Wheatley: Related Services Staff

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Home > MESD Schools & Programs > Wheatley > Related Services Staff

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Jake Johnson
Behavior Consultant
jjohns02@mesd.k12.or.us

Jake is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with about 15 years of experience working with individuals with complex needs. Prior to joining MESD in 2017, he was working in ABA clinics, in-home settings, and supporting students as they transitioned to the school setting. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his infant, partner, and their 2 dogs while exploring different parks and restaurants across Portland.

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Bailey Campbell
Behavior Support Facilitator
​bcampbell@mesd.k12.or.us

Bailey is a Behavior Support Facilitator at Wheatley School for MESD. She has worked with individuals of diverse backgrounds and complex needs for over 8 years. She has a bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies with a focus in Psychology and Sociology from PSU. She is currently attending PSU in the Applied Behavior Analysis Master's program, pursuing certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, dogs, and friends, reading, watching documentaries, and listening to her extensive record collection.

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Haley Paddock
​S.L.P.A. - Related Services
hpaddock@mesd.k12.or.us

Hi, I'm Haley (she/they) and I joined Wheatley as the Speech-language Pathology Assistant in January 2022. I received my B.A. in Speech-language Pathology from California State University, Northridge and completed clinical hours in the role of SLPA through Loma Linda University. Before entering the field of speech-language pathology I worked as a preschool teacher where I became increasingly interested in language acquisition and cognitive skill building. When I’m not working with students you can find me roller skating, listening to audiobooks, and tending to my houseplants

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Courtney Souza-Steinert, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
csouzaste@mesd.k12.or.us

Courtney is an Occupational Therapist with 17 years of experience working with individuals with complex sensorimotor, developmental and behavioral needs. She graduated from Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine in 2016 with her Master’s research focusing on increasing vocational opportunities in the community for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Before becoming an OT, Courtney spent 13 seasons working at a variety of recreational facilities for individuals with physical and developmental disabilities. She found a passion for working to adapt activities and environments to enable everyone to participate, as well as building skills for greater independence with life’s everyday tasks, including self-care and vocational tasks, leisure activities and sensory regulation. Some of Courtney’s own leisure activities include kayaking, caving, playing board games, traveling and spending time with her wife and son.

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Freya Kniaz, M.A., CCC-SLP 
Speech Language Pathologist
fkniaz@mesd.k12.or.us

Freya Kniaz is a speech language pathologist with seven years of experience working with individuals who have complex communication and behavioral needs. She graduated from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, in 2019. She values naturalistic total communication opportunities in order to increase students’ participation in academic, social, and community-based activities. Freya spends a typical school day leading individual and small group therapy sessions, evaluating student’s communication strengths/needs, coaching school staff in multimodal communication and supportive communication strategies, and increasing self-advocacy across environments. Outside of school, she enjoys cooking, trying new things, and the great outdoors. 
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Kristi Moniatte
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
kmoniatte@mesd.k12.or.us

Hi, I’m Kristi Moniatte (pronounced: Mon-yet) a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) at Wheatley. I enjoy working with students of all ages and have experience in both school and pediatric clinical settings. In my free time, I can be found doing yoga, reading, getting outdoors and cooking.

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Elisa Thurman, M.S., CCC-SLP
Feeding Team
ethurman@mesd.k12.or.us
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Elisa is a Speech Language Pathologist with the MESD Feeding Team. Elisa has provided speech, language and feeding intervention across all age groups in a variety of settings (schools, outpatient clinics, and ICU). She has additional certifications and education related to feeding including SOS Approach to Feeding, Feed the Peds, and The Get Permission Approach. In her spare time,      Elisa enjoys gastronomy, traveling, reading, and spending time with her family and their goldendoodle, Quimby. ​
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Kaitlin Gaspich, OTL, CBIS
Occupational Therapist
kgaspich@mesd.k12.or.us

Hi! I am Kaitlin Gaspich (pronounced: Gas-pitch) and I am an occupational therapist working as part of the MESD feeding team. I have worked in various settings including outpatient pediatrics and acute care and I recently received my brain injury specialist certification. In my free time I like to hike, stand up paddle board, and camp. 

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Robert Peate, MAT
​ELD Teacher
rpeate@mesd.k12.or.us

Robert is a father, husband, writer, and teacher.  In 2010 he became an English teacher to share his love of language while helping young people enjoy brighter futures, because everyone needs to communicate!  When not teaching, Robert loves to write, to take photographs, to listen to music, and to enjoy life with his family.  Robert holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and a Master of Arts degree in Teaching English, with the English as a Second or Other Language endorsement, from Portland State University.

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