Vermont Center for Afterschool Excellence (VCAE) || Workshop Trainers

Workshop Trainers

Michelle Bullock
Michelle Bullock is a Youth Community Coordinator for the Greater Burlington YMCA. She has been a part of the Greater Burlington Y for eight years as a school age site director, area coordinator, summer camp director and preschool teacher. In her many roles at the YMCA, she has worked with children of various ages, diverse families, local communities, school staff and personnel, as well as school age professionals. Michelle has a bachelor’s degree from the Pennsylvania State University.

Peter Burns
Peter Burns has been a professional storyteller for than 25 years. A recipient of many awards, including two fellowships from the Vermont Arts Council, his work has been featured on National Public Radio. He is a scholar for the Vermont Humanities Council and teaches a variety of classes for VSA Arts. He is a certified Stuntologist and he leads many workshop for Child Care Resources.

Rhonda Drake
Rhonda Drake has worked with school-age children in various settings for more than 13 years. Currently, she is part of the Elementary Team at Mansfield Academy (Chittenden East Supervisory Union’s Alternative Education Program). Rhonda has also been a part of the Greater Burlington YMCA for over 12 years as a school age assistant, site director, area coordinator, and summer camp director. Rhonda has served as a Mentor for Quality and as a S.T.A.R.S. Assessor. Rhonda has a bachelor’s degree from Trinity College of Vermont in Early Childhood/ Elementary Education and Psychology.

Matt Hajdun
Matt Hajdun is a fourth and fifth grade teacher at Champlain School in Burlington. Before his teaching career, Matt worked at the Nationally Accredited CASTLE Before and After School Program in Colchester, CT, for seven years with children in grades five through eight. Matt has been a presenter and consultant with the Connecticut After School Network and has a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and his elementary teaching license from Saint Michael’s College. He also has an endorsement in working with English Language Learners.

Shannon LaRose
Shannon works as the Site Director for the Greater Burlington Y’s afterschool program at Ferrisburgh Elementary School. He has been working with children for over twenty years. Shannon juggles, plays the banjo, flies stunt kites and can keep the average child busy for a week with games and art projects. He loves helping kids use their imaginations to create their own fun.

Tricia Pawlik
Tricia Pawlik is the Youth and Family Programs Director at the Greater Burlington YMCA, a non-profit serving children and families in the Greater Burlington community. Tricia oversees various afterschool, summer, and family programs, as well as serves on the STARS oversight committee for the state of Vermont. Tricia holds a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from the University of Vermont and holds YMCA Senior Director Status.

Julie Peterson
Julie Peterson has been working in the field of school age care since 1989. She has been involved with many statewide committees, has participated in the mentoring project and has been a trainer for many years. Julie currently works for the Y in Burlington as the Director of School Age Programs. Julie is a graduate of Trinity College with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology.

Tami Stagner
Tami Stagner is the Out of School Programs Coordinator for the Springfield School District. Tami has over 20 years experience working within the education and out of school time fields. Tami trains in Vermont and New Hampshire in a variety of out of school time topics. Additionally, Tami is a trained mentor for the Child Development Division and Vermont Child Care Industry and Careers Council. Tami holds a BS from the University of Wisconsin in Teaching K-6 Education with a minor in Library Media Science.

Amelia Struthers
Amelia Struthers has been an educator, teacher trainer, curriculum developer, performer and entertainment producer for 25 years. Currently, Amelia works as a 21C project co-director and site coordinator in Putney, Vermont. Amelia brings her studies in attachment theory, humor, storytelling and place-based learning into designing curriculum and teacher trainings.