduate at Saint Louis University, Ali majored in Communication Sciences and Disorders and minored in psychology and education. She also attended Saint Louis University for graduate school where she received her Masters of Arts in Speech Language Pathology
Meghan recently joined the Belle Center team in July 2010. She provides speech and language therapy to children in their homes and at both embedded program sites and outreach program sites. She earned her Bachelor of Science in communication sciences and disorders from Rockhurst University in 2008 and her Master of Science in speech language pathology with an emphasis in deafness/hearing impairment from Fontbonne University in 2010.
Albert is new to the Belle Center and is very excited about joining the team as a special educator. He works closely with students, families and classroom teachers in area charter schools to help students meet their goals and achieve academic success. Albert’s teaching philosophy is that all students have the ability to learn and be successful in all aspects and facets of life. It is the educator’s responsibility to provide encouragement, support and to ensure that each child works to his or her maximum ability and full potential. As a certified special educator, Albert has six years of teaching experience. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Columbia College and is currently working towards a M.A. in Educational Administration.
Jessica joined the Belle Center team in July 2011. She is especially excited to be a member of the Belle Center Family because her sister is a proud Belle alumnus. Jessica provides speech and language therapy to children both in their homes and in the school setting. She earned her Bachelor of Health Science in communication sciences and disorders from the University of Missouri in 2008 and her Master of Science in speech language pathology with an emphasis in alternative/augmentative communication and cochlear implants from Fontbonne University in 2010.
Christie recently retuned to The Belle Center in 2011. She was previously with Belle from 1998 until 2005, during which time she provided early intervention therapy with infants and toddlers in home settings, as well as inclusive therapy with children in preschool and elementary school settings. She values being invited into a child’s natural environment as it enables a therapist to better understand what is truly important to the well-being of each child and family. She graduated from Fontbonne University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, and later attended the University of Missouri at Columbia where she earned a Bachelor of Health Sciences in Occupational Therapy. She enjoys helping children gain competencies in their “occupations”—play and learning.
Brittany joined the Belle Center team in the summer of 2011. She provides occupational therapy to children in both the home and school setting. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Wellness from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2008. In 2011, she earned her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Saint Louis University. In her spare time, Brittany enjoys taking dance classes and would love to teach dance to children with disabilities.
Beth has nearly 10 years of experience working as a speech language pathologist in schools and clinics. Locally, she previously worked for the Miriam School, Special School District, and the St. Louis Learning Disabilities Association. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio University and received a Master of Arts degree in speech language pathology from Case Western Reserve University.
Megan joined the Belle Center team in June 2011. She provides physical therapy services to children in their homes and other natural environments, such as schools, parks, and playgrounds. Because children learn the best during their regular daily activities and not during structured "therapy" time, Megan enjoys teaching families how to best help their children succeed in all areas of development throughout their day and during activities that children love, especially playtime! Megan has over 10 years of pediatric experience, and most recently worked with the tiny-k Early Intervention program and the public schools in Lawrence, KS. She received her Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Kansas, and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Creighton University in Omaha, NE.
Marie recently joined the Belle Center Staff in July as an Administrative Assistant. Marie has 13 years of previous office experience and worked in the Francis Howell School District as Support Staff for 3 years.
Ellie joined The Belle Center in October 2011. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in Spanish from Saint Louis University in 2008. She graduated from Saint Louis University in 2010 with her Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology. Ellie completed her clinical fellowship year in Houston, Texas, where she specialized in bilingual speech–language pathology in a primarily Spanish speaking school. She has experience working with both English and Spanish speaking children and families in school, clinic, and home health settings. Ellie provides speech and language therapy in English and Spanish to children in both the home and school setting, including our embedded early education program. Ellie is a licensed and certified Speech-Language Pathologist.
Bio coming soon!
Bio coming soon!
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