Administrators
Patrick Webster
Administrative Director
Patrick Webster serves as the Administrative Director of Shady Lane. As senior administrator, Patrick is ultimately responsible for all operations at Shady Lane. In addition to oversight of Gina's direction of School operations, Patrick is responsible for Shady Lane's financial operations; management of Shady Lane's building on Braddock Avenue, including relationships with Shady Lane's five tenants; management and development of collaborations with outside agencies; and supervision of all outreach and professional development programs. In this role, Patrick reports directly to Shady Lane's Board of Trustees, and serves as the link between daily operations and the Board's oversight and planning role. Patrick has been at Shady Lane since November 2005.
Gina Capriotti
School Director
All educators serve under the direct supervision of School Director Gina Capriotti. Gina also oversees communication and relationships with parents and guardians, support staff, and prospective Shady Lane parents. Gina directs the daily operation of the eight Shady Lane classrooms, their Educators and programming, recruitment of new Shady Lane staff and families, and, most important, helping the children and families served by the School. In this role, Gina reports directly to Shady Lane's Administrative Director. Gina has been at Shady Lane since November 2006.
Janna Rasmussen
Program Coordinator
Janna Rasmussen serves as Shady Lane’s Program Coordinator, which includes supporting the day-to-day needs of Educators and parents; new family recruitment and enrollment; support for ongoing administrative improvements; and implementation of many critical day-to-day tasks. As with each member of Shady Lane's administrative team, Janna brings many years of experience as an Educator in high-quality early childhood programs to her work at Shady Lane. Janna works closely with Gina and Patrick, and is supervised by both.
Carolyn Simpson
Accounting Coordinator
Carolyn Simpson has worked for over 20 years with a variety of for-profit and non-profit organizations, both professionally and on a volunteer basis. Carolyn’s experience includes management, administrative duties, training, financial analysis, accounting, and systems analysis. She has been serving as Shady Lane’s Accounting Coordinator since November 2008, providing all accounting and financial reporting needs for the Administrative Director and Board of Trustees; working directly with parents on questions regarding tuition and payment; and bringing her experience to the administrative team in a host of areas relating to organizational and fiscal operations. In this role, Carolyn reports directly to Shady Lane's Administrative Director.
Jenny Bell
Receptionist
Jenny Bell brings talent and cheer to her role as the first person many people meet at the door when entering the School. As Shady Lane's Receptionist, Jenny brings her friendly and welcoming presence, in person and on the phone, for newcomers as well as current parents and children. However, Jenny brings other attributes to her work, which means she undertakes many behind the scenes tasks, assisting with a variety of administrative jobs.
Professional & Family Support and Outreach
Polly Lipkind
Professional Development Director
Polly Lipkind is Shady Lane's Professional Development Director. Polly designs and implements a wide range of projects that support Shady Lane's mission to improve early childhood education throughout our region. Polly provides direct professional development to a wide range of early childhood professionals and agencies. She teaches courses and provides advisory assistance to educators seeking the Child Development Associate credential, in collaboration with Point Park University. She also provides technical assistance and support to early childhood directors and supervisors; and provides invaluable assistance, support and professional development to Shady Lane's own Educators and administrators. In this role, Polly reports directly to Shady Lane's Administrative Director.
Katie O'Neill, R.N.
Family/Child Advocate
Katie O’Neill serves in the role of Family/Child Advocate at Shady Lane. In this position, Katie brings her extensive professional experience as a health professional and educator to bear in supplementing the work of Shady Lane’s administrators and educators. Katie provides guidance, advice and other assistance to staff and families in three primary areas relating to health, safety and special needs support: advocacy for families & children; education of families, children and staff; and professional practice. Katie also provides professional development to Shady Lane staff and to other early childhood professionals. Katie has been at Shady Lane in a variety of roles since 2004, and developed the position of Family/Child Advocate with Patrick and Gina, beginning in July 2008. Katie works closely with Patrick and Gina, and is supervised by both.
Lead Educators
At Shady Lane, a dedicated team of educators leads each classroom. Our educators fall into one of two categories, signifying their role in the classroom and level of education and/or experience. Lead Educators (or, in some cases, Co-Leads) are senior members of the staff who are both qualified by education/experience and service at Shady Lane to be responsible for their classroom's schedule, curriculum and day-to-day functioning. Educators are important members of the classroom team who serve as co-educators, rather than assistants, and bring their own skills and experience to the classroom.
