Who We Are: Staff & Board Biographies

Patty Aldrich
Office Administrator

Patty is a long term resident of Ann Arbor, living here for the past 19 years with her husband Rob and their two children Robert and Annie. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in accounting from Hillsdale College. Her list of volunteer efforts in the community is lengthy and includes work with Angell Elementary School, Tappan Middle School, Washtenaw Community College Women’s Council, Huron High School Booster Club Treasurer and the Ann Arbor Thrift Store. In her spare time Patty enjoys working out, cooking, running, needlepoint and reading.  

Michelle Graves, M.A.
Allen Creek Preschool Head Teacher
Red Room - Transitional Toddler Teacher
(Tuesday,Thursday)

Michelle Graves joined the Allen Creek staff in 2002. Before coming to Allen Creek she worked as an education consultant for the High/Scope Foundation. During her 22-year stay at High/Scope she traveled extensively throughout the United States leading training workshops, presenting at national conferences, observing and giving feedback to teachers in a variety of classroom settings, and authoring several books and articles. Her own classroom experiences include daycare settings, private non-profit preschools, and special education elementary schools.

Her interest in children comes from deep within, and she is committed to their emotional and physical safety and to developing genuine relationships with them based on mutual respect. She lives in Ann Arbor with her husband Keith, son Joshua (a senior at Pioneer High School) and two cats. Her son Christopher attends Grinnell College. When not working, she enjoys gardening, biking, dancing and reading.

Jacqui Robbins
Red Room - Transitional Toddler teacher
(Tuesday,Thursday)

Jacqui Robbins is excited to be joining Allen Creek this year. Jacqui graduated from Yale University where she studied Theater and Anthropology, and has a Master’s of Science in Early Childhood Development and an Early Childhood Teaching Certificate from Erikson Institute in Chicago. She has taught students ages 12 months to 65 years, and spent ten years as an early childhood teacher in Chicago and Philadelphia before moving to Ann Arbor in 2005.

Jacqui took a break from teaching to write full time while her own children were young. She is the author of the picture books The New Girl…And Me (2006) and Two of a Kind (2009) (both illustrated by Matt Phelan and published by Atheneum/Simon & Schuster). In connection with her writing, Jacqui developed a year-long anti-bullying/social conflict curriculum based on books and games.

When she’s not teaching or writing, Jacqui directs plays with the Penny Seats theater company, and serves as president of the Board of Directors of 826michigan, a non-profit dedicated to helping kids learn to write. Usually, though, she can be found chasing and playing with her own two kids who are now ten and five.

Amanda Setty
Red Room - Transitional Toddler teacher
(Monday,Wednesday)

Amanda Setty joined the Allen Creek Preschool teaching team in 2004 with a degree in Sociology from the University of South Carolina and a Master’s Degree in Primary Education from Christchurch College of Education in New Zealand. She taught 2 years in the Parent-Toddler class and 2 years in the Junior Preschool class, before taking a break to welcome her second daughter into the family. Amanda is very pleased to be teaching again and back in the Parent-Toddler class.

Amanda's first daughter, Shalini, is an alumni student, and Gayatri (her second daughter), is currently enrolled in the Senior Preschool classroom. Outside of the classroom, Amanda enjoys traveling with her husband, Rohit, and their girls to visit family in the U.S. and in India. When not traveling, she tries to live small--biking around town, gardening in her vegetable patch, reading, “making recipes” with her daughters, and learning how to sew.

Lisa Groh
Red Room - Transitional Toddler teacher
(Monday,Wednesday)

Lisa Groh was born and raised in a small village near Mainz, Germany. Her family instilled the love of music, dance and creativity which she still enjoys today. She studied Midwifery at the University of Heidelberg and graduated with honors in 1996. She moved to Brighton, UK in 2001 where she worked as a Senior Midwife and Team Leader. She continued her education at the University of Brighton with a Postgraduate Degree in Health and Social Care Education (2007) and held the post of Midwifery Lecturer at the University for 2 years. As a midwife, Lisa accompanied the arrival of thousands of new babies into this world and has a vast experience from birth through those important early months of a child’s development.

After the birth of her own daughter in 2008 she moved to Ann Arbor with her husband where she started to work as a teacher in a variety of early childhood settings like First Steps Ann Arbor, private childcare facilities and recently as a music teacher for a preschool in Dexter.

“I am thrilled to be working with your children at Allen Creek and excited about the prospect of new experiences with families and fellow teachers.” Lisa speaks German, English and conversational French. She loves to read, play the guitar, sing and craft and enjoys time with her family, travelling around the world.

Marcia Healey
Green Room - Senior Preschool Teacher

Marcia joined the Allen Creek teaching staff in 2010.  While her grandson attended preschool at Allen Creek (2006–2008) she was in graduate school at Erikson Institute in Chicago studying early childhood development.  Graduating with a Masters in Early Childhood Education and Illinois Teaching Certification (2009) she returned to her home in Ann Arbor and now holds Michigan Teaching Certification with an Early Childhood Endorsement (ZA).  During graduate school she spent a year in a top notch Reggio Emilia (RE) inspired preschool.  "The heart of the RE philosophy holds the image of the child as strong, capable, and with rich resources.  This is a powerful vantage from which to explore the beliefs and practices one brings to education." Teaching is the beginning of a new chapter in her professional life.  A software engineering position with Bell Northern Research brought her to Ann Arbor after graduation from Western Michigan University in 1985.  She also held software development positions with the Ann Arbor companies once known as Medstat and Comshare before resigning to go off to graduate school. She is happy to be working and learning with the Allen Creek community.

Suzanne Bayer

Suzanne Bayer joined the teaching staff at Allen Creek in 2012 and continues her 12 year career of engaging with young children and families within a variety of educational settings. She enjoys creating a vibrant classroom culture focused on inquiry and nurturing relationships, while learning alongside the children.

Suzanne received her undergraduate teaching education from Ohio Wesleyan University, and holds a current State of Michigan Professional Teaching Certificate. She is a member of the Teacher Advisory Committee with UMS, and is a volunteer with Ele’s Place, a center for grieving children and families in Ann Arbor. Suzanne will complete her MA in Early Childhood Education, with dual Early Childhood (ZA) Endorsement, from Eastern Michigan University in 2013.

She and her husband, Daniel, have three grown children. (Laura is an accountant in Ohio, Nicholas is studying Japanese language and culture in Tokyo, and Sara is studying Art History at MSU.) Suzanne and her family have lived in the Ann Arbor area for nearly 10 years. When not working, she enjoys quilting, swimming, walking the family’s yellow lab, and traveling with her husband.

Dina Stillings
Yellow Room - Junior Preschool Teacher

Artist, Mother and Teacher.
Dina combines these three important roles to bring a unique voice to the Allen Creek community. Born in Arizona and raised in the Midwest, Dina attended the Art Institute of Chicago where she was awarded full Honorary Scholarships. Her career as a painter and art handler took her to NYC where she explored East Coast life. Travel throughout Europe and extended trips throughout India further enhanced her insight into the cultural beauty of this planet. The birth of her two children brought Dina and family back to the Midwest where she enjoys teaching both summer and fall classes at the Allen Creek School. With children of her own, Dina Stillings brings a deep understanding of the love and respect budding minds and hearts need to grow healthy and strong. Through continuation of her own work as an artist, she remains fresh and flexible to change; believing this nurturing of her own skills is inherent to passing on the gift of learning.

Gale Whittier-Ferguson
Yellow Room - Junior Preschool Teacher

Gale was one of the founding teachers of Allen Creek and has worked with children in a variety of settings for 30 years. She holds an MA in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Bank Street College of Education in New York City. Gale and her husband have two grown children who continually delight and amaze them. Their family also includes 2 rambunctious dogs and a black and white cat. Gale likes to challenge herself physically through cycling, weight training, triathlon, and pilates, and she loves to sing, listen to music, speak spanish, quilt, read, and be outside.

Trisha Miller
Purple Room - Fives Class Teacher

Trisha Miller graduated with honors from Central Michigan University. Her degree is in elementary education, with a major in early childhood development, and a minor in music. Prior to Allen Creek, she worked in various preschool settings.

"What I like most about working with children is sharing my love of learning with them. Young children are so curious, and I am thrilled along with them every time they learn something new. I am privileged to have a job where I get to make close relationships with my students. Besides being a teacher, being with my children Spencer and Sylvia is one of my major sources of joy. Another is my relationship with my partner, Sandra. Other things I enjoy are: music, singing, reading, cooking, studying natural health, and walking in the woods.

Lesley Kabza Criscenti
Creative Arts Teacher

Lesley's work with and interaction with children is highly regarded in the Ann Arbor community with her early education and preschool art classes with First Steps Washtenaw Ann Arbor and as a dance and creative movement teacher for Arts in Motion. "I feel a very strong connection to the world of the imagination and I have been privileged to have worked in the creative arts for many years." Lesley has a degree from the University of Michigan in Dance and Elementary Education and a M.A. from EMU in Creative Writing. She directed Blue Dragon Dance Theatre, a multi-age dance company receiving grants to work in the Michigan schools. She also directed the professional dance company Dance Focus, which performed in every single Ann Arbor school. "As the Creative Arts Specialist at Allen Creek Preschool I am enriched by the day to day interaction with your children, and I know my teaching style benefits from contact with other highly skilled professionals." Lesley also works under the name of Princess Whimsy – paint and poetry on wood and in fiber arts, creating one of a kind scarves with yarn and beads.

Family Consultants [back to top]

Ivan Sherick, Ph.D
Child Development Director, Family Consultant Coordinator
Dr. Sherick has resided in Ann Arbor since 1971 moving here after completing his child/adolescent psychoanalytic training at the Hampstead Clinic in London under the leadership of Miss Anna Freud. He then completed training in adult psychoanalysis at the Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute, where he is a Supervising Child/Adolescent Analyst. He is certified in child/adolescent and adult psychoanalysis. He received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Washington University in St. Louis. He has practiced psychoanalysis and psychotherapy in Ann Arbor since 1971. He has an affiliation with the Department of Psychiatry at University of Michigan, supervising Residents in dynamic psychotherapy with adults and has had a past affiliation with the Department of Psychology at UM supervising post-docs at the Psychological Clinic.

Ivan is a founding member with his wife Judie of Allen Creek Preschool. He has served on the Board and has been a Family Consultant. His wife, Judie, is a past President of the Board. They have a son, Dan, a plastic surgeon residing in Ann Arbor, and a daughter Chaya, a trained MSW, who lives in Denver. He and Judie enjoy eight grandchildren.

Carol Austad
Family Consultant Coordinator, Co-Child Development Director
Dr. Austad is a board certified child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist as well as a graduate in child, adolescent and adult psychoanalysis from the Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute. She was involved in the development of Allen Creek School and is a past consultant to the Department of Pediatrics at the U of M. For many years, she has taught all aspects of development to teachers, parents, residents, candidates, and other mental health workers. One of her favorite projects is learning from and helping parents. She has been a Family Consultant for 15 years as well as maintaining a practice for children, teenagers and adults.

Ellen Grosh, MD
Family Consultant
Ellen Grosh is a board-certified psychiatrist working with children, adolescents and adults in private practice in Ann Arbor. A 1987 graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School, she trained in psychiatry and child psychiatry at Yale University and the Yale Child Study Center. She has also consulted to schools, a day treatment program and Packard Community Clinic. Dr. Grosh has enjoyed being part of the Allen Creek community and getting to know families during this important time in their lives. She lives in Ann Arbor with her husband and two daughters and enjoys music, theater, crocheting and being active outdoors.

Gail van Langen, Ph.D
Family Consultant
Gail van Langen began her professional career with a special interest in non-Western cultures and religions, and ethics in international affairs. A full-time member of an international social service and development organization for over seven years, she became fluent in Swahili and worked in Tanzania assisting young women to develop small businesses and become effective leaders in their communities. Upon her return to the United States she earned Masters degrees in Theology and in Nursing. Gail worked as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Psychiatry building therapeutic communities for seven years, eventually earning her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Detroit Mercy. She has been in private practice in Ann Arbor for the past 15 years, and is in the process of completing advanced post-graduate training in psychoanalysis of children, adolescents, and adults. Gail is delighted for the opportunity to share (and relive!) the junior toddler adventure with children and their families as a Family Consultant at Allen Creek this year. She is awed by the warmth, wisdom, and skill with which Mrs. Ferguson and Ms. Stillings relate to the children in their classroom, and feels privileged to be working with them.

Linda Kreger, Ph.D
Family Consultant
Linda Kreger received a BS in Special Education of Emotional Impairment/Psychology focus, MS in Educational Psychology/Early Childhood focus, and PhD in Educational Psychology/Child Development and Disorder focus from the University of Michigan. Her training--including developmental and psychoanalytic approaches--and early professional work was at UM Children's Psychiatric Hospital. She then worked with children in preschool and other settings, and coordinated a federally-funded ISMRRD/UM project that trained teams in the Midwest to treat youngsters exhibiting various exceptionalities within developmental approaches. Linda later taught in university departments of Psychology, Child Care, Special Education and Educational Psychology, alongside research, publication, presentation and committee work. She hosted a weekly radio program about childhood issues. Linda now consults with individuals, and early childhood, school and other agencies. She is excited to be part of Allen Creek's supportive, cooperative community approach. She lives in Ann Arbor with her husband, and has one daughter. Linda enjoys music, art, theater, reading and the company of good friends.

Alice Michael, Ph.D
Family Consultant
Alice Michael is a Clinical Psychologist with a psychotherapy practice in Ann Arbor where she meets with children, teens and adults. She earned her PhD at the University of Michigan in 1999, and spent the following decade in Boston MA working in a variety clinical, research and school settings doing assessments, consultations and psychotherapy. She is happy to be back in Ann Arbor with her family, and enjoys arts & crafts, gardening, running ,swimming, and playing soccer.

Carole Symer, Ph.D
Family Consultant
Carole Symer is a neuropsychologist and psychotherapist with a private practice in Ann Arbor where she works with children, adolescents and adults. For years, she practiced in East Hampton, New York, serving as a consultant to local schools, as well as the medical staff at Southampton Hospital. As an adjunct faculty member at New York University (where she trained at the doctoral and postdoctoral levels), she taught doctoral students in clinical assessment; she continues to serve on the Committee on Ethnicity, Race, Class, Culture and Language (CERCCL) she helped to found at NYU’s Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis. She is grateful for the opportunity to join the staff at Allen Creek as a family consultant and welcomes conversations with families and teachers here about nurturing our children’s unique styles of attachment, relating, learning, and curiosity about the world. In addition to spending time with family and friends, she enjoys yoga, cooking, going to concerts, and studying Mandarin.

Board Members, Committee Members and Officers [back to top]

Michael Marcantonio
President of the Board, Chair of Marketing Committee, Member of Finance Committee and Building Premises Committee
After graduating from Walsh College, Michael spent the first half of his career practicing as a Certified Public Accountant. He worked for Arthur Andersen for 8 years until he left to take the position of Vice-President of Tax for Domino's Pizza. He left Domino's Pizza to pursue various entrepreneurial endeavors. Michael currently works for and is the majority owner of the Allegra Network, a franchisor of 550 printing and sign businesses, primarily in North America. Michael's daughter Maria was a student at Allen Creek from the Infant Group through graduation from the Fives Class in 2008. As a parent Michael realized the profound impact that this program had on his family and his relationship with his daughter and has progressively increased his involvement with Allen Creek.

Cathy Weinert
Secretary of the Board
Cathy attended the University of Michigan, graduating in 1979 with a BGS degree. She served for 2 years in Micronesia as a Peace Corps Volunteer, then attended the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 1986. She worked as a vet for 12 years in Chicago before moving to Ann Arbor in 1999. She and her husband, Daryl, have 2 children. Her children attended Allen Creek Preschool from 1999-2008.

Michael Singer, Ph.D
Board Member
Dr. Michael Singer holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Washington, and a post-doctoral fellowship in child clinical psychology from Harvard Medical School. Dr. Singer is a graduate of the Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute in adult, child and adolescent psychoanalysis. He is currently on the teaching faculty of the Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute and is Supervisor in child and adolescent psychoanalysis. He has served as co-director of the Institute’s Child Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Educational Program and the Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Fellowship Program. He is an adjunct clinical instructor, teaching and supervising residents, in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan Medical School. Dr. Singer has served as consultant to area child care agencies, including Pound House Children's Center, Allen Creek Preschool, and Child Care Network. Dr. Singer is in full time private practice of psychotherapy and psychoanalysis in Ann Arbor with adults, children and adolescents. He also provides couples therapy and works with parents in parenting guidance.

Andrew R. Boschma
Treasurer of the Board, Chair of Finance Committee
Andy attended the University of Michigan, graduating in 1987 with degrees of Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Accounting.  After graduation Andy became a Certified Public Accountant and has worked for a variety of companies, including Arthur Andersen & Co and Domino’s Pizza LLC.  Andy is currently working in Ann Arbor as CFO of MKM Ventures LLC. After donating a kidney to a friend in 1997, Andy sought out volunteer opportunities with the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan (NKFM).  Andy has increasingly expanded his role at NKFM to where he currently serves as a member of the Executive Committee, Board Treasurer and Chairs the Administration & Finance and the Ann Arbor Golf Classic Committees. Andy became involved with Allen Creek in 2005 through friend, fellow Board member, and former ACP parent Michael Marcantonio.  For over three years Andy has assisted ACP in a variety of financial and advisory capacities, including service on the Finance and Miller Expansion Committees, both of which he now Chairs.

Michael Shulman, Ph.D
Board Member
Michael Shulman is a clinical psychologist working in private practice with children, adolescents, and adults. He earned his B.A. at Wesleyan University in Letters, and his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan in Clinical Psychology. Dr. Shulman completed adult psychoanalytic training at the Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute, on whose faculty he now teaches, has served as the Program Chair of the Michigan Psychoanalytic Society, and is current Co-Chair of the Committee on Psychoanalysis and Undergraduate Education of the American Psychoanalytic Association. He is also deeply involved in graduate education locally, teaching on the faculties of the University of Michigan (Instructor in Psychiatry), and Madonna University (Associate Professor in Psychology). Dr. Shulman lives in Ann Arbor with his wife Dr. Meryl Berlin, a child and adult clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst, and their two daughters.

Michael J. Thomas
Board Member, Chair of Development Committee
Since graduating from the University of Michigan in 1996 with a BSME degree, Michael has worked for Johnson Controls, Inc. in Plymouth, MI. Michael's career has been focused on automotive product and business development. He currently leads cross-functional teams in the identification and development of innovative automotive products and processes. Michael's two daughters were students at Allen Creek, and he accepted a nomination to the Board of Directors after his younger daughter graduated from Allen Creek in 2009. Michael and his wife have lived in Ann Arbor since 2001.

Susan Tuttle Darrow, MSW, ACSW, LCSW-Michigan
Board Member, Development Committee Member
Michigan native; Ann Arbor resident since 1963. BA degree University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1957. MSW, University of Michigan, 1976. Clinical training, Child and Family Service Agency, Washtenaw County and the Psychological Clinic, University of Michigan. 1979-1993, Clinical Social Worker, University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Supervised Social Work Interns, medical students, and Residents and Child Fellows in evaluating and treating children and adolescents and in working with parents; Directed the Divorce and Family Loss Clinic at CAPH. After retirement from the UM continued to work there teaching psychotherapy to Social Workers in the hospital and seeing patients in Adult Psychotherapy; taught Child Development as Adjunct Faculty in the UM School of Social Work. Family Consultant at Allen Creek for approximately 10 years. Susan helped Allen Creek locate its first home and through the years has offered assistance in capital development. Active in the community, Susan also serves or has served as s Board Member and past Board President of Huron Valley Child Guidance Clinic; Board Member of Great Lakes Performing Artists Association; and Board member and Board President, Kelsey Museum of Archaeology.