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Administration Bio:
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Marsha Dumka has been
our Executive Director since 2002. She came to RCN in 1994 as Director of our Special Education program. She was
drawn to RCN because of the its unique urban setting, where indoor curriculum overflows to the beautiful tree lined
acreage; to its neighborhood full of history and community services and to the quality and diversity that it celebrates
every day. She oversees all aspects of the agencies operations, both on and off site. She has a Bachelor's in Social
Work, a Master's in Elementary and Special Education, and postgraduate work as a school administrator from SUNY
Brockport. She has 27 years experience as a special education teacher, preschool teacher and administrator. A Rochester
native, Marsha has lived in various locations in both the US and Asia. She has two children, Alexandra and Adam,
and a grandson, Henry. |
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Grace Wetzel is the
Director of Children's Programs at Rochester Childfirst Network. In this position, Grace oversees all aspects of
the Children's Program, directly supervising the toddler, preschool and UPK programs. She also oversees our school-age
program, and recruits and hires staff. Grace is a certified teacher, with a BS degree in Music Education and has
taught music at the middle school level in PA & NY. She has an MS in Computer Science Education and was a technology
integration teacher, working with teachers to incorporate the use of computers into their curriculums. Grace earned
a second MS in school administration and has her school administration certification. Among her other accomplishments
she interned as the Director of Transportation for a large suburban school district, taught gifted and talented,
and for the past 3 years she has been part of the Rochester City School District's Early Childhood Department's
Music Building Blocks Program for Pre-K classes. It was in this position that Grace first visited RCN and became
impressed with all it had to offer. Grace's varied background includes owning a campground and fishing lake and
holding a commercial driver's license. She has 2 married children, Kim, who is a teacher in PA and Chris, who just
completed his PhD in sociology and will be doing research at UCLA. Grace loves to travel, particularly cruises,
and enjoys reading, sewing and playing the piano. She is committed to working with staff, children and families
to provide a quality program that supports and encourages all of the RCN family. |
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Patti Milburn, Director
of Operations, has been with Rochester Childfirst Network since 1995. Patti has her degree from St. Bonaventure
University in Elementary Education and came to RCN shortly after her graduation from college. All aspects of the
student enrollment process are handled by Patti. In her daily responsibilities she oversees the main office staff,
kitchen staff and maintenance staff for the facility. RCN has a group of trained health advocates who are responsible
for the care of sick and injured children as well as medication administration; Patti is the Head Health Advocate.
Patti lives in Spencerport with her husband, Michael and their four children, Mike, Carlyn, Kyle and Cory. |
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Pamela Grant, Director
of the SMILE Program, has over 10 years at RCN- She is responsible for direct supervision and provision of services
for the special education programs. Pam has a Masters degree in Special Education and a Bachelors degree in Elementary
and Early Childhood Education. With 26 or more years of experience with children and special needs in Rochester
and Buffalo areas. Previous experiences include: Coordinator of the RCN evaluation team., Special Educator in center
based classrooms, SEIT teacher in the community, Early Intervention Special instruction. Pam and her husband have
3 children. |
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Dorthea E. King-Simpson
joined the RCN family in December 2004, and currently serves as the Director of Family Child Care. Dorthea comes
to RCN from Utica, NY where she was raised and educated. Dorthea has worked in the service field since 1989 working
as a Teacher's Assistant, Caseworker, Supervisor, and Center Director in Utica NY. Dorthea has a love for community,
and has offered her service to organizations like Rotary, NAACP, Resource For Independent living and The A.M.E.
Zion Church. She has a Bachelor's in Psychology from SUNY Utica/Rome NY, and a Master's degree in Organizational
Leadership from Medaille College, Buffalo NY. Dorthea believes in faith & family, and friends & fellowship.
She is a resilient teen-age parent, mother of two wonderful sons, named Doneilous and Dante', a grandmother, and
the wife of Samuel Simpson. |
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Lou Martino joined
RCN as the Director of Finance in 2007. The father of two school-age boys and husband to a teacher, Lou enjoys
the family atmosphere at RCN. Raised in Honeoye, Lou earned his Bachelor of Science degrees in Accounting and Computer
Science at Elmira College, and obtained his CPA license in 1992. Lou's work history includes not-for-profit business
experience, real estate management accounting, and public accounting experience with the Cortland L. Brovitz &
Co. CPA firm. Lou oversees the daily business and human resource functions of the center. |
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Kim Hayes has been
with RCN since 1998. Starting in the position of part time Development Coordinator, Kim has served as Grant Writer
and as Director of Development. Kim's background is in grants administration and human service program management.
She brings over 20 years experience in not-for-profit human services program development and management, having
worked directly with Catholic Family Center, AIDS Rochester Inc, Easter Seals of Monroe County, and Rural Opportunities.
She has consulted with numerous smaller agencies and organizations to help obtain grant support for new programs.
Kim has three children, Paul Ryan, Shawn Logan, and Connor Shane. |
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