Agency Leadership
For over 100 years Waterford Country School has worked to meet the special needs of children and families at risk. Our services and programs have evolved with the transitions that life and community present. Through it all, the mission and high standards of care have remained constant. Together with a highly dedicated and skilled staff, Board of Trustees and many friends in the community, we have developed an extensive array of programs and are committed to the spirit of doing “Whatever It Takes.” We work hard to ensure that each child entrusted to our care is given the opportunity to grow, learn, and develop at his or her own pace.
Chris Lacey
Chief Executive Officer
Chris joined Waterford Country School in 1998 and has advanced through WCS programs in his tenure, most notably as the Director of Foster Care since 2006. Chris became the CEO overseeing all of Waterford Country School in 2021. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Human Services from Springfield College.
Emily Thomson
Chief Operating Officer
Emily joined Waterford Country School in 2001 as a clinician in the Safe Home Program. She was promoted to Residential Program Director in 2012 and oversaw all child residential programs until she became the COO in 2021. Emily graduated from Western New England College with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and received a Master of Science in Psychology from Connecticut College. She is a CARE trainer, TCI trainer and Seven Challenges Trainer.
Stacy Lowry
Chief Financial Officer
Stacy joined the Waterford Country School staff in September 2019. In her role, she provides leadership to the Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology and Foodservice departments. She loves to encourage critical/analytical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration through effective communication. Stacy holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of Connecticut.
Sharon Butcher
Director of Education/School Principal
Sharon has been an employee of Waterford Country School since the summer of 1979. She started as a child care worker and moved into the Education Department in 1984. In 2004 she was selected as the Director of Education and continues to serve in this role. Sharon holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Eastern Connecticut University.
Lisa Duzy
Director of Foster Care
Lisa joined Waterford Country School in 1998 as a Foster Care Coordinator and later became a supervisor in the therapeutic foster care program. In 2017 she became the Director of the Foster Care and Community Services overseeing the foster care program, training & support team and mental health clinic for children. Lisa has a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development & Family Relations from the University of Connecticut. She holds a Master’s Degree from St. Joseph’s College in Marriage and Family Therapy.
Ashley Barker
Director of Quality Parenting Centers
Ashley joined Waterford Country School in March of 2014 as a Foster Care Coordinator and Intensive Family Preservation Social Worker and later became a Clinician at the Therapeutic Boarding School. In 2021 She became The Assistant Program Director of the Quality Parenting Center before becoming the Program Director in October 2023. Ashley has a Masters of Social Work degree from Rhode Island College. In 2017 she became a Licensed Clinical Social worker.
Jenna Baerlocher
Director of Clinic & Residential Services
Jenna came to Waterford Country School in October of 2014. She manages our residential programs at WCS including the Emergency Shelter for teenage boys and the Therapeutic Boarding program. Jenna holds a Master’s Degree in Marriage & Family Therapy from the University of Rhode Island and a Bachelor’s Degree in Child, Family & Consumer Sciences from the University of Idaho. She is a certified CARE trainer, TCI trainer and Seven Challenges leader.
Ben Turner
Director of Outdoor Education
Ben began working at WCS in 2009 as an Outdoor Education Facilitator. In 2015 he became the Director of all Outdoor Education programs. Ben holds a Bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University in Business Management and a certificate in Animal-Assisted Therapy from the University of Denver. Ben is a member of the International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations (IAHAIO). Ben oversees all client animal-assisted therapy, ropes course management, wildlife rehabilitation, summer camp, and community education & fundraising events.
Julianna Velazquez
Director of Development
Julianna believes that philanthropy is a tool that creates change and transforms people’s lives. As the Director of Development, she has led all fundraising initiatives since 2011. Julianna earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut focused on Human Development and Family Studies, a Master of Science in Nonprofit Management from Northeastern University and a Doctoral degree in Strategic Leadership from Regent University. She has worked in fundraising for over 20 years.
Brian Rolfe
Director of Buildings & Grounds
Brian joined Waterford Country School in 2017. He brings with him over 30 years of construction and maintenance experience, traveling and supervising projects such as power plants, schools, casinos, water treatment plants, restaurants and residential properties. In 2011, he received a construction excellence award for the incredible building of 7 restaurants in 12 weeks at one of Connecticut’s casinos.
Extended Leadership Team
Nicole Allen, Human Resources Coordinator
Leah Beeney, Assistant Principal – High School
Derrick Brown, IT Coordinator
Tina Cote, Camp Cuheca Director
Pamela Giannelli, Assistant Principal – Lower School
Lisa Kuhn, Food Services Coordinator
Darryl Miles, Assistant Director of Residential Programs
Mitali Mistry, Business Manager
Aubrey O’Neill, Supervising Clinician, FFT Foster Care
Jessica Rice, Supervising Nurse
Suzi Lee Schell, Development Coordinator
Emily Soares, Supervising Clinician
Kelly Walker, Assistant Director of Education
