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.

Becky teaches history and math and graduated from Bates College in 2002 with a degree in History.  She earned her Master's Degree in Education from UVM in 2008.  Becky is a skier and a traveller.  She enjoys hiking and music.  She has a twin sister, a dog and has lived in 8 states.  She first worked at ONTOP in 2003 and before coming back she worked at BHS and at the Baird Center.

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 a Bachelor's Degree in English and Education from Johnson State College, as well as becoming licensed as a special education teacher.  She also received a Vermont Outstanding Teacher Award in 2000.  Currently she teaches literacy 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.

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. 

Charlie is a 2008 graduate of the University of Vermont.  He enjoys playing guitar, cooking and travelling.  He has been to Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and China.  His career goal is to teach history and move out to the west coast.

Paul Adams 

Paul graduated from Johnson State College with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Creative Writing.  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.

Kaitlyn has been at ONTOP since 2004.  She is a graduate of the University of Vermont.  Currently she is teaching science, math and Affective education to students in grades 5-8.

Mo graduated from the University of New Hampshire at Durham in 2007.  She received her B.A. in English and would like to enter either the social work or special education fields.  Mo enjoys being outside with her dog, Maggie; she also enjoys gardening, reading, and photography.  She has been to Europe, and she drove across the U.S. in 4 days.

Katie  received her B.A. in English from the University of Vermont.  She has been a dog monitor at The Crate Escape and has worked reception at Sheehey, Furlong and Behm.  She enjoys disc golf, art (especially painting), and spending excessive amounts of time reading.

 Cassidy Briggs

Cassidy received her B.A. in American Studies from Brandeis University; she also received a minor in Education studies.  She has worked as a youth mentor at the Fairbank's Museum and has also spent time working as a paraeducator for summer school in Danville, Vermont.  She enjoys camping, skiing, and being outdoors.  She also likes Italian Culture and speaking Italian as well as reading and creative writing.  She is working toward a Master's Degree in Education.