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Blind Elementary/Middle School

BEMS Book Club

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

Sharon DiMarco Adams

Sharon DiMarco Adams

Associate Teacher

Aimee Graham

Aimee Graham

1st Grade

Zakiyyah Nation

Zakiyyah Nation

4th Grade

Madison Baggett

Madison Baggett

2nd Grade

Samantha Tate

Samantha Tate

5th Grade

Carla Ferber

Carla Ferber

ESE 2-3

Middle School Teachers

Julia Mangan

Julia Mangan

Braille Teacher

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

Wendy Pinkston

Wendy Pinkston

Mathematics

Ana Tutak

Ana Tutak

P.E. Teacher

Derek Ferguson

Derek Ferguson

Social Studies

Leslie Costello

Leslie Costello

Music

Keith Young

Keith Young

P.E. Teacher

Hilary Norman

Hilary Norman

Technology

BEMS Specialists & Support Personnel

Cheryl Burgess

Cheryl Burgess

Administrative Assistant

Michelle Sminkey

Michelle Sminkey

Braille Specialist

Amy Hendricks

Amy Hendricks

IEP Coordinator

Tara Ragone-Dougherty

Tara Ragone-Dougherty

Instructional Assistant

Mary Lorraine Yetter

Mary Lorraine Yetter

Instructional Assistant

Elisha Zuaro

Elisha Zuaro

Literacy Specialist

Silke Douglas

Silke Douglas

Psychologist

Fabian Quintanilla

Fabian Quintanilla

Technology Teacher

Sanni Elison

Sanni Elison

Associate Teacher

Sydney Kabrich

Sydney Kabrich

Coord. of Student Support

Kathy Almand

Kathy Almand

Instructional Assistant

Thomas Rice

Thomas Rice

Instructional Assistant

Tammy Holcomb

Tammy Holcomb

Instructional Assistant (Library)

Joseph "Za" Alexander

Joseph "Za" Alexander

Math Specialist

Karen Kolkedy

Karen Kolkedy

School Counselor

Tania Dulin

Tania Dulin

Braille Production

John Barnocelli

John Barnocelli

DSI Coordinator

Keesha Patterson

Keesha Patterson

Instructional Assistant

Heather Roberts

Heather Roberts

Instructional Assistant

Joy Carriger

Joy Carriger

Librarian

Jennifer Enache

Jennifer Enache

O&M Specialist

Laura Pamer

Laura Pamer

School Counselor

Tristan Alfant

Tristan Alfant

Braille Specialist

Mike Zuaro

Mike Zuaro

Educational Diagnostician

Tiana Patterson

Tiana Patterson

Instructional Assistant

Pamela Trudel

Pamela Trudel

Instructional Assistant

April Wallace

April Wallace

Literacy Specialist

Cristina Sapp

Cristina Sapp

O&M Teacher

D.J. Prater

D.J. Prater

Technology Specialist

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