963 Fort Street, Suite 3
Buffalo, Wyoming 82834
(307) 684-9271
(307) 684-0141 fax

CDC Staff

Sandi O'Dell  BA, MPA Executive Director I am the Executive Director at CDC Region II.  I lead and support all programs and staff, write and administer grants, and work closely with CDC’s board of directors to make sure we provide high quality programs that are responsive to local needs and that meet federal and state policy requirements.  I am committed to the work we do and want to help all our children and families have the tools and support they need to succeed.  I have a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education and a Master’s degree in Public Administration, both from the University of Wyoming.

Part B serving 3 to 5 year olds in Sheridan The Part B services are for preschool children from age three through five.  These free, educationally based, special education services include cognitive, social-emotional, self-help, speech and language, occupational therapy, and physical therapy.  Children are served in their classrooms as much as possible to help them learn lifelong skills.  Each child has an Individual Education Plan to help them learn at their full potential.

Amanda Dube  ECSE Part B Coordinator I help the staff to coordinate services for the preschool children in our program.  I have a Bachelor’s of Science in Family and Consumer Science with endorsements in Child Development and Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Wyoming.  I have worked at the center for eight years and enjoy the opportunities to make a difference in the lives of our families.

Mandy Leach  BS Early Childhood Teacher I am an early childhood classroom teacher.  I received my Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD.  I was a third grade teacher for six years and recently have transitioned to the preschool classroom.  I teach four sessions of children, both typically developing and developmentally delayed. The Child Development Center has adopted a play based curriculum, Creative Curriculum, for classroom use, and I utilize that with the children in my class.  My goal within the classroom is to keep our children developmentally progressing over time by helping our therapists work on individualized goals pertaining to cognitive, motor, social, and speech areas.

Austin Mereness Paraprofessional I earned my Massage Therapy Certificate of Completion in December of 2005. I started working at the CDC as a Paraprofessional in September of 2006.  I work with teachers and therapists to help our kiddos achieve their goals, and have fun doing so.

Eva McCrary  BS Early Childhood Teacher, CDC South I have a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education from Haskell University in addition to courses in Speech Language and Hearing from the University of Kansas.  I am currently working on getting an endorsement for Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Wyoming.  My job includes the implementation of individual goals in the classroom.  I provide help with developmental screenings and assistance with individualized education plans.  I will be working with children in the classroom and throughout the community to provide services and work on goals to get them ready for kindergarten.

Marcia Young Paraprofessional I am a Paraprofessional in the preschool classroom.  I assist classroom teachers, therapists, case managers, etc. in helping children meet their goals. We work on many skills such as self help, communication, motivation, motor skills, academics, and social skills.  I am very lucky to be able to work with such a great group of kids and staff.

Courtney Kinniburgh  BA Early Childhood Teacher, CDC South I am an early childhood classroom teacher at the Child Development Center preschool.  I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education with an early childhood endorsement from the University of Wyoming in May of 2008.  I have had one year of experience teaching kindergarten and have a clear understanding of what is necessary to help prepare my students as they leave the center and enter kindergarten.  My area of interest has always focused on children in early childhood setting.  I enjoy their curiosity, honesty, and energy!  I am very happy to be part of the Child Development Center preschool team and I truly love being able to witness the progress, growth, and changes everyday from these amazing kiddos!

Janine Demple Paraprofessional I am a paraprofessional in the preschool classrooms.  My job is to provide support to the teachers within the classroom, and to other staff within our program.  It is a priority to assist in providing a safe learning environment in which all of our children, both those with developmental challenges and those who are normally developing can be successful.  I have worked with many children in different environments in the last 27 years and find the CDC to be one of the most rewarding!

Beth Turner  M.Ed. CCC-SLP Speech-Language Pathologist My job as a Speech-Language Pathologist at the Child Development Center involves helping children to communicate more effectively before they enter Kindergarten.  This may involve working on their articulation skills so that they can be understood by others or their language skills, so they are able to express their thoughts clearly.  As a Speech Pathologist in an Early Intervention program we provide children the opportunity to gain important communication skills needed to help them be effective communicators.  I have a Bachelor of Science from St. Cloud State University and a Masters in Education from Utah State University.  I hold my certificate of clinical competence from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association and am licensed to practice Speech Pathology in the state of Wyoming.

Rebecca White  COT A/L Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant As a part of the CDC team, my role as a COTA (Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant) is to help children reach their maximum functional potential in all aspects of their daily routine to include play, school, and self-help skills.  In Occupational Therapy, I focus upon the development of sensory, neuromuscular, perceptual processing, and motor skills.   I also teach children kindergarten readiness skills, especially in the areas of fine motor and visual motor development.  I have worked as a COTA for ten years.  I attended college at Black Hills State University and Casper College and hold degrees in Biology, Pre-Med, and as an Occupational Therapy Assistant.

Jessica Layher  ECSE CCC-SLP Early Childhood Special Educator I graduated in 2002 from Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD with a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Special Education.  I have been with the Child Development Center for five years.  I help children and families in the CDC classrooms, as well as children and staff at some of the community preschools.  I provide services in the cognitive, self-help, and personal-social domains for children who need extra help in these areas.  I find working with children to be a very rewarding job and truly love what I do every day!

Sara Mullen  ECSE Early Childhood Special Educator I have a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Northern Colorado with an Early Childhood Special Education Endorsement from the University of Wyoming.  I am one of the preschool teachers at the CDC in Sheridan.  I have been here for 14 years.  I was lucky to get to work at the developmental center in Rawlins and Cheyenne before coming to Sheridan.  I have seen the preschool program really grow.  I enjoy the children and staff I work with very much.  I get to travel to preschools and daycares in Sheridan to see children.  I feel an important part of our job is to help our kids get ready for kindergarten and have lots of fun learning.

Sarah Finkle  MS CCC-SLP Speech-Language Pathologist I graduated from the University of Wyoming with a Masters in Speech-Language Pathology in 2007.  I work with children needing early intervention services due to a speech/language delay and/or disorder. In addition to direct services, I work collaboratively with all whose involvement is a critical part of providing the child with opportunities to become as self-sufficient as possible.

Julie Estes  MS CCC-SLP Speech-Language Pathologist I received a Masters of Science degree in Speech–Language Pathology from the University of Wyoming.  My job as a speech-therapist at the CDC involves helping children to communicate more effectively before they go on to kindergarten.  This may include working on their articulation skills so that they can be understood by others or their language skills, so they can get their thoughts across to others.  As a speech therapist in an Early Intervention program I am able to provide kids the opportunity to gain important communication skills needed to help them be successful in school.

Shelli Szmyd  OTR/L Occupational Therapist I am an Occupational Therapist providing services primarily to the three to five year olds in our preschool, at home, and in the community.  My focus is on fine motor, visual motor, and sensory skills to promote independence with writing, putting together puzzles, and self-help skills such as feeding and dressing just to name a few.  I received my Bachelors Degree in Occupational Therapy from Colorado State University.

Janelle Coon  MS CCC-SLP Speech-Language Pathologist As part of the team at the Child Development Center my role is to work with children to help them communicate at an age appropriate level.  This may include working on articulation to improve how others understand their words, or language skills to help children with their understanding and ability to express themselves clearly.  Early intervention helps children work on skills that will allow them to be more successful in school.  I have both a Bachelor of Science in Communicative Disorders and  Masters of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Utah State University.  I hold the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association as well as a state license to practice in Wyoming.  I have worked with a variety of populations, but feel that working with preschool aged children is the most rewarding!

Rhonda Wollen Case Management Assistant and Screening Coordinator I am a Case Management Assistant and Screening Coordinator.  As a CMA I am in charge of creating and maintaining all the children’s files both current and past for Part B and Part C.  As a Screening Coordinator I set all the days for our screening and work with other agencies, daycares, other preschools, etc. to do screenings at their sites.  I also help organize the screenings held at the Buffalo Health Fair.  I have worked at the Child Development Center for five years.  The best part of my job is working with our children and their families.  To see our kiddos grow, learn, and become confident and self reliant is truly a miracle that I feel blessed to be a part of.

Part C serving Birth to 3 year olds in Sheridan The Part C program serves children from birth to the age of three in family focused, home and community based settings where children typically spend their days.  Early Intervention in the Part C program offers professional services including: occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech/language therapy, and early education to increase a child’s motor, communication, cognitive, self-help, and personal social skills.  Each family is assisted by a Family Service Coordinator in determining a plan for their child to increase his or her skills.  In addition to therapy services, developmental screenings are offered throughout the year to all children from birth through the age of three through this program at the Child Development Center.

Jo Lynn Andrews  MA CCC-SLP Program Coordinator / Speech Language Pathologist I work as the program coordinator and speech/language pathologist in the Part C Program which provides evaluation and therapy services to infants and toddlers from birth to age three.  The Part C Program focuses on parent training and involvement as services are provided to the children.  I have worked with young children in our community through the CDC for 34 years.  I have a Master of Arts degree in Speech and Hearing Science from Ohio State University in addition to graduate level courses in Special Education and Speech Pathology through the University of Wyoming.

Tracy Jones  RN/FSC Nurse, Family Service Coordinator, and Parenting Support My jobs include School Nurse, Family Service Coordinator, and Parenting Support.  I have been with the Child Development Center since 2005.  I have an Associates Degree in nursing, and 20 years of on-the-job training in foster care parenting and parent support.  Twenty years of nursing in pediatric offices provided me with good experience for my work at CDC.  My own special needs child has taught me much about the challenges that families face and I am passionate about helping, teaching and supporting other families.

Linda Garretson  EI, FSC Child Identification Coordinator, Early Interventionist, and Family Service Coordinator I am a child identification coordinator for Sheridan and Johnson County.  This job involves getting the word out to the communities about who and what the Child Development Center does.  I am also an early interventionist and family service coordinator in the Part C program here at the CDC.  I help to screen little ones and where further evaluation is necessary, I test in the cognitive, adaptive and personal/social areas of development.  As a FSC, I care for and support our families and children receiving services, helping them to understand their rights and the resources that are available to them.  I have a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wyoming and began my Early Childhood Special Education Endorsement last year through the University of Wyoming.

Sarah Harper  FSC/EI Early Interventionist and Family Service Coordinator My job as an Early Interventionist at the CDC involves helping to identify and to assist children with their individual needs.  As a Family Service Coordinator, I support families and children receiving services in our program and advocate for them in the community at large.  I have a Bachelors degree from Wesleyan University and a Masters of Fine Art from the Rhode Island School of Design.  I received my Certificate in Early Childhood Education from Sheridan College and I am currently working on my Early Childhood Special Education Endorsement from the University of Wyoming.  It brings me great joy to partner with the CDC team and families to help children grow, learn, and succeed every day.

Both Part B and Part C in Sheridan

Debbie Cole Business Manager / Human Resource Assistant I have worked for the Child Development Center for 14 years and in Business Administration for over 30 years.  My job responsibilities include bookkeeping/payroll, tracking of income/expenditures for auditing purposes, and having employee records in place for our contracts and licensing through state and local agencies.

Dawn Rogers  OTR/L Occupational Therapist I am an Occupational Therapist here at the Child Development Center.  It may sound as though I might "find a job" for your child, however, what I really do is take purposeful activity that is meaningful to your child such as playing, drawing, picking up small pieces of food with their fingers, sitting up, holding a toy, or swinging on a swing - to name a few examples - and lead it toward functioning independently in a child's environment.  That environment may be home, daycare, or preschool; but I help them to do these things with greater independence and gain strength.  The help I provide may involve fine, visual-motor, and sensory skill assistance.  My job is very rewarding, as I have the opportunity to work with amazing children from the ages of birth to six years.  My education consists of a Bachelor in Occupational Therapy from The University of North Dakota and an Associate Degree in Health Science from Kalispell, MT.

Theresa Winnop  MS PT Physical Therapist I provide physical therapy services to children birth to six years old at the Child Development Center.  I am new to the center, but have provided therapy to children in the public school system and at private clinics for 15 years.  I’m very excited to help children gain independence with all their mobility.  This includes crawling, walking, jumping, climbing, strength, and balance.  We work on these skills at home, daycare, preschool, and outdoors.  Where else can you play at the park as part of your job?  I also educate families and caregivers on how to do some of these activities on a regular basis.  I have a Master’s of Science in physical therapy from the University of Colorado and a BS in exercise physiology from the University of Wyoming.

Lynn Gordon  MS, LPC, NCC Developmental Guidance Counselor A child’s development is the foundation that guides all parts of their lives.  Just as a child learns to walk, speak and learn, they develop in the areas of emotions and feelings, social interactions, and behaving in the world around them.  Helping a child develop and grow in these areas fosters good self-esteem, supports their interactions with others whether it be friends, brothers, sisters or adults.  It helps them move forward in their lives.  As the Developmental Guidance Counselor, I consult with parents, teachers, day care programs, preschools, and other community agencies to provide guidance and counseling for the children in our program.  I have a Masters degree in Educational Psychology and a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education, both from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.  I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with National Certification and hold licenses in Wyoming and Utah.  I am also a certified teacher.

Toni Becker  BS-SE Information Clerk and Educational Support Technician I currently schedule screenings and perform general office tasks.  The other half of my work involves evaluating children’s developmental stages and I am beginning to assist our Speech Pathologists.   I am a certified Elementary Education and Special Education Teacher in the state of Wyoming and am working toward a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology.  I appreciate the opportunity to assist in the process of preparing Sheridan County’s children to be more successful in school, as well as in life.

Buffalo Office

Judy Verplancke  ECSE Early Childhood Special Educator I currently work as the early childhood special education teacher and case manager with the Part B (3 to 5 year olds) program in Buffalo.  I’m also attending graduate school to finish my endorsement and pursue a master’s degree.

Cassey Dyess  BA, EI, FSC Family Service Coordinator / Early Interventionist I am the Family Service Coordinator and Early Interventionist for the Part C program (0-3 year olds) in Johnson County.  I am a certified Elementary Education teacher in the state of Wyoming.  Currently, I am pursuing my master’s degree in Special Education.  Working with children and assisting in their healthy development through appropriate play is a job I truly enjoy.  I look forward to helping their families locate the resources that are available within our community.

Joey Killian  M.S. P.F. Physical Therapist I am a new Physical Therapist at the Buffalo CDC. I have a Masters in Physical Therapy from the University of the Pacific and a Bachelors of Science in Biology from Fresno State University.  I have been a physical therapist for 16 years mostly doing neuro rehab.

Jenn Drake Information Clerk I am an Information Clerk for the Buffalo CDC.  My job duties include general office work, such as answering phones, filing, making appointments, and doing vision screening follow-ups.  I also bill Medicaid and track donations for the Buffalo Building Campaign. I received my Associate of Arts degree from Sheridan College and also attended the University of Hawaii majoring in Finance.

Anita Walker  MS CCC-SLP Speech-Language Pathologist