Meet Our Team

Judith has a doctoral degree in child, youth, and family studies, a master’s degree in counselor education, and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She is on the faculty at the University of Central Florida and is the program coordinator for the Early Childhood Development and Education Program at UCF.

Her area of research focuses on children who are marginalized (children with special needs, children living in poverty, children who struggle socially). She presents on this topic nationally and at statewide professional conferences. Judith developed the curriculum for Social Bridges in collaboration with Carol Miller.

Carol T. Miller is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (#SW7648) holding a Master’s Degree in Social Work, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Education/Drama Therapy.

Ms. Miller has worked with children for over 25 years in a variety of therapeutic settings. She has practiced drama therapy in psychiatric hospitals, conducted therapy groups in schools, served as a therapist and administrator at a community mental health center, and has been the director of a parenting center in Central Florida.

In addition to developing the curriculum for Social Bridges®, administering the program and facilitating groups, Ms. Miller provides individual and family social coaching and counseling and trains professionals to utilize the Social Bridges Toolbox Curriculum. Ms. Miller also serves as an Adjunct Professor with the University of Central Florida.

Danielle Bentz holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Adler University in Chicago, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Illinois. As Director of Communications, Ms. Bentz oversees the marketing of our Social Bridges ToolBox Curriculum, clubs and hangouts, and manages our social media. As a facilitator, Ms. Bentz is dedicated to giving kids and teens the tools to connect, communicate, and cope more effectively. Her previous work as a Child and Family Therapist included the diagnosis and treatment of various emotional and behavioral disorders, providing parent education, and supporting kids and teens with learning variabilities. Ms.  Bentz has been a facilitator for Social Bridges® since 2019.

Emily Foote holds her Master’s degree in Social Work from Boston College and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She has spent her professional career working with children preschool aged through early adolescence and their families in a variety of settings. Emily has been a Social Bridges® facilitator since 2006 and also provides social coaching both at the center and in schools, as well as counseling for families at Social Bridges®. As Director of Family Support, Emily connects children, parents, and families to additional resources to support social and emotional wellness.

Amy Maretti holds a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education with a certification in Exceptional Education K-12. Mrs. Maretti has extensive experience teaching and advocating for children of varying abilities in the public school setting. Mrs. Maretti has been a social skills group facilitator for Social Bridges® since 2014.

Meredith Gibbs holds a bachelor’s degree in Exceptional Education K-12 and an Early Childhood certification. She has taught in a variety of classrooms in both public and private schools.  Mrs. Gibbs has been a Social Bridges Coach in a private school setting since 2018 and is now facilitating at the Social Bridges Center and serving as part of the Onboarding and Professional Training and Development Team for the Social Bridges ToolBox Curriculum.

Allison Schnoor holds a Bachelor's of Social Work (BSW) from the University of Central Florida. She is currently pursuing her Master's of Social Work (MSW) also at UCF. She interned at Social Bridges beginning in 2019 until her graduation in 2022. She was given the opportunity to work with children of all age groups while using the Social Bridges curriculum to help them learn and practice social skills. She is passionate about working with children and plans to continue at Social Bridges upon the completion of her MSW. She was born and raised in Orlando, Florida and is a proud Floridian.

Hailey Miller earned her Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Development and Education from the University of Central Florida. Ms. Miller worked at Social Bridges as an intern last spring with all age groups. Professionally, she has worked with children of varying ages in the private school setting; teaching as a preschool teacher for 2 years, and is now an elementary school teacher for Kindergarten through 5th grade. Ms. Miller is very excited to formally join the Social Bridges Team.

Rachel Slavkin brings to Social Bridges® her passion for helping individuals with special needs. Rachel earned her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Special Education from Penn State University and has been working in the field for over 25 years. Rachel has taught special education in the K-12 system and was Special Education Department Chair of a public school district in Pennsylvania before moving to Central Florida.

Rachel now serves on the faculty of Seminole State College in the Adult Education department and is the Director of Employment and Education of RAISE (Recognizing Abilities and Inclusion of Special Employees), a work and social skills training program for adults with disabilities. As a facilitator for Social Bridges® since 2007, Rachel leads social skills therapy groups for adolescents, teens, and adults with social challenges.

Amy Weston is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (MH3812).  She received her Master of Arts from Rollins College in 1992. She has extensive experience working with individuals dealing with major psychiatric disorders in a community mental health setting.

 Currently, she provides job coaching services through RAISE and area businesses. She works with individuals with Down Syndrome and those coping with mental health issues. She is an independent consultant for the Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida and Families Exploring Down Syndrome of Brevard. She facilitates training classes based on curriculum she has developed, targeting social skills and employability training, for teens and adults with Down Syndrome.

Additionally, Amy provides tutoring services for adults with Down Syndrome, with a concentration on reading and math. Amy also provides social coaching and counseling for families at Social Bridges®.

Victoria O'Brien is a certified elementary school teacher with five years of experience in a classroom. Mrs. O'Brien graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2019 with a Bachelors in Elementary Education and again in 2022 with a Master’s of Science in Early Childhood Development and Education. Victoria is an advocate for family engagement and teaching to the whole child. Mrs. O'Brien has been a Social Bridges® facilitator since 2022.

Andrea Simkanich is a certified teacher for Primary and Exceptional Student Education. Ms. Simkanich graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Master’s Degree in Exceptional Student Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work. She has experience in teaching self-contained Exceptional Education in the classroom for five years. She has worked with students in the general education population, students with autism spectrum disorder, Downs Syndrome, Epilepsy, and many other special needs.

Lawrence (Greg) Gale holds a Master’s Degree from Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando. Greg serves as the Social Bridges Dungeon Master,  running summer camps and monthly Dungeons and Dragons games. He is also a library assistant and freelance writer who enjoys learning about the heart of other cultures through appreciating their art, music, literature, and crafts. Greg has been involved in helping youth develop and grow since he was in college and continues that passion even as he is raising his own kids alongside his wife.

Conor O'Brien, our webmaster, holds a Bachelor's Degree in Digital Media from the University of Central Florida. His skillset includes both web and graphic design, and he strives to make the internet a more accessible place for everyone. Conor has worked in both freelance and agency settings but finds his work most fulfilling when he is making a difference in the community. When he isn't in front of a keyboard, he is exploring his passions for cooking and film photography or reading the latest fantasy or science fiction novel.