Vincent Lindsley – Education Director
Vincent Lindsley has been the Education Director for High Road School of Wallingford Primary/Middle and High Road School of Wallingford High since the Fall of 2018. Mr. Lindsley has also worked closely with districts seeking to create in-district collaborative classrooms that focus on meeting the unique learning needs of our shared students. Mr. Lindsley earned his Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Educational Leadership from Southern Connecticut State University. Mr. Lindsley also honorably served in the U.S. Army as a Combat Engineer for 16 years. In his downtime, Mr. Lindsley enjoys family, fitness, and fun.
Alyssa Kochiss – Operations Manager
“Alyssa Kochiss began with High Road Schools as a School Social Worker in 2015. Ms. Kochiss earned a bachelor’s degree from Western Connecticut State University in Social Work and went on to obtain her master’s degree from Quinnipiac University in Social Work. She has been the Operations Manager at High Road School of Wallingford Primary/Middle since 2017. During the fall of 2019, Alyssa will begin pursuing her Educational Leadership Sixth-Year Diploma/092 certification at Quinnipiac University. Outside of school, Alyssa enjoys spending time with her friends and family as well as her newly adopted puppy.”
Ariella Laskin – School Social Worker
This is Ariella Laskin’s first year as School Social Worker at High Road School of Wallingford Primary/Middle. She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre Studies from the University of Connecticut and a Master’s of Social Work Degree at Southern Connecticut State University. Prior to her career in School Social Work, Ariella worked in the area of Educational Publishing for the K-12 market, writing, editing, managing content creation for English/Language Arts and Social Studies, developing curriculum, and creating online learning programs. Outside of school, Ariella enjoys spending time with friends and family, being outdoors, the arts, and drinking as much good coffee as she can find.
Michael Wolf – Special Education Teacher
Mike Wolf has been a Special Education teacher with High Road School of Wallingford since 2018. Mr. Wolf earned his K-12 Special Education Teaching Certification from Southern Connecticut State University and a bachelor’s degrees in Hospitality Management from Syracuse University. Mr. Wolf is currently pursuing his master’s degree with a concentration in Autism Spectrum Disorder. When he is not in school, Mr. Wolf enjoys traveling, watching movies, exercising and personal training his clients as well as spending time with friends and family.
Laura Rey – Special Education Teacher
Laura Rey has been teaching for 26 years. This is her first year at High Road School of Wallingford, Primary/Middle. Mrs. Rey earned her Bachelor of Science, for elementary education and special education, at Wheelock College in Boston, Massachusetts and her Master of Science, for Reading, at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, Connecticut. She has taught grades preschool through eighth grade. She also worked at the Boston Red Sox Daycare, where she babysat the players’ children. During her free time Mrs. Rey enjoys spending time with her family, going to her daughter’s soccer games and scrapbooking. Halloween is her favorite holiday and she loves anything Disney!
Jenny Satagaj – Special Education Teacher
Jenny Satagaj has been a Special Education teacher with High Roads School of Wallingford Primary/Middle since summer of 2019. Miss Satagaj earned her bachelor’s degree in comprehensive Special Education K-12 from Southern Connecticut State University. She will be going back to Southern Connecticut State University to get her master’s degree in Autism Spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. When she is not in school, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, as well as going for hikes and walks with her dog Millie.
Michael Goodrich, RN, BSN – School Nurse
Michael is entering his 4th year as school nurse with Catapult learning. He works on site at the Wallingford campus, tending to the health needs of students and staff of the Primary/Middle School, High School, and BEST Academy. In addition to working with the Wallingford Schools, he also acts as a consultant to all other High Road Schools throughout the state of Connecticut. He regularly collaborates with healthcare providers, school staff, and parents to create treatment plans and ensure overall student safety.
He started his nursing career as a student nurse intern at Gaylord Hospital in Wallingford and would continue working there as a registered nurse upon completion of nursing school. Michael obtained his Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree (BSN) at Central Connecticut State University in 2012. He continued his nursing career at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, working on a behavior health unit that specializes in drug/alcohol detoxing, as well as mental health treatment. He continues to practice at St. Francis Hospital as a Per Diem nurse.
In his off time, Michael enjoys playing ice hockey, tennis, and softball. He is an avid supporter of all Connecticut sport teams (Hartford Wolfpack, Hartford Yard Goats, and UCONN athletics).
Paige Canty, M.A., CCC-SLP
Ms. Canty joined the regional High Road School team in August 2013 as a speech-language pathologist. Mrs. Canty earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Developmental Psychology from Arcadia University and her Master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. She holds an active Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA). Mrs. Canty has a passion for improving the communication and literacy skills of our students through interactive and hands-on therapy
Alisha Darin – Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Alisha Darin joined the High Road School team in September, 2018. Ms. Darin has attended both Albertus Magnus College and the University of Saint Joseph where she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Fine Arts followed by her Master’s degree in Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis. Her passion for expanding her knowledge and bettering the lives of those with disabilities grows with every student she works with. Outside of school, you can find Ms. Darin on her mountain bike, competing in enduro races all over the northeast.
Megan Mele – Occupational Therapist
Megan Mele is a graduate of Boston College with a B.A. in English and Bay Path College with a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. Megan has been practicing as an O.T. for over 8 years, with experience in both the school system and pediatric clinics. She has a strong interest in sensory integration and received specialized mentorship in sensory processing disorders at the STAR Center in Denver, CO in 2013. Megan also has received a broad range of professional development in topics such as sensory defensiveness / Wilbarger Deep Pressure & Proprioceptive Technique, praxis, The Listening Program, Visual/Vestibular Assessment and treatment, executive functioning, and a trauma-informed approached to sensory integration. Megan is trained in the S.O.S approach to feeding and has over five years of experience in feeding therapy.
Megan has two children and a cat. In her spare time, she enjoys playing softball, doing puzzles, and spending time outside with her family. Their favorite game is the “license plate” game.
Brooke Violante Kelly – Regional Vice-President
Brooke Violante Kelly is the Regional Vice- President in the Special Education Schools Group at Catapult Learning. She is responsible for the oversight and support of Catapult Learning’s school sites throughout New England and she consults with the company’s autism services.
As a graduate of Penn State University, Brooke began her career working with special needs students with behavioral challenges at a private non-profit school in Baltimore, Maryland. While pursuing a master’s degree in special education from Johns Hopkins University, Brooke worked as a special education teacher in a high school self-contained classroom. She embraced the positive influence that she was able to have on students’ lives and grew eager to make an even greater impact by continuing her studies toward administration and leadership. In the years to follow as she was pursuing a leadership degree, she held positions as an IEP Coordinator, Director of Education, and Director of Program Development. In each role Brooke was able to gain valuable skills and knowledge to apply to her future capacities.
Brooke enjoys working collaboratively with staff, students, parents, school districts and outside agency representatives in an effort to make a difference in the students’ lives as the leader of the school. She believes that with an emphasis on individualized academic interventions coupled with a consistent behavior management model, our High Road students truly are provided with the tools that they need to be successful in a general education setting and in their communities. Over the twelve years Brooke has been fortunate to represent High Road’s mission and values and in doing so bringing positive change to the students.
Brooke is currently enrolled in Northeastern University to pursue a doctorate in Organizational Leadership. Aside from professional organizations; Brooke is an Executive Board Member of CAPSEF (Connecticut Association of Private Special Education Facilities).
Amy Sjovall – Regional Director
Amy started with High Road School of Hartford High as a special education teacher in August of 2012, she then went on to work for the CREC magnet schools in 2014. Amy re-joined the High Road team in August of 2016 as the Operations Manager at the High Road School of Wallingford High School. Ms. Sjovall moved on to become the Education Director of the Wallingford Primary/Middle School and Wallingford High school in 2017. In 2018, Amy stepped into the Executive Director role to support each of the Connecticut schools, and for the 2019-2020 school year she has now moved into the Regional Director Role continuing her support of all of the Connecticut High Road Schools. Amy obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education and History from Concordia College Bronxville, followed by her Master’s in Special Education from Central Connecticut State University. After teaching in the field for several years, Amy decided to pursue her Administrative Certification (092) from Sacred Heart University. Ms. Sjovall is now working to complete her second master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Louisiana State University- Shreveport. Outside of school, Amy loves to spend time with her family and their two dogs. She also enjoys spending time outdoors and reading. Amy and her family also love to open their home to foster puppies and adult dogs until they find their forever home.
