Who We Are: Staff & Board Biographies

Teaching Staff | Family Consultants | Board Members

Michelle Graves, M.A.
Head Teacher, Transitional Toddler Teacher
Michelle Graves joined the Allen Creek staff in 2002. Before coming to Allen Creek she worked as an education consultant for the High/Scope Foundation. During her 22-year stay at High/Scope she traveled extensively throughout the United States leading training workshops, presenting at national conferences, observing and giving feedback to teachers in a variety of classroom settings, and authoring several books and articles. Her own classroom experiences include daycare settings, private non-profit preschools, and special education elementary schools. Her interest in children comes from deep within, and she is committed to their emotional and physical safety and to developing genuine relationships with them based on mutual respect. She lives in Ann Arbor with her husband, two sons and two cats. When not working, she enjoys gardening, biking, dancing and reading.

Lesley Kabza Criscenti
Creative Arts Specialist
We are fortunate to have Lesley Criscenti as our daily Creative Arts teacher at Allen Creek Preschool. Lesley's work with and interactionwith children is highly regarded in the Ann Arbor community, through, for example, her early education and preschool art classes with First Steps Washtenaw Ann Arbor and as a dance and creative movement teacher for Arts in Motion. "I feel a very strong connection to the world of the imagination and I have been privileged to have worked in the creative arts for many years." Lesley has a degree from the UM in Dance and Elementary Education and a M.A. from EMU in Creative Writing. She directed Blue Dragon Dance Theatre, a multi-age dance company receiving grants to work in the Michigan schools. She also directed the professional dance company Dance Focus, which performed in every single Ann Arbor school. "As the Creative Arts Specialist at Allen Creek Pre-School I am enriched by the day to day interaction with your children, and I know my teaching style benefits from contact with other highly skilled professionals." Lesley also works under the name of Princess Whimsy – paint and poetry on wood and in fiber arts, creating one of a kind scarves with yarn and beads.

Trisha Miller
Fives Class Teacher
Trisha Miller graduated with honors from Central Michigan University. Her degree is in elementary education, with a major in early childhood development, and a minor in music. Prior to Allen Creek, she worked in various preschool settings. "What I like most about working with children is sharing my love of learning with them. Young children are so curious, and I am thrilled along with them every time they learn something new. I am privileged to have a job where I get to make close relationships with my students. Besides being a teacher, being with my children Spencer and Sylvia is one of my major sources of joy. Another is my relationship with my partner, Sandra. Other things I enjoy are: music, singing, reading, cooking, studying natural health, and walking in the woods.”

 

Alana Ryan, B.A.
AM Senior Preschool Teacher, Administrator
Alana Ryan is a Western Michigan Graduate. She has her degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education. She has been working with children for 10 years and has been teaching at Allen Creek since fall of 2008. She is from Farmington Hills, Michigan and very much enjoys the community in Ann Arbor. Some of her interests include cooking, singing, and jewelry making. She is close with her family and has 5 younger siblings. She is glad to be a part of Allen Creek and growing together with the staff and families.

 

Teresa Schwarz-Helleis
AM Senior Preschool Teacher
Teresa Schwarz-Helleis was born and raised in Graz, Austria; she went to the Rudolf Steiner School from age 7 to 18. She then attended the University of Vienna where she earned a masters degree in educational sciences with special focus on psychoanalytical aspects of child development, learning and education. Due to this background, she was excited to find out about a school like Allen Creek and she applied to volunteer here in fall 2007, shortly after she had moved from Austria to the United States. She has been a teacher at Allen Creek since fall 2008 and very much appreciates how she can bring in her knowledge while at the same time learning so much everyday. In her leisure time, she loves being outdoors, reading good books, cooking, and traveling to get to know the country that is now her home.

 

Dina Stillings
Transitional Parent-Toddler Teacher
Artist, Mother and Teacher, Dina Stillings combines these three important roles to bring a unique voice to the Allen Creek community. Born in Arizona and raised in the Midwest, Dina attended the Art Institute of Chicago where she was awarded full Honorary Scholarships. Her career as a painter and art handler took her to NYC where she explored East Coast life. Travel throughout Europe and extended trips throughout India further enhanced her insight into the cultural beauty of this planet. The birth of her two children brought Dina and family back to the Midwest where she enjoys teaching both summer and fall classes at the Allen Creek School. With children of her own, Dina Stillings brings a deep understanding of the love and respect budding minds and hearts need to grow healthy and strong. Through continuation of her own work as an artist, she remains fresh and flexible to change; believing this nurturing of her own skills is inherent to passing on the gift of learning.

Family Consultants [back to top]

Carol Austad
Co-Child Development Director
For more information, please visit soon.

Deana DiMaggio, M.S.
Family Consultant
For more information, please visit soon.

Paul Dube, LMSW
Family Consultant
Paul A. Dube is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist who has worked with children for over thirty five years. He is an advanced candidate in child psychoanalysis at the Hanna Perkins School in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Mr. Dube teaches toddler and pre-school development classes at the Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute Extension Division. He is published in the journal Child Analysis. Mr. Dube is president of the Association for Psychoanalytic Thought. He is president of SOFAR Michigan, an organization that provides free mental health services to families of Iraq and Afghanistan soldiers. He recently received the Distinguished Friend of Psychoanalysis award from the Michigan Psychoanalytic Society. Mr. Dube maintains a private practice in Huntington Woods and Grosse Pointe Michigan. He lives with his wife, Cheryl, and son Dan in Grosse Pointe.

Ellen Grosh, MD
Family Consultant
Ellen Grosh is a board-certified psychiatrist working with children, adolescents and adults in private practice in Ann Arbor. A 1987 graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School, she trained in psychiatry and child psychiatry at Yale University and the Yale Child Study Center. She has also consulted to schools, a day treatment program and Packard Community Clinic. Dr. Grosh lives in Ann Arbor with her husband and two daughters. She is looking forward to joining the Allen Creek community and getting to know families during this important time in their lives.

Linda Kreger, Ph.D
Family Consultant
Linda Kreger received a BS in Special Education of Emotionally Disturbed/Psychology focus, MS in Educational Psychology/Early Childhood focus and PhD in Educational Psychology/Child Development and Disorder focus from the University of Michigan. Her training--including developmental and psychoanalytic approaches--and early professional work was at UM Children's Psychiatric Hospital. She then worked with children in other settings, and coordinated a federally-funded ISMRRD/UM project that trained teams to developmentally treat youngsters exhibiting various exceptionalities. Linda later taught in university departments of Psychology, Child Care, Special Education and Educational Psychology. She hosted a weekly radio program about childhood issues. Linda did consultation for individuals, and early childhood, school and other agencies, alongside research, publication, presentation and committee work. She is excited to be part of Allen Creek's supportive, cooperative community approach. She lives in Ann Arbor with her husband, and has one daughter. Linda enjoys music, art, theater, reading and the company of good friends.

Kate Melchior, MA
Family Consultant
Kate Melchior received her Master’s degree with an emphasis on child development from the University of Detroit Mercy in 1996. She returned to graduate work in 2000 and is currently writing her dissertation and hopes to receive her doctorate, also from UDM, by December of 2009. Ms. Melchior currently works in a clinic in Pinckney and has a private practice in Plymouth. When not involved in work and writing dissertation, Kate enjoys camping, hiking and traveling with her husband, daughter and son.

Jack Novick, Ph.D
Family Consultant, Board Vice President, Research Committee Chair, Development Committee Chair
Jack Novick was born in Montreal, Canada and graduated from McGill University with a specialization in Literature and Mathematics. He received an M.A in experimental psychology from the New School for Social Research and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from New York University. After a stint as co - research director at the Jewish Board of Guardians, he went to London to study and work with Anna Freud. He graduated in Child, Adolescent and Adult psychoanalysis and worked as a researcher and supervisor at the Anna Freud Center. He returned to the U.S.A. to take up a position as professor and Chief Psychologist of Youth Services at the Children's Psychiatric Hospital at the University of Michigan. He was the chair of the child and adolescent training program of the Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute and has published many scientific papers on child development and therapy. With his wife Kerry he has published three books dealing with a range of issues including self- destructive behavior, working with parents and ending treatment. His papers and books have been translated into many languages. Dr. Novick is one of the founders of Allen Creek, a consultant to many preschools locally, nationally and internationally, a Family Consultant and research director of Allen Creek. He is one of the founders of the Alliance for Psychoanalytic Schools, a growing organization of like minded schools in the U.S and Europe.

Kerry Kelly Novick
Board Member, Family Consultant, Parent-Infant Teacher
Kerry's training and full-time professional practice is as a psychoanalyst working with children, adolescents and adults. Educated in the US and Europe, and trained by Anna Freud in London in the 1960’s, she has worked with schools and other community institutions for many years. She has been involved in Allen Creek in myriad ways, as a founder President of the Board from 1994-2004, as a Family Consultant, as Parent-Toddler and Parent-Infant teacher, and she continues to appreciate and learn from the whole school community. She enjoys teaching on the faculties of many professional training institutions, and serving as President of the Association for Child Psychoanalysis and Chair of the Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute’s child and adolescent psychoanalysis training. And there is still time for reading, writing, going to movies, cooking, traveling to see children and grandchildren. Kerry writes a regular parenting article called Every Day Parenting with Kerry, in AnnArbor.com.

Michael Shulman, Ph.D
Board Member, Family Consultant
Michael Shulman is a clinical psychologist working with children, adolescents, and adults. He earned his B.A. at Wesleyan University in Letters, and his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan in Clinical Psychology. Dr. Shulman completed adult psychoanalytic training at the Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute, on whose faculty he now teaches, and has served as the Program Chair of the Michigan Psychoanalytic Society. He is also deeply involved in graduate education locally, teaching on the adjunct faculties of the University of Michigan, the University of Toledo, and Madonna University. Dr. Shulman lives in Ann Arbor with his wife Dr. Meryl Berlin, a child and adult clinical psychologist and psychoanalytic candidate, and their two daughters.

Michael Singer, Ph.D
Child Development Director, Family Consultant Coordinator
Dr. Michael Singer holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Washington, and a post-doctoral fellowship in child clinical psychology from Harvard Medical School. Dr. Singer is a graduate of the Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute in adult, child and adolescent psychoanalysis. He is currently on the teaching faculty of the Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute and is Supervisor in child and adolescent psychoanalysis. He has served as co-director of the Institute’s Child Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Educational Program and the Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Fellowship Program. He is an adjunct clinical instructor, teaching and supervising residents, in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan Medical School. Dr. Singer has served as consultant to area child care agencies, including Pound House Children's Center, Allen Creek Preschool, and Child Care Network. Dr. Singer is in full time private practice of psychotherapy and psychoanalysis in Ann Arbor with adults, children and adolescents. He also provides couples therapy and works with parents in parenting guidance.

Jonathan Sugar, M.D.
Family Consultant
Dr. Sugar is a practicing child, adolescent, and adult psychoanalyst and psychiatrist, who has been working with Allen Creek families and staff for many years. He lives and practices in Ann Arbor, with his wife, Dr. Nancy Barbas (a faculty neurologist at the University of Michigan). His younger daughters, Leigh and Abby are in college. After his residencies, Dr. Sugar did research in international mental health, and international adoption, before returning to Ann Arbor to be faculty in the Psychiatry Department at the U of M. He left the University for full time private practice in 1995. In addition to his clinical and Allen Creek work, Jonathan enjoys cooking, reading, and training and participating in triathlons and endurance athletics.

Board Members, Committee Members and Officers [back to top]

Andrea D. Bernardini, AAMS
Board President
Andrea attended Western Michigan University on a full ride basketball scholarship before graduating from Stetson University in December of 2000. While at Stetson University, she helped to create One Voice for Volusia, a non-profit organization for the Department of Juvenile Justice. After graduation, she was employed by Capital Resource Group to head the creation of the securities department. In 2002 she joined the Investment firm of Charles Schwab as a Vice-President-Financial Consultant. She then joined Chisholm and Dames Investment Advisors in the beginning of 2007 as a portfolio manager. Andrea is a member of the Washtenaw Estate Planning Council, The Wellness Community Board and the Downtown Ann Arbor Rotary Club.

Ronald Benson, M.D.
Secretary of the Board, Board Member, Governance Committee Member
Ron Benson is Board Certified in General and Child/Adolescent Psychiatry and is Certified in Adult Psychoanalysis. At the University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry, he was Chief of Child/Adolescent Outpatient Services and was Acting Chief of the Youth Service. In addition to his clinical work, he has a long interest in professional education. He is a Training and Supervising Analyst at the Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute and has served as President of the Michigan Psychoanalytic Society and President and Chair of the Educational Committee of the Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute. He served as Fellow of the Board on the Board of Professional Standards of the American Psychoanalytic Association, Chair of the Committee on Institutes and Chairman of the Board on Professional Standards. He is a trustee and Vice President for Accreditation of the Accreditation Council for Psychoanalytic Education. He has published in the psychiatric, child and adolescent and psychoanalytic literatures. He has a special interest in imaginary companions.

Andrew R. Boschma
Treasurer, Chair of Finance Committee
Andy attended the University of Michigan, graduating in 1987 with degrees of Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Accounting.  After graduation Andy became a Certified Public Accountant and has worked for a variety of companies, including Arthur Andersen & Co and Domino’s Pizza LLC.  Andy is currently working in Ann Arbor as CFO of MKM Ventures LLC. After donating a kidney to a friend in 1997, Andy sought out volunteer opportunities with the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan (NKFM).  Andy has increasingly expanded his role at NKFM to where he currently serves as a member of the Executive Committee, Board Treasurer and Chairs the Administration & Finance and the Ann Arbor Golf Classic Committees. Andy became involved with Allen Creek in 2005 through friend, fellow Board member, and former ACP parent Michael Marcantonio.  For over three years Andy has assisted ACP in a variety of financial and advisory capacities, including service on the Finance and Miller Expansion Committees, both of which he now Chairs.

Susan Tuttle Darrow, MSW, ACSW, LCSW-Michigan
Board Member, Development Committee Member
Michigan native; Ann Arbor resident since 1963. BA degree University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1957. MSW, University of Michigan, 1976. Clinical training, Child and Family Service Agency, Washtenaw County and the Psychological Clinic, University of Michigan. 1979-1993, Clinical Social Worker, University of MIchigan Department of Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Supervised Social Work Interns, medical students, and Residents and Child Fellows in evaluating and treating children and adolescents and in working with parents; Directed the Divorce and Family Loss Clinic at CAPH. After retirement from the UM continued to work there teaching psychotherapy to Social Workers in the hospital and seeing patients in Adult Psychotherapy; taught Child Development as Adjunct Faculty in the UM School of Social Work. Family Consultant at Allen Creek for approximately 10 years. Susan helped Allen Creek locate its first home and through the years has offered assistance in capital development. Active in the community, Susan also serves or has served as s Board Member and past Board President of Huron Valley Child Guidance Clinic; Board Member of Great Lakes Performing Artists Association; and Board member and Board President, Kelsey Museum of Archaeology.

Michael Marcantonio
Board Member, Chair of Marketing Committee, Member of Finance Committee and Building Premises Committee
After graduating from Walsh College, Michael spent the first half of his career practicing as a Certified Public Accountant. He worked for Arthur Andersen for 8 years until he left to take the position of Vice-President of Tax for Domino's Pizza. He left Domino's Pizza to pursue various entrepreneurial endeavors. Michael currently works for and is the majority owner of the Allegra Network, a franchisor of 550 printing and sign businesses, primarily in North America. Michael's daughter Maria was a student at Allen Creek from the Infant Group through graduation from the Fives Class in 2008. As a parent Michael realized the profound impact that this program had on his family and his relationship with his daughter and has progressively increased his involvement with Allen Creek.

Daniel Schairbaum
Board Member
Daniel Schairbaum is a member of the Real Estate Practice Group at Dykema Gosset. He earned a BA in Political Science from Hope College and a JD from University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, graduating Cum Laude.

Michael J. Thomas
Board Member, Chair of Development Committee
Since graduating from the University of Michigan in 1996 with a BSME degree, Michael has worked for Johnson Controls, Inc. in Plymouth, MI. Michael's career has been focused on automotive product and business development. He currently leads cross-functional teams in the identification and development of innovative automotive products and processes. Michael's two daughters were students at Allen Creek, and he accepted a nomination to the Board of Directors after his younger daughter graduated from Allen Creek in 2009. Michael and his wife have lived in Ann Arbor since 2001.