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Marty and Carol Appelbaum are the owners of The Turning Point Academy, a NEW American Satellite school. They bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our team. They have spent a lifetime dedicated to their goal of creating a profound and positive difference in children’s lives. As co-founders of the Appelbaum Training Institute, they are known throughout the United States for their powerful learning strategies geared to students. Over 50,000 educators attended their professional development seminars and conferences in 2007. The Appelbaums have appeared on television, radio and have been quoted in newspapers. In addition to his Degree in Business Management and Montessori teaching certificate, Mr. Appelbaum has been a teacher, an administrator and a principal of schools. He authored two Early Childhood Education (ECE) courses used by college undergraduate students and “How to Teach Children to Follow Rules”, “Keys to Success” and is featured in “Chicken Soup for the Teacher’s Soul.” He has taught in inclusion classrooms with diverse groups of students. His teaching style enhances cooperation and positive attitudes in the lives of all of his students. Mrs. Carol Appelbaum attended the University of Houston. She is a driving force behind the Turning Point Academy, committed to changing the way education has been done in our country. She emphatically agrees with Mortimer Adler who states “Education should be individualized not standardized!” Her goal is for The Turning Point Academy, to be a model for how all children are educated in the 21st century. Visit the Turning Point academy online at www.theturningpointacademy.org |
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Marty and Carol Appelbaum Turning Point Academy |
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Richard holds a BS in Communication and a Masters in Business Administration. He is originally from Greenville, South Carolina, where he worked with a “Project Hope” organization, Hope Reach, providing quality Applied Behavioral Analytic (“ABA”) treatment to children diagnosed with autism or related developmental disorders. Project HOPE’s pilot program, Hope Academy includes children with autism in classrooms with typical peers, using “shadow” aids as necessary. There, Richard served both as a therapist and educational “shadow.” Richard also provides services in the therapeutic fine arts having a background in both music and drama. Richard also previously worked with the Greenville Metropolitan Arts Council where his responsibilities included artist management and volunteer coordination for “Artisphere,” an annual arts festival hosted by the city of Greenville. He now resides in Richmond, Texas and works with Focus Academy using the New College Preparatory Academy’s curriculum. |
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Richard Kelly |
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Mrs. Julie Cluff left a career in management and training, 14 years ago, to home school her children, the oldest of which is now a senior in college. She completed Dale Carnegie’s Leadership Training for Managers and later served as a facilitator for the same course. She is also trained in the Franklin Covey Time Management system. Mrs. Cluff is a teacher at heart, and over the years, she has taught all ages on a variety of topics including piano lessons, religion, art, and genealogy classes. She has been a guest speaker for homeschooling and genealogy conferences. She is a founding member of a local homeschooling organization and served as the director for 2 years. Mrs. Cluff lives in Spring, TX with her husband and their two teenage sons. Her oldest daughter is married with one daughter. And another daughter attends Brigham Young University. Mrs. Cluff enjoys playing tennis for exercise, and her other interests include music, reading, family history, and scrapbooking. |
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Julie Cluff |
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Mrs. Betsy de Vega has a background in Psychology and Education. She has served as the administrator of a school for over 15 years, and most recently owned and operated a cognitive skills, brain training center, in Sugar Land, Texas. Over the past several years she has worked with children with special needs and most recently has done freelance writing for a local magazine. Being a mother of two, Ms. DeVega is very aware of the struggles that children, and parents, go through and how unique people’s learning styles can be. She is also very involved in the Sugar Land community and her church. Ms. DeVega describes her passion and lifelong dream as a deep desire to touch students’ lives by impacting their futures and helping them unlock their full potential. |
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Mrs. Betsy DeVega |
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Mrs. Marcie Fessler is a graduate of Oral Roberts University, with a BS in Business Administration. After earning her bachelor’s degree, she worked in various fields, including wholesale mortgage lending and as a computer trainer. After moving to Spring, Texas from California in 1991, both Mr. and Mrs. Fessler made the decision to home school their children. As a direct result or that decision, Mrs. Fessler has 16-plus years of experience in home schooling, and has also taught math and algebra in a private school. She is now the owner and site manager of Mossy Oaks Academy, a NEW American School satellite school located in Spring, Texas. Their youngest two daughters are enrolled in NEW American School and are active in sports and band. Mrs. Fessler has played her saxophone on their church worship team alongside her husband on trombone for over 25 years, and has been active in many children’s programs. She is currently training to be a mentor in the NEW program, and is pursuing her master’s degree in Christian Ministry. She is extremely active in other areas of the NEW American School as their ‘go-to’ for the school Yearbook. In her spare time, she enjoys training and riding horses along with her youngest daughter. |
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Mrs. Marcie Fessler |
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Mr. Trey Smith is the Site Manager for Lead Academy, a New American satellite school, in Frisco, Texas. He’s completing his undergraduate degree in Business Marketing, with an emphasis on Sports Marketing, at the University of North Texas. Mr. Smith has been serving, leading and developing students for 7years through Xcel Student Ministries at Celebration Covenant Church in Frisco, Texas. In addition to his servant leadership at his church, Mr. Smith performs with the Xcel band and has written, performed and produced 8 music CD’s. His passion is to rise up students to be leaders by bringing their best to any situation in life. |
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Mr. Trey Smith |
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Ms. Carla Sanchez is the owner and site manager of Fort Bend Preparatory Academy, a New American satellite school, located in Richmond, Texas. She has worked with students for over 30 years. Ms. Sanchez has an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education and Psychology from Cerritos College in California, and a BS in Human Development from CSU Long Beach, and a Masters Degree in Educational Administration from Nova University in Florida. Ms. Sanchez also has Teaching Credentials in General Studies for both EC-4th grade and 4th-8th grade. She spends her summer break teaching courses for Wharton County Junior College. Ms. Sanchez believes in the whole child approach by providing a developmentally appropriate education designed to meet the student’s social, emotional, intellectual, and physical needs. She believes that with the right tools and motivation any student can achieve their goals and have great success. |
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Ms. Carla Sanchez |
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Mr. Shawn Vicknair is the owner of Gateway America, a NEW American satellite school. He brings ten years experience in teaching martial arts and two years experience in an academic setting, including working in Special Education, to his NEW program. Shawn graduated in 2001 from Southeastern Louisiana University Hammond with a BS in Criminal Justice. He believes that patience and the right tools and motivation can overcome learning setbacks. His martial arts’ training and teaching philosophy contribute to a personal and professional belief of discipline and self-confidence. This teaching philosophy, including effective communication of expectations and respect for his students, combined with his belief that learning should be about the academic, social, and physical development of the student, has led hundreds of students to a broader, healthier lifestyle of learning and growth. In this setting, Mr. Vicknair incorporates the NEW American School curriculum and his teaching objectives into a cohesive and dynamic program in Sugar Land, Texas. |
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Mr. Shawn Vicknair |
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| Mr. Reyhan Cooper holds a B.S. in Information Systems and a Masters of Education from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Mr. Cooper is the site manager at Iqra Academy, a NEW American satellite school located in West Springfield, Massachusetts. He currently is pursuing a Certified of Advance Graduate Studies (C.A.G.S.) in Educational Administration and Leadership at University of Massachusetts-Amherst. He brings over 14 years of teaching at the college and the public school levels. Mr. Cooper along with Iqra Academy has a goal of developing life-long learners which is manifested in his classroom as he guides and encourages his students through their courses preparing them for their future endeavors. In addition, Mr. Cooper teaches language arts to the 5th graders at Iqra Academy and conducts a lunch time leadership program that features students learning about leadership qualities and giving back to their local community. Mr. Cooper is happily married and the proud father of two teenage boys. He looks forward to educating future self-motivated students. | |
Mr. Reyhan Cooper |
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Bill Vining, founder of Hot Springs Christian School and Arkansas Prep School has a Masters of Education and Administration from the University of Arkansas and a bachelor’s degree from Ouachita Baptist University. Bill has spent over 15 years in the private and public school as a teacher, coach and administrator. He has owned two business franchises. He spent 5 years as a business consultant. He has three children, one of which is working with him in the Prep School, and two grandchildren. His wife of 30 years Marsha is a sales rep for MV Sport, a specialty clothing company. Bill saw New College Preparatory Academy two years ago at the ACSI convention and immediately fell in love with the education concept. “It is the missing link that could bring educational respect back to the United States,” says Bill. His goal is to spread the news in Arkansas. “Our Prep School is needed to pick up the pieces that the high schools have been dropping. There is so much opportunity to grow because education is so off of the mark.” |
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Mr. Bill Vining |
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Site Managers
On August - 6 - 2009
