Full Time Staff

Meet our team!

At PALS Preschool, our multidisciplinary team is committed to fostering a nurturing and stimulating environment for every child. Our staff, with expertise in special education, psychology, and behavioral analysis, works diligently to provide personalised educational programs that cater to the diverse needs of our students.

Program Director

Heidi Penrose

Heidi joined PALS in October 2017. She comes from the United States where she was a teacher and school administrator of children with ASD for over 25 + years. She holds a Masters degree from Purdue University in Special Education severe disabilities with a focus on assistive technology and augmentative communication. She holds a Masters degree in Applied Behaviour Analysis from Trinity College Dublin.

She holds certification in TEACCH, Floortime/Greenspan as well as Mediation in Special Education, Picture Exchange Communication, Crisis Prevention Intervention Certification:ASD, First Aid, as well as various other certifications. She holds teaching licenses (Autism Education) for several U.S. states. Heidi joins Emily Furey (BCBA) in developing and facilitating Behaviour Support Plans to increase children’s functional behaviour and participation in the school day as well as facilitating home supports.

She consults with Monika Ciemniewska and the Educational team to ensure each child’s individual program is running smoothly and effectively. Heidi conducts in house training for both staff and parents to ensure consistency across a child's life. She oversees all that happens at PALS Preschool. Heidi, along with Dr. Laura Gormley had their research “Training behavioural therapists in presession pairing skills to evaluate the impact on children’s life skill acquisition rates” published in the International Journal of Developmental Disabilities.

Secretary

Laura Conroy

The true heartbeat of PALS

Introducing Laura, an invaluable member of the PALS team since 2019. With her exceptional dedication and expertise, she has played a pivotal role in establishing our Hampton Wood location and ensuring the smooth day-to-day operations of our school. Laura's friendly and approachable nature makes her the first point of contact for parents and guardians, providing them with the support they need. Her unwavering commitment and willingness to assist are truly indispensable, as PALS simply could not thrive without her invaluable contributions.

Education Specialist

Monika Ciemniewska

Monika graduated in Poland with an MA in Psychology, specialising in clinical psychology. She has been working with children with special needs and Autism for the past 15+ years. Monika along with Heidi and Dr. Laura Gormley have collaborated to create PALS assessment and curriculum. Monika oversees all curriculum and educational decisions for PALS and ensures that each child’s educational programs are tailored to their individual needs. Monika oversees all staff trainings and ensures that each staff member is proficient in the methodologies used at PALS. She, (along with her educational team), stays current with latest evidence based research and uses this information to make informed decisions regarding the educational direction of the school. She is certified in Paediatric first aid and in Child Protection. Monika is the assistant Child Protection Officer in PALS. As Education Specialist, Monika ensures that the children's lesson plans are being run correctly and that each child is moving on at an appropriate speed for them. Monika is currently undergoing a professional diploma in Mindfulness (MBSR/MBCT) and intends to use this to help create PALS emotional regulation program.

Education Specialist

Sarah Reddin

B.A. (Hons) Early Childhood Education

Sarah has worked in early years education for the past ten years. During this time, she has supported children across both preschool and primary school settings. Sarah is currently studying a postgraduate master’s degree in childhood development studies. Sarah is currently employed on the management team as well as in the role of education specialist. Sarah is passionate about the holistic development of the children in her care and is particularly interested in each child reaching their fullest possible potential through fun and playful learning. Sarah supports the children at PALS through implementing communication systems when needed as well as creating individual education plans. Sarah provides staff trainings related to the curriculum and pedagogy of PALS. Sarah is a qualified First Aid Responder. Sarah has received awards from Healthy Ireland and Early Childhood Ireland for projects she has undertaken in previous settings. Sarah is proficient in Lamh sign language and has completed many CPD courses including occupational therapy support, speech and language support training and trauma informed practice.

Behaviour Specialist

Emily Furey

Emily joined the PALS team in November 2021. She has been working with autistic children for the past 6 years. Emily has an Arts degree in English and Linguistics from University College Dublin and holds her Masters in Applied Behaviour Analysis from Queen University. Emily is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) since 2021. Emily joins Heidi Penrose and Laura Ennis in developing and facilitating Behaviour Support plans to increase children's appropriate behaviour and participation in the school day. From her masters degree, Emily has a keen interest in the development of play programs. Emily has training in first aid and completed training in communication systems such as Grid and PECS.

Behaviour Specialist

Hazel Smith

B.A. Psychology, MSc Applied Psychology, BCBA

Hazel holds a BA in Psychology, an MSc in Applied Psychology, and is a Board-Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA). She has worked with autistic children, and young people with disabilities for over 9+ years. Hazel is one of the Behaviour Specialists in PALS, and primarily supports in the development and implementation of Behaviour Support Plans in the school. Hazel is passionate about providing empathy-driven, individualised support to children and their circles of support.

Educational Support

Amy Russell

Maternity Leave

Home Support Liason

Marilyn Langan

BA Arts Degree, H.Dip Montessori Education from St. Nicholas Montessori College.

Marilyn has worked in Early Education for twenty years. She is First Aid trained, has a Children first certificate and is proficient in Grid and PECS.

Marilyn has worked in PALS since 2022 as a Tutor, Teacher, been part of the behaviour team and is a currently the home/parent support liaison officer and member of the management team.

Marilyn believes home support is a critical element when working with children on the autism spectrum, especially for reinforcing routines and skills like toilet training. She provides support plans for home and visual supports which are often very effective for children with Autism, as they help with understanding and sequencing steps, making the process clearer and less stressful. These tools can really aid parents by providing consistency and structure, especially during new or challenging transitions. Marilyn feels supporting parents and advocating for them to access the right supports is such a crucial part of helping children thrive, especially when early signs of challenges are present.

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