About Us

Who are we? We’re probably a lot like you. We’re daughters, sisters, friends and professionals. We’re wives to supportive husbands and we’re moms. We’re moms who recognize the inherent right of children to learn the science behind their bodies, how to stay healthy, to understand sexuality and how to respect themselves and their partners. We believe this simple philosophy is reasonable and practical. And we think the world would be better if kids were taught these lessons starting at a young age. So we started a conversation and are slowly making change.


Gina Tonello, STS Founder & Director

Gina owns Gina Tonello Designs, a shop found on Etsy and Amazon featuring hand stamped jewelry and gifts. She also owns Etsy gift boutique, Roxy and Cash. From Central New York, Gina graduated from SUNY Geneseo and worked in public relations for many years. She sits on the advisory board of the National Coalition for Advancing Sex Education (NCASE), is a member of the NY State Council on Adolescent Pregnancy (NYSCAP) and Make the CASE Sex Education Coalition. She has served as secretary on the boards of ACR Health (formerly AIDS Community Resources) and The Greater Baldwinsville Chamber of Commerce. She is married with two children, 19 and 15 years old.


Caitlin Coulombe, STS Associate Director

Caitlin is a North Carolina native, happily settled in CNY for many years. Caitlin studied at Cornell and Wells College and worked in the non-profit sector in Ithaca for almost a decade prior to relocating to the Syracuse area in 2012. In her free time Caitlin enjoys exploring the outdoors, the arts, and is a travel enthusiast. Caitlin and her husband Brian are parents to three boys, attending local public schools.


Alyssa Burmeister, Youth Outreach Coordinator

Alyssa is a full-time SUNY Fredonia sophomore. She is actively involved in Fredonia’s peer education group, STEPS (Students Teaching Equals Positive Sexuality). Aly loves children and is an elementary and special ed major. She currently works at a day care and spends her summers working at local camps. Aly recorded the audio of the chewed gum lesson given to her health class in Baldwinsville, NY, which sparked the launch of Stop the Shaming. She was also featured in the recent sex ed Cosmo video.