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Blind Elementary/Middle School

Two blind girls working on math problems.

Contact

BEMS Office

PH: 904-827-2739

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Health Care Center

PH: 904-827-2410

VP: 904-201-3910

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Transportation

PH: 800-992-8747

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Kramer Hall

(Elementary Dorm)

PH: 904-827-2736

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Cary White Complex

(Middle School Dorm)

PH: 904-827-2851

Ellen Fertsch

assistant principal

Ellen Fertsch

Ellen Ferstch began her career as a classroom teacher in New Jersey, working in elementary, middle and high schools. During her 10-year tenure in the Northeast, she led an initiative with the Hispanic Family Center to create and maintain programming, outreach, and services among the school, the center, and the community. In 2016, Ferstch joined FSDB as a teacher in the blind middle school (now BEMS). She was named FSDB Blind Middle School Teacher of the Year for the 2020-21 school year. The same year, she was appointed assistant principal for BEMS, where she oversees academic education for blind/visually-impaired students.

Master of Arts, Educational Leadership, Rowan University
Bachelor of Arts, English, Rutgers University

Empowering families and their children is crucial to their success.

BEMS Teachers

Elementary School Teachers

Dawn Parke

Dawn Parke

Kindergarten

Meagan Lindberg

Meagan Lindberg

4th Grade

Aimee Graham

Aimee Graham

1st Grade

Samantha Tate

Samantha Tate

5th Grade

Madison Bagget

Madison Bagget

2nd Grade

Carla Ferber

Carla Ferber

ESE 2-3

Michelle Garay

Michelle Garay

3rd Grade

Middle School Teachers

Barbara Kirkpatrick

Barbara Kirkpatrick

ESE

Wendy Pinkston

Wendy Pinkston

Mathematics

Ana Tutak

Ana Tutak

P.E. Teacher

Edith Stein

Edith Stein

Social Studies

Julia Mangan

Julia Mangan

ESE

Leslie Costello

Leslie Costello

Music

Keith Young

Keith Young

P.E. Teacher

Hilary Norman

Hilary Norman

Technology

Susan Fine

Susan Fine

English Language Arts

Laurie Wohl

Laurie Wohl

Music

Christian Lewis

Christian Lewis

Reading

Justyn Keller

Justyn Keller

Mathematics

Scott Adolf

Scott Adolf

P.E. Teacher

Karen Daniels

Karen Daniels

Science

BEMS Specialists & Support Personnel

Cheryl Burgess

Cheryl Burgess

Administrative Assistant

April Wallace

April Wallace

Braille Specialist (Elem)

Mike Zuaro

Mike Zuaro

Educational Diagnostician

Zakiyyah Nation

Zakiyyah Nation

Instructional Assistant

Tara Ragone-Dougherty

Tara Ragone-Dougherty

Instructional Assistant

Joy Carriger

Joy Carriger

Librarian

Cristina Sapp

Cristina Sapp

O&M Teacher

Laura Pamer

Laura Pamer

School Counselor

Jacquelyn Gehrsitz

Jacquelyn Gehrsitz

Associate Teacher

Leah Belger

Leah Belger

Braille Specialist (Middle)

Amy Hendricks

Amy Hendricks

IEP Coordinator

Keesha Patterson

Keesha Patterson

Instructional Assistant

Heather Roberts

Heather Roberts

Instructional Assistant

Mark Largent

Mark Largent

Math Specialist

Silke Douglas

Silke Douglas

Psychologist

Mary Hanson

Mary Hanson

Speech Language Pathologist

Sydney Kabrich

Sydney Kabrich

Associate Teacher

Fernanade Fortun

Fernanade Fortun

Coord. of Behavior Support

Kathy Almand

Kathy Almand

Instructional Assistant

Tiana Patterson

Tiana Patterson

Instructional Assistant

Mary Lorraine Yetter

Mary Lorraine Yetter

Instructional Assistant