Teachers and Staff

Susie Kapaun (Director) has degrees in both speech pathology and elementary education. Susie taught kindergarten, first, and second grades for 13 years in Colorado prior to moving to New York. While in Colorado, she was also a freelance writer for Mailbox Magazine, a publication of ideas for classroom teachers. She started working for the Co-Op in 2000 and has taught in both the Three Year Old and Four Plus programs. This year, Susie is once again co-teaching the Four Plus program with Kathleen Lindell.

Susie is the mother of three boys and is active in both Orchard Park Little League and Orchard Park Little Loop Football. You might also find her fishing with her family at Green Lake or on Lake Erie in their boat.

Kelly Abel earned an M.Ed from Cambridge College in Massachusetts after receiving a BA in Early Childhood Education from Mercyhurst College in Pennsylvania. She joined the Co-op in 2008 and teaches the Four-Year-Old class.  Her previous professional experience includes teaching kindergarten in the Columbus, Ohio public schools, as well as at the Mystic Valley Regional Charter School in Massachusetts. Most recently, Kelly has been enjoying her return to Orchard Park and staying home with her two young children.

Kathleen Lindell has studied at St. Bonaventure, the University of Pittsburgh, Daemen College, and the University at Buffalo. She holds a BA and MA in English literature, and has dual New York State certification in English and Pre-K – 6th grade. She taught English in high school and college for ten years before staying home with her two boys. Motherhood convinced her that her real calling was nurturing the whole child, and she found her dream job in 2001 teaching our Four Plus class with Susie Kapaun. Kathleen uses her extensive musical training to lead a daily program of movement and music designed especially for four year olds, as well as acquainting the students with musical classics.

Denise Perry joins the Co-op this year, teaching one of our Three-Year-Old classes. Denise earned her BS and MS in Elementary Education from Buffalo State College and has dual NYS Certification in Pre-K - 6 and Reading.  Her previous professional experience includes teaching kindergarten through fourth grade for North Tonawanda Central School District along with teaching at numerous summer literacy and early literacy programs.  She is excited to get back to the classroom after enjoying the last five years at home raising her two young daughters.