Shelly looks forward to supporting and collaborating with the ABELS lower elementary teachers as the Teacher Mentor. Her classroom experience includes teaching lower elementary grades 1-3 and 6th grade. She has worked as a private tutor and taught children with learning differences as an Educational Therapist with the National Institute for Learning Development. Most recently, she has been in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis as a BCaBA, working with varied age groups ranging from 2 through 13. She loves gardening, walking, practicing yoga, working at her cottage granola business, OmMade Granola, and spending time with her doggy, Peanut. Peanut is a Shih Tzu and a Therapy and Emotional Support animal. She has one daughter, Sarah, who is 34 years old, and Shelly considers Sarah her biggest accomplishment.
Ms. Amie (Teacher)
PreK and KinderPlus Half-Day Program Teachers
Ms. Shelly (Teacher Mentor/Curriculum )
Ms. Chelsea (Co-Teacher)
Ms. Andrea is the co-teacher in our Upper School B classroom. She was a preschool teacher for 4 years before she became a nanny which she has loved doing for the last 8 years. Andrea says she loves working with kids and making a difference in their lives. She is so excited to be a part of our team and to learn new skills while continuing to have a positive impact on those around her.
Ms. Latoya is the lead teacher in the Functional Communication and Lower A Half-Day classrooms. Latoya has been committed to the field of Education for over 15 years. Latoya and her husband have 2 children, and a dog named Pecan. They enjoy traveling, long walks, good food, and new experiences. Latoya says she feels honored to have the opportunity to empower children to become confident and limitless learners.
Andi is our amazing school specials teacher! She instructs our students weekly in art, music, drama and more. Andi works as a reading interventionist with out students, and She serves as a school substitute. You can count on her to jump in to help in any classroom as needed. Andi loves Disney, working with kids, and traveling!
Stacey is the Administrative Assistant at ABELS Academy. Before joining ABELS Academy, Stacey enjoyed 16 fulfilling years as a preschool teacher. She is the married mother of 3 adult children. Originally from North Carolina, Stacey and her family now love exploring the Florida beaches, springs and theme parks. She loves spending time with her family, volunteering at church, trying new restaurants and traveling.
Ms. Kim (Co-Teacher)
Ms. Jen (Teacher)
Ms. Becky (Co-Teacher)
Ms. Bethany (Co-Teacher)
Ms. Stephanie (Director)
Ms. Amy is the lead teacher for the PreK and KinderPlus classes. She moved to FL from Vermont to be closer to her brother and nieces. She has also lived in NY, MD, VA, FL (previously), NC, GA, and NH. Her almost 30 years in special education (M.ED.) and 20 years practicing ABA (CAGS) have allowed her to use her other educational backgrounds in Food Service and History/Anthropology to teach ADL skills and prepare students for academic pursuits. She enjoys reading historical fiction, crocheting, going on day trips, going to thrift stores, doing trivia, eating “good” food, and laughing. Ms. Amy is looking forward to joining the ABELS Academy team!
Chelsea is the Lead teacher for the lower B Classroom. She is currently at Valencia College, majoring in Elementary Education. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her dog Sophie, spending time with her family, baking, and going to the beach!
Academic & Behavioral Directors
Ms. Rebecca (Teacher Mentor/Curriculum )
Bethany is the co-teacher for the Upper A class. She is a mother to a beautiful daughter named Isabella. She loves making learning fun and doing creative crafts. She first started working with children in 2016 and has loved it ever since. She loves sharing her love with all the children.
Ms. Devon hAS A LOVE & passion for teaching. SHE BRINGS 8 years of early elementary education experience and IS lookING forward to being in the pre-k classroom this year. sHE HAS been married to HER high school sweetheart for 18 years and THEY have 2 children who love to play sports. SHE spendS HER weekends at the lacrosse and soccer fields with HER 11 year old son and 10 year old daughter. Rounding out HER family is A 100+ lb. Sheepadoodle, Beau. SHE IS excited about this school year and can’t wait to watch your little ones grow and learn.
Administration
MEET OUR STAFF
Ms. Andrea (Co-Teacher)
Mr. Barry (Classroom Aide)
Ms. Daneisys (Co-Teacher)
Top of the morning to you! I’m Ms. Becky, and I am the co-teacher for Lower C. I love to join in the kids' imagination and whimsy by thinking of fun classroom activities and dressing up at any occasion. I have worked as a professional private nanny for a collective five years before working a year at ABELS. My clients have included children with mental, as well as physical disabilities. .I am looking forward to a year full of fun, learning, and wonderful memories to be made. And I look forward to getting to know all of you as well.
Keyanna is the co-teacher in the Upper School A classroom. Keyanna has been teaching for four years and has been a tutor for almost ten years! Keyanna is a Jamaican American who is also a New Jersey native, where she completed school in Essex County. Keyanna has a seven year old daughter, Tashanna, two dogs, and a cat! Her favorite activities include reading, teaching, and learning whenever the opportunity arises.
Ms. Latoya (Co-Lead Teacher)
Lower School Full Day Teachers
Upper School B Teachers
School Specials
Ms. Keyanna (Co-Lead Teacher)
Ms. Jen is the lead teacher in the Lower C Classroom! She has been an educator for over 27 years and has taught for 8 years at abels academy. Jen enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, baking, and playing with her son, Brice in her free time! Jen loves to travel and is an avid football fan! Being from the suburbs of Chicago and attending college in South Carolina, she says “go Bears and go Gamecocks!”
Ms. Rosado has a passion for teaching and helping students find their best potential. She has worked as a teacher since 2005. Daneisys paused to raise her children and returned to teaching in 2023. She married in 2008 and has three boys; she enjoys watching her boys play basketball, decorating her home, and traveling. Ms. Daneisys moved to Florida in 1995. She is beyond excited to be part of ABELS Academy and looks forward to a bright future with her students and team.
Upper School A Teachers
Ms. Andi (Specials Teacher)
Ms. Kim is the teacher's Aide for the Lower B classroom. She is the married mother of two children, Kaitlyn and sean, and has a cat named chase. She volunteers her time with her son's cub scout pack. She loves to spend time with her family, cook, geocache, and be outside. She is very excited to be a part of the lower b classroom family and watch the students bloom this year!
Mr. Barry is a teacher's aide for Functional communication and lower A. He is a former special education teacher from NY with 37 years of experience. He loves spending time with his family and especially his granddaughter. He enjoys visiting the theme parks, traveling, scuba diving and tennis. Mr. Barry loves watching students achieve their goals and having fun while learning!
Ms. Devon (Classroom Aide)
Stephanie is a Floridian and has been in the field of education for over 13 years. She holds a Bachelor in Education from UCF, where she graduated top of her class on the Dean’s List. Before she came to ABELS Academy, she received her master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Supervision and completed a 2-year administrative internship. She is a proud parent of three school-age children: Hannah, Hayden, and Heath. Stephanie is married to her husband John, and they live in Winter Garden. She enjoys going to the gym, taking weekend trips to the beach with her family, and coaching volleyball at the YMCA.
Working in the field of behavioral sciences since 2009, Cindy has dedicated countless hours of her time into learning and applying the best methods of behavioral modification for children faced with challenges. From some of the most challenging cases in the southeast region of the U.S. to simple cases of non-compliance, Cindy has a wide range of experience in which her passion for helping children and their families learn and grow can easily be seen. She understands the concept that there is always a way to succeed. Just because you haven’t found the right way yet, doesn’t make it impossible, it just means that you must keep trying. With some of the most creative methods of behavioral change, Cindy always knows what the next plan is, and never gives up.
Ms. Stacey (Administrative Assistant)
Ms. Cindy (Behavioral Director)
Ms. Amie has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and is pursuing her master's degree in US history with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History at Gettysburg College. She has been teaching and in the classroom for 10 years however, has been involved in the education of children for over 25 years beginning with supporting roles in her own children's schools. She loves history and whenever possible enjoys traveling to historic sites, volunteering at the Orlando History Center, and is an alumnus of the George Washington Teacher Institute. Amie has been married for 29 years and has three grown children whom she calls her greatest achievement.
Ms. Amy (Teacher)
Miss Rebecca is the Curriculum Director at ABELS Academy. Originally from Kentucky, she began her teaching career in Texas before moving to Florida to be closer to family. With 15 years of experience in education, she has taught 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 6th grade and also held positions as an ESE Lead and later as Dean of Students. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Marketing and Strategic Planning as well as Special Education. Recently, she completed her Master of Science in Curriculum and Instructional Design. As a proud United States Airforce wife and mother, she enjoys spending her free time with family on the lake, painting, or watching sports.
All of our teachers are Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) trained and competency evaluated, which means ABA therapy is brought into the classroom! We also have therapists from Southlake Autism who work with our students as well as speech, occupational, and physical therapists that come in and work with students who need it!