People of SNSC
Dr. Kendra LaRoche, Executive Director
Dr. Kendra LaRoche (she/her) comes to the Special Needs Support Center (SNSC) as a leader in the education world with over 20 years’ experience, the most recent as the assistant principal in charge of special education and behavior at Manchester Elementary/Middle School.
Kendra was a first-generation college student who worked her way up to masters’ degrees from both Harvard and Middlebury, as well as a doctoral degree from SNHU. This experience fueled her lifelong passion of working with historically marginalized populations. As a Rowland Fellow in 2011, she addressed equity, the “elephant in the room issue” and radically changed the culture and climate of Burr and Burton Academy. Since that point, she has worked with schools and districts to focus their thinking on issues through data-driven decision making. While others also work with data, her strong emotional intelligence and commitment to spotlighting local culture gives her work a lasting change.
While data-driven decision making describes what Kendra does, the hiring committee was most impressed with how she did it- through relationship building. She brought restorative justice practices to her previous organization and plans to do the same at SNSC. Her training in this area allows her to lead staff through difficult conversations and situations that focuses on building trust and open communication. Trust is a fundamental building block of SNSC’s work, from its programming for children and adults to its advocacy work with schools.
The Special Needs Support Center is a group of individuals and families throughout the Upper Valley and beyond who proudly work together to create a community where people with special needs, across the spectrum and throughout the lifespan, can live their best lives. This dovetails beautifully with Kendra’s passions. Kendra’s past three decades of work has been laser-focused on what she refers to as her “big WHY”, or the compelling higher purpose that pushes her to action. Her “big WHY” is the belief that all people can find success. This fits perfectly with SNSC’s vision that “all people with special needs, and their families, have opportunities and support to pursue their goals and aspirations”.
The Special Needs Support Center welcomes Dr. Kendra LaRoche and looks forward to a productive future working together for all people with special needs and their families.
Carmen Lachle, Adult Services Program Coordinator
In 2018 I was referred to SNSC for Parent Educational Support and Advocacy. I can remember it like yesterday, as it was such a challenging time for my husband Nolan and I. We have 3 daughters (Lillian, Madalyn, and Sophia) diagnosed with Autism, and I found myself lost with all the IEP and Evaluation meetings. Also, I found myself seeking conversations with other parents who understood my challenges and fears related to raising children with a disabilities. I was told as a young child that knowledge is power, and as a mother I wanted to be sure I was doing everything possible for all my children. I’m so fortunate that I found SNSC because developing strong relationships is the foundation of everything I do professionally and personally. I have been empowered by knowledge and skills from the wonderful staff, participants, and volunteers within the SNSC community. In my free time I love spending time with my family, friends, cats, and guinea pig. My favorite thing is hearing my children giggle and I really love making tie-dye shirts together as a family.
Emma Woloshin, Program Coordinator
Emma (she/her) is passionate about working with people with disabilities and creating equity for all. She was an active member of Unified Sports in high school and discovered her determination for making spaces accessible to everyone, including creating a Unified Prom. She has a B.S. in Education and a Masters in Special Education from the University of Vermont. Emma has worked as an intensive needs paraprofessional, ABA interventionist and special educator. Outside of work, Emma loves spending time with her family and her dog.
Kathy McCarty, Youth Program Coordinator
Kathy recently moved from Connecticut to the Upper Valley with her husband Nate for his PhD program. She has been working in special education for over four years, and loves working with people with disabilities, and nurturing young minds. Kathy’s passion is creating a safe, positive environment where people with disabilities can be wholly themselves, while having a blast! When Kathy’s not at work, you can find her reading a good book, relaxing with her cats, spending time with friends and family, cooking, and exploring the Upper Valley with her husband!
Jo-Anne Unruh, Ph.D., Co-President
Special Education Teacher and Administrator – Retired
Jo-Anne has been working with children who have disabilities and their families since 1969. The inspiration received from these children and their families has been central to her work as a special education teacher and administrator in Vermont between 1971 – 2006. As a consultant on the Vermont Interagency Team, and on the Vermont Integrated Instructional Model from 2006 -2012 she worked across education, mental health, and child protection disciplines to strengthen supports for children and families. In her role as Executive Director of the Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators from 2012 -2017 she worked with administrators throughout Vermont and with the Vermont Legislature to support and advocate for appropriate services for children with disabilities, for embracing equity and inclusion for students and for responding to the needs of educators and families.
She was on the SNSC Board of Director from 2009 – 2021 in a variety of roles; upon retiring from the board was appointed as Director Emeritus. She returned to the SNSC Board as Co-President with Meg Seely in 2023.
Her Bachelors’ Degree was in Psychology, her Doctorate in Education, and she was a Vermont licensed special educator and administrator. In 1996 she became a certified Mediator through Woodbury College.
Interests include hiking, cross country skiing, biking, kayaking, knitting, singing, and maintaining contact with family and friends. She is married to Ken Kramberg who currently serves as a consultant and trainer specializing in educational support for children with emotional and behavioral challenges. Their son, Joseph and his wife, Beata, live in San Francisco and Hawaii. As of 2022 she became a delighted grandmother to Aleph.
Brooke Hague Trottier, Treasurer
Lawyer
Brooke lives in Norwich, Vermont with her husband, two teenage children and two dogs. She has run her own law firm since 2004, practicing real estate, estate planning and business formation. Brooke joined the SNSC Board in the summer of 2023, in loving memory of a childhood friend with significant physical and mental disabilities, with the hope that she can share some of the light that he and his family provided her and also give back to the special needs community.
Meg Seely, Co-President
Retired Special Educator
Meg has participated on many boards primarily in the Woodstock, Vermont area, including the Ottauquechee Health Foundation, Woodstock Youth Hockey, Zach’s Place and still serves the Pivotal Steps Board as President. She enjoyed expanding her wings at the Vermont Community Foundation for ten years where she was Chair of the Board for two. She is passionate about the mission at Let’s Grow Kids where she is on the Board of Directors as it seems to be a culmination of her lifelong goal to meet the needs of our youngest, especially those most at risk. Let’s Grow Kids is a movement which will achieve quality, affordable childcare for ALL Vermont children by the year 2025.
Meg holds a Masters in Developmental Therapy and a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education. From 1975 to 2001 she served as a therapist and eventually Director of the Woodstock Learning Clinic and later Chair of the Board of the Woodstock Learning Trust. Subsequently she served in many capacities at the Woodstock and Reading Elementary Schools, including interim principal at both.
For the last twenty-five years, after launching her three children into independence, Meg served as a Patient Family Advisor earning her the Dartmouth-Hitchcock “Volunteer of the Year” award in 2017. She has presented locally, nationally, and internationally about the importance of Patient Family Centered Care. She is currently volunteering as a case advocate for the HUB, an emergency relief fund she helped establish in her region.
She and her husband Bruce live in Bridgewater, Vermont. They have four granddaughters who are the light of Meg’s life.
Paula Fernandes, Fundraising Committee
Business Owner
Paula is the owner and founder of My Brigadeiro in Hanover, NH. Paula joined the SNSC Board in 2019 and shares her chocolates generously to the benefit of SNSC. She has opened her shop in countless ways to broaden the understanding and acceptance of the mission of SNSC. As the family member of a person with autism, Paula has experienced that a little help goes a long way. As a member of this community, she enjoys being part of the SNSC Board because of the opportunity to learn and help. Her greatest joy in her role is to work towards changing people’s attitudes towards those with disabilities.
Sue Hagerman, Secretary
Psychologist
Sue comes to SNSC from over 30 years working with children and families in community mental health and special education. Her passion is helping people become and learn to the best of their abilities. When students understand their learning strengths and challenges, they can become informed self-advocates, and participate actively in their learning. When their adults understand how they learn, they can collaborate actively to build optimal individualized plans for learning.
Sue concentrated in psychology and political science at Brown University, and went on to a graduate degree in clinical psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a clinical psychology internship at Dartmouth Medical School. Following internship, she worked for several years at West Central Behavioral Health, developed and co-implemented the Parents in Distress Program, and, for the last 25 years in education in both New Hampshire and Vermont, served as a school therapist, case manager, director of a mainstreamed program for emotionally and behaviorally disordered middle and high school students, and school psychologist consulting with parents, teachers, and students on how their students learn best.
Vince Mennona
Director of Aerospace, Timkin Bearings, and parent of child with special needs
Vince is Director, Aerospace Bearings, Americas at The Timken Company. Vince has been with Timken since 2006. Prior to joining Timken, he served in various leadership roles with Motorola and Flextronics.
Vince holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Florida Atlantic University and a master’s degree in business administration from Florida International University.
Vince has a child with special needs and supports SNSC as current Board Member and former Chair of SNSC’s annual giving campaign. Vince enjoys sharing his experiences with the SNSC community as a way of giving back.
Annie Hoen
Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College
Annie lives in Norwich, Vermont, with her husband and two children. She is an Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College where she leads a research program studying biomarkers of child health. She is involved in advocacy around patient and family-centered health care, inclusive playgrounds and accessible trails, and special education.