| | FACULTY and STAFF |
| Mrs. Julia Leibensperger is Principal. Mrs. Leibensperger has a B.S. in Mathematics and Secondary Education, and an M.S. in School Administration and Supervision. She has over twenty years of teaching experience, and also served as principal at Ukranian Assumption School in Perth Amboy, New Jersey for seven years. Mrs. Leibensperger wrote a statement many years ago expressing her philosophy of education, which she feels since becoming pricipal at SJC, needs no amendments: "Here is a unique child of God, destined for heaven. The challenge is to create a happy environment where to learn and accomplish is an adventure, where to grow in respect of and tolerance for neighbor is a daily concern, where to seek and recognize God's love in all things is the very heart of life."
Mrs. Nannette Brophy Major is the school's Development Director. She is a graduate of Penn State, as well as the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art, Inc. in Dover, New Jersey. She has worked primarily as a freelance illustrator, art instructor, and writer, and as a local special education advocate. Mrs. Major says that she feels truly blessed to be a part of the St. Joseph Center family, both as an employee, and a parent (her daughter Skye is a SJC student). She and her family have seen amazing progress in Skye in her time as a student here. "As a result," says Mrs. Major, "for me, St. Joseph Center is an easy sell. I have seen the educational quality first-hand. The teachers and staff are top-notch. And when you add the Lord to that equation "...all things are possible."
Ms. Joell Olenik teaches the Secondary classroom. She has been with St. Joseph Center for five years. In addition to her classroom duties, Ms. Olenik supervises the student run hot lunch program, which is now offered five days a week. Under her guidance, students plan the menu, shop for and prepare the delicious meals. Ms. Olenik feels fulfilled in her involvement with SJC. "What can I say?" she says, "We are a family." Mrs. Bridget Leskin, Mrs. Mary Steffy and Mrs. Dolores Brophy are the school's teaching assistants. Ms. Ashley Fox, from Intermediate Unit 29, provides speech therapy to our students. Ms. Fox works with children whose speaking patterns interfere with their communication process. Types of speech impairments include articulation errors, in which the child may distort or substitute speech sounds, and language errors when the child's vocabulary and sentence structure is delayed. Occupational Therapy (OT) is provided to identified students via a contract between SJC and Stepping Stones Rehabilitation Service, Inc. For children with fine motor deficits, such tasks as tying a shoe, holding a pencil, turning the pages of a book, or even grasping the handlebars of a bicycle or the chains of a swing, can be extremely challenging. These types of areas are among the domain Occupational Therapy (OT) aims to address and improve. Being a school for children with special needs, 75-80% of St. Joseph Center's students have been identified as having severe fine motor deficits and, as described, greatly benefit from OT in many ways. However, even higher functioning students still experience gains, one example is in the form of improved penmenship. Ultimately, regular contact with an Occupational Therapist has a positive, visible impact on the academic process of all students, with an obvious anticipation that progress in these areas will allow for more complete participation in independent social and recreational activities, employment opportunities, and family life. Mrs. Judy Rader is a registered nurse from the Pottsville School District who serves our school once a week. Mrs. Sue Kazmarek serves as the Director of Religious Education for our students. Sr. Janice Marie Johnson, RSM is the Administrative Supervisor of St. Joseph Center For Special Learning. She serves in this capacity through the Secretariat for Catholic Education, Diocese of Allentown as the Director of Special Education Programs. |
Mrs. Jean Mahall is a special educator for preschool and the primary grades. She teaches all subjects including a self-help and life skills program. Mrs. Mahall has been a teacher here for eighteen years. She feels the school atmosphere is very open, friendly, and extremely family-oriented. "St. Joseph Center for Special Learning is an excellent placement for children and young adults with mental retardation and/or developmental delays", states Mrs. Mahall.