Student Support Services - White River Valley School

Kylie Hollstein: Student Support Coordinator, Royalton

White woman in a blue dress smiling and posing next to a hedge of flowers.

Kylie started working in the SU in 2019. Starting at Bethel elementary, then to South Royalton elementary. She has her Bachelors in Science from Colby-Sawyer College. She has many years of experience working with young children. She enjoys helping shape little minds and seeing the excitement of the students. Kylie grew up in Quechee, Vt. She now lives in Sharon, Vt with her husband, son , daughter and dog. Kylie enjoys doing anything outside, loves spending time with family and friends. Her email is Khollstein@wrvsu.org, please feel free to reach out at any time.

Linda Dean Orr: Speech-Language Pathologist, Bethel

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Linda enjoys working with all of our students to improve speech, language and written language skills from preschool through eighth grade. She has worked in the district since 1977 in Bethel, Stockbridge, and Rochester schools. She even worked in the one-room schoolhouse in Granville and the two-room schoolhouse in Hancock when she first started working in this district. You can reach Linda at ldeanorr@wrvsu.org.

Lyndsay Galluzzo: Social/Emotional Special Educator

Lyndsay Galluzzo is a Vermont native who attended Southern Vermont College and graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice. She is currently studying at VT Higher Education Collaborative and pursuing a master’s degree. For the last nine years, Lyndsay worked for Clara Martin Center as the Lead Behavioral Interventionist before transitioning to a role as a Special Educator at WRVSU.

She lives in Tunbridge with her partner, their two daughters, and five dogs.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, playing softball, swimming, and watching television.

Lyndsay can be reached at lgalluzzo@wrvsu.org.

Kylie Edwards: Special Educator

Kylie Edwards is a special educator at White River Valley Elementary School. She has a background working in alternative education and has been helping students overcome challenges for over a decade. She enjoys coming up with creative methods to engage all learners. Kylie has been fine-tuning her literacy instruction and seeks to turn all her students into strong readers. She is a native Vermonter who LOVES winter and spending time outside with her two rescue dogs, Dotty and Otter.

Matt Velky: Special Educator

Hello! Welcome to the 2023-2024 School Year!

My name is Matthew Velky and I am the Special Educator at the South Royalton Elemenatry. I have been working in special education for over 20 years in a variety of settings. This year, I am excited to work with you, your children, and all the other amazing teachers, paraeducators, and staff at the school in making sure that we all have a wonderful year!

I can be reached at mvelky@wrvsu.org. Please feel free to reach out to me at any time. Again I am looking forward to working with you and hope you all have a wonderful school year!

Katherine Roe: Speech Language Pathologist Assistant, SU

Katherine joined the WRVSU in 2008 as a Speech Language Pathologist Assistant. She visits three schools within the district, including South Royalton. When not working, she gardens, volunteers, reads, trains a retired racehorse, and enjoys the company of her husband and three grown children. You can reach Katherine at kroe@wrvsu.org.

Sandy Tracy: Student Support Coordinator, Bethel

Sandy has worked as a Student Support Coordinator for the White River Valley School since 2019. She recently began working across both elementary campuses supporting students and families. Sandy enjoys building relationships, making community connections, and really good jokes. When not in school, she can be found doing all things outdoors with her husband, Josh, and their fun-seeking daughter, Sawyer. You can reach Sandy at stracy@wrvsu.org

Kate Mayer: Student Support Coordinator, Bethel

Kate has been working at the Bethel campus since 2023. Kate lives in Brookfield with her son and dog, where she is always into a DIY house project. She enjoys being outside, kayaking, gardening, photography, going to concerts, watching football, snowshoeing, new adventures and traveling with her son. Before returning to Vermont where she grew up, she was a corporate Consultant, and worked in several Government offices in Philadelphia, PA. She can be reached at kmayer@wrvsu.org

Annette Rhoades: 504 Coordinator

Annette has worked for the WRVSU since 2021. She recently transitioned from the Director of Special Services to the Section 504 Coordinator for the SU. Annette grew up and attended school in Bethel, VT. She has a Masters Degree in Education specializing in Emotional Disabilities from Notre Dame College and a Education Leadership Certificate from St. Michael's College. She lives in the area with her husband, John and daughter, Ashlyn. Annette enjoys music, theater, and sports. You can reach Annette at arhoades@wrvsu.org.

Sara Palmer: Home to School Coordinator

Sara is the new home to school coordinator for WRVS prek-12. She is originally from New York but moved to Killington in 2016. She loves the outdoors and especially enjoys skiing, mountain biking, riding her horse, or hiking with her family and dogs. She has spent the last 5 years as an elementary school teacher teaching third and fourth grade. She currently lives in Barnard and is so excited to be joining the White River Valley School community! She can be reached at spalmer@wvrsu.org

Dana Decker: Special Educator

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Dana Decker is in her second year with WRVSU. Currently, she has two roles: she is the district equity coordinator and a special educator for our middle school. She has been working in Vermont as an educator for over 20 years and is excited to transition over to working with our middle school students. She can’t wait to see all of the learning and growth that will happen this school year. She is also a mother of 3 and lives in Pittsfield. Dana loves to tie- dye in the summer months when she is not in the classroom. She can be reached at ddecker@wrvsu.org

Hillary Newton: Special Educator

Hillary joined the WRVSU community in 2024; however, she has been teaching for 26 years now in VT, NH, and ME. As a lifelong learner and adventure seeker, Hillary travels extensively seeking new experiences and opportunities while engaging with First Nations and indigenous peoples in remote wilderness areas. In graduate school, Hillary's studies focused on high leverage practices to promote inclusion.

She can be reached at hnewton@wrvsu.org.

Heather Harvey-Gibson: Special Educator, Bethel

photo of a woman with blonde hair and sunglasses, a big smile and a bright blue puffy jacket.

Heather began working for the Windsor Northwest Supervisory Union in 1996. She was a Paraeducator for 2 years at Bethel Elementary School, and then she was hired to work with high school students for the next 3 years at Whitcomb High School. She loved this! The special educator at Bethel Elementary School was retiring, so Heather was hired to be the replacement, and she has maintained this position ever since!

Heather lives in Stockbridge, VT with her husband Luke, her daughter Madelyn, and their sweet dog, Ryder. In her spare time, you can find Heather walking with her dog on the many trails on their property, running on the dirt roads near her home, or really doing anything outside! Heather can be reached athharveygibson@wrvsu.org

BaDawna Gallipo: Clara Martin School-Based Clinician, Royalton

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BaDawna has called Vermont her home all her life. One would say that she has generational roots in the Green Mountain State. BaDawna was offered the opportunity to be a part of WRVSU by Clara Martin Center in 2021 as the School Based Clinician. She fully enjoys the welcoming community here at WRVSU. She received her Bachelors of Social Work from Castleton University and her Masters of Social Work from University of New England. I have been a part of the Social Work field since 2009 focusing on loving her career that has been primarily focused on supporting children and their families. She enjoys spending time with her family, and her several pets! BaDawna also enjoys teaching herself the art of stained glass, creative writing, and well anything that is artistic! You can reach her at bgallipo@wrvsu.org or bgallipo@claramartin.org.

Funes, Virginia: Clara Martin School Based Clinician

This will be Virginia’s first year working for Clara Martin at the Bethel School; however, she has been working in outpatient therapy for the past five years. Virginia grew up in Bethel, VT. After attending college, she moved out of state and spent the last ten years living in the South with her husband during his Army career. Virginia is very excited to be back in her hometown and to join the school community.

She has one daughter and three dogs. In her spare time, Virginia enjoys doing agility with her dogs, going to the gym, reading, and watching movies.

You can reach her at vfunes@claramartin.org.

Alicia Picord; OT

Jacquelinn, Pike: Student Support Coordinator

Wendy Adams: SLP

Lisa Howarth: Special Educator