Lauri Alpern
Lauri Alpern is a co-founder of Giant Step Services and the Program Director. With her degrees in Special Education and Reading, Lauri brings over 35 years of teaching and administrative experience in the field to her role as Director. She began her career at the Eagle Hill School in Huntington, NY where she was both a lead teacher and an administrator. From 1989 to 2006, she was an administrator at the Vocational Independence Program (VIP) in Central Islip, where she supervised the academic program. Additionally, she was the Director of the summer program, Introduction to Independence (I to I) for 7 years and the Graduate Living Program (GLP) from 2006 to 2007. Throughout her career, Lauri has also maintained a private practice as a Reading Specialist. At Giant Step Services, Lauri oversees the academic, social, vocational and personal development activities and classes as well as staff development. She believes that, with effective individualized support and services to level the playing field, people with special needs can live rich and happy lives as productive members of society.