Index:
Dr. James D. Meffen
James D. Meffen, III
Carol A. Clark
Betty Cooper Hirt
Patricia Orrego
Rene Capistrano
Suzi Marsh
Linda Stith
Dr.
James D. Meffen
Founder
"Every child can succeed!"
In
the process of completing his doctoral dissertation in Psychology,
James D. Meffen encountered a bright, pretty, popular child who
seemed to have everything, including caring and attentive parents.
But "Kati" was failing, frustrated and in danger of losing her
brightness and positive outlook on life. The child's plight touched
this educator and he resolved then to find a way students like
Kati would not become lost. The first discovery he made was, despite
her intelligence, Kati could not read.
Dr.
Meffen began searching for answers, not accepting the popular
theory of the 1950s that children with learning difficulty who
were otherwise "normal" had psychological problems. He began postdoctoral
studies at the University of Miami in the diagnosis and remediation
of reading disabilities. His studies enthralled him as he discovered,
first hand, that individualized instruction could work wonders
with these "reading difficulty" children. He was dismayed to discover
that traditional schools were failing miserably to meet these
students' needs. More often than not, these children were labeled
"backward" and continued to struggle through regular school work
they simply did not understand.
In
a leap of faith, and with eight willing students, in 1961, Gables
Academy began operation in Coral Gables, Florida. In less than
a year, Gables Academy and Dr. Meffen were becoming known nationwide
as leading innovators in the field giving hope back to children
with learning disabilities and learning difficulties. Dr. Meffen
was consulted by educators across the nation, and was written
up in many publications as one of the most outstanding educators
in America. The first national television program about learning
disabilities featured the Florida Gables Academy.
What
grew to eventually ten schools operating under the Gables Academy
umbrella has now been compacted into the campus in Stone Mountain,
Georgia. Dr. Meffen continues to serve as Educator Emeritus to
the school. Dr. Meffen currently lives in Australia with his wife
Anne and makes yearly trips back to the states. He just can't
stay away from the little miracle, Gables Academy.
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James
D. Meffen, III
Headmaster
"I would not know what to do with kids who could learn in traditional
ways!"
James
D. (Jim) Meffen, III holds a Masters degree in Education with
an emphasis on Reading, and is a doctoral candidate in Educational
Psychology at Georgia State University. The son of founder Dr.
James Meffen, Mr. Meffen has been intricately involved in Gables
Academy in a myriad of ways since 1961. He moved naturally into
a leadership position with the school in the 1970s. Special education
and the kids therein are the love of his life.
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Carol
A. Clark
Administrative Assistant
Parent/Student Liaison
"I do my job as unto the Lord, therefore you will always have
my best."
Ms. Clark, prior to entering the world of children as a professional,
spent ten years in sales. The following ten years were spent in
youth ministry after she became certified in pastoral counseling
and worked at Sanford School. Her path at Gables leads her through
frequent contact with students and parents. She works with the
public and alongside staff and faculty as she cheerfully meets
the demands of the school's administration offices.
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Betty
Cooper Hirt
Director of Special Projects
Teaches: Acting, Creative Dramatics, Creative Writing, Yearbook
"Love
is all there is."
"Ms.
B" came to Gables after nearly ten years as educational director
at a major Georgia fine arts center and years in arts education.
Her background includes over twenty years as a professional actress,
and as a playwright she has seen four of her works produced. She
was educated at Western Carolina University and North Carolina
School of the Arts. Coming from a background in the non-profit
business world, Ms. B directs special projects for the school
such as grant writing, fundraising, off-campus activities and
experiential ed adventures. For Ms. B, the bottom line: "It's
always about the children."
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Patricia
Orrego
Director of Computer Lab, Teacher
Teaches:
Elementary Education, Spanish and Keyboarding
Ms.
Orrego, a native of Bogota, Columbia, has been teaching Spanish
for five years. Her gentle, friendly approach to teaching her
native language, and her firm grasp of the English language, offers
students an accurate, clear and exciting approach to Spanish.
With her gentle yet firm approach to the classroom, Ms. Orrego
has become lead teacher in the self-contained upper elementary
school.
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Rene
Capistrano
Plant Manager / Caretaker
Rene,
a native of the Phillipines, arrived in the United States in 1986
and has been taking care of Gables campuses, students, faculty
and staff ever since. His long career has included experiences
which have added to the skills and talents Rene displays at Gables.
While still in his native country he worked for the US Coast Guard
as a cook. He has worked as a machinist and has many years experience
in construction. Rene can be found on Gables' campus working at
things to help the school function more efficiently, from draining
and cleaning the one-acre pond, to repairing anything broken.
As with any man of his stature, all of the students love him.
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Suzi
Marsh
Psychotherapist/Consultant
Suzi
began her career in 1983 as an inpatient drug counselor for adolescents.
In 1992 she earned her Master's Degree in social work from Ohio
State University where she had worked in the field of codependency.
For over ten years, Suzi has been in private practice in the Atlanta
area, helping groups, families, teens and adults face their issues
and create positive change. Suzi hosts her own mental health radio
show on WSB 98.5 FM and is working with Gables Academy students
to develop a community TV show for families. Her most impressive
personal credential for teaching people about change is the fact
that Suzi recovered from teenage drug and alcohol addiction at
the age of 23. Her philosophy of life and training was stolen
from a bumper sticker: "Let's put the fun back in dysfunctional!"
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Linda
M. Stith, M.S.
Director of Academics
Ms.
Stith has experienced thirty-one years as a highly successful
and loved teacher. Thirteen years were spent as an educational
thereapist for teenagers in a psychiatric hospital. She has also
spent the last seven years working with preadolescents and teens
in a special education setting, helping kids who are LD, ADHD
and in various stages of recovery succeed.
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