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ADMINISTRATORS
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Dr. Sarah Allison - DIRECTOR
Dr. Sarah Allison founded Allison Academy as a private school in 1983. However, she has been providing advanced testing, tutoring and other educational services since 1970.
Dr. Allison is an alumnus of Nova University where she earned her Doctorate in early and middle childhood education specializing in varying exceptionalities and reading. She has also been teaching at the university as an adjunct professor since 1993 and has a Master’s from Florida State University and a Bachelor of science from Auburn University.
Previously, she has served as consultant to private schools and has taught in public schools in Broward and Gadsden Counties. Dr. Allison has been published numerous times and is a member of the International Reading Association, the Learning Disabilities Association, and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum. Dr. Allison presently serves on the Board of the AISF accrediting agency.
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Margaret Sheriff - REGISTRAR AND BUSINESS MANAGER
Ms. Sheriff graduated in 1970 from the University of Georgia where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa Phi Kappa Phi. She taught in Cobb County, GA, Chattanooga, TN, and Memphis, TN before moving to Miami in 1987. She began teaching math part-time at
Allison Academy in 1994, and eventually became the business manager and registrar.
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Amy Robayo - OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
Ms. Robayo received her Associate of Arts degree from Broward College in Ft. Lauderdale, then attended Auburn University in Alabama, and Florida International University. She studied business, accounting, and photography, and serves as the official photographer for Allison Academy. She joined Allison Academy in 1998.
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TEACHERS
Allison Academy teachers are highly specialized and dedicated professionals who demonstrate an understanding of individual differences and possess the expertise to teach in a program that emphasizes the development of each student’s potential.
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Simone Benchimol
Mrs. Benchimol received her Baccalaureat Degree in Rabat, Morocco, her Certificat d’ Aptitude Pedagogique Degre elementaire from the Ministere de l’Education Nationale, Meknes, Morocco, and her Certificat d’Aptitude Pedagogique Degre Normal in Rabat, Morocco.
Mrs. Benchimol taught French in Morocco before immigrating to the United States with her husband and three children. She began her educational career here teaching French and Spanish at the Jewish High School of South Florida. Mrs. Benchimol continued her teaching of Spanish and French at Miami-Dade Community College, Wolfson Campus, and Florida International University before coming to Allison Academy in 1997.
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Mr. Castillo grew up in Miami Gardens, Florida, and graduated from Miami Carol City High School in 1995. He received his B.S. degree from Florida International University (FIU) in architecture, and is currently completing a B.S./M.S. combined program in civil and environmental engineering with a minor in education and mathematics at FIU. After obtaining his B.S. degree in 2003, Mr. Castillo worked as a junior architect and drafting engineer in several architectural, engineering, and construction firms in Broward and Miami –Dade counties. His teaching career began in 2009 when he became an adjunct professor of computer-aided drafting design and construction management at ITT Technical Institute locations in Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
Mr. Castillo joined the faculty of Allison Academy for the 2012-13 school year, where he is teaching high school mathematics and science. In addition, he is one of the coordinators of the Allison Academy chess club. Mr. Castillo is a Florida Certified teacher for middle grade (5-9) Mathematics, and science, high school mathematics (6-12), and elementary (K-6) education.
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Coach Epstein is a life-long resident of the City of North Miami Beach. He graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in Journalism and received his Master’s Degree in Special Education Varying Exceptionalities from Florida International University. He has an extensive background as a Student Government Advisor, Varsity Coach and an ESE support facilitator. With his strong background in sports and his involvement with the City, Mr. Epstein plans to take our sports programs and extracurricular activities to the next level.
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Ms. Foxx received her Bachelor of Arts in English from Barry University, and her Master of Science in Education, with a specialty in specific learning disabilities, from Nova University. She is a member of Lambda Iota Tau, a literature honor society, and
Kappa Delta Phi, an education honor society. Ms. Foxx joined Allison Academy in 1998, after her daughter Sarah graduated as Valedictorian. Her previous experience includes teaching a Sylvan program in public schools in Dade and Broward counties.
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Mr. Gilfoy grew up in North Miami Beach, and attended the Honor’s program at Miami-Dade College, where he was a member of the International Jazz Combo, the Environmental Ethics Institute’s Honors Program, and was a member of Phi Theta Kappa. He then attended Warren Wilson College in Ashville, North Carolina where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies with specialties in Conservation and Wildlife Biology. Mr. Gilfoy joined the Allison Academy staff in 2004. Since then he has started the school’s organic gardening program, the school’s recycling program, and acts as teacher representative for the school’s PTA. He is an avid supporter of several environmental science projects in the area including managing the Oleta River State Park location for the Urban Paradise Guild which eliminates invasive non-native vegetation from Oleta River State Park. Mr. Gilfoy is also our faculty leader for the Fairchild Challenge, which is sponsored by Fairchild Tropical Gardens.
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Ms. Hawthorne is Allison Academy’s reading specialist. She received her Bachelor of Elementary Education from the University of Florida, her Masters of Education with a specialization in reading from the University of Southern Mississippi, and her Specialist is Education, with a specialization in reading from the University of Florida. Ms. Hawthorne first joined the Allison Academy staff in 1989. She moved out of the area for a period of years and retuned in 2008.
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Mr. Kalafus specializes in gifted education, and urban education, and has taught a wide range of disciplines. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics from Pomona College in Claremont, California. He spent five years teaching mathematics, English as a Second Language, and Social Studies in Los Angeles as a member of Teach for America, during which time he received his teacher education at California State University.
In fifteen-years of teaching middle school and high school, he has acquired experiences ranging from being a founding faculty member for a new branch of a charter school opening in Austin, Texas, to teaching secret code-breaking for the Center for Talented Youth at Johns Hopkins University for the past ten summers.
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Mr. Milner grew up in North Miami Beach. He received his B.S. from Florida International University in Journalism with a minor in English. He received his M.S., also from FIU, in Comparative Religion.
Mr. Milner joined Allison Academy in 2006. He teaches history, music, speech and debate, and is the developer and director of the Allison Academy rock/jazz band.
Mr. Milner graduated magna cum laude for Undergrad degree with a major in journalism, and a minor in English. He graduated summa cum laude for his Master’s Degree, and is a member of Theta Alpha Kappa and Phi Theta Kappa.
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Mrs. Milner is a native of North Miami Beach and graduated from Allison Academy as Valedictorian. She attended the Honors College at Miami-Dade College where she was an Environmental Fellow at the Environmental Fellow at the Environmental Ethics Institute, was honored on the Dean’s List, and received multiple Service Learning Awards. She graduated with “Highest Honors and Distinction” with an Associates Degree in Exceptional Student Education. She then went to Florida International University where she received the Sanford and Dolores Ziff and Family Scholarship. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education. She is certified and endorsed in ESOL and has a minor in Environmental Education. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa. Mrs. Milner joined our faculty in 2011.
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Mrs. Skelton has an extensive background working with students of all ages. She received her Associate of Arts degree from Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, and returned to Florida to receive vocational certifications in music, math, and child development. She taught at Hollywood Christian School before joining Allison Academy in 1998.
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Mr. Vargas, a native of Miami, began working with children at the age of 19. He was a member of the civil service organization, Americorp. With the help of Americorp, he founded a non-profit after school tutoring program for kids in the West Hialeah community. The program still exists today. He holds a B.S. in Psychology from Barry University where he graduated in 2000, and went on to earn his M.S. in Psychology from Barry in 2002.
Mr. Vargas is a lifetime member of Psi Chi, the National Honor
Society in Psychology. Mr. Vargas became a member of the Allison Academy faculty in 2002 and has taught psychology, social studies, peer counseling, and is the senior sponsor, yearbook, newspaper, and prom committee advisor.
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Nicholas Kaiser - Facilities Manager & Assistant Basketball Coach
Mr. Kaiser grew up in the North Miami Beach and attended local schools. He worked at several area businesses before joining us in his valuable position as facilities manager and assistant basketball coach at Allison Academy in 2002.
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