Educational Specialists
Teresa Kucia, M.Ed.
Learning Specialist; M.A. Special Education
Terri Kucia is a K-12 Certified Special Education educator who earned her degree in 1996 from the University of Saint Joseph. She did a yearlong internship as a Reading Specialist and took additional graduate classes in both reading and writing to advance her skills and knowledge. Before starting with Burke Therapy, Terri worked for Hartford, New Britain and Newington public schools.
Terri joined Burke Therapy in 2015 as a way of continuing to fulfill her passion for working with children struggling to establish academic independence. Since 2015, Terri's efforts and acknowledgements have not gone unrecognized. Multiple families and local private and public school administrators celebrate her efforts by highlighting individual student growth patterns related to grade level increases, dismissal from RTI programming, and honor roll recognition.
Terri has completed the VIRTUS training, a National Catholic requirement of the private Catholic School community. Burke Therapy is proud to be able to offer its families such an educated and compassionate professional.
Christine Reichard, M.Ed.
Social Executive Functioning Coach
Christine Reichard is a Master’s level, certified K-12 Special Education educator who has earned a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Connecticut, and a Master’s Degree in Special Education from the University of Hartford. Christine prides herself in her ability to teach students HOW to learn by encouraging the understanding of innate strengths and abilities that can be used to overcome personal social, emotional and/or academic challenges.
Using a collaborative teaching model, Christine's students and families naturally feel a sense of trust, value and competence to extend her work being done in the clinic into the home, school and community settings. Christine's dedication to teaching all academic areas (reading, writing and mathematics) as well as the development of social competency, organization, study skills and time management makes her a valued member of the Burke Therapy educational team.
David Ricker, M.Ed.
Certified Math Teacher (7-12), CT #029
M.A. Secondary Education, focus: Educational Technology
M.S. Management Engineering
David Ricker is a 7-12 Certified Mathematics educator who earned his Master’s degree in 2007 from the University of North Florida. Before starting with Burke Therapy, Dave worked in the public-school districts of Hartford, Windsor, Farmington, and Canton, as well as in The Leaning Clinic in Brooklyn, CT.
For Dave, tutoring isn't work; it’s a fulfilling activity that he jumps at the chance to do. Dave likes being a positive influence in a student’s life and enjoys using his knowledge to help them succeed in school. Dave's efforts and professional gifts have not gone unrecognized. Below are a few accolades shared by parents, students and area educators.
“Mr. Ricker has a special gift for connecting with students. I’ve observed him over and over again taking students who present as unmotivated, or truly believe they cannot learn a skill, and he turns them around.” (Director: Huntington Learning Center)
“Recently, I was observing Mr. Ricker in one of his pre-Algebra classes. One student who is ‘on the spectrum’ was clearly out of sorts and looking to engage Mr. Ricker in a ‘scene.’ Dave never took the bait, managed to divert the student’s attention back to the math lesson and did it without anyone being aware except me. Instead of an incident, the student managed to have a reasonably productive math class.” (Principal: Canton Public Schools)
“I was impressed with Mr. Ricker ability to help students who had difficulty focusing or with attention issues. His teaching strategies benefited these students greatly. Mr. Ricker also did a fine job integrating technology into all his lessons.” (Principal: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School)
“Mr. Ricker worked with my son to increase his D average in Geometry to an A.” (Parent of high school student)
Burke Therapy is proud to be able to offer its families such an educated, well-rounded, mature, experienced, and compassionate professional.
Melissa Staunton
Melissa Staunton is a K-2 certified educator who earned her Master’s degree in Elementary Reading from Sacred Heart University. Melissa comes to Burke Therapy with 18 years of teaching experience. Her training includes Fundations through Wilson for children ages kindergarten through second grade, readers workshop and teaching reading through multiple balanced literacy approaches including phonics instruction.
In addition to reading, Melissa has also taught investigations in math with a focus on building a strong knowledge base to help young learners develop number sense for overall skill development.
When not teaching, Melissa enjoys coaching lacrosse and watching her three children play sports.
Marsha Adams
Support Specialist; M.S. Human Relations
If you or your child has been fortunate enough to work with Marsha, you will agree that her endearing spirit and love for children is infectious. Marsha brings 15 years of Paraprofessional experience to the Burke Therapy team. Throughout her tenure as a Paraprofessional, she has worked with a wide variety of children with various complex needs.
Marsha's true gifting is in her ability to motivate, support and implement specially designed programming under the guidance of certified professionals while working as a valuable part of each child's team of professionals and family members. Marsha's experience includes working alongside both Occupational and Speech Therapy professionals supporting speech, language, behavior and sensory challenges commonly associated with mild disabilities such as Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD), Emotional Disturbance (ED), mild Intellectual Disabilities (ID), Asperger’s syndrome, Autism, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Marsha’s strengths in positive behavioral interventions, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) (specifically Discrete Trial Instruction), assistive technology, and feeding support make her a strong resource for the entire Burke Therapy team..
Bonnie Jones, M.Ed., CAGS
Social Executive Functioning Coach
Bonnie Jones, M.Ed., CAGS graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1995 with a degree in psychology. From there, she received her Master’s in Education in School Psychology in 2000 and her Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in 2001, both from the University of Massachusetts Boston. Since then, she has been working with children ages 3-21 in public and private schools who have been referred for special education. In her 18 years as a professional in schools, she has performed psycho-educational evaluations for children with Autism, speech or language impairments, learning disabilities, ADD/ADHD, Down syndrome, emotional disabilities, and intellectual disabilities.
Bonnie’s keen knowledge of various assessment instruments that measure cognitive abilities, executive functioning, behavioral concerns, memory, and processing abilities allow her to look at children in a strength-based lens in addition to highlighting areas of growth.
Bonnie joined the Burke Therapy team in 2016. She is passionate about helping children and their families develop both home and school-based accommodations to better assist with meeting the needs of the whole child.