OUR STORY
Autism Collier Charter School (ACCS) was born out of a shared determination to ensure a brighter future for children with significant autism in Collier County. This vision was spearheaded by Stephanie Nordin, co-founder of the Autism Collier Resource Center, alongside former Collier County Public Schools Board member Jen Mitchell and exceptional education leader Emily Kafle. Together, they united their unique expertise and unwavering passion to create a transformative educational option for students with autism and their families.
In 2022, Stephanie’s life changed forever when her son suffered a life-threatening accident. This experience brought to light the lack of tuition-free specialized educational options in Southwest Florida for children with significant autism and behavioral challenges. Determined to create meaningful change, Stephanie began researching successful autism-specific schools across Florida and the nation, including the renowned South Florida Autism Charter School (SFACS) in Hialeah, FL. Drawing inspiration from these models, she assembled a dedicated team of experts and community leaders to design a school tailored to meet the unique needs of families like hers.
Stephanie shared her vision with Jen Mitchell, who brought strong expertise in school operations, governance, and funding to the effort. Together, they visited SFACS to learn the ins and outs of operating a successful charter school and joined the National Accelerator of Autism Charter Schools (NAACS), an organization dedicated to supporting teams launching autism-focused schools across the country.
As their vision for ACCS took shape, they began the critical search for a school leader who embodied the qualities essential for the role: a growth mindset, expertise in special education, empathy, strong communication skills, supportive leadership, problem-solving abilities, consistency, inclusivity, and approachability. Their search led them to Emily Kafle, then Director of Exceptional Student Education for Collier County Public Schools.
Unbeknownst to Stephanie and Jen, Emily brought seven years of experience from working at an autism charter school in Minnesota. When approached with the opportunity to lead ACCS, Emily was immediately drawn to the chance to return to an innovative and creative educational setting with a mission to serve students with autism and their families.
Together, this passionate team has built ACCS from the ground up, driven by a shared commitment to providing a safe, nurturing, and innovative learning environment where students with autism can thrive. At ACCS, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, and we are dedicated to making that vision a reality.
