Arlington:
First Step
Preschool

7377 Chateau Dr.
Parma, OH 44130

Supervisor of
Special Education
at First Step Preschool:

Ms. Dana Massimino

phone: 440-885-8645
fax: 440-842-9832

Director of
Special Education at
Central Office:

Mrs. Michele J. Nolan

phone: 440-885-8799

Our Classroom Schedule

Students enrolled in First Step attend class 4 days a week for 2 ½ hours each day. Morning and afternoon classes are offered on the following schedule:

8:20 a.m. to 10:50 AM. - Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
11:50 a.m. to 2:20 PM. - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

Our Classrooms

• Classroom curriculum encompasses the whole child, promoting development of cognitive, communication, pre-academic, social/emotional, and motor skills.   
• Developmentally appropriate curriculum and teaching strategies are individualized to meet the needs of every child in the class.
• Specific needs of children with disabilities are addressed through an Individual Education Program (IEP). The First Step professional team and the child’s parents develop the IEP, setting goals and objectives for the year, and determining the services necessary to meet these goals.
• Each class is comprised of 12 children:  4 who are typically developing and 8 with special needs.
• Each class is staffed with a certified early childhood special educator and a classroom assistant. There are 9 center-based classrooms at First Step.
• Education services are also provided in the home and community through itinerant services.
• In addition to joining in exciting education activities in their classrooms, First Step children play daily in the motor room, take books home from the First Step Library each week, and play in the outdoor courtyard when the weather permits. (Visit the Photo Page  to see photos of the First Step facilities.)

Related Services

• Speech Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy services are provided to children who qualify for these services as part of their Individual Education Program (IEP). The majority of these services are delivered within the classroom setting.

Meet Our Staff

Staff members whose names are highlighted/underlined in blue can be contacted via school e-mail.  Click directly on the staff member's name to open an e-mail message box.

If you need immediate assistance:  please call 440-885-8645 - do not use e-mail!

Administrators

Mrs. Michele J. Nolan: Director of Special Education
Mrs. Dana Massimino: Supervisor of Special Education

Classrooms 

To Visit individual classroom websites, click here, and then select the initial of the teacher's last name. 

Mrs. Robin Barlak, Early Childhood Intervention Specialist
Mrs. Lois Preston, Assistant

Mrs. Sharon Hrubey, Early Childhood Intervention Specialist
Mrs. Donna Koehler, Assistant

Mrs. Debbie Jones, Early Childhood Intervention Specialist

Mrs. Ellyn Gaughan, Assistant

Mrs. Sandy Krems, Early Childhood Intervention Specialist
Mrs. Mary Cannavino, Assistant

Mrs. Lisa Kunstler, Early Childhood Intervention Specialist
Mrs. Debbie Adamovicz, Assistant

Miss Cindy Mong, Early Childhood Intervention Specialist
Mrs. Sue Laurich, Assistant

Mrs. Michelle Schneider, Early Childhood Intervention Specialist
Mrs. Kathy Wolters, Assistant

Ms. Beth Kean, Early Childhood Intervention Specialist
Mrs. Susanne Rezny, Assistant

Itinerant Services

Mrs. S. Beifus, Early Childhood Intervention Specialist

Classroom Floating Assistants

Mrs. Jeanie Fulkerson, Floating Assistant
Mrs. Debbie Jeffrey, Floating Assistant

Miss Annie, Floating Assistant

Mrs. Mary Thomas, Special Education Assistant

Related Services

• Psychology

Mrs. Marlene Lyman, School Psychologist

Ms. Isabella Zsebi, School Psychologist

• Speech/Language Therapy
  
  Mrs. Kara Nelan, Speech/Language Pathologist
  Mrs. Ann Matuch, Speech/Language Pathologist
  Mrs. Deb Stibora, Speech/Language Pathologist

• Occupational Therapy
  
  Mrs. Danette Houghton, Occupational Therapist
  Mrs. Tina Keller, Occupational Therapist
  
  
• Physical Therapy

           Mrs. Theresa Schmalz, Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant

• Nursing Services

           Mrs. Connie Uhl, School Nurse