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Promise Preschool: 20 Years of Impact

A Commitment to Education

In 2005, Kelberman began serving our community, reduce challenging behaviors that may interfere
recognizing the need for a dedicated, long-term with their success in learning. From the beginning,
center for autism services. At that time, Upstate the heart of the program has been about meeting
Caring Partners (UCP) transitioned the Promise children and families where they are and walking
Preschool Program, which began in 1997 for children alongside them through every stage of their journey.
with autism, to Kelberman. The Promise Preschool
continued within Kelberman, expanding its reach Today, twenty years after its inception, thanks to the
and impact. Today, the Promise Preschool operates dream and vision of the Kelberman Family, Kelberman
as a full-day preschool for children ages three to is a leading autism services center for children, adults

five, incorporating individualized education plans, and families. In addition to our Promise Preschool
speech, occupational and physical therapy, as well Program, we provide comprehensive autism programs

as a low student-to-sta ratio to ensure personalized and services for people throughout all phases
attention. Additionally, the of life, from early childhood through adulthood,
supports provided through including: Home & Community
the Promise Preschool are Based, Educational, Clinical,
further augmented given Employment, Residential and

the incorporation of applied Camp. The expert sta at
behavior analytic services Kelberman empower the people

to assist program sta with we support with specialized one-

developing e ective and of-a-kind programs, resources,
individualized strategies support, and wrap-around

to help students increase services, creating a fulfilling,
necessary skills, as well as life-enriching experience for

Promise Preschool graduating class of 2024 people and families.
Recognizing Leslie Stephens:

Her Lifelong Promise

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For over two decades, Leslie Stephens has been a constant, loving presence at The Promise
T
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Preschool, her heart interwoven with every child, family and colleague she’s encountered
Preschool, her heart in
along the way. To call it a career would be an understatement, this mission has always been
along the w ay . T o c all it a c ar eer w ould be an understatemen t, this mission has alw ay s been
a calling for Leslie. One she’s answered every day since Promise opened its doors.
a c alling f or L eslie. O ne she ’ s ans w er ed e v ery day sinc e P r omise opened its doors.
From the very beginning, Leslie has seen her role not just as a job, but as a blessing. “The families,

their loved ones, and the sta I have met through the years are truly the most rewarding parts
of it all,” she shares. “I am still in contact with families whose children started in Promise when
it opened. I’m still friends with people I worked with all those years ago.” These relationships
speak volumes about the depth of Leslie’s care and the legacy she continues to build.
As a Classroom Support Specialist, Leslie has spent countless days supporting children of all abilities,
meeting them with empathy, patience and boundless love. Her belief in their potential and her
dedication to helping them grow are the heartbeat of her work. “I hope
I’m making a di erence in the lives of these kiddos,” she says humbly.

Leslie’s dedication to our community has reached her own family. Her
daughter Miranda grew up seeing the love and purpose her mother
received from her work at Promise. Miranda is now on her own journey
at Kelberman as a Speech Pathologist, working side-by-side with Leslie. It’s a testament to
the impact of Leslie’s calling and the contagious nature of compassion lived out each day.
Leslie Stephens is, and always will be, a treasured part of the Kelberman story.