Lisa Gilday

As Chief Operating Officer of Birch Family Services, Lisa oversees the Education Department, which includes nine schools and the evaluation department, the training and staff development department, and facilities management. She has worked at Birch for 25 years, beginning as a speech pathology supervisor. From there, she was promoted to positions of increasing responsibility, including coordinator of community and home education programs, principal at QECC, director of education programs and finally, her current leadership position in 2014. Prior to working at Birch, she held various positions in the field of communication disorders in a range of settings. Beginning her career as a speech pathologist working with individuals with severe developmental disabilities in a state facility, her experience has included working with people with disabilities in hospitals, school programs, rehabilitation centers and college settings. She holds a bachelor’s degree in speech pathology, a master’s degree in speech pathology, and a professional diploma in school leadership. Her certifications include NYS licensure in speech pathology, ASHA certification in speech pathology, teacher of speech and hearing handicapped certification, supervision and administration in schools certification, and school district administration certification. Lisa feels that Birch’s values mirror her own: a strong commitment to supporting others to reach their full potential and giving a voice to those who did not have one.