The Team
Snore School is a story of best friends united further by their shared struggle with snoring. Donna, a digital strategist, and Michele, a licensed Speech Pathologist, stumble upon a brilliant idea during a casual FaceTime chat about Donna's tongue position. As Michele assists Donna, they realize the potential of their combined skills. Inspired, they launch 'Snore School', to help others in their battle against snoring. The story unfolds as they navigate this entrepreneurial journey, deepening their friendship and impacting lives with humor and heart. 'Snore School' evolves into more than a solution for snoring; it's a celebration of community, the strength of friendship, and the joy of turning challenges into opportunities.
Michele Kaplan, MA, SLP-CCC
Speech Pathologist, Reformed SnorerMichele Kaplan is a Certified Speech and Language Pathologist and founding partner of Snore School based in Belmar, New Jersey. Michele graduated with a Masters Degree from NYU and has been practicing speech therapy for 31 years in both the public and private sectors. Most recently, she has refocused her attention to myofascial therapy and the benefits for clients health, speech and most importantly reducing snoring for a better quality of life. She has co-created the Snore School program to help ensure the greater population has access to an effective scientifically driven practice to help eliminate snoring and improve overall living as a result.
When not practicing her myofascial exercise, (and yes she is not only the co-creator she is also a user of the snore school program) Michele can be found hiking with her dog Barry, taking yoga at her favorite gym, where she continues her practice of breathwork and posture that help her stay aligned in her goals.
Her love of the beach and family keeps her based in New Jersey, however travel is her great escape and helps maintain her adventurous spirit and zest for life.
Donna Vallario
Digital Marketer, Reformed SnorerObsessed with all things digital, Donna has worked on marketing strategies in verticals from the oldest bank in Nigeria to a franchise fitness firm.
At Snore School her mission is to use her marketing skills to broadcast what she has learned through her own long journey to better sleep and the ancillary benefits of myofacial exercises, correct posture and nose breathing to her health.
A 2x breast cancer survivor, Donna was diagnosed with high blood pressure during a pre-op checkup. Basically always being a health and fitness buff, that diagnosis had led her on a path to solving this issue. Working with a cardiologist who was also stumped by the hypertension, Donna was sent for a sleep study which detected a moderate case of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea was what the cardiologist suspected, as it can raise blood pressure (along with causing a myriad of other health problems).
As expected, the doctors prescribed a CPAP machine. Being a single woman, who still considered herself young and healthy, this did not sit well. After a failed rendezvous with the CPAP machine, which was cumbersome and very unattractive (even a concern of being sanitary), Donna found a dentist who could help. That is where the Snore School story begins!
