Howe Center Staff
Center Director
Karlie Aschenbrenner Starting as a Group Supervisor, Karlie has been an employee of MLEDP since 2021. She is a graduate of Penn State Behrend. With a bachelor’s degree in early and elementary childhood education, she believes that children can do whatever they believe if they have someone who believes in them. When she is not at Extended Day you will find her being the cool aunt with her niece and nephews, adventuring to new places around Pennsylvania, or crafting. With this being her first full year as a Center Director she is welcoming all the excitement that will come with the school year!
Group Supervisors
Susan Gentile is starting her 32nd year at MLEDP, nine have been spent at Howe Elementary. She is always excited to start a new year to rekindle old friendships and meet new friends. The best thing about the job in her opinion is watching the kids grow up. She has many hobbies, but her favorite is reading. If you ever think that she is ‘lost’ you will probably find her nose in a book at Mount Lebanon Library, paying close attention to books she knows the children will love. She is looking forward to the great year that is to come.
Theresa Kretzmer is a 2020 graduate of Thiel college, graduating in the field of Developmental Psychology and Neuroscience with a focus on research. She will begin her first full school year at Howe after finishing a successful Summer Fun with the 4th and 5th graders. Both she and the students are excited to see what MLEDP can be like with Ms. Theresa on the team! When joining the workforce, she chose caregiving and teaching positions due to the importance she finds in helping those around her. Her caregiving background includes caring for her eight younger siblings, all of whom have multiple disabilities. Along with this responsibility she has worked as a tutor, health home aide, and a nanny to local families. She will be all over Howe Elementary as part of the MLEDP team and a PCA for the school district.
Amy Simon has a BA in Child Development/Family Relations from IUP and has worked with MLEDP for over 25 years. She loves working with children and listening to their daily stories. She also enjoys watching them make friends and seeing the bonds grow between them throughout the year. Mrs. Simon has two teenage daughters who Rock her World. My older daughter is starting her freshman year in college and my younger daughter is starting her junior year in high school.