{"id":3656,"date":"2023-06-05T11:26:22","date_gmt":"2023-06-05T15:26:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=3656"},"modified":"2023-06-05T11:26:22","modified_gmt":"2023-06-05T15:26:22","slug":"inspire-laura-zaferakis-getting-kids-started-on-the-right-path","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=3656","title":{"rendered":"Inspire – Laura Zaferakis: Getting kids started on the right path"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Janelle Davis<\/strong><\/p>\n

Laura Zaferakis, vice president of Liberty Resource\u2019s Early Childhood division <\/span>(Liberty POST)<\/span>, wasn\u2019t expecting not to teach after finishing her early childhood education degree in southern Virginia. \u201cI was planning on working as an early childhood education teacher. Both my parents were teachers. It was what I knew,\u201d she said. <\/span><\/p>\n

Laura has always loved kids and was interested in learning about their development. \u201cThere is nothing better th<\/span>an being around babies and young children,<\/span> I don\u2019t care what kind of mood you are in,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Upon graduating, Laura returned home to New York only to face a lack of available teaching jobs. She noticed a need for special education, so she obtained her master\u2019s degree in special education from SUNY Oswego. She quickly got a job teaching elementary school special education and continued in that role for five years.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI had my first son in 1997. I knew that I didn\u2019t want to return to the classroom full-time. I wanted to be home with him,\u201d explains Laura. That was when she discovered early intervention services, which were only a few years old in New York State. This was the perfect opportunity for Laura to use her special education degree, make her own schedule, and work with infants and children. \u201cI started working in early childhood intervention in 1998 and never looked back,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Starting part-time in early intervention services, Laura was able to stay home with both of her sons. Throughout the years in this sector, she climbed the ladder. She was the <\/span>discipline-<\/span>specific supervisor overseeing the special education program. From there, she moved into the director role. Laura returned to school at Syracuse University to get her school administration degree which opened up the opportunity to become vice president of Liberty Resource\u2019s Early Childhood division. <\/span><\/p>\n

The early childhood division <\/span>(Liberty POST)<\/span> is the largest division at Liberty Resources. The main office is in Syracuse, with additional offices in Buffalo, Rochester, the Hudson Valley region, Long Island, and in New Jersey. Laura oversees all of those programs containing 600+ employees. <\/span><\/p>\n

Laura explained that each region has its own director. \u201cWe did that very intentionally because even though it’s the same state except New Jersey, the needs of the communities across the state are very different. So having a director running each region allows us to meet the specific needs of that community.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The services that the early childhood division offers are vast. Liberty POST specializes in early intervention (birth to three years old) and preschool special education (ages three to five). They have toddler programs, special education preschool programs, and ABA services. Laura and her team work with children diagnosed with autism or suspected to be on the autism spectrum. They also diagnose autism and associated diagnosis. <\/span><\/p>\n

In the past six months, Liberty POST brought audiology services to Syracuse. \u201cThis is an important service for children from birth through school age. It\u2019s a new and exciting lens for us,\u201d explains Laura. <\/span><\/p>\n

Laura continues to explain that each of the regions has different programming. For example, there is a diagnostic team in Syracuse and Buffalo, but not yet in other regions. So services are specific to the region’s needs and what they can offer in terms of staffing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Laura also teaches Methods and Curriculum for Early Childhood at Syracuse University. \u201cI tell my students all of the time, it doesn\u2019t matter what grade you teach \u2014 it’s so important to know where your student’s development came from before they got to where they are now. You have to know what development took place in their early childhood before coming to you. It is imperative for them to be successful in your classroom,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is the relationships that we create that build us, and that\u2019s why Laura loves early childhood because it is when these connections happen.<\/span><\/p>\n

When asked what important service or action a parent can provide their child to assist in their development, Laura explained that there is a common theme among the services they provide. Whether they are working on early learning skills, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, or language development, it all starts with shared engagement and connections between the child and the adult. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf I were to advise parents, it would be to engage with your child. This lets them know that their ideas are important. Screen time should be limited,\u201d Laura said. She agrees that independent play is great, but the most important part of your child\u2019s development is helping them understand that there’s a relationship within playtime, which translates to life as they get older. There’s a relationship within everything that we ask them to do. She says nothing replaces the face-to-face engagement of playing on the floor with your kids. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Janelle Davis Laura Zaferakis, vice president of Liberty Resource\u2019s Early Childhood division (Liberty POST), wasn\u2019t expecting not to teach after finishing her early childhood education degree in southern Virginia. \u201cI was planning on working as an early childhood education teacher. Both my parents were teachers. It was what I knew,\u201d she said. Laura has…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":3657,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1143],"tags":[157,1422,1434,1433,978,1435],"class_list":["post-3656","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-inspire","tag-inspire","tag-june-2023","tag-laura-zaferakis","tag-liberty-post","tag-liberty-resources","tag-special-education"],"gutentor_comment":0,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Laura-Zaferakis-1-scaled.jpg?fit=1707%2C2560&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":705,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=705","url_meta":{"origin":3656,"position":0},"title":"Laura Sateriale","author":"Staff","date":"April 29, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Turning Loss into Words By Sarah Hall | Photography by Alexis Emm\u00a0 For 630 days, Lily Sateriale brought light and laughter into her family\u2019s lives. For 630 days, the Sateriales\u2014mom Laura, dad Micah, twins Molly and Mia, then 8, and 5-year-old William\u2014watched her grow and giggle. \u201cLily had an incredibly\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=99"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Inspire-Lauren-ONLINE-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C804&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Inspire-Lauren-ONLINE-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C804&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Inspire-Lauren-ONLINE-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C804&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Inspire-Lauren-ONLINE-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C804&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Inspire-Lauren-ONLINE-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C804&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3371,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=3371","url_meta":{"origin":3656,"position":1},"title":"Cover story – Laura Hand: Using her platform for good","author":"Alyssa Dearborn","date":"October 27, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"By Norah Machia Laura Hand had always believed she could use her position as a broadcast journalist to shed a positive light on the Syracuse community and all it had to offer. During her 47-year career as a reporter and anchor at NBC 3 and CNY Central News, \u201cI saw\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Cover Story"","block_context":{"text":"Cover Story","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=100"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Laura-Hand-and-Moose-Syracuse-Woman-Magazine-0018-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Laura-Hand-and-Moose-Syracuse-Woman-Magazine-0018-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Laura-Hand-and-Moose-Syracuse-Woman-Magazine-0018-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Laura-Hand-and-Moose-Syracuse-Woman-Magazine-0018-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Laura-Hand-and-Moose-Syracuse-Woman-Magazine-0018-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2520,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=2520","url_meta":{"origin":3656,"position":2},"title":"INSPIRE: Sue Straub, Book Van-Go","author":"Staff","date":"August 3, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"By Megan Sheehan Photos by Maureen Tricase\/Capture Your Moments Photography \u00a0 There\u2019s nothing quite as timeless as a book. It seems rather simple, but in reality is anything but. Bound paper held tight by a spine, printed ink, pages and a story. For centuries, books have been the connecting dots\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Features"","block_context":{"text":"Features","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=101"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/fullsizeoutput-2ac8.jpeg?fit=813%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/fullsizeoutput-2ac8.jpeg?fit=813%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/fullsizeoutput-2ac8.jpeg?fit=813%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/fullsizeoutput-2ac8.jpeg?fit=813%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2299,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=2299","url_meta":{"origin":3656,"position":3},"title":"INSPIRE: Ivette Cruz","author":"Staff","date":"March 3, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"By Carol Radin For Ivette Cruz, the 1,500 miles from her native Cuba to Syracuse can be measured in spirit and determination. Three years after her emigration, her new life is finally coming together, with graduate study at Syracuse University, teaching, new friendships, and time for her beloved tango dancing.\u00a0\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=99"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Ivette-Cruz-0002-color.jpg?fit=801%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Ivette-Cruz-0002-color.jpg?fit=801%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Ivette-Cruz-0002-color.jpg?fit=801%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Ivette-Cruz-0002-color.jpg?fit=801%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1907,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=1907","url_meta":{"origin":3656,"position":4},"title":"Clara Cedeno","author":"Staff","date":"June 29, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Finding Yourself with Food\u00a0 By Lorna Oppedisano | Photography by Alexis Emm\u00a0 \u201cI never see anything that I do as a waste of time,\u201d Clara Cedeno said, \u201cbecause once you start seeing things as a waste of time, you start having all these regrets.\u201d You can learn something from every\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=99"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/SWM-MAG-5-11-18-Alexis-Emm-Photo-6.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/SWM-MAG-5-11-18-Alexis-Emm-Photo-6.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/SWM-MAG-5-11-18-Alexis-Emm-Photo-6.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/SWM-MAG-5-11-18-Alexis-Emm-Photo-6.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/SWM-MAG-5-11-18-Alexis-Emm-Photo-6.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2572,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=2572","url_meta":{"origin":3656,"position":5},"title":"INSPIRE: Rebecca Riley, Peace, Love, and Cupcakes","author":"Staff","date":"September 3, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"By Megan Sheehan \u00a0 None of the great stories out there have been written without conflict or struggle. What\u2019s a protagonist without some fantastic battle of sorts? Your favorite character is situated in front of the ultimate of circumstances. They fight and fight and fight until they want to give\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Features"","block_context":{"text":"Features","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=101"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/ana-gil-taylor-headshots-photographer-8486E1.jpg?fit=1200%2C739&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/ana-gil-taylor-headshots-photographer-8486E1.jpg?fit=1200%2C739&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/ana-gil-taylor-headshots-photographer-8486E1.jpg?fit=1200%2C739&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/ana-gil-taylor-headshots-photographer-8486E1.jpg?fit=1200%2C739&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/ana-gil-taylor-headshots-photographer-8486E1.jpg?fit=1200%2C739&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3656","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3656"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3656\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3659,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3656\/revisions\/3659"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3657"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3656"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3656"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3656"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}