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OSE Staff

Hello! My name is Stephanie Neidlinger. I graduated from Western Michigan University with my Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. I have been working as a school-based OT in Ann Arbor Public Schools since 2017. In addition to Burns Park Elementary, I am also the OT at Lawton Elementary.

In my free time, I enjoy reading, going for walks, traveling, and spending time with my family and friends.

I am honored to serve as your child’s occupational therapist and I look forward to a great school year!

Ms. Neidlinger

 

Ms. Amanda Wizinsky

I'm very excited to be working at Burns Park as a special education resource room teacher again this year! 

This is my 8th year at Burns Park and my 10th year as a special education teacher. Before working in AAPS, I taught for two years in Wayne-Westland Community Schools. 

I grew up in Ann Arbor, and attended Saline Area Schools for my entire K-12 schooling before attending Michigan State University, where I earned my degree in Special Education- Learning Disabilities.  As my students will know, I'm a huge MSU Spartans fan, which causes many conversations here in Wolverine territory!  

This year I primarily support students in 4th and 5th grade but I enjoy being able to pop in and support students from all of our classrooms as needed. I also support the upper el basketball court arrivals in the morning, which allows me to get to know and interact with many of your students, I'm the one with the megaphone :)

Resource Room Teacher - Ms. Kleinschmidt

 

Hi everyone!

I’m very excited to be back at BP for another school year. This is my third year teaching at Burns Park as a resource room teacher! This year, I’ll be working primarily with our lower elementary students, but I'm always around to support anyone in need.

Before coming to Burns Park, I graduated from Michigan State University (Go Green!!) with a bachelor’s degree in Special Education and a specialization in Learning Disabilities. I'm currently finishing up my Master’s degree in Special Education Leadership with a focus on Multi-Tiered Systems of Support—also from MSU.

I believe every child has unique strengths, and it's my mission to create a supportive, inclusive environment where each student feels confident, capable, and celebrated for who they are. To be successful in my role, I focus on building real trust and open communication, so everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.

Outside of school, I love going for walks, scrolling Pinterest, and spending time with my family.

I can’t wait to reconnect with past students and meet new ones!

Ellen See (Ms. See)

She/her/hers

Resource Room Teacher - Ms. See

I am Yolanda Singleton, a Resource Room Teacher at Burns Park Elementary, and I have worked for AAPS since 1998. I was born and raised on the West Side of Ann Arbor. I'm very passionate about serving my community and supporting students with diverse learning needs. I  hold degrees from Eastern Michigan University in Emotional Impairment and Early Childhood Education, with a strong commitment to fostering inclusive, supportive learning environments. I am also the proud mother of two daughters, ShaRae (35) and Olivia (19), and a grandmother to two handsome grandsons, Antonio (18) and Jaiden (14). In my spare time, I enjoy reading, knitting, and spending quality time with my family. I have a deep interest in Early Literacy and would love to focus on closing the literacy gap and enhancing students' reading skills through future professional development opportunities. I'm committed to lifelong learning, and I am eager to expand my knowledge in this area to serve my students and their families.

My Mission Statement would be:
To create a nurturing, inclusive classroom environment where every student feels valued and supported in their academic and emotional growth. My goal is to equip my students with the skills and confidence to succeed both inside and outside the classroom one day.

My Core Values are:

  • Empathy: Understanding and meeting the unique needs of each student.
  • Collaboration: Fostering a sense of community and teamwork among students, families, and staff.
  • Lifelong Learning: Continuously developing as an educator to better support student success.

Integrity: Upholding high standards of honesty, fairness, and respect in all interactions.

Ms. Singleton

Hi! I am Caitlyn Sorensen-Kowalski (she/her). I have lived in the Ann Arbor area for over two decades and have been working in AAPS since early 2022. I am very excited to be joining the team at Burns Park as a School Psychologist. I bring with me a strong passion for working with children and families. I started working with children as a teen, teaching dance! I have since worked with children in therapeutic, teaching and other developmental capacities. I obtained a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Michigan, a Master of Science in Clinical Behavioral Psychology and a Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology from Eastern Michigan University. I am a licensed Clinical Psychologist and a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst. In my early training and career, I worked with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families. I focused on research and providing assessment and therapeutic services. Before working in schools, I have worked with the SMI (serious mental illness) and trauma-affected populations, specifically differential diagnostics and intensive in-patient therapy. I work with evidence-based therapies and tools. At Eastern Michigan University, I have taught undergraduate and graduate courses in psychology. I am excited to meet and work with the Burns Park staff and families! 

Psychologist - Dr. Caitlyn Sorensen

Social Worker - Ali Hite

Social Worker -

This is my ninth year as a Speech-Language Pathologist at Burns Park! Over the years, I have been fortunate to collaborate with a team of talented SLPs to support the diverse communication needs of our students. I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Hope College and a Master’s in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Speech-Language Pathology from Northwestern University.

I am passionate about helping students achieve their communication goals because I believe everyone deserves a voice to be heard. My professional mission is to foster an inclusive and supportive environment where students can build confidence, independence, and meaningful connections. I value creativity, empathy, and collaboration in my work, tailoring therapy to meet each child’s unique needs.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and my dog, Pickle. I also love sipping lattes, exploring children’s books, spending time in nature, and engaging in grief literacy work, including my involvement with Ele’s Place. It is going to be a wonderful year!

Ms. Finkbeiner

 


Hometown: Dallas, Texas

With a Bachelor's in Child Development from Texas Woman's University, Leslie has built a career grounded in Applied Behavioral Science. Bringing a unique blend of psychotherapy to the table, Leslie is dedicated to ascent-based ABA therapy. In their current role as an RBT, Leslie focuses on implementing individualized behavior intervention plans, collecting data on client progress, and providing direct support to individuals with behavioral challenges. By helping clients develop adaptive skills and enhance their quality of life, Leslie contributes to measurable improvements in both behavioral outcomes and overall well-being. Their work is shaped by core values such as empathy, dedication, and integrity. They envision empowering each client to reach their full potential and promoting lasting positive change. Outside of work, Leslie enjoys being in nature and continually seeks opportunities to improve her health and happiness. Leslie is enthusiastic about finishing Graduate school soon and becoming a licensed psychotherapist.

Ms. Villarreal