Circle of Hope staff members consist
of professionals educated in the fields of therapeutic riding, physical therapy,
and special education.
Lesley Shear is Co-founder, Executive
Director, and Head Instructor. Lesley was certified as a therapeutic riding
instructor by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA)
in 1995 and is currently holds the position of Chairperson of their Accreditation
Committee. Lesley is a graduate of Pine Manor College and Tulane University.
She taught therapeutic riding at the National Center for Therapeutic Riding
for six years before co-founding Circle of Hope. Lesley has been teaching therapeutic
riding for over 15 years.
Janet Carbone is a nationally registered and Maryland licensed occupational therapist with over 30 years of experience in the field of developmental disabilities. She is a graduate of Towson University with a BS in Occupational Therapy, an MA in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Maryland, and a BA from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in Social Services. Janet is a registered therapist with the American Hippotherapy Association and NARHA. She is currently is employed at the Springfield Hospital Center in Sykesville, MD as an occupational therapist.
Lucy Caskey has been a certified therapeutic riding instructor since September 2002. She taught therapeutic riding at centers in southern California before moving to Maryland. Lucy began teaching therapeutic riding at Circle of Hope in March 2007 . Lucy has a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from Connecticut College and a Master of Science in Biology from San Diego State University.
Beth Hughes is a graduate of Mary Washington College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. Beth is a certified veterinary technician currently working in Potomac, MD. Beth was certified as a therapeutic riding instructor by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) in 2002.
Heidi Weber is a graduate of Sacramento City College with an A.S. and is a Physical Therapy Assistant. Heidi began her therapeutic riding career as an instructor with Saddle Pals Therapeutic Center in Sacramento, CA. in 1994 and became the director of Operations in 1997. Heidi was certified as a Therapeutic Riding Instructor by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) in 1997. In 2002, she began volunteering for Circle of Hope and in the fall of 2005, she joined the staff as an instructor. Heidi is currently studying to obtain her PTA license in Maryland.