Abbey Weeks is a mental health counselor and artist.  She has experience working with all diversities of people, both through art therapy training and teaching art lessons. Abbey prefers creating art with mixed-media, including paint, collage materials, and found objects.  She works from a strengths-based humanistic perspective.  Abbey is personable, creative, and non-judgmental.  She enjoys spending time with her family and two dogs.

Abbey is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Connecticut, as well as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Massachusetts. She received both her BS and MA degrees in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a Specialization in Art Therapy from Lesley University.

Cathy Kenny is a Media specialist for Braintree Public Schools for 11 years. She specializes in promoting a love of reading with my students.

Lori is President of the Board for BITSS and has a son with TS, age 27. Lori is an attorney living in Louisville, Kentucky, and looks forward to being a co-Director of the week again for the 11th year!

A former BITSS board member, Emily was diagnosed with TS when she was eleven years old. She has served as a nonprofit communications professional for nearly 20 years and is particularly passionate about contributing her energy to organizations partnering with children and teens. Currently she is the director of marketing and communications at YouthBuild Global. A native of Annapolis, Maryland, Emily relocated in 2006 to Somerville, Massachusetts, where she lives with her husband Markian. Together they enjoy exploring New England’s natural beauty in any weather. She received a BA in English and Spanish from the University of Richmond in 2003, and went on to receive an MFA in Creative Writing (Poetry) from the University of Oregon in 2005. Emily brings a contemplative lens to her work, poetry, and volunteer commitments. She is deeply engaged in the daily practice of Soto Zen Buddhism at Zen Center North Shore, where she received lay ordination in December 2020. Emily is proud to continue to bring her devotion to community-building and service to the BITSS community.

Kelly Proulx is an experienced middle school educator. She holds a B.A. in English, a B.S. in English Education, and an EdM  in Curriculum and Instruction from Boston University. She has worked in Massachusetts public schools for fourteen years teaching English Language Arts, Writing, and Social Studies.

Mary Bennett, LICSW is a licensed clinical social worker with over a decade of experience supporting children and families across a variety of settings. She earned her Master’s degree from the Boston College Graduate School of Social Work in 2014. Since then, she has worked in residential programs, schools, and hospital environments, bringing a compassionate and collaborative approach to her clinical work.

Mary currently serves as the clinical social worker for the Pediatric Endocrinology Department and Diabetes Center at MassGeneral Hospital for Children. In this role, she provides specialized support to youth and their families navigating complex medical conditions.

Meg Lepisto has held various positions, including Treasurer, Portfolio Manager, and Risk Manager at a number of international banks. She was a member of the pension committee and retirement committee of these banks for most of her career. She also held board positions for an industry trade group and was a featured speaker at various financial industry symposiums. Meg also volunteered through Junior Achievement as a financial literacy instructor, teaching high school students.

Sensei Paul strives to be a Martial Arts teacher like no other...Growing up completely enchanted by storytelling and the arts, Sensei aims to make a connection with their students to help them discover how their own imagination and drive can empower them.

Rebecca Szynkowski (she/her) was born Deaf and has used American Sign Language (ASL) her entire life. She is proud to be a third-generation Deaf individual in her family, and ASL is not just her language—it’s a core part of her identity and culture.  She is excited to be part of BITSS for the third time, and looks forward to sharing ASL with the BITSS kids. Rebecca also loves teaching about Deaf culture, helping others gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the rich, diverse experiences within the Deaf community.