ANNOUNCEMENT:

The Keystone Academy has a limited number of spaces available for Fall enrollment. Please visit our main website for more information on our school and how to apply.

From Marlena's Desk

Welcome back students and parents! The Keystone staff is looking forward to a wonderful 2011-12 school year. The Keystone Academy’s inaugural year was a tremendous success and we are proud to announce the opening of two new classrooms. In addition to student growth, we have added 9 new staff members, including Pam Lively as School Director. Pam comes to us as a teacher and board certified behavior analyst, who has numerous years of experience within the field of special education. With such growth, we felt it was very important to allow our families the opportunity to stay connected and involved with their child’s school day. Based on interests expressed by parents and caregivers in the areas of volunteering and collaborating with school staff, we have created the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). Dina Parisi has volunteered to coordinate the PTO and will serve as the Chairwoman for the upcoming school year. The first meeting will be held on Friday, August 5th at 9am, please contact Dina or myself for more information.

For additional information about The Keystone Academy, please visit our website at www.thekeystoneacademy.com

At The Keystone Academy, learning goes beyond the classroom. Students have the opportunity to participate in special extracurricular enrichment programs that address the specific needs of each student. For example: daily living skills, coping skills, socialization and communication. Unlike other schools, therapeutic support is also available to each student in the form of behavioral counseling and cognitive behavioral therapy. We strive to create an environment where open communication and collaboration between parents, staff and students is encouraged. This objective is reflected in our open door policy for parents, as well as the opportunity for parents to participate in family counseling sessions with our trained, highly knowledgeable staff.

Meet Our New Staff

Erika Holtz, MA, Operations Manager Erika Holtz is the Operations Manager for Keystone Behavioral Pediatrics and The Keystone Academy. She carries a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Florida State University and a Master's degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Western Michigan University. Her main area of study is Organizational Behavior Management. In her previous position in the media industry, she had dual functionality as the Employee Performance Specialist and Human Resources Manager. She also brings with her experience in practicums as a systems analyst, behavioral based safety consultant and volunteer hotline crisis counselor. Ms. Holtz remains current in the field with active memberships in the Association for Applied Behavioral Analysis International (ABAI) and the Organizational Behavior Management Network (OBMN).
Andrew Scherbarth, Board Certified Behavior Analyst Dr. Andrew Scherbarth is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a Clinical Staff member at Keystone. He received a B.S. with a Family Sciences major from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Dr. Scherbarth's graduate training includes a graduate certificate in Behavior Analysis, a M.S. in Psychology, and a Ph.D. in Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine from the University of North Texas. Dr. Scherbarth has worked in a variety of positions to meet behavioral needs. These positions have included a data collector, a behavioral tutor who worked directly with children, a trainer in a group-based parent training program, an Intern who conducted behavior assessment and wrote intervention plans, and most recently as a Post-Doctoral Fellow who provided individualized behavioral assessment and parent training at the Kennedy Krieger Institute of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Dr. Scherbarth currently provides a range of services for families, including individual and group-based therapy for children, family therapy and behavioral parent training, psychological assessment, as well as school consultation.
Amanda Garrettson, M.A, Behavior Therapist Amanda Garrettson is a Behavior Therapist at Keystone Behavioral Pediatrics. Amanda has moved to the Jacksonville area from Michigan. There she received her Master of Arts in Behavior Analysis from Western Michigan University's Behavior Analysis Training System. Amanda will be receiving her certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in September 2011. She has experience in the Autism field as well as in Organizational Behavior Management. She has 5 years practicum experience in a public school classroom for preschool aged children with Early Childhood Developmental Delays. Her experience involves providing one on one behavior therapy, case supervision, and tutor supervision.
Robert Mikeska, Scheduler Robert Mikeska comes to Keystone with over 2 years of experience in a multiple provider Pediatrics office and over 8 years of service in the United States Submarine Navy. He has been in multiple Management positions for over 20 years, his most recent position, the Front Desk Coordinator for a pediatrics office in Ponte Vedra. Robert brings great positive energy to Keystone. His bright and fun personality is a joy to have at the front desk. Roberts experience in Customer Service and Marketing is a great addition to Keystone.
Roseann Egidio, Administrative Assistant A native of New Jersey, Roseann's previous career was as an art director in New York. She has many years of experience working with in watercolors. Roseann has won many awards while serving as a member on The Jacksonville Watercolor Society. She teaches watercolor in the community education at Fletcher high school and other locations in the Jacksonville area. Roseann has also had her work shown at the Cummer Museum and has been a recipient of the Jacksonville Community Foundation Grant for Individual Artists. She was also senior "Artist in Residence" for the Arts in Medicine program at Shands hospital here in Jacksonville. A graduate of Newark school of fine and industrial arts, and Parsons school of design in New York, Roseann now shares her talents with the children and teachers of The Keystone Academy.

Employee Spotlight - Scott Scheff

When did you start working at Keystone?

: I started working at Keystone November 1st which stunk because I would have loved to see all the kids dressed up for Halloween. Just one day too late!!!

What is your title and what does a typical day look like for you?

This year I worked as a 1:1 teacher, I really never know what to expect day to day. On my end what I get to do is provide consistency in academics and reinforcement for the kids which means a bit of work and tons of fun.

What is your advice to someone wanting to get involved in this field?

My advice for someone trying to get in this field is be prepared to have patience and with patience be prepared to be greatly rewarded. The children are absolutely amazing you just need to be willing to take the time to get to know them. Also, try an internship to make sure that you love it.

What are the top 3 things on your bucket list?

The three things on my bucket list are 1. Run an ultra marathon 2. I have a whole list of awesome places to go see. 3. Have it said of me that I was always there for my friends and family (I love compliments and that one would be awesome)!!!

Why did you choose this field?

I actually didn't choose this field it kind of somehow happened. I think my luck is absolutely amazing because, and I hate to say it, but before this year I wouldn't have thought I'd ever be working with children and now they are my favorite to work with. Adults don't make sense :0)

Who is/was the most influential person in your life?

The two most influential people in my life are my Mema and Pepa. My Mema is beyond loving and caring and always has kind words for me. My Pepa has gotten around in his life and has gathered a large collection of amazing friends along with his family because he is so caring to all of them.

Sensory Friendly Films

The AMC Regency movie theatre will be participating in the monthly "sensory friendly films" series. Sensory friendly films are a way for families affected by autism and other disabilities to enjoy films in a safe and accepting environment. During these special showings the lights in the theatre will stay on and the sound will be turned down. No previews will be shown and families are welcome to bring their own gluten free/ casein free snacks. Talking, singing, dancing and moving around are all allowed. August's movie will be Smurfs and will be shown on August 6, 2011 at 10 am. At the Regency AMC movie theatre If you have any questions, feel free to contact the theatre at 1-888-AMC 4 FUN.

Summer is drawing to a close and the start of school is upon us.

Here are some tips to help prepare your child for the new school year!

1. Create a social story or picture schedule for school routines. Start reviewing and practicing well in advance to the first day of school!
2. Buy school supplies early so your child can get used to them. If they have some favorite supplies from the previous school year feel free to use those too.
3. If possible, arrange a visit for your child to meet their teacher and give them an opportunity to familiarize themselves with their new classroom.
4. In terms of backpack safety, choose a backpack with wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back. Also, pack light. Organize the backpack to use all of its compartments. Pack heavier items closest to the center of the back. The backpack should never weigh more than 10 to 20 percent of your children’s body weight.
5. Be sure to review all the material sent by the school, including the school supply list, school calendar dates, and policies and procedures.
6. Re-establish bedtime and mealtime routines early. This will help your child become readjusted to the school schedule and will make the transition into the regular school day easier.

KEYSTONE BEHAVIORAL PEDIATRICS STAFF