Support Services

Ms. Mammi
Counselor
East Campus
Grades K-1
smammi@stringtheoryschools.org

Ms. Lamonica
Counselor
West Campus
Grades 2-5
tlamonica@stringtheoryschools.org

Mr. Clarkson
Counselor
Vine Street Campus
Grades 6-8 aclarkson@stringtheoryschools.org 

Ms. Chirlin
Counselor
Vine Street Campus
Grades 6-8
rchirlin@stringtheoryschools.org

Ms. Ewell
Counselor
Vine Street Campus
Grades 9-12
cewell@stringtheoryschools.org

Mr. Lynch
Counselor
Vine Street Campus
Grades 9-12
blynch@stringtheoryschools.org

Ms. Bruce
Special Education Counselor
Vine Street Campus
gbruce@stringtheoryschools.org

School-based counseling services are available at all grade levels to foster the social, emotional, and behavioral development of our students, as well as to support our parents and families in navigating any challenges that they may encounter. String Theory Schools, our Education Management Organization, employs a team of professionals, inclusive of mental health counselors, guidance counselors, social workers, and psychologists, to address any needs that may arise.

Under section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, students with a physical or mental disability that significantly limits or prohibits participation or access to a school program.  Students will be given reasonable accommodations, to instruction, facilities, and activities in or a part of school.  

Philadelphia Performing Arts is committed to creating an educational environment which is free from intolerance towards individuals or groups, and in which diversity is valued as critical to not only lifelong personal growth and development,  but also to the realization of their educational mission to prepare students to thrive in a global society.

The English Language Learning (ELL) Program at all String Theory Schools services culturally and linguistically diverse students whose native language is not English,  all EL students have access to content, facilities, and the full range of opportunities and programs offered by all  String Theory Schools.

The objective of the program is for ELL students to reach grade-level English proficiency in all domains: listening, speaking, reading, and writing, so that they may become active and successful participants in the community.  This objective is achieved in a respectful and supportive environment that embraces students’ first languages and cultures, with encouragement of pride in their ethnic heritages.

The special education program at Performing Arts is created to develop self-advocacy and lifelong independent learners. Students with disabilities are provided the opportunity to learn strategies and tap into their strengths to maximize their learning potential.  We offer a variety of researched based interventions that captures the multiple intelligences of all students.  Parents and teachers work parallel to watch students grow and flourish in their educational goals.  All students are accepted through the admission process, including students with disabilities.

Response to Intervention (RTI) is an assessment and intervention framework that allows schools to deliver instructional support. RTI is a multi-tier model of intervention. Students are screened and monitored for targeted academic or behavioral areas. Progress monitoring is a collaborative review process at each tier level between the parent, regular education teacher, RTI teacher, and administrator. After tier, students who make limited progress with the highest level of support are referred for a multi-disciplinary evaluation team to determine eligibility for special education services.

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act is a federal law that ensures that homeless children and youth will secure immediate enrollment in school, facilitating the stability of their education. The definition of  homeless children and youth is individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason. All String Theory Schools have designated a Homelessness Liaison for students and families experiencing homeless situations.

Campus Liaisons:

East Campus
Makaine Lozandieu
215-278-2460 / Ext. 106
mlozandieu@stringtheoryschools.org

West Campus
Tina Lamonica
215-551-4100 / Ext. 43
tlamonica@stringtheoryschools.org

Vine Campus - Middle School
Natalie Mecaughey
276-428-2224 / Ext. 2426
nmecaughey@stringtheoryschools.org

Brittany Latronica
267-428-2224 / Ext. 2328
blatronica@stringtheoryschools.org

Vine Campus - High School
Melissa Freemer
267-428-2224 / Ext. 2602
mfreemer@stringtheoryschools.org

The Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness (ECYEH) Program

Title I, II, and III programming enables String Theory Schools to ensure all students have a fair, equal and significant opportunity to obtain a high quality education and reach for proficiency in academic subjects.  It also allows to improve the quality of instruction by providing staff to participate in school with substantial opportunities for professional development.  Lastly, it provides instructional tools and resources for English Language Learners to achieve their learning growth targets.