Fisher Inclusion Team (FIT)
FIT provides consultation, modeling, and support for teachers, families, and children as part of Fisher’s mission to promote inclusion and serve children of all needs and abilities. We also help support families in getting and teaming with providers for direct services through early intervention with an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) or school based services with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
FIT Members
Sharon Lenfest, Associate Director, FIT Coordinator
As Inclusion Team Coordinator, Sharon meets weekly with the FIT therapists to discuss the goals and progress of each child served by FIT. She also observes classroom practices and meets regularly with the Fisher teachers to support their learning and implementation of inclusive strategies in their room.
Tom O’Malley, MA, CCC-SLP, Speech/Language Pathologist (SLP)
Speech Language Pathologists assess and treat speech, language, cognitive-communication including articulation, receptive and expressive language disorders.
Tom has been the speech therapist at Fisher for 11 years. He is a Colorado native and has two kids. Outside of work you can find him skiing, biking and golfing.
Elizabeth “Betsy” Low, LCSW, Social Worker (SW)
Social Workers assess and addresses the social, emotional and psychological issues that may affect a child’s academic progress. The goal is to assist with mental health and behavioral concerns, provide positive behavioral and support. Betsy is a Colorado native, grew up in the Denver Metro area and earned her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA. She later completed her Master’s in Social Work at Tulane University, specializing in child and family psychotherapy. Outside of work, Betsy and her husband are enjoying their new chapter as empty nesters. Their oldest daughter lives in San Diego, and youngest daughter lives here in Denver. She loves traveling, playing pickle ball, and spending time with her family.
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Gina Monheit, MA, ECSE, Early Interventionist
An early interventionist supports young children with developmental delays or disabilities by assessing their needs, creating individualized plans (IFSPs/IEPs), and providing play-based services that strengthen motor, communication, cognitive, and social-emotional skills. They partner with families, monitor progress, and collaborate with teachers and specialists to support each child’s development.
Gina Monheit, MA, ECSE is a graduate of the University of Denver, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Master of Arts degree in Early Childhood Special Education. While completing her degrees, Gina worked at the Fisher Early Learning Center and the STAR institute for Sensory Processing Disorder. In 2018, she moved to Sydney, Australia where she worked within the early childhood disability sector - supporting community-based preschools with inclusion initiatives and providing direct therapy to children with disabilities aged two through eight years old.
She has a high level of expertise supporting children with a range of learning differences, including: challenging behaviors, sensory differences, Autism Spectrum Disorder, developmental delays, and speech and language delays. She has been trained in using the coaching model across preschool and in-home settings. She was also trained in using the Early Start Denver Model at the Child Development Institute in Sydney, Australia. Gina returned to Denver in 2022 and worked as an Early Childhood Special Educator within Denver and Aurora Public Schools before moving back into early intervention.
Since 2013, Gina has worked across a variety of settings, as a teacher, coach, inclusion support, Early Childhood Special Educator, and therapist - working with diverse populations. Gina currently works at Red Wagon Therapy and is excited to return to Fisher as part of the Fisher Inclusion Team. Outside of work, Gina enjoys: traveling, singing, scuba diving, and climbing.
Joanie McMullen, OTR/L, Occupational Therapist (OT)
Occupational Therapy focuses on the underlying components of development, promoting improvement in sensory processing, self regulation, body awareness, motor planning and the development of gross motor, fine motor, visual motor, oral motor, feeding and functional skills.
Joanie has had a rewarding career working in a variety of OT settings including Adult Rehabilitation, Long Term Care, Early Intervention and in the school setting. Working with children is her favorite. She is a Denver native (even her parents were natives!) She is married and has 2 adult boys. Joanie loves being in the mountains, cooking, gardening, traveling and spending time with her family at concerts, plays.
Jean Taylor, PT, DPT, Physical Therapist (PT)
Pediatric physical therapy assists in early detection, diagnosis,
treatment, and management of children with a variety of delays and disabilities that affect the muscles, bones, joints and neuromuscular system. Intervention is routine and play based to progress and achieve gross and fine motor skills, balance and coordination, strength and endurance.
Jean graduated from the University of Kansas with her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Physical Therapy. She continued her education earning her clinical Doctorate of Physical Therapy at the University of Colorado in Denver. She has many years of experience as a pediatric physical therapist serving children and their families through Early Intervention and the public schools in Denver and Chicago. Jean owns and operated Red Wagon Therapy and provides direct pediatric physical therapy services. She loves to spend time in the great outdoors skiing, sailing, golfing and gardening.
Maisie, Therapy Dog
A therapy dog provides comfort, companionship, and gentle emotional support to children throughout the day. They may join classrooms during reading or quiet time, help children practice kindness and empathy, and offer a calming presence that can reduce anxiety and support social-emotional development.
