Meet IS Staff

Sara joined Integration Station in 2013 as a special education teacher and in 2018 as the Administrator. She is a graduate of American University and George Washington University with a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education and a Masters degree in Infant and Early Childhood Special Education as well as Educational Leadership and Administration. She has over 18 years of experience in early childhood and has worked with Arlington Public Schools for 10 years as a special education teacher, special education coordinator and administrator. Sara believes that the consistent collaboration between parents and teachers is important in the development of each child’s unique needs.

Jennie joined Integration Station in 2018.

Daniela joined Integration Station in 2023. Daniela is excited to join the Integration Station family after previously teaching 3-5 year olds in self-contained and inclusive special education preschool classes in Maryland. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in early childhood special education at the University of Maryland, College Park. Daniela has previously worked as a child care provider, preschool teacher, and summer camp counselor and director. Outside of teaching, Daniela enjoys hiking, riding bikes, singing karaoke, and spending time with family and friends.

Rocio Priale joined Integration Station in 2014.  She is originally from Peru and speaks Spanish fluently. In her free time she likes to watch movies, go to the park to enjoy the fresh air, ride her bike, and spend time with her family. She feels very fortunate to belong to Integration Station team and happy to work with the children.

Jazmin Leon joined Integration Station in 2000. She is from Peru and speaks Spanish fluently. She likes to go shopping and enjoys cooking. Her favorite color is red and white.

Emily joined Integration Station in 2021. Emily is delighted to join the team after working with young learners for the past six years. In her free time, she loves finding new bike trails, reading, and catching live music.

Sumaiya joined Integration Station in 2023.

Nury Gonzalez joined Integration Station in 2012. She is originally from El Salvador and is a fan of the United States woman’s soccer team. Nury and her husband have three sons and a lovely dog named Cooper. In her free time she likes to walk with her husband and dog and she enjoys hanging out with her family. She feels blessed that she loves her job!

Andy joined Integration Station in 2023. Andy has been a special education teacher since 2000.  He is originally from Pennsylvania, and moved to Virginia after graduating from the University of Delaware.  Outside of school, Andy enjoys spending time at home with his two daughters, listening to music, playing rugby, and getting to the beach whenever possible. 

Leah joined Integration Station in 2021. She currently lives in Fairfax with her family and their dog. She and her husband have 5 year old twin boys, who happened to also attend IS. When not chasing my boys, She loves to run, go on adventures with my family and loves to go to the beach. She has a background in elementary education and special education. Prior to having children, she worked as a fourth grade teacher in APS. She has also taught second, third and middle school. She is excited to be back in the classroom and being able to help support your wonderful children and the amazing IS staff.

Heidi joined Integration Station in 2023. Heidi has been teaching preschool special education since 2011. She began her teaching career in Colorado Springs, CO and started teaching in APS after moving to Virigna in 2017.  Heidi received her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education with an endorsement in Early Childhood Special Education from The University of Northern Colorado. She earned her Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis in 2019 from Arizona State University. Outside of work, Heidi enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. She also enjoys hiking and watching the Denver Broncos. 

Halil joined Integration Station in 2022. Halil graduated from Virginia State University with a bachelors degree in Psychology. During his free time, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching movies, and finding new restaurants to dine at. 

Gloria joined Integration Station in 2022. Previously, she has worked as a substitute teacher at Taylor, Barcoft, Randolph and Claremont. She is from El Salvador and in her free time she loves to read, hike and paint.

Richel Haslam-Hemmer joined Integration Station in 1996. She is originally from Lansdale, Pennsylvania and a big fan of Eagles football and sports in general. Every student she has worked with holds a truly special place in her heart and she truly believes she is one of the luckiest people because she loves what she does!

Glenda Lopez joined Integration Station in 2009. She has worked with APS since 2003. She is from El Salvador and speaks Spanish fluently.  She enjoys spending time with her family, watching movies, and taking her dog for walks.

Ashley Donahoo joined Integration Station in 2014. She grew up in Arlington, Virginia and attended elementary school, middle school, and high school in Arlington. In her free time, she enjoys reading, drawing, exercising, and practicing the circus arts.

Sonia joined Integration Station in 2018. Sonia has been working in special education for almost 10 years. She went to Oberlin College for undergrad, and got her Masters of Education and BCBA certification at Vanderbilt University. Outside of school, Sonia has a great passion for the fiber arts, including knitting, crocheting, spinning, and weaving.

Mireya Sanchez joined Integration Station in 2000. She was born in Mexico City and came to the USA when she was 11 years old. In her free time she loves to be at home, relax, and work on her sudoku books. She has two adult children who also work for APS and a lovely dog named Poncho. She loves to work with the children and celebrates all of their accomplishments and misses them dearly when they graduate.

Elisha Pate joined Integration Station in 2020. Elisha is from Arlington, and graduated from Wakefield High School in 2014. She attended Virginia State University and has worked in APS for five years. Outside of school, she enjoys reading, photography, and visiting museums.

Allison Coyne joined Preschool Integrated Program (PIP) at Little Beginnings in 2002. She is originally from Colorado and a huge fan of the Denver Broncos! She feels so fortunate to love her job! Allison and her husband have two wonderful sons and a sweet miniature schnauzer. In her free time she enjoys reading, exercising, and hanging out with her family.

Karan joined the Preschool Integrated Program (PIP) at Little Beginnings in 2006. She started working for Arlington County Public Schools in 1996. She lives in Arlington,VA and in her free time she loves to spend time with her family, spend time at the beach, and grow veggies in her garden.

Megan joined Integration Station in 2014. Megan is originally from a small town on the Illinois/Wisconsin line. She earned both her undergraduate and master’s degrees in Speech-Language Pathology at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, MO. Megan is also the proud parent of a TCS/IS alumnus (Cardinals, Lorikeets). When not in school, she enjoys playing sports, coaching her son’s baseball team, video games, and cooking. She is proud to call Integration Station her “school family”!

Melissa joined Integration Station in 2004. Melissa is originally from Toledo (Ohio, not Spain). After earning her graduate degree from Tufts in Massachusetts, Melissa moved to Washington, DC. She has worked with all age groups but really enjoys the creativity and energy of early childhood. When she is not working, Melissa can be found with her daughter and rescue beagle. The family enjoys camping, travel, and day trip adventures.

Nordia joined Integration Station in 2023.

Lani Richards joined Integration Station in 2018. She is so happy to be returning for her third year as a music teacher at Integration Station. She started her career in education as a substitute teacher in Fairfax County. After one enjoyable year she became an an aide in kindergarten. After twelve years she decided the time was right to become a teacher so she enrolled in the Career Switcher program at Shenandoah University and received her license to teach. She taught for one year in Fairfax county before coming to Arlington County.  She is married and has five grown children, a son-in-law and a 2 year-old granddaughter who tries out all the songs and dances she uses at school.

Rebecca Kerney joined Integration Station in 2020. She lives in Richmond and attended VCU.  In her spare time, she likes to attend sporting events and enjoys listening to music. She is grateful to be teaching physical education at IS.

Lauren joined Integration Station as an art teacher in 2020.  Lauren and her husband have a son, two daughters, and a puggle named Rocky.  When she is not teaching art, she is painting, cooking or watching her kids play sports.  Lauren studied Art History at the University of Colorado and got her Master’s in Elementary Ed from George Washington University.