Our Staff
Christine Burkhart, BS, B-k
Owner/Director
I am a small town girl from Ridgeway, VA who is passionate about 5 things: Jesus, my family, people, farms, and soccer! I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development and Family Relations from East Carolina University and for the past 25+ years, I have been serving families and children with ALL abilities in the state of NC through many roles from assistant teacher to supervisor. In all my years of teaching neurotypical and atypical children, I found a common denominator – connections. We all want to connect–be apart–feel loved. So after 7 years of being a special educator with Wake County Public Schools, I quit my job to start a business that not only helped kids, but brought families and communities together in the ways we interact and love one another despite our challenges. Building Connections, LLC will be 8 years old in May of 2025 and serves more than 350 families, schools, and communities through advocacy, social skill groups, summer camps, coaching, training, and lots more! I also work collaboratively with numerous professional providers and schools in Triangle to maximize the support families receive. Kids are succeeding and growing and most of all...feeling connected and valued for who they are! I want to inspire children to love themselves for who they are and help them to ignite connections and relationships with others that are lasting. Each child deserves to feel loved no matter what and be given tools to help them navigate their emotions, friendships, and learning in any environment! Each deserves to feel success, even in the hard stuff! I enjoy training and coaching other teachers in best practices related to neurodivergent learners! I have recently presented at the International Inclusion Conference through UNC-CH regarding Child and Family Focused IEPS! My experiences as an educator and business leader are priceless, but my experience as a mom of a child who learns differently certainly gives me a perspective like no other. So I get it. My sweet husband Chris and I live in Raleigh and have 2 young adult children, Jackson and Julia. I love to travel, thrift shop, make up songs to anything, love on people, and spend time with all of our animals! I wrote this in 2020: "My dream is to have Building Connections Farm where we provide developmentally appropriate and natural, social learning experiences through structure and curiosity in social groups, equine therapy, PT/OT/Speech, Psychological Services, Nutritional services, Job Coaching, and employ people with disabilities! It’s coming, y'all!" Update: WE HAVE OUR FARM!!!! May 2023, BC purchased 12.5 acres in Youngsville, NC ...a safe haven...a respite for neurodivergent kids and families! We are home to several trails and woodlands, a creek, treehouse, playground, sensory garden, mud kitchen, crop garden, pastures and a barn that house our 50+ animals: chickens, goats, horses, cats and dogs...and don't forget our sweet kune kune pig, LULU! So...Dreams do come true!
Suzann Novak
Community Consultant
Hello! My name is Suzann, and I am thrilled to be a part of the Building Connections family. Since joining Building Connections in 2020, I have had the opportunity to work with children ranging from preschool through the teen years. My background includes working in a Developmental Day Center in Wake County, as well as teaching and providing teacher support within private preschool and regular education classroom environments. What I am most passionate about is supporting and guiding both children and the adults who work alongside them. I love collaborating with teachers and parents to help create supportive, developmentally appropriate environments where children can feel safe, connected, and successful. I enjoy helping others better understand the “why” behind children’s behaviors while providing practical strategies that support emotional regulation, communication, social engagement, and learning. My approach is grounded in relationship-based practices and in understanding challenging behaviors through a nervous system and stress-response lens. I believe in looking at the whole child and recognizing how regulation, connection, sensory processing, and brain states impact a child’s ability to learn, communicate, interact with others, and build meaningful relationships. One of the things I enjoy most about this work is that every child is unique. I love the challenge of getting to know each kiddo individually, discovering their strengths, and helping find the supports and strategies that allow them to grow with confidence. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband Joe and our two dogs, Gus and Kallie. I love being outdoors, training my dogs, cheering on the Wolfpack, hunting, fishing, and spending time with family and friends. I look forward to building relationships with your family and supporting your child’s growth along the way.
Anna Taranto
Social Skills Teacher
Hi everyone! My name is Anna Taranto. I have been with BC since August 2023 and have years of experience working with children of all ages and their families. I got my start in private childcare, finding a love for nurturing neurodiverse children at home before moving on to recreation and spending 5 amazing summers at the YMCA’s adaptive summer camp. In 2018 I graduated from UNC-Greensboro with a Bachelors of Science in Child, Youth, and Family Development. In 2018 I also worked for Arts for Life NC providing therapeutic art, music, and creative writing lessons to children experiencing long-term health crises in hospitals. After graduating, I bounced back into the private childcare world and spent 5 years helping the sweetest family navigate raising their neurodiverse son before deciding that my heart is in therapeutic recreation and finally joining Building Connections this past year. I have a passion for meeting children where they are, encouraging creativity and exploration, and nurturing self-confidence as they navigate who they are in the world. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my friends, rock climbing, art, playing D&D, and taking care of my indoor plant babies. I can’t wait to have an amazing summer with you all!
Sarah Wozniak
Office Manager
Hi! My name is Sarah Wozniak. I am so excited to be a part of Building Connections as the Office Manager. Before becoming an Office Manager I was a 5th grade teacher in Wake County. I grew up on the beach in Ocean City, NJ but moved here with my husband 3 years ago. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my husband Sean and my puppy Skye, running, reading and going to the lake with my family! I look forward to getting to know all of you.