Blind Elementary/Middle School
BEMS NEWS
![Ellen Fertsch](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_5aef9ded7ca147fb831a64ede9d94a66~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_13,w_1200,h_1475/fill/w_101,h_125,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Fertsch-Ellen-2018-2019.jpg)
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.
Middle School Teachers
![Wendy Pinkston](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_7ca2df4731dc441490c032831ce95c31~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_59,h_73,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Photo%20Coming%20Soon%20Portrait.jpg)
Wendy Pinkston
Mathematics
![Ana Tutak](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_a291fbc94e9f447197c39143fb3ea6e1~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_59,h_42,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Photo%20Coming%20Soon%20Portrait.jpg)
Ana Tutak
P.E. Teacher
![Edith Stein](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_6c9c07aabbfa43ddbb0b414c33b9df03~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_59,h_73,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Photo%20Coming%20Soon%20Portrait.jpg)
Edith Stein
Social Studies
BEMS Specialists & Support Personnel
![Cheryl Burgess](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_e56b2fb6a9924cb9aa5cc754c3cdf1f3~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_60,h_34,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Photo%20Coming%20Soon%20Portrait.jpg)
Cheryl Burgess
Administrative Assistant
![Tania Dulin](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_51cc834f7cab43bca0642dce2942d513~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_60,h_43,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Photo%20Coming%20Soon%20Portrait.jpg)
Tania Dulin
Braille Production
![Mike Zuaro](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_334ab432ca7a41b885e6d8b04758e0ac~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_60,h_43,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Photo%20Coming%20Soon%20Portrait.jpg)
Mike Zuaro
Educational Diagnostician
![Zakiyyah Nation](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_1dcc3054e0154cb3bf2cae0907d80052~mv2.png)
Zakiyyah Nation
Instructional Assistant
![Tara Ragone-Dougherty](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_1dcc3054e0154cb3bf2cae0907d80052~mv2.png)
Tara Ragone-Dougherty
Instructional Assistant
![Joy Carriger](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_df5c5963dfa740dca0b89c3e774db112~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_60,h_43,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Photo%20Coming%20Soon%20Portrait.jpg)
Joy Carriger
Librarian
![Jennifer Enache](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_c814d8ff234d472d972a846db7ff51ac~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_60,h_40,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Photo%20Coming%20Soon%20Portrait.jpg)
Jennifer Enache
O&M Specialist
![Karen Kolkedy](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_afcb8be26a0248ab83f5a49891b32ea0~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_60,h_43,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Photo%20Coming%20Soon%20Portrait.jpg)
Karen Kolkedy
School Counselor
![Sanni Elison](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_1dcc3054e0154cb3bf2cae0907d80052~mv2.png)
Sanni Elison
Associate Teacher
![Tristan Alfant](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_1dcc3054e0154cb3bf2cae0907d80052~mv2.png)
Tristan Alfant
Braille Specialist
![Amy Hendricks](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_0ae777dc96784cc6ae50546cf55a0dfc~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_60,h_40,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Photo%20Coming%20Soon%20Portrait.jpg)
Amy Hendricks
IEP Coordinator
![Keesha Patterson](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_1dcc3054e0154cb3bf2cae0907d80052~mv2.png)
Keesha Patterson
Instructional Assistant
![Heather Roberts](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_1dcc3054e0154cb3bf2cae0907d80052~mv2.png)
Heather Roberts
Instructional Assistant
![April Wallace](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_97a2908d57fc42b08e1f5913f8f2d7f4~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_60,h_43,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Photo%20Coming%20Soon%20Portrait.jpg)
April Wallace
Literacy Specialist
![Carl Jacobson](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_3ebd37a099f84e268629719f7663abef~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_60,h_40,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Photo%20Coming%20Soon%20Portrait.jpg)
Carl Jacobson
O&M Specialist
![Laura Pamer](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_5d74b0143bff42a9add0a086ec8c2eb4~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_60,h_43,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Photo%20Coming%20Soon%20Portrait.jpg)
Laura Pamer
School Counselor
![Zakiyyah Nation](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_1dcc3054e0154cb3bf2cae0907d80052~mv2.png)
Zakiyyah Nation
Associate Teacher
![Sydney Kabrich](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_4b17d9cb8dae48d4be9ef7ee62daeb97~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_48,h_60,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Photo%20Coming%20Soon%20Portrait.jpg)
Sydney Kabrich
Coord. of Student Support
![Kathy Almand](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_1dcc3054e0154cb3bf2cae0907d80052~mv2.png)
Kathy Almand
Instructional Assistant
![Tiana Patterson](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_1dcc3054e0154cb3bf2cae0907d80052~mv2.png)
Tiana Patterson
Instructional Assistant
![Mary Lorraine Yetter](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_1dcc3054e0154cb3bf2cae0907d80052~mv2.png)
Mary Lorraine Yetter
Instructional Assistant
![Elisha Zuaro](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_98bdac39741642b09ff5ac0d36bc94c2~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_60,h_40,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Photo%20Coming%20Soon%20Portrait.jpg)
Elisha Zuaro
Literacy Specialist
![Cristina Sapp](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_ec02f9daf90d447da6f005ccb7dbffb4~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_60,h_40,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Photo%20Coming%20Soon%20Portrait.jpg)
Cristina Sapp
O&M Teacher
![D.J. Prater](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_f184dff1dead44d1a471e880803039b5~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_60,h_43,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Photo%20Coming%20Soon%20Portrait.jpg)
D.J. Prater
Technology Specialist
![Fernanade Fortun](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_1dcc3054e0154cb3bf2cae0907d80052~mv2.png)
Fernanade Fortun
Behavior Specialist
![John Barnocelli](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_2190f87931e94091a47f240903817b74~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_60,h_43,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Photo%20Coming%20Soon%20Portrait.jpg)
John Barnocelli
DSI Coordinator
![Sharon DiMarco Adams](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_1dcc3054e0154cb3bf2cae0907d80052~mv2.png)
Sharon DiMarco Adams
Instructional Assistant
![Graciela Quintanilla](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_1dcc3054e0154cb3bf2cae0907d80052~mv2.png)
Graciela Quintanilla
Instructional Assistant
![Tammy Holcomb](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_1dcc3054e0154cb3bf2cae0907d80052~mv2.png)
Tammy Holcomb
Instructional Assistant (Library)
![Joseph "Za" Alexander](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_b552db3f7d4b4261950b50d9b2bfd040~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_60,h_40,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Photo%20Coming%20Soon%20Portrait.jpg)
Joseph "Za" Alexander
Math Specialist
![Silke Douglas](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_433749be8295412386a596fa8caad5f9~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_60,h_43,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Photo%20Coming%20Soon%20Portrait.jpg)
Silke Douglas
Psychologist
![Fabian Quintanilla](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/527372_1dcc3054e0154cb3bf2cae0907d80052~mv2.png)
Fabian Quintanilla
Technology Teacher