Board of Directors
The Board of Directors consists of up to fifteen voting members including the executive officers of Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary.
The board approves policies, general operating procedures and fiscal operations. Positions are nominated and voted on yearly and expectations of each role can be found in the by-laws. Board meetings are held monthly, on the third Tuesday of the month at the Golden Key.
2023 Board Members
Jared Chevraux – Chair
Taranna Francisco – Vice Chair
Tim Heft – Treasure
Barb Frastaci – Secretary
Sara Studeny – Immediate Past Chair
Stephanie Lehota
Garret Kloots
Dr. Michelle Bemiller
Dr. Jeannie DeFazio
Joe D’Augustine
Kenneth Pascley Jr.
Staff
Terry Frank, M. Ed.: Co-Founder and Executive Director, Intervention Specialist, Relationship Development Intervention Consultant
Gina Bannevich, Operations Director
Caitlin Bellinski, M. Ed., Intervention Specialist, Certified Food Specialist, Principal
Nicole Heath, Intervention Specialist, Certified Social Thinking Specialist, Licensing and Step UP to Quality Director
Aimee Monter, M. Med – System Director and Supplemental Specials Director
The Golden Key Staff consists of Intervention Specialists, Teachers, Paraprofessionals, Support Paraprofessionals, Educational Tutors and Support Staff.
One of the outstanding difference, to many schools similar to The Golden Key, all therapies outlined in an ETR and IEP are provided at the facility. Therapy staff are contracted to service the therapy needs during the school day. Speech- Language, Occupational, and Physical Therapists provide direct therapy service to the individual student as the student’s IEP dictates and parent contract agreement.
Consultation with parents and teaching staff are an important part of their service. Qualifications for therapy staff include national registration and licensing as directed per state and discipline regulations.
Additionally all therapies outlined for the student are paid via the scholarship with no out-of-pocket expense to the families.
The Golden Key nurse position in partnership with Akron Children’s Hospital. The nurse is employed 25-hours per week to oversee the medical needs of our students. Qualifications are a license as an LPN or an RN. The nurse assesses and evaluates the health and developmental status of the students. She maintains records, sets and follows guidelines to control and develop communicable, transmittable, and nuisance disease, and serves as a liaison between physician, teacher, and parent when necessary or as requested.
Credentials
The Board of Directors consists of up to fifteen voting members including the executive officers of Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary.
The Golden Key Center for Exceptional Children, Inc. is a fully accredited non-public charter school governed by a Board of Directors as a 501(c)3 that has been in operation since August 2007. By-laws have been developed and followed and the Center is licensed and fully-accredited by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) and the Ohio Dept. of Education (ODE).
We are also an approved provider for the Ohio Autism Scholarship and The Jon Peterson Scholarship.
The leadership for the school consists of the Executive Director, the Operations Director and Principal. The Executive Director is a licensed special education educator who specializes in autism. The Operations Director is a parent advocate with25- years in marketing and business management background. The Principal is a licensed education intervention specialist who specializes in Autism and is a Certified Food Specialist.
Licensing evaluations have been conducted consistently under ODJFS as a child care facility and under Ohio Department of Education (ODE) as a scholarship provider in the State of Ohio. An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) exists for all students served in the Kindergarten through 8th grade specialized program. Educational intervention and instruction are provided with quarterly evaluations submitted. Fiscal monitoring is done through board reports submitted monthly.
Ohio Common Core Standards and Extended Standards are the basis for curriculum which is provided by licensed educators and licensed therapy providers.
Stakeholders to the Center anticipate and evaluate success by our ability to provide services for students with disabilities. Many students have special medical needs, academic accommodations, and supports and those provisions are an important component of the Center. Partnering with other agencies to provide comprehensive services, with financial support provided by area foundations and grantors have been a crucial aspect in the establishment and support of The Golden Key.
High expectations are always the goal to reach a student’s highest potential. Staff development and in-service trainings are provided and supported to develop the commitment to best practices for each individual student utilizing current teaching innovations and practices.
Support services of Speech-Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy are provided at The Golden Key by licensed therapists who are employed on a contract basis.
