Katie Falwell, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer/Founder
Dr. Falwell is the CEO of Keystone Child Development Center and Keystone Behavioral Pediatrics. She is
a Florida licensed psychologist who specializes in child development. She is also a licensed clinical
psychologist in her home state of Virginia where she provides consultation to hospitals and school
systems. Dr. Falwell completed her pre-doctoral training at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and her
postdoctoral residency at the University of Florida. She became a member of the faculty at University of
Florida in 2006. Her focus shifted to the greater pediatric needs of the north Florida community and the
development of Keystone in 2008. Dr. Falwell serves children as a clinician, educator, consultant and
researcher. She is a Ponte Vedra resident and embraces all that coastal living has to offer. She spends her
spare time with family including her infant and toddler sons, and teenage daughter.
Lauren Halstead
Facility Director/HR Manager
Lauren received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Florida. She previously worked
for six years as the human resource coordinator and preschool facility director at a local day care facility.
She has completed her Department of Children and Families 45 training hours of Early Childhood
Education and currently holds an active Florida Child and Education Director’s Credential. For Keystone,
Lauren provides human resource services and assistance in training/professional development for all staff.
Lauren also facilitates the on-boarding process for all new hires and coordinates all personnel actions such
as recruitment, benefits and management coaching. She stays involved with the community by
participating in local triathlons and charitable races and as a member of the CrossFit community.
Ashley Kiser, M.S., BCBA
Director of Child Development
Ashley came to Florida from her hometown of Rainbow City, Ala. She received a cross country and track
scholarship from Troy University, which she attended until 2007. She then transferred to Jacksonville State
University, in Jacksonville, Ala., where she received a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in
English. Ashley also received a master’s degree in psychology with an emphasis in applied behavior
analysis from Jacksonville State University in 2011. She completed her undergraduate and graduate
practicum at The Little Tree Preschool, an early intervention preschool serving children, ages two to seven
years old. Her areas of expertise include providing assessment and therapy, case management, staff
training and academic support. As the director of child development, Ashley assists all children in reaching
their fullest potential.
Greta Hernandez, M.A., RBT
Assistant Director of Child Development
While teaching in the public charter school system in Washington, D.C., Greta received a master of arts in
teaching and early childhood education (birth – 8 years) at American University. She also coached for Girls
on the Run, an afterschool program for young girls targeting healthy living, strong self-esteem and building
positive communities. Following three years of work as an early childhood educator, Greta earned a yoga
teacher certification and spent a year teaching mindfulness and coping skills through yoga for children,
adolescents and adults. After moving to Jacksonville, Greta taught VPK and pursued certification in the
field of applied behavior analysis. In 2014, Greta joined Keystone where she initially filled a dual role as a
therapist in KCDC and as a psychometrician in the Mental Health Department. As assistant director of child
development, she oversees early intervention, preschool, kindergarten and aftercare education services. Greta enjoys running and
swimming, gardening, going on adventures with her dog, and spending time with her husband.
Rebecca Bowersox
Director of Admissions
Before coming to Keystone Child Development Center, Rebecca had served as Accotink Academy By the
Sea’s head of school since July 2014 after working for 14 years at the Academy as a lead teacher. As head
of school, she put her passionate love of education into action by adding more class choices for young,
growing families, such as one- and two-year-old programs, and increasing the academy’s student
enrollment to the largest in its 18-year history, a feat she aims to repeat at KCDC. During her time as a
teacher she was also the director of preschool ministries at Christ the Redeemer for three years. Originally
from Michigan, she attended the Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas, where her degree focus was
education. Rebecca holds an active Florida Child and Education Director’s Credential and is planning to
attend the University of North Florida to focus on business management and leadership. Rebecca is a
resident of Ponte Vedra and has lived in the Beaches area for over 20 years. She has one daughter, an Accotink alumna, who is
attending the University of Central Florida.
Paige Norton
School Coordinator
Paige Norton attended a Jacksonville school for medical office administration education. While in school,
Paige was an intern at a local pulmonologist office, where she received a year of experience. For
Keystone, she serves as the school coordinator for Keystone Child Development Center. Paige
coordinates all events and activities between parents and teachers and schedules tours and observations
and facilitates classroom management.
Donny Klaye, RN
School Nurse
Donny attended Florida State College and the University of Cincinnati. Currently he is working towards a
graduate degree as a nurse practitioner. Donny’s experience includes school nursing, inpatient and
outpatient psychiatric nursing of all age levels, medication management and high acute cardiac
telemetry/progressive care. His experience in both hospital based care and community based care offers a
balanced approach in serving Keystone’s clients. Donny looks forward to welcoming and caring for new
children attending KCDC.
Joy Helberg
Infants and Walkers Teacher
Joy has worked in childcare for over nine years, most recently at Accotink Academy were she was the lead
one year old teacher. She has earned Child Development Associate (CDA) Certification. Joy enjoys her job
as a preschool teacher because she finds working with children fun and rewarding. In her spare time she
loves cooking, gardening, traveling and spending time with her husband, children and Yorkie dog.
Chelsea Mueller
Infants and Walkers Teacher
Chelsea is a native of Jacksonville, Fla., and a graduate of Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, with
recognition in her ballet studies. Currently, Chelsea holds an associate of arts degree from Florida State
College, where she was a member of the Danceworks Dance Company. After the birth of her son in 2011,
she realized her passion for working with children. She hopes to someday combine her passions for dance
and children by creating an environment of movement theory. Chelsea is excited to join our team and work
in KCDC’s Infants and Ones classroom.
Sheila Tabassian
Preschool Lead Teacher
Sheila has lived in Jacksonville, Fla., since 1997 and currently resides in Ponte Vedra Beach with her
husband and two children. She has a degree in biology from Virginia Commonwealth University and has
been a lead preschool teacher for the past 16 years. She loves spending time with her family, cooking and
exploring nature. Sheila finds teaching fulfilling because she is able to make a positive impact on the lives
of her students. She comes to KCDC from Accotink Academy By The Sea and looks forward to meeting
many wonderful students and their families.
Stacy Houtz
Preschool Assistant Teacher
After graduating from Pennsylvania State University with a bachelor’s degree in labor and industrial
relations, Stacy spent seven years working for Merrill Lynch in New York City and was eventually
transferred to Jacksonville as a human resource specialist. Most recently, Stacy was employed by Accotink
Academy By The Sea as an assistant teacher in the three-year-old preschool program. She has spent the
last 16 years loving and nurturing each and every one of her students and has loved every minute of it.
Stacy enjoys spending time with children and watching them grow, learn and change daily. She has been
married to her loving husband, Larry, for 20 years and has two beautiful daughters, Kylie (18) and Kassi
(14). She is looking forward to this next chapter in her life as she joins Keystone’s dedicated staff.
Donna Buchholz
VPK 1 Teacher
With a degree in early childhood education from George Mason University, Donna has worked for 29 years
in the education field. She moved to Florida from her home state of Virginia 15 years ago. Donna taught
students in second and third grade for 15 years in Virginia, has been a reading tutor in St. Johns County
schools for nine years and has been a Pre-K/VPK teacher for the past 10 years at Accotink Academy by
the Sea. Her son graduated from the University of Florida and her daughter from Florida State University.
Donna is proud to be a “house-Divided” and loves spending time with her family, especially on their boat.
She loves the quote “Teachers who love teaching, teach children to love learning,” because that’s what she
strives for each day in her classroom.
Karen Carmichael
VPK 2 Teacher
Karen is a Chicago native and has lived in the Jacksonville area since 2000. She taught at Accotink
Academy by the Sea, a private school serving 18 months to third grade, since 2009. While at Accotink
Academy, she was a lead VPK teacher. Karen has always had a passion for working with children and has
four of her own, one of whom has special needs. Prior to teaching, she worked for a medical foundation
supporting quality of care studies. She studied at Auburn University with an emphasis in liberal arts and
science and the University of Illinois at Chicago in communication design. She received her associate
degree in early childhood education in 2010.
Katelyn Luksha
VPK 2 Teacher
Katelyn earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology with a primary focus in family, youth, and community
sciences from the University of Florida. During her time as an undergraduate, she volunteered at Head
Start as a mentor and for several school tutoring programs. She has been working as an early childhood
educator for the past five years. Her passion for teaching young children is what brought her to Keystone
Child Development Center as a preschool teacher and then the VPK teacher. Katelyn is currently in the
process of completing her RBT certification and plans to earn her master’s degree in psychology with a
focus in ABA.
Fallon Frische
Kindergarten 1 Teacher
Fallon earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of North Florida and is a
certified teacher in kindergarten through sixth grade with an ESOL endorsement. She has had experience
in diverse classroom settings including serving as a substitute teacher in the public schools, working at
The Keystone Academy (now known as Mainspring Academy) for three years and currently teaching
Kindergarten in KCDC.
Nikki Theiler
Registered Mental Health Intern
Early Start Denver Model Instructor
Niki started working at Keystone in 2010 as a teacher in Keystone Academy and has held many different
positions in her years at Keystone. She got her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Florida State
University in 2006 and her master’s degree in mental health counseling from Webster University in 2013.
She also earned her certification as an Early Start Denver Model therapist from UC Davis. She is currently
working in KCDC as a registered mental health intern to complete her requirements to become a licensed
mental health counselor (LMHC). Niki welcomed twin boys in February! They will be attending KCDC in
the fall when Mommy goes back to work.
The following clinical assistants are helping classroom teachers:
Danielle Denney
Carley Alessi
Alisha Ingram