Meet The Founders of Soaring Eagle Academy

Deanna Tyrpak, M.A.,CCC- Speech & Language Pathologist
Deanna Tyrpak is cofounder and Acting Executive Director of Soaring Eagle Academy and is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist. She received her Master's Degree in Communicative Disorders at Northern Illinois University. Deanna has worked for 20 years, with children with special needs, in various settings that included both private and public school and private practice treatment at home with families. She provides evaluation and remediation of speech and language disorders, with the preschool through high school population. She assists in the development and implementation of student Individual Educational Plans, adapts curriculum according to each student's speech and language needs and adherence to Illinois State Board of Education learning standards and guidelines, and initiates assistive technology to augment classroom learning when necessary. Deanna consults with team professionals and acts as liaison between home and classroom environments. Parent/family involvement, support and training play an integral role in treatment. She has used the DIR® Model in her treatment for the last 12 years and is currently working toward certification. Deanna has expertise in SAMONAS® Auditory Intervention and Therapeutic Listening®.

Deanna is also a proud parent of a 15-year-old daughter diagnosed with Autism. She has gained extensive experience and knowledge in the area of Autism and related topics, as a result of her daughter's journey. Deanna has become a strong and skillful advocate for her daughter and other children with special needs, in the area of parent's rights and public school law. She has provided a homebound instruction program for her daughter, utilizing the DIR® Model, supported by her public school district, since 2001. Deanna looks forward to the opening of Soaring Eagle Academy, for her daughter and the many other children in need.

Michele Ricamato, M.A. CCC- Speech & Language Pathologist
Michele Ricamato is a cofounder of Soaring Eagle Academy and a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist. She works primarily with children diagnosed on the autistic spectrum. Michele has been in private practice since 1997 and worked in an early childhood school setting prior to that. She has utilized Dr. Stanley Greenspan’s methodology in her therapy since 1993.

Michele is certified in DIR® as a speech & language pathologist. She is currently a faculty-in-training at the DIR® Institute Training Programs. Michele evaluates and provides treatment utilizing the DIR® (floor time) approach. She has conducted numerous seminars for families, therapists and school districts committed to implementing DIR® principles.

Michele has a Master’s Degree in Speech and Language Pathology from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She also holds an undergraduate degree in Communicative Disorders from University of the Pacific in Stockton, California.

Linda Cervenka, M.A., CCC- Speech & Language Pathologist
Linda Cervenka is cofounder and Acting Associate Director of Soaring Eagle Academy. She is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist and works primarily with children with autistic spectrum and related disorders. She has been in private practice and utilizing DIR® since 1993. Prior to that time, Linda worked within an early intervention program, early childhood program and at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.

She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, IL and her Master’s Degree in Communicative Disorders from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has worked for 20 years, with children with special needs, in home based and clinic based therapeutic services and public and private schools providing consultation, training and support for children and families.

Linda is a DIR® certified therapist. She provides speech and language evaluations and therapy using the DIR® model and has conducted numerous workshops for school districts and families interested in learning this model. Linda is also trained in Therapeutic Listening®, Samonas® Sound Intervention and the Interactive Metronome®.