Angels Reach Academy Professional Staff

Angels Reach
Professional Staff

Professional Staff

Angels Reach Academy is a unique non-profit, private school dedicated to developing compassionate leadership in our youth, and achieving the highest possible standards of academic success for a diverse student population within a complex and forward-moving environment. Beginning with its roots in 2004, and establishing the first integrated clinical education program in our community, Angels Reach Academy is uniquely recognized for its innovation and integrity. Our professional team members complete very comprehensive and ongoing training that ensures they are qualified to integrate research based clinical and academic methodologies.

Dorinda Luzardo
Dorinda Luzardo Ribadeo, MS Ed., MLIS

Founder & CEO

dluzardo@angelsreach.org
305-828-5276

Dorinda (Dory) Luzardo Ribadeo began her career as an educator and continued to teach in Miami-Dade County Public Schools for over 20 years with students ranging in age from 3 year old pre-schoolers and elementary advanced learners in an International Baccalaureate Magnet Program through adult educational professionals enrolled in university programs.  Dory earned her first Masters Degree with honors in Gifted Education with additional certification in Teaching English as a Second Language from Nova University, and her second Masters Degree with honors in Library Information Sciences from the University of South Florida. Through years of training and experience,Dory learned to apply varying schools of thoughts, curricula and international methodologies to ensure that each student received individualized programming so as to gain necessary inner motivation and achieve the highest possible goals.

Autism became a life changing experience in Dory's life when one of her children was diagnosed at an early age, and this then became the catalyst for an intensive, nation-wide search for valid, research-based treatment and educational options. Dory learned from and trained with national experts for all possible bio-medical, clinical, and academic interventions that would lead to her child's extraordinary climb out of the silent world of Autism and into the active world of a typically developing child, functioning well within and beyond expected developmental levels, and participating in Gifted Education programs. Her child had begun to progress, but the need for an integrated, comprehensive, individualized and peer supported program setting soon became clearly evident. It was out of these needs that Angels Reach Foundation was created, bringing together state of the art clinical interventions for special needs children and advanced educational programming for regular and gifted learners. 

Dory continues to support the development of inclusive educational programming locally and internationally, serving as a consultant, speaker and trainer along with her amazing team from Angels Reach Foundation & Academy.

Martin Slater - Principal
Martin Slater

Principal

martin.slater@angelsreach.org
305-828-5276

Martin is an experienced bilingual business manager with a demonstrated history of successes in the education (TESL) and tourism management industries. Martin ran language schools in Fort Lauderdale and Boston for 11 years and junior summer camps in New York, Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale before joining Angels Reach Academy.

Martin's LinkedIn Profile

 

Elizabeth Monteverde

Lead Teacher, Social Studies/Literature

elizabeth.motheverde@angelsreach.org
305-828-5276

Ricardo Amador

Math, Science Teacher

ricardo.amador@angelsreach.org
305-828-5276

Ruth Ballesteros

#Got-U Video Journalism Instructor

ruth.ballesteros@angelsreach.org
305-828-5276

Gabrielle Coulouris

Life Skills Instructor

gabrielle.coulouris@angelsreach.org
305-828-5276

Laura Garcia, BS, RBT, PCM

Cherubim Wings Instructor

laura.garcia@angelsreach.org
305-828-5276

Laura Garcia has been with Angels Reach since 2006.  She holds a degree in Psychology and is currently pursuing an advanced degree in Mental Health Counseling.  Laura has been certified in Professional Crisis Management and is a Safety Care Trainer. Additionally, Laura has received extensive training in managing problem behaviors, shaping pro-social behaviors, sensory integration techniques, developmental play, ADHD, Handle Level Two,Arts for Learning, Teaching Language to Children with Autism and Responsive Teaching.
Laura is responsible for overseeing and creating academic programs for children with differing abilities in our Cherubim Wings Therapy Intensive classroom. She is also responsible for assisting in training new instructors therapists who join the organization, and ensuring they understand the organization’s unique philosophy which demands creativity, dedication, and complete care for the children they will attend to.  Laura is recognized by team members and parents alike for her level of caring and trustworthiness. She easily establishes great  rapport with all children and parents as her commitment to them is easily evident.

Cesia Luzardo

Art, Music Instructor

cesia.luzardo@angelsreach.org
305-828-5276

Haydee Perez

Elementary Teacher

haydee.perez@angelsreach.org
305-828-5276

Marisol Popovits

Drama, Spanish, The Denn (student entrepreneurship) Instructor

marisol.popovits@angelsreach.org
305-828-5276

Danie Simon

Cherubim Wings Therapy Intensive Instructor

danie.simon@angelsreach.org
305-828-5276

Victoria Vera

Elementary Teacher

victoria.vera@angelsreach.org
305-828-5276

Allison Jump
Allison Jump, MA, BCBA

Senior Behavior Analyst

allison.jump@angelsreach.org
305-828-5276

Danay Guijarro
Danay Guijarro, MS, BCBA

Supervising Behavior Analyst, Clinical Coordinator

danay.guijarro@angelsreach.org
305-828-5276

Amanda Sosa, MS, PCM, BCBA

Supervising Behavior Analyst, Clinical Coordinator

amanda.sosa@angelsreach.org
305-828-5276

Debbie Raygada
Debbie Raygada, MS, LMHC

Behavior Analyst

debbie.raygada@angelsreach.org
305-828-5276

Deborah Raygada is a licensed Mental Health Counselor, She was born Peru and moved to Miami at the age of 9. She completed all her studies here in South Florida and  received her Masters degree at Nova Southeastern University in Mental Health Counseling in Davie,Florida. Her first experience with children was at the public school where she worked in the after school program. Then, she moved on to pursuing her mental health career and worked with psychologists and psychiatrists who were in private practice where she worked in  the administrative department . Once graduated with her Masters, she completed her internship at Jackson Memorial Hospital in the mental health unit working with the adult population doing group counseling, assessments and referrals. She then decided she wanted to work with children and started supporting the development of students at Angels Reach Academy.
Deborah has been with Angels Reach since January 2011-present. She is currently one of the Lead Analysts at Angels Reach. She has worked with children ages 2-16 years old doing ABA therapy, social skills and counseling groups.  Deborah has also conducted the Ambassadors Program which is a proprietary leadership skills program at Angels Reach.
Deborah is the mother of 2 young boys ages 2 and 6. She loves spending time with her family doing outdoor activities such as going to the beach and going to the park.

Dr. Julie Freiwald, PhD, SLP-CCC

Speech & Language Supervisor

drjuliefreiwald@gmail.com
305-828-5276

Dr Julianne Freiwald, CCC/SLP has been practicing for 34 years. She graduated with honors from the University of Miami with a major in speech and hearing sciences, and a minor in psychology. She then entered the school of education where she took the classes necessary for a Florida Teaching Certificate K-12. After working with children and adolescents in the Broward County Schools for 5 years, she then enrolled in the Master of Speech-Language Pathology program at Nova Southeastern University. Following graduation, she had the honor of working in a private practice where she treated children and adults with developmental disabilities. Following that, she attended a special course at Harvard University Medical School, titled the Neurology of Behavior. Dr. Freiwald was the only speech-language pathologist to attend that particular course at that time. The remaining participants were neurologists, neuropsychologists and psychiatrists. Neuroscience became a targeted passion of hers. She went on to work at Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. This program was an experimental transdisciplinary approach under the direction of a well-respected neuropsychologist, Dr Alcuin Johnson. Children were brought into the Comprehensive Rehabilitation Unit from all over the world in various stages of coma. Results were amazingly and scientifically positive.
Following this position, Dr Julianne Freiwald, CCC/SLP worked as an independent contractor, a lecturer for Marion Publications and opened up a private practice in Miami, Florida. She then received her Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology at Nova Sourtheastern University. She provided treatment for individuals of all ages with various disabilities. She also was a state vendor for the Office of Disability as well as an expert witness in the Dade and Broward county court system.

Brian Davis, BS

Lead RBT - Sensory Integration


305-828-5276

Laura Nunez, RBT

Socio-Relational Therapy Assistant Supervisor

laura.nunez@angelsreach.org
305-828-5276

Iovanna Romero, RBT

Ambassadors Youth Leadership Instructor

iovanna.romero@angelsreach.org
305-828-5276

Joanne McCombs, MBA

Financial Officer


305-828-5276

Angels Reach Academy Donation

Be an angel

With the support of individuals and corporations, Angels Reach has the ability to touch the hearts and change the lives of the children who study in our School. It is with great pride that we acknowledge and thank our donors and sponsors for their acts of kindness and generous support.