Meet Our Alpha Staff

The ALPHA Faculty and Staff:

• Willaim Pancak, Program Administrator
• Judith Keliar, Social Worker
• Meghann England, Teacher
• Michelle Murray, Teacher
• Wendy Sapione, Teacher
• Mary Smithberg, Teacher
• Theresa Palmieri, CIA
• Kathy Selezan, CIA

Judith Keliar, School Social Worker for the ALPHA Program
I have been a professional social worker for twenty-five years with experience in individual, group and family practice. In addition to state educational certification, I hold a sixth year Masters degree in Social Work from The University of Connecticut and a Clinical License with the State Department of Health. For the past twelve years, I have been employed by the Stratford School System, providing service to elementary and secondary schools. As a member of the ALPHA team, it is my role to collaborate with staff as well as assist students in developing and maintaining behaviors conducive to the educational process. I also support families in obtaining community resources, which will enhance students’ social and independent skills.

Meghann England, Teacher
Welcome! My name is Meghann England and this will be my first year teaching Language Arts in the ALPHA Program. I have spent the last two years teaching Language Arts and Theatre at Bunnell High School and worked as club advisor for STAGE, the Bunnell drama club. I received my undergraduate degree and masters degree from SCSU, at which time I served as editor of Folio, the university art and literary magazine. I have enjoyed the last two years at Bunnell immensely, directing one play and two musicals. I look forward to thi new opportnity to teach in the ALPHA program and anticipate a great year to come.

"We must be the change we wish to see in the world." Gandhi

Michelle Murray, Special Education Teacher
I have been teaching approximately nineteen years. I received my Bachelor’s Degree from Southern Connecticut State University, my Master’s Degree from Fairfield University, also in Special Education, and my sixth year at Southern Connecticut State University.  The largest part of my experience has been at the secondary level, although I have taught middle school special education students, and even pre-school autistic children. I have taught in Milford, Trumbull, and Stratford. I have been at ALPHA for ten years.

"Unless a man believes in himself and makes a total commitment to his career and puts everything he has into it – his mind, his body, his heart – what’s life worth to him?"  Vince Lombardi

Wendy Sapione, Special Education Teacher
Welcome to ALPHA! My name is Wendy Sapione. I have an undergraduate degree in English and a Masters in Special Education from Fairfield University. I am Connecticut State certified as a Special Education teacher. I have been teaching learning strategies to students ranging from 3rd grade to 12th grade for 18 years. This will be my 7th year at ALPHA. I mainly teach science at ALPHA but am also highly qualified to teach English and math. I have taken five classes toward my Sixth Year degree and continue to learn something new every day!

Mary Smithberg, Teacher
I have a B.S. Degree in Education and a M.S. Degree in Science Education from Southern Connecticut State University.  I am currently completing a second M.S. Degree in History.  I began my teaching career after a career in corporate accounting.  After teaching  for 4 years at Flood Middle School, I transferred to the ALPHA program in 2000.  "If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday, " said Pearl Buck.  I believe that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.  Those who do, proceed into the future with great hope.

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