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.
2025 Board Members
Taranna Francisco – Chair
Nathan Sundheimer – Vice Chair
Tim Heft – Treasure
Barb Frastaci – Secretary
Sara Studeny –
Stephanie Lehota
Garret Kloots
Dr. Michelle Bemiller
Renee West
Joe D’Augustine
Kenneth Pascley Jr.
Jared Chevraux
Staff
Gina Bannevich, Executive Director
Caitlin Bellinski, M. Ed., Intervention Specialist, Certified Food Specialist, Principal
Jamie Schott, Operations Director
Nate Smith, Principal
Doneisha Wise, M. Ed, Assistant Principal – Charter, Non-Public K-8th
Allie Farina, M Ed, Assistant Principal – Small Warriors Preschool Intervention Program – 3-5years old
Aimee Monter, M. Med – Specials Director
Brittany Carver, Educational Coordinator
Terry Frank, M. Ed, Co-Founder -Small Warriors Preschool Intervention Facilitator
Mary Heavener, Office Manager
The Golden Key Staff consists of Ohio licensed Intervention Specialists, Professional Teachers, Paraprofessionals/Assistants 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.
Each contracted therapist is independant of The Golden Key but each follow the values of the organization. They are overseen by the Academic Director and the Executive Director.
The Golden Key nurse position in partnership with Akron Children’s Hospital School Health. The Golden Key’s is a licensed RN, BSN nurse and is employed 25-hours per week to oversee the medical needs of our students. The nurse assesses and evaluates the health and developmental status of the students. They 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 Academic Director and Operations Director. The Executive Director is a parent advocate with 25plus – years in marketing and business management background. The Academic Director is a licensed education intervention specialist who specializes in Autism and is a Certified Food Specialist. The Operations Director has 10-years in software and business management.
Licensing evaluations have been conducted consistently under Department of Children & Youth (formerly, ODJFS) as a child care facility and under Ohio Department of Education & Workforce (ODEW) as a Charter, Non-Public institution and scholarship provider in the State of Ohio. An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) provided by districts of residence 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 completed by a licensed accounting firm.
The Ohio Extended Standards are the basis for curriculum which is provided by licensed educators and licensed therapy providers. Though not a requirement, The Golden Key teaching and intervention staff have completed the pathways to Science of Reading and instituted the supporting curriculum to this methodology.
Stakeholders to the Center anticipate and evaluate success by its 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 nonprofit, 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.
