This is a staff list for Family Foundation School in Hancock, NY
(aka Allynwood Academy)
This program is permanently closed.
(we are working to acquire the complete records for ALL years)
We advise current and/or former staff to report any abuses you may have witnessed while working at Family Foundation School. For information on your rights and how to take action, visit www.heal-online.org/blowthewhistle.htm. If you were fired or forced to resign because you opposed any illegal and/or unethical practices at Family Foundation School, you have the right to take action.
If you were harmed (family or survivor) by Family Foundation School, please contact [email protected] if you remember the long-term employees and from which years. This will help! Also, if you recognize any of these staff as having worked at another program, please send in any information about their past or present employment at other facilities and/or cults.
Please do not subject your child to Family Foundation School, if they are there now, rescue them!
|
Name |
Unit/Position |
Additional Information |
| Tony & Betty Argiros | Founders/Owners |
This appears to be a "faith-based" program.
"The founders, The Argiros, came from the East Ridge "cult" in Hankins,
NY. Many of the FFS staff also came thru there. I know this because I
was at East Ridge between Sept 1992 and Feb of 1993. They were mentioned
at East Ridge often." (Statement made in e-mail report received by
HEAL on March 27th, 2012)
|
| Darlene Karcher | Enrollment Coordinator | |
| Ann Janauer | Principal | |
| Ted Towsley (Townsley) | Admissions | Graduated the program in 1991 and remained a part of the cult. Towsley may no longer be working for this program. |
| Iris Maclean | Admissions | Maclean currently (2021) works for Newport Healthcare which is reportedly another youth program. |
| Susan J. Runge | Therapist | |
| Jeffrey S. Brain | Counselor | Also director of counseling at Betton House and founder of PACES. |
| Myrl Manley | Psychiatrist | |
| Mark P. Vogel | Director of Counseling | |
| Renee Gotthardt | Counselor | Gotthardt no longer appears to be working for this program. |
| Carlton Williams | Counselor | |
| Caren Jacques | Counselor | Jacques no longer appears to be working for this program. |
| Marcia Ertola | Counselor | |
| Michael A. Losicco | Counselor | |
| Nanci E. Newcomb | Couselor | |
| Pamela Allen | Counselor | |
| Father Anthony Moore | Dean of Students (former) | Worked there since 1987. Principal and Dean of Students, spiritual director, religious teacher. I think he stopped in 1990. (Verified survivor report: November 29th, 2009) Moore no longer appears to be working for this program. |
| Rita E. Argiros | Program Director | (until recently) (Verified survivor report: November 29th, 2009) |
| Mike Argiros | President/CEO | Son of founders. |
| Robin Ducey | Principal |
Current. And, Robin is Family Leader, Life Skills Teacher (Verified survivor
report: November 29th, 2009) Ducey no longer appears to be working
for this program.
Both Robin and Mike Ducey, former staff, reportedly came from East Ridge
(cult) before going to FFS.
|
| Tom Musgrove | Operations Manager (former) | (Verified survivor report: November 29th, 2009) Musgrove no longer appears to be working for this program. |
| Robert J. Runge | Director of Admissions | Runge no longer works for this program (retired). |
| Father Stephen Morris | Dean of Students | Morris no longer works for this program and is now Parish Priest in Seaford, Long Island. |
| Dr. Charles Moss | Retired | Moss no longer works for this program. |
| Dr. Ivan Fras | Counselor (former) | Fras now works for Broome County Mental Health Clinic in Binghamton, NY. |
| Michael Terry McCarthy | Counselor | |
| Robert Barry | Counselor | Barry no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Cathy Berger | Counselor | Berger no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Arthur Ramirez | Counselor | Ramirez no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Elaine Alfonsetti | Teacher | Alfonsetti no longer appears to work for this program. Alfonsetti now appears to be working for Broome Community College in NY. |
| Lou Alfonsetti | Jazz Teacher | Alfonsetti no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Cindy Ray Argiros | Teacher | Wife of Mike Argiros. (Current President/CEO) |
| Pat Brown | Spanish Teacher | |
| Jan Cheripko | Teacher | Family Leader at one point, middle school principal. (Verified survivor report: November 29th, 2009) |
| Mike Ducey | Family Leader | English a life schools teacher, sex talk leader. (Verified survivor report: November 29th, 2009) Ducey no longer works for this program after resigning amid abuse allegations. Both Robin and Mike Ducey, former staff, reportedly came from East Ridge (cult) before going to FFS. |
| Paul Geer | Life Skills Teacher | Choir director, Family Leader at one point. (Verified survivor report: November 29th, 2009) |
| Renee Gotthardt | Math Teacher | Gotthardt no longer appears to be working for this program. |
| Herb Goldman | Teacher | Goldman no longer appears to be working for this program. |
| Mary Paul Hanstine | Global Teacher | Hanstine no longer appears to be working for this program. |
| Jodi Jacobs | Teacher | Jacobs no longer appears to be working for this program. |
| Gerald Janauer | Teacher | |
| Mike Larson | Teacher | Larson no longer appears to be working for this program. |
| Christine Speicher | Life Skills Teacher | Family Leader at one point. (Verified survivor report: November 29th, 2009) |
| Chris Stein | Teacher | Journalism teacher. (Verified survivor report: November 29th, 2009) Stein reportedly no longer works for this program. |
| Tim Rodgers | Teacher | Rodgers no longer appears to be working for this program. |
| Bill Musgrove | Soccer Coach | Gym teacher. (Verified survivor report: November 29th, 2009) |
| Diane Geer | Student Advisor | |
| Evelyn Colon | Student Advisor | Last name has changed to Rivers. (Verified survivor report: November 29th, 2009) Rivers/Colon no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Linda Anderson | Student Advisor | Anderson no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Cindy Patrisso | Student Advisor | Patrisso no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Larry Patrisso | Student Advisor | |
| Joe Petriella | Student Advisor | Family Leader. |
| Katy Nusser | Student Advisor | Nusser no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Brian McNeese | Student Advisor | McNeese no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Dave Ginsberg | Student Advisor | Ginsberg no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Chris Nicodemo | Student Advisor | Nicodemo no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Sid Parham | Staff | |
| Audra Runge | Student Advisor | Runge no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Dan Wilson | Student Advisor | Wilson no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Tom Wood | Student Advisor | |
| Ed Anderson | Maintenance | Anderson no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Josh Darder | Maintenance | Darder no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Rachel Figary | Staff | (Verified survivor report: November 29th, 2009) Figary no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Richard Geer | Maintenance | Geer no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Janet Gill | Global Teacher | Billing Manager (Verified survivor report: November 29th, 2009) Gill no longer appears to be working for this program. |
| Joyce Ginsberg | Staff | (Verified survivor report: November 29th, 2009) |
| Brad Kern | Maintenance | Kern no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Roxanne Losicco | Family Leader (former) | Also former vice principal. (Verified survivor report: November 29th, 2009) |
| Bernadette Musgrove | Daycare | |
| Mary Musgrove | Teacher | Family Leader has quit and moved to Texas. Former Asst. Director of Admissions. (Verified survivor report: November 29th, 2009) Musgrove no longer works at this program. |
| Anita Mawma | Staff | Mawma no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Dr. Salzburg | former Director of Health Services | Salzberg no longer works for this program. |
| Jackie Petriella | Family Leader | |
| Jonathan Sunshine | Staff | Sunshine no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Randy Whitney | Maintenance | Whitney no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Kara Wormuth | Staff | |
| Michael Losicco | Counselor | |
| Laura Gallagher | Counselor (former) | Gallagher no longer works for this program. |
| Audra Runge Towsley | Counselor | |
| Tex Shumate | Counselor | Shumate retired in October, 2008. Shumate no longer works for this program. |
| Bob Eleazer | Teacher | Eleazer no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Jason Garner/Garnar | Teacher/Admissions | |
| Heather Hoell | Teacher | Hoell no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Bobbi Jo Kelsey | Teacher | Kelsey no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Jim Kavarnos | Science Teacher | |
| Pat McClosky | Science Teacher (former) | McClosky no longer works for this program. |
| Nanci Newcomb | Family Leader | |
| Chris Ranaudo | Biology Teacher | Ranaudo no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Meghan Clark | Student Advisor | Clark no longer appears to work for this program. |
| John Broce | Woodworking Teacher | |
| Frank Bannan | Student Advisor | Bannan no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Jill Caswell | Student Advisor | Caswell no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Sharon Dickson | Student Advisor | Dickson no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Matt Dingle | Student Advisor |
Dingle no longer appears to work for this program.
Matt Dingle, former staff, reportedly resides in the East Ridge "cult"
and is married to the youngest daughter of the East Ridge "cult"
founder, Thomas E. Powers, Rachael Dingle (nee Powers).
|
| Tim Ellis | Student Advisor (former) | Ellis no longer works for this program. |
| Debbie Kazmark | Student Advisor | Kazmark no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Pat Newcomb | Student Advisor | Newcomb died in 2008. |
| Dave Schoonmaker | Student Advisor | Schoonmaker no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Katherine Shaw | Student Advisor | Shaw no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Marcy Anne Startup | Student Advisor | Startup no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Ted Towsley | Student Advisor | Admissions Towsley no longer works for this program and left the program in April, 2010. |
| Regina O'Bayle | Asst. Billing Mgr. | O'Bayle no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Jan Becker | Coordinator of Health Services | Becker no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Rev. Gladys Fortuna-Blake | Spiritual Advisor | Performed Protestant services. (Verified survivor report: November 29th, 2009) Fortuna-Blake now appears to work in the North Pocono School District in Pennsylvania. |
| Ellen Singer | Spiritual Advisor | Performed Jewish services (Verified survivor report: November 29th, 2009) Singer retired and no longer works for this program. She retired in December, 2008. |
| Mary Jo Law | Librarian | Law no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Rebecca Welsh | Admin. Asst. (fired) | (Verified survivor report: November 29th, 2009) Welsh no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Michelle Alfonsetti | Admin. Asst. | Alfonsetti no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Michelle Roser | Admin. Asst. | Roser no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Katherine Young | Health Services | Young no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Ed Becker | Sponsor | also Kitchen Supervisor (Verified survivor report: November 29th, 2009) Becker no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Alice Buckley | Chef | Buckley no longer appears to work at this program. |
| Rita Argiros | CURRENT OWNER (2009) | Family Leader. (Verified survivor report: November 29th, 2009) |
| Alex Carroll | Staff | |
| Jennifer Holton | Laundry Room | Holton no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Angelo Battisti | Staff | |
| Peggy McCarthy | Staff | McCarthy no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Donna Broce | Staff | |
| Karen Harris | Staff | Harris no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Colleen MacFarland | Staff | MacFarland no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Cord Meyer | Staff | Meyer no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Tom O'Boyle | Staff | O'Boyle no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Sidney Parham | Staff | |
| Myron VanDemark | Staff | VanDemark no longer works for this program as of September 29th, 2010. |
| Betty Rosengrant | Staff | |
| John Wray | Staff | Wray no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Nate Zar | Staff | Zar no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Leta Schoonmaker | Staff | Schoonmaker no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Valerie Packer | English Teacher | (Verified survivor report: November 29th, 2009) Packer no longer appears to work for this program. |
| John McGeehan | Clinical Outreach |
See:
http://www.newpaltz.edu/oracle/article.cfm?id=3317
|
| Paul Geer | Staff | |
| Christine Geer | Staff | |
| Susan Ducey | Staff | Ducey no longer appears to work for this program. |
| Richard Reeve | Director of Development | |
| Mary Burkart | Therapist | |
| Aleta Kahn | Staff | Her husband reportedly still resides at East ridge, and she might as well. |
| Monica Gutierez | Spanish Teacher (2002-?) | |
| External Survivor Website: www.thefamilyschooltruth.com | ||
| Boarding school for troubled teens set to close By Julianne Peixoto August 7, 2014Updated Aug 8, 2014 at 12:00 PM EDT Hancock, NY (WBNG Binghamton) After nearly four decades of operation, a Delaware County staple for families with troubled teens is set to shutter. Allynwood Academy could close by the end of the year unless its longtime owners can find the money -- and the clientele. WBNG E-News - Sign Up For Our Newsletter! "It's a very emotional thing," said administrator Mike Argiros. "I've been here forever practically." The family-run boarding school has been helping teens fight addiction, behavioral problems, eating disorders and more for nearly 40 years. It provided teens the therapeutic tools to recover in a typical boarding school environment, complete with sports, theater, art classes and therapy. "So you could have a normal teenage life and still get the help you needed," said administrator Rita Argiros. "We know how to make it work, we know how to help the students, it’s a matter of bridging the gap financially." However, some people are happy to see the school close. Abuse allegations have been made against the school for years, and there is an organized group called The Family Foundation School Truth Campaign that is working towards increasing awareness of the lack of regulatory oversight of privately run institutions. The school has also been forced to lay off its 70-employee staff, and asked all of the students, except for a small group of 15, to leave. "I was really not expecting the feedback that we got about the school closing, I expected people to be disappointed, but there was a real surge of interest among a small group of students and parents who really asked us to do anything we could to try to keep the school and the mission of the school alive," said Argiros. They will remain open for the small group of students through to the new year. Then, unless things change financially, the school will permanently close its doors. "There aren't programs like ours anywhere on the east coast," said Argiros. "It's gonna be a shame if we can't collectively make this work, it'll be a real shame." [HEAL Note: This program should have never opened, let us not be absurd with calling closing this fraudulent and abusive facility "a shame".] | ||
| Allynwood Academy plagued with abuse allegations By Julianne Peixoto Related: Boarding school for troubled teens set to close August 11, 2014Updated Aug 12, 2014 at 3:14 PM EDT Hancock, NY (WBNG Binghamton) Allynwood Academy -- a boarding school for troubled teens -- will close at the end of the year, but not everyone is sad to see the school shutdown. Formerly known as Family Foundation School, Allynwood will no longer be accepting new students, and asked all but 15 students to leave on Aug. 8. WBNG E-News - Sign Up For Our Newsletter! The final 15 students will be staying through to the end of the year, and a group of former alumni couldn't be happier that the end is in sight for the school. A group called the Family Foundation School Truth Campaign consists of a compilation of more than 100 alumni testimonials and focuses on publicly sharing their negative experiences at the school. "They want us to say that people did things at the time that were wrong and I won't say that," said administrator Rita Argiros."What I will do is say that people used techniques and methods at the time that have been replaced, but they weren't incorrect at the time." Argiros said methods, including the use of blanket restraints or forcing students to eat all of the food on their plates, have since been replaced, as socially accepted standards and regulations have changed. "I was actually asked to wake a student up with a flood light, which actually burned the retinas of his eyes," said former student Jon Martin-Crawford. "They're still damaged today. When Action News recounted the same story to Argiros, she denied that it happened. Members of the campaign shared some of their memories with Action News. "I don't know of any parent who would have wrapped their kid in a blanket, then duct-taped them and threw them in a closet for 5 hours in the 90's that wouldn't get arrested," said former student and founder of the Truth Campaign, Kenny Fingerman. "I don't know of any parent that would not feed their kid for two weeks until they ate vegetables on their plate in the mid 2000's." Martin-Crawford said that it can take many years before a person comes to terms with abuse. "It can take two, three years for the brain washing and the Stockholm Syndrome to wear off," said Martin-Crawford. "And by then, with the statute of limitations ... it would be very hard to make a legal case." "Parents love their children dearly, the parents that sent their children here love them to no end," said Argiros. "Do you think that if I was routinely abusing their children and that there was, especially if there was physical abuse, that we would be here all these years?" Argiros said the Truth Campaign likely has something do with with the school's declining enrollment and thus closure, but she said therapeutic schools everywhere have suffered financially because of their cost and the bad economy. | ||
*(Family Foundation School, like many other programs in this industry, keeps a "tight lid" on any specific information regarding their staff, qualifications, and practices. Please contact us with the names of any staff of which you have firsthand knowledge or experience. Thank you for your help.)
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