No cookie cutters here.

Expertise and empathy.
Creativity and flexibility.
Compassion and love.

Our teachers and staff share a commitment to flexibility, empathy, and compassion—and above all, to helping students grow into the best versions of themselves.

They see individuals, not just diagnoses. They emphasize—and teach to—potential, not limitations. They help students and their families believe in themselves because they believe in them first.

We empower teachers to get to know our students and their families. From this place of understanding, they are able to help students better understand themselves and realize their potential: not just when it comes to setting and meeting IEP goals, but bolstering confidence, experiencing joy in (and while) learning, and building the skills that will serve them for a lifetime.

In other words: they meet students where they are—but see them for who they can become.

The foundation of each student's Orchard Friends education is a team of experts who work and teach together, and are also willing and able to connect any student who would benefit from additional, external resources to the professionals they need to succeed. Every member of each child’s learning team stays in close communication, making it possible to integrate one another’s expertise, techniques, and perspectives into every part of a student’s day, rather than keeping it siloed.

WE ARE

a team of experienced special education teachers, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, 1:1 aides, and mental health counselors.
WE PLACE

equal emphasis on core academics, speech and language proficiency, practical life skills, physical well-being, social acuity, and emotional intelligence.
WE USE

curricula aligned with New Jersey Core Content Standards and best practices in special education. OFS is fully accredited by NAIS, ADVIS, and MSA.

Our Administrators

Beth DiPerna, M.A., Ed.S., L.A.C. HEAD OF SCHOOL bdiperna@orchardfriends.org — **Beth DiPerna, M.A., Ed.S., L.A.C.**
HEAD OF SCHOOL
bdiperna@orchardfriends.org

+ Read Beth's Bio

Beth has been working with children and adolescents who have language and learning differences since 1993. A trained Speech-Language Pathologist, she graduated from Rutgers University with a dual Bachelor’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Psychology. Beth also holds a Master's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology with minor focus in Audiology from New York University. She has worked in a wide variety of settings with a wide variety of populations, including running her own private practice, which allowed her the flexibility she needed to raise her four children.

Beth came to Orchard Friends in 2012 as the school's Speech-Language Pathologist, then served as Director of Admissions and Interim Head of School before assuming the Head of School position.

Lisa Pentkowski-Wagner BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR lwagner@orchardfriends.org — **Lisa Pentkowski-Wagner**
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR
lwagner@orchardfriends.org

+ Read Lisa's Bio

Lisa has seen Orchard Friends change and grow like no other staff member has: she began working at the school as a 1:1 aide when it first opened its doors back in 1999! After three years in this role, she worked in the public school system as an ABA therapist to students on the Autism spectrum, then became a Parent Partner/Advocate at the Family Support Organization, where she helped families navigate their children's behavioral, emotional, and mental health challenges. She returned to Orchard Friends in 2019 in a new role, which includes administrative and financial duties but also allows her to put her skills and expertise to work in supporting students and parents. In her free time, you can find Lisa spending time with her two teenagers and dog, or enjoying a bonfire on the beach.

Courtney Bell ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT cbell@orchardfriends.org — **Courtney Bell**
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
cbell@orchardfriends.org

+ Read Courtney's Bio

Courtney began her career as a junior high school Language Arts teacher and currently holds teaching certificates for both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. After staying home to raise her four children, she returned to education as a special education teaching assistant before joining Orchard Friends as an administrative assistant to Beth DiPerna, Head of School. Courtney loves the school's amazing staff and students, and cherishes Orchard Friends’ nurturing environment. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and two rescue dogs, Molly and Harper.

Our Faculty

Pam Carpenter, M.Ed. SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER pcarpenter@orchardfriends.org — **Pam Carpenter, M.Ed.**
SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER
pcarpenter@orchardfriends.org

+ Read Pam's Bio

A lifelong resident of South Jersey, Pam has been a beloved teacher at Orchard Friends since 2009. Pam attended Drexel University for undergraduate and graduate school, earning a B.A. in Elementary Education and a M.Ed. in Special Education, with a specialty in Autism. Pam is passionate about education and committed to professional development for herself and her colleagues: she has special expertise in language training and reading comprehension, including Orton-Gillingham and Wilson's Fundations. When she's not teaching, Pam enjoys spending time with her husband and two children and volunteering for the MS Society and Cherry Hill Civic Association.

**Brenna Cloud, M.Ed.**
SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER
bcloud@orchardfriends.org

+ Read Brenna's Bio

Brenna holds a B.A. in Early Childhood Education from Concordia College New York and a M.Ed. in Special Education from Iona University. Before she began teaching at Orchard Friends, she taught at The Nexus School in Abington, Pennsylvania, which works specifically with children on the Autism spectrum. In her free time, Brenna is the Delran High School girls' varsity basketball coach—her alma mater, where she made All-County several times before playing in college at Concordia—and enjoys spending time with her husband, family, and friends at the beach.

**Erin Foley, M.A., CCC-SLP**
SPEECH-LANGUAGE THERAPIST
efoley@orchardfriends.org

+ Read Erin's Bio

Erin holds a B.A. in Speech Correction from Kean University and a M.A. in Language Communication Sciences from The College of New Jersey, as well as a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association. Her career has given her the opportunity to work with children and young adults ranging from 18 months old to 21 years old. Whether practicing in public or private schools, in outpatient clinics, or in her patients’ homes, Erin sees and approaches her work as a collaborative partnership involving the child, their parents, their teachers, and their clinicians—a philosophy that made her feel immediately at home at Orchard Friends. When she isn’t working, you can find Erin planning service activities for her church’s youth group, which she leads—or spending time with her husband and their four children at the pool, by the beach, or on the pickleball court.

Brittany Sefransky, M.Ed. SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER bsefransky@orchardfriends.org — **Brittany Sefransky, M.Ed.**
SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER
bsefransky@orchardfriends.org

+ Read Brittany's Bio

Brittany moved to Cinnaminson Township in 2020, and is the newest member of the Orchard community (and very excited to join this amazing team of teachers!). She earned a B.A. in Elementary Education (K-8) and a M.Ed. in Special Education (N-12) from Arcadia University, and previously worked as a teacher and administrator in a school serving students with dyslexia. In her free time, Brittany enjoys spending time with her family—especially her two nephews—her friends, and her dog Pudge.

**Alex Paluzzi, O.T.R./L.**
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
apaluzzi@orchardfriends.org

+ Read Alex's Bio

Alex is passionate about ensuring that every child is equipped with the skills needed to succeed in school and in life. Born and raised in South Jersey, Alex received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Drexel University. He taught social studies and worked as an Autism therapist before continuing his education at Salus University, where he earned a master’s degree in occupational therapy. In his free time, Alex enjoys spending time with his wife, dog, and cats, and can often be found on a local hiking trail.

Caroline Waraksa SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER cwaraksa@orchardfriends.org — **Caroline Waraksa**
SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER
cwaraksa@orchardfriends.org

+ Read Caroline's Bio

Caroline graduated from Widener University with a B.A. in Early Childhood Education and Special Education, and brings special expertise in the Orton-Gillingham curriculum to her work at Orchard Friends. Prior to joining the Orchard teaching team, Caroline was a Special Education Teacher at Larc School and a Teacher Assistant for the Burlington County Special Services School District in the Pioneer Autism and Sensory Center. Caroline played varsity basketball and softball back in high school and today, she stays active by spending time outdoors with her husband and daughter and playing with her two rescue dogs.

In 30 minutes, Jack’s language arts teacher did more with and for him than public schools did in a year—even when we had to transition to remote learning last year because of COVID. Even remotely, he had access to appropriate, hands-on materials. They tracked his progress daily; told him “great job” and “good work!”; and sent everyone pictures of what everyone else was up to. Even when we weren’t there in person, we still felt like part of a community.
Bridget McAndrew
(Jack’s mom)
I’m floored by Orchard Friends’ flexibility in how they approach learning, as well as their ability to work with such a range of students (and the two are linked). That is absolutely unique to them. I placed a student there who needs a 1:1 aide, and they were willing to have an outside agency from the state come in to meet that need, which is not something most schools are open to doing or able to accommodate. They start with the student, and build the approach around them.
Michele Scott,
Case Manager, Haddonfield, New Jersey Schools
The teachers make Orchard Friends special. They’re highly qualified, very experienced, and have a wealth of information to share and an ability to understand their students. When my son is upset, they deal with and talk about the things that are upsetting him; they don’t just respond to the anger. What’s more, they see it and address it on a regular basis. That’s a big part of their success. That balance of encouraging and holding them accountable—I know as a parent, it’s the hardest thing to do, and they do it really well.
Sarah Peterman
(David’s mom)
Kids at Orchard stand up for each other.
That starts with the teachers.
Cleveland “Sandy” Rea, Ph.D., Board Chair
I hated teaching to a timeline and a test. Here, I have the time and space to learn who a student is, and give them exactly what they need. That’s why I love Orchard and love teaching at Orchard: there’s so much we can do for kids that other schools can’t.
Pam Carpenter, MEd
Special Education Teacher

Our Board

BOARD CHAIR
Carla is a Program Officer with the NJ Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA). She works side-by-side with adult learners, employers, non-profits, and public entities to promote workforce development throughout the Garden State. Carla has worked in higher education for four years; prior to that she worked in the insurance defense industry and as an advocate and activist for programs offering support to children and adults with brain injuries and developmental challenges.
Her shining achievement, though, was her full-time commitment to raising her three sons (including one Orchard Friends alumnus), offering support and guidance in a variety of roles and “professions”: personal assistant, care coordinator, cook, therapist, tutor, cheerleader, chauffeur, and shoulder to cry on. Carla joined the Orchard Friends Board in June 2021.
I serve on the Orchard Friends Board because...
Orchard Friends is close to my heart because, quite frankly, this school saved my son’s life. Thanks to this place and its teachers, he has grown into a self-assured, competent, and capable young adult with a very bright future.
This school heals students like him, many of whom have been beaten down and underserved by their previous schools. So many Orchard Friends students arrive with poor self-esteem—but here, in a learning environment built on unwavering support and loving encouragement, they not only experience academic success but grow into confident, self-assured, lifelong learners. The emphasis Orchard places on community involvement, giving back, and nurturing friendships is equally critical to their success—and extremely important to children who often arrive without having experienced the joy of connecting with peers.
This place has the power to empower young people, helping them grow into independent adults. At the end of the day, isn’t that what every parent wants for their child: independence, self-sufficiency and self-acceptance?
TRUSTEE
Sandy began his career as a teacher and taught for many years in Quaker schools. After witnessing the impact effective school psychologists and learning specialists were able to make for the children who needed them most, he decided to pursue a Ph.D. in School Psychology, with a particular emphasis on diagnosing and remediating emotional, cognitive, and processing issues in children. From 1992 until 2016, he worked as a school psychologist and maintained a private psychotherapy practice. Sandy is a former member of the Delaware Valley Friends School Board of Trustees, and has served on the Orchard Friends Board since 2006 and as Board Chair from 2009 through June 2023. He and his wife Stephanie Judson have two daughters, two sons-in-law, and two grandsons. Sandy is an avid baseball fan and enjoys joining a friend to watch the stars on a clear night.
I serve on the Orchard Friends Board because...
I believe in empowering children, and I believe in an education that prioritizes integrity, equality, simplicity, stewardship of the Earth, peace—and most importantly, community.
It's an honor to partner with my fellow Board members, as well as Orchard Friends' teachers, staff, and administrators to create a school that lives by those values. I see them in every one of our students: in their confidence, in their kindness, and in their academic and personal growth.
BOARD MEMBER
Polly has spent her entire career in education: as a teacher, college counselor, and diversity practitioner. She cares deeply about social justice and believes that schools must prioritize access and equity and seek to understand and find the light in every student. She began her teaching career at Emma Willard School in Troy, NY in 1996 and from 2009 to 2011, worked at Orchard Friends as a classroom assistant, outdoor education consultant, and Middle States accreditation coordinator. She currently works at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy in Philadelphia as the associate director of college counseling and upper school diversity coordinator. Polly holds a B.A. in English and certificate in Women’s Studies from Princeton University and a M.A. from Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf School of English. She has served on the Orchard Friends School Board since August 2018.
I serve on the Orchard Friends Board because...
I have witnessed firsthand the power of the Orchard Friends community to spark in each of its students—students who have not thrived in traditional educational settings—a drive to learn, a desire to contribute to their community, and pure joy in the connections made among peers as well as between students and their teachers. There’s an alchemy to the way that Orchard Friends ensures its students know that they belong, and that they matter: critical to understanding themselves as friends, learners, and valued members of the community. Orchard Friends offers students who learn differently an opportunity to not only to gain knowledge and skills, but a strong sense of self that will serve them well beyond their time at our school. It’s an honor to be part of the group that is working to uphold the mission and ensure the school’s sustainability for generations to come.
BOARD MEMBER
Matt is the Executive Vice President & CFO for Riggins, Inc., a mid-market energy and transportation business in South Jersey. Previously, he worked as a management consultant, and in Washington, D.C. as a Legislative Assistant and Deputy Communications Director for Congressman Robert Andrews. His passion for community and civic service has carried him all the way from Eagle Scout to his current volunteer activities: a member of the Orchard Friends Board since 2013, Chairman of the Burlington County Bridge Commission, and a Trustee and Chairman of the Finance Council of Christ Our Light Catholic Church in Cherry Hill. Matt received his undergraduate degree from Bucknell University and his M.B.A. from Georgetown University. He lives in Moorestown with his wife and two children.
I serve on the Orchard Friends Board because...
We help kids who are left underserved by our institutions and by our communities. In my time as a Board member, I've seen the toll this disinvestment takes on families—but I've also seen the many ways Orchard Friends heals and helps them: making parents’ lives easier, making learning possible for their children, and setting them up for meaningful, happy futures. I also treasure the opportunity to serve on the Board of a small, nimble nonprofit, where the work we do has a tangible (and more immediate) impact.
BOARD MEMBER
Suzanne is a technical leader who has spent over 30 years in the food industry solving operational problems for the Campbell Soup Company, Kroger, and currently, PepsiCo North American Beverages. She joined the Orchard Friend Board in 2021, and is excited to put her experience and expertise to work for the school, helping it to grow—and grow sustainably. Suzanne holds a B.S. in Microbiology from Pennsylvania State University, a M.B.A. from Rutgers University, and a Masters in Food Science and Nutrition from Drexel University.
I serve on the Orchard Friends Board because...
I have seen first-hand the value (and impact) of education, mentoring, teaching, coaching, and learning. I joined the Board because every member of the Orchard Friends community is devoted to—and passionate about—this school, and to thinking outside the box when it comes to education. You can see the depth of their expertise and their love in every student who currently attends or has passed successfully through their doors. In my work as a Board member, I want to do my part to ensure that Orchard Friends is properly supported and funded, so it can continue to reach more students and families.
BOARD MEMBER
Dan teaches Comparative Religion at Rowan College of Burlington County, and has worked for a variety of nonprofit organizations, including the John Woolman Memorial and Camp Dark Waters. He joined the Orchard Friends Board in June 2021, bringing deep experience in grant writing and fundraising to his position.
Dan earned his B.A. in History from Haverford College and his Ph.D. in Religion and Theology from the University of Birmingham, UK. A graduate of Moorestown Friends School, he has been involved with Quaker education for most of his life as a student and as an educator, teaching students as young as three and as old as 65. He and his wife, Kelly, adopted their son, Will, in 2018.
I serve on the Orchard Friends Board because…
In the classroom and in summer camp settings, I've seen first-hand the need for flexibility and individualization in education: we are all different, and all of us learn in different ways. The approach really determines the outcome, and Orchard Friends not only knows that: they deliver on it. I believe wholeheartedly in Orchard Friends’ mission and in its ability to serve communities who are often left without representation or vocal advocates.
BOARD MEMBER
Betsy Arment Bottger graduated from Chestnut Hill College with both a degree in English and her secondary teaching certification. For the first 10 years post-college, she primarily worked with at-risk youth, both as an adolescent counselor for girls on probation and as a program coordinator for teen mothers. After moving to New Jersey and becoming a parent, she worked as a paralegal for a law firm providing legal representation for the mortgage banking industry. For the past 14 years, Betsy has served on the board of Autism Society Southwest New Jersey, an all-volunteer organization serving families impacted by Autism.
I serve on the Orchard Friends Board because…
I saw the incredible impact OFS had on my son from the 1st through 12th grade as well as on many other students. Attending Orchard Friends was not only life-changing for my son—it was life-changing for our entire family. Everyone here works together as a team, from teachers and therapists to parents and other caregivers. The whole staff will brainstorm together to find solutions, and they stay in constant communication with parents and with each child’s extended care team. Parents’ insights and suggestions are welcomed. This kind of learning environment just doesn’t exist anywhere else.
I think it’s critical that the voice of parents be represented on the Board, and that’s one way I can be of service. Contributing to Orchard Friends’ life-changing work and ensuring that this school can continue to change lives in the future is a priority for me.
BOARD MEMBER
Bill is a licensed structural engineer with over 40 years of domestic and international experience. Prior to retiring, he worked as a Program Manager for Lockheed Martin Energy and remains active in the professional space as a mentor to early-career professionals through American Corporate Partners.
The driving force behind Bill’s volunteer service is deep compassion for the underserved and underrepresented. He is one of the eight founding Board members of Joseph’s House of Camden, a faith-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting people experiencing homelessness. Bill was Vice Chairman of the Joseph’s House Board from 2014 to 2021, and has served as Board Chairman ever since. In 2011, he was ordained as a Permanent Deacon in the Diocese of Camden, and is presently serving as a Deacon for St. Rose of Lima Parish in Haddon Heights.
Bill holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Drexel University.
I serve on the Orchard Friends Board because…
Orchard Friends provides vital services and education to students with many different abilities and strengths. I was immediately impressed with the school’s approach to teaching and track record of success and am honored to have the opportunity to use my skills to further the school’s mission—and along the way, to see so many students unlock their talents and begin happy and fulfilling lives.

No cookie cutters here.

Expertise and empathy.
Creativity and flexibility.
Compassion and love.

WE ARE

WE PLACE

WE USE