About Us

Mission

At Children’s Academy, our mission is to educate children with speech and language challenges and learning differences in a supportive social environment, through collaborative evidence-based models recognizing the individuality of each child. We strive to develop a love of learning, friendships, expression, understanding and self-advocacy.

Vision

Our vision is to be the premier model of education for children with speech and language challenges and learning differences, in order to:

One of our school’s priorities is to provide time and opportunities to enable staff to personally excel in their craft and most importantly inspire and energize your children, our students. Teachers and staff are given strong clinical supervision, and plenty of time to plan meaningful lessons. Our staff use evidenced-based modalities and regularly partake in professional development. Team meetings, staff development workshops, regular school-wide and department-specific meetings all help to develop our staff into a dynamic and cooperative team.

Each teaching team brings specific training, skills, experience and expertise to the task of creating an interdisciplinary and integrated plan for your child.

 

Leadership

CHEVAL BRYANT, MCD, CCC-SLP
HEAD OF SCHOOL

Over the course of her career in therapeutic and educational leadership, Cheval has established an educational philosophy where instruction is carefully designed; however, students have the freedom to explore their strengths and weaknesses. She believes a truly effective learning environment is one that recognizes there is no such thing as an average learner and embraces the idea of designing instruction to meet the needs of students who learn differently. Students must not only be given permission to make mistakes; they should be encouraged to push themselves to the point where they will make mistakes. This is where true learning happens. Students must also be given the opportunity to work collaboratively with their peers to develop social skills and empathy through their interactions. Most importantly, Cheval believes the classroom should be safe, engaging and enjoyable for students and faculty alike!

 
 

JORDAN WISHNER, LCSW
ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL & DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS
Jordan started his career as a New York City special education teacher, then over time moved into social work, and ultimately into the world of admissions and administration. He brings each of these skill sets to his current work at Children’s Academy. Jordan loves working with current and prospective student families.

SARAH FEDER, MS, CCC-SLP, TSSLD
 DIRECTOR OF SPEECH THERAPY

Sarah directly supervises and supports the speech-language pathologists at Children’s Academy as well as provides direct services in individualized and group settings. Sarah earned her Bachelor of Science from Syracuse University and her Master of Science from New York University, both in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Sarah has worked with individuals ranging from 2 to 22 years of age in private practice, sensory gym, and school settings. Sarah takes a holistic approach when evaluating and treating students to provide them with the most comprehensive care. She is passionate about helping students communicate meaningfully in order to reach their full potential. Sarah greatly enjoys supervising and mentoring speech-language pathologists, helping to foster their professional growth.

MARY POILLON, MS, OTR/L
 DIRECTOR OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Mary’s role is to develop and manage the occupational therapy programs and provide direct support and supervision to the occupational therapy department. Mary encourages the use of child-led, individualized treatment interventions to foster growth and independence. She believes in creating meaningful and functional goals related to the individual needs and interests of each student. Her favorite part of being an OT is witnessing the proud moments of students achieving their goals. Mary loves working at Children’s Academy because of the creative staff, loving students, and dedicated parents.

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KATICIA MCKNIGHT, M.S.Ed
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION FOR LOWER SCHOOL

Katica is a passionate and well-rounded professional who has dedicated the last 15 years of her life to the field of education. Holding a Master’s Degree in Education Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction, with extensive classroom teaching experience, her work has spanned 2 continents and 5 countries including, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Taiwan, United States and Canada. Katicia understands the importance of the various educational learning theories and employs them strategically to support students as they reach their fullest potential. She enjoys the impactfulness of helping to shape young minds into becoming the thinkers, creators and leaders of the future. Over the course of her career, she has firmly upheld the philosophy that ALL children can learn!

Jojo

JOSEPHINE “JOJO” GUARANA, BA SLP, MA AUTISM
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION FOR MIDDLE & UPPER SCHOOL

With over 8 years of teaching experience which includes time in Brussels, Belgium and London, UK, Josephine a.k.a. “Jojo” has honed her expertise in providing evidence-based interventions and support to individuals with autism and their families. Jojo holds a Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Language and a Master’s degree in Autism Studies. She has worked extensively in diverse settings, including schools, homes, and communities, tailoring her approach to meet the unique needs and challenges of each individual with autism. Known for her compassionate and constructivist approach to learning, Jojo believes that a learner gains and builds knowledge through experience. A child can be creative and discover multiple ways to problem-solve through real-world experiences. She is committed to empowering individuals with autism and their families by providing them with the necessary tools, resources, and support to achieve their full potential. Jojo’s unwavering dedication to the field of autism, her extensive experience, and her deep understanding of the complexities of autism make her a trusted professional in the field. She enjoys supporting students and challenges them to learn and move beyond their limitations, making the seemingly impossible possible.

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LAWRENCE FELTZ
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND OPERATIONS

Lawrence is an experienced financial professional with a comprehensive background in financial planning, profit optimization, business growth, risk management, and organizational efficiency. Currently pursuing an MBA with a concentration in corporate strategy, he also plans to attain a second master’s in accounting with a focus on nonprofit organizations. Moreover, he brings HR expertise, having collaborated in both non-profit and for-profit sectors, and implemented strategies to improve financial and operating performance. Lawrence has served on boards of nonprofits focused on promoting theaters and acting to children in underserved communities and is committed to bringing that same passion to Children’s Academy.

Board of Trustees

Strategic Plan 2024: An Exceptional Experience for Every Student

Click here to review CA’s Strategic Plan 2024. If you have any questions, please email Cheval

Careers

Interested in becoming a part of the CA Team? Please click on the job descriptions below to see how we are looking to grow our team. Please submit your resume and brief cover letter.

Teaching Assistants

Children’s Academy is a 12-month K-12 educational program for children with speech and language delays. We are looking for Special Education Assistant Teachers to join our team! Applicants should be […]