THE KESWELL SCHOOL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director, Occupational Therapy
Alex has worked with children on the autism spectrum for more than fifteen years. She directs the occupational therapy department. She is thrilled to work directly with the students and to lead a hard working group of OTs.
Alex received her M.S. in Occupational Therapy from Long Island University.
Alex has always enjoyed traveling to new places and experiencing different cultures. A new mom, she spends weekends these days with her family closer to home.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer of the Board of Trustees
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Member of the Board of Trustees
Ivy has worked with children and young adults on the autism spectrum her whole career. She has been with the school since its founding and, throughout, has overseen the development of its curriculum. It is her complete pleasure to lead the talented teachers and staff at Keswell, while at the same time working directly with the students every single school day.
Ivy is a BCBA. She received an M.A. in Psychology from New York University and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from St. John's University.
A nearly life-long resident of Brooklyn, Ivy also has a farm upstate, where she is focused on achieving a perfect garlic harvest.
Jacquelin Hickey, M.S. Ed., BCBA Director Lower School Jackie has been working with children on the autism spectrum since 1992 and has been with the school from the very beginning. Her responsibilities include developing the educational program for each student in the lower school and supervising teachers and staff. Jackie is a BCBA. She received her M.S. in Education from SUNY, New Paltz. Jackie's hobby is showcasing pure-bred dogs in shows around the United States.
Job Titles:
- Director of Speech and Language
Laura has been a speech-language pathologist at The Keswell School since 2003 and has worked with children on the autism spectrum since she was a teenager. At Keswell, Laura is responsible for developing the speech and language curriculum, supervising the speech therapists, and overseeing the integration of speech and language teaching into the overall curriculum.
Laura received her M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from Adelphi University.
Originally from Canada, Laura is a big hockey fan.
Loretta is responsible for the financial operations of the school. She came to the school in 2011 excited to return to the roots of her non-profit experience; a school for children with special needs. Working with the management team and teachers is a special experience; seeing the children grow and thrive is the reward.
Loretta received her BS from CW Post College, Long Island University and her MBA in Finance from Pace University. She completed the Certified Financial Planner's course with the College for Financial Planning.
Spending time with her grandson, practicing yoga and gardening are the joys of her life. She is also a certified yoga teacher and a Level 1 Relax and Renew® restorative yoga teacher.
Nino has worked with children and young adults on the autism spectrum since 2001 and has been with the school since 2009. He is pleased to lead the upper school.
Nino received his M.S. in Education from City University of New York and is an Adjunct Professor at the City University.
Nino lives in Washington Heights with his wife and two children. He enjoys spending his weekends with his family and is often found cheering on his children on at musical and sporting events.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Tara is responsible for operations and oversees the school finances. She joined Keswell in 2016 after twelve years in commercial banking and treasury management. She is happy for the opportunity to work in the non-profit field and adores the students.
Tara completed an Executive Education program in Non Profit Leadership at Fordham University and an Accounting program at Molloy College. She received her B.A. in Business Administration and Marketing from Dowling College and is pursuing her M.S. in Nonprofit Leadership at Fordham University.
Tara is also a certified yoga teacher and enjoys teaching yoga to the students.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director, Lower School
Tara is a dedicated special educator who has been working with children on the autism spectrum since 1999 and has been with the school since 2002. She works closely with instructors to develop curriculum and to create and facilitate the implementation of behavior plans.
Tara received her M.S. in Education from Hunter College. She is also trained in the Orton Gillingham reading method through the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education and Visualizing and Verbalizing program.
Tara enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking, running, kayaking and paddle boarding.