David has been the Director of ONTOP since 1993.  He earned his masters and doctoral degrees at Penn State University and is a Vermont licensed psychologist and nationally certified school psychologist.  Prior to joining ONTOP, he served as a consultant to schools in the Rutland and Burlington areas.  David is an avid reader and golfer.  He enjoys music, interesting wristwatches, and cruising in his 1968 classic Mustang.  While at ONTOP, he has learned that change is hard, but it is often necessary, that patience and tolerance are important values and that caring people, working together, can make anything happen.  He likens ONTOP students to Tootsie Pops:  the outer shell is hard, but they're soft inside.  

Dylan has been in the Burlington School District for a few years and is now at ONTOP as a School Psychologist.  He earned his B.A. in Psychology from Syracuse University and his M.A. and Ph.D in School Psychology from the University of South Carolina.  Dylan is a native Vermonter who enjoys boating, hiking, skiing, soccer, woodworking, wakeboarding and fishing.  He also is a sports fan.

Shawna is a  tutor at ONTOP and she loves it!  She graduated from Truman State University in Kirksville, MO in 2003 with a BA in English Composition.  She then moved to Vermont to attend UVM where she graduated in 2005 with an MA in English Literature.  Shawna spends her free time reading depressing books and fantasy novels, watching movies, and watching the White Sox when she can get their games on TV.  She also enjoys spending time with her four guinea pigs: Marty, Mindy, Missy, and Mina. Shawna splits her time between the Taft school and the BHS satellite program and she enjoys pestering, um, getting to know the students in both schools.

Tom  Emery has worked at ONTOP since 1993.  He received a Bachelor's Degree  in secondary education from Lyndon State College and holds a Master's Degree in special education from the University of Vermont.  He started as a parochial school teacher and also worked as a high school history teacher.  He enjoys coaching and outdoor activities.  He is a member of the Loyal Order of Raccoons and the Sons of the American Legion.  At ONTOP he has learned that every day provides an opportunity to connect with students.  ONTOP provides a unique atmosphere that allows for those connections to happen on a daily basis.  

Ed has been at ONTOP "forever"--well, since 1981 anyway.  Currently he teaches affective class but in the past he has also taught vocational education, math, science, history, culinary arts, woodworking and PE.  He holds a Bachelor's Degree in psychology, a Master's Degree in education, and a Master's Degree in special education.  Before coming to ONTOP, Ed worked at the Spaulding Youth Center in Tilton, NH from 1975-1978, and he worked at the Barre Project in Montpelier, VT from 1978-1981.  Ed's interests include baseball, hockey, camping, boating, snowmobiling and most other outdoor activities.  His favorite quote, and one that the students hear almost every day is from the Rolling Stones, "You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes you just might find you get what you need."  

Jessie has been at ONTOP since 2000 and currently teaches English and history.  She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education, and Master's Degree in Special Education.   She enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, being outdoors and camping.  She has learned that sometimes life throws you challenges to overcome and you may think that life will never get easier, but remember life goes on and you are in control of making what you want out of life.  

Dawn has been at ONTOP since 1996.  Before coming to ONTOP she worked at South Burlington High School and as a teacher at the Northeast State Correctional Facility in Newport.  She received Bachelor's Degrees in English and Education from Johnson State College, as well as becoming licensed as a resource room teacher.  She also received a Vermont Outstanding Teacher Award in 2000.  Currently she teaches English and teaches students reading skills with the Wilson Reading Program, but in the past she has taught science, computer literacy and culinary arts.  Dawn enjoys photography, scrap-booking and making "joke" gifts for people as well as being with her family.  She will also admit (although rarely) that she is an avid MMORPG gamer.  At ONTOP she has learned that kids can't learn from books that they can't read. 

Deena is the administrative assistant at ONTOP.  Before coming to the ONTOP Program, Deena was employed by the Town of Colchester as an administrative assistant to the Public Works Department and by Colchester High School where she worked for several years in the main office and the guidance office.  Deena lives in Williston where she enjoys playing with her Yorkshire Terrier, "Moses", cooking, gardening, fishing, water color painting and playing computer games. 

Paul Adams 

Paul graduated from Johnson State College with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Creative Writing. He is working with the state on gaining his licensure in Secondary  Education. He enjoys the outdoors (particularly skiing, hiking, and fishing). He's a movie buff, paints watercolors, and continues to plough ahead on the next great American novel.

Alex teaches math at ONTOP. He grew up in Stowe, Vermont and received his Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts with emphases in psychology and history from the University of Montana in 1994.  He earned his Master's Degree in Special Education from St. Michael’s College in 2001 and  has been teaching remedial mathematics and writing at Vergennes High School for the past 5 years.  Before this he was a wilderness instructor for adjudicated youth in Montana.  Alex tries to get outside whenever possible.  Alex agrees with the poet William Yeats idea  that, “Education is not filling a bucket but lighting a fire.”

Lyndy Meister

Lyndy graduated from UVM in 2005 with a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies with an emphasis on culture and diversity.  She is originally from Massachusetts but now calls Vermont her home.  Her favorite season is fall for biking and camping.  She also enjoys traveling and everything international including food, music, film and friends.