The two-year-old they called “Runaway Jay” was running again. But this time, he wasn’t trying to run away.
Jason “Jay” Fetterman had earned the nickname at his previous preschool. He loved to run and had a knack for escaping. After his family moved to Sarasota in 2021, his mother, Melissa Fetterman, enrolled him at Starfish Academy, The Florida Center for Early Childhood’s preschool.
One morning, as Melissa and Jay arrived at school, he bolted down the hallway. By the time she caught up, he was already in a classroom, getting a morning hug from “Miss Stephanie,” one of his beloved teachers.
“I realized he’d stopped trying to run away,” Melissa says. “Jay felt confined at his last preschool. At Starfish, he ran for pleasure or to give someone a hug. He was happy here. Once I saw that, I knew we’d come to a great place.”
A sense of belonging
Melissa’s younger son, Nathan, followed his brother to Starfish.
“My boys felt like they belonged here,” Melissa says. “To Nathan and Jay, it was a home away from home. Starfish was a happy place for both my boys.”
At Starfish, Melissa found teachers who knew her children — their personalities, preferences and what each needed to thrive.
Individual attention
“Starfish teachers really connect with their students,” Melissa says. She talks about Miss Stephanie’s hugs, Miss Rachida’s remarkable calm and how well they knew her children’s likes and dislikes.
Such as? “Trains,” she laughs. “Nathan is obsessed with trains. When he didn’t want to settle down at nap time, Starfish teachers used that to motivate him. They got him a train set he could play with after resting. It worked!”
The teachers sent Melissa pictures and updates as her children learned, played and formed bonds with classmates. “They couldn’t wait to go to school,” she says. “For my boys, that was definitely a first.”
When Nathan graduated from pre-K, he and two classmates who had started together as babies squeezed themselves back into the little table they had once shared in the “baby room.” A teacher took their picture — a keepsake of how far they’d traveled together.
Nathan in the infant classroom with friends.
Nathan and his friends in the infant classroom 4 years later in VPK.
Learning together
Children with different abilities and developmental needs learn together at Starfish, with teaching tailored to each child. Jay and Nathan both experienced developmental delays and received speech and occupational therapy.
But inclusion means more than providing services. Children of all abilities learn side by side, with teachers meeting each child where they are.
“That’s good for students with developmental delays,” Melissa says. “But it’s also good for students at every level. Inclusion works both ways. Children learn empathy and how to help and support each other.”
She offers an example. “A speaking child might use sign language to communicate with a non-verbal classmate. They see their teachers do it, so they do it. It’s heartwarming and it happens every day.”
A team focused on every child
Starfish pairs preschool teachers with specialists in speech and language, occupational therapy and mental health, giving teachers a fuller understanding of how each child learns, communicates and grows.
“Therapy’s all on site and that’s the beauty of it,” says Melissa. “It’s a conversation. You get a whole picture of the child’s development.”
Having those services integrated into the school day also made family life easier. The support her boys needed was part of the same community where they learned and played.
Ready for kindergarten
Melissa saw her boys make big strides in motor skills, language and basic math at Starfish. “By kindergarten, Nathan could count to 100, write his name and letters,” she says. “They both also learned life skills like sharing and taking turns. They walked into kindergarten with that strong foundation.”
But some of what they gained can’t be reduced to numbers.
“The bonds they made with teachers and other students can’t be measured,” Melissa says. “It made all the difference in their lives.”
About Starfish Academy
Starfish Academy is the early childhood education program of The Florida Center for Early Childhood, serving children from 6 weeks through age 5 at locations in Sarasota and North Port. For more information, visit starfishacademy.org.
Starfish Academy At-a-Glance
- 1 in 6 children experience a developmental delay.
- 65% of Starfish Academy students are typically developing.
- 97% of Starfish VPK graduates are kindergarten ready.
- Learning through play: The nationally recognized Creative Curriculum® builds skills in language, literacy, math, science and social-emotional development through hands-on learning.
- Designed for discovery: Reggio Emilia-inspired classrooms use the environment as a “third teacher,” encouraging curiosity, creativity and exploration.
- Learning together: Children of all abilities learn and play side by side in inclusive classrooms.
- A team approach: Teachers can collaborate with speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists and mental health professionals when children need additional support.
- From school to home: Families receive regular updates and ideas for extending learning into everyday routines.
The Florida Center for Early Childhood and Starfish Academy
Locations & More
North Port – 6929 Outreach Way
(941) 371-8820 ext 1912
Sarasota – 4620 17th Street
(941) 371-8820 ext 1019
Join Starfish Academy at an Open House
⭐️ See our classrooms
⭐️ Meet our experienced teachers
⭐️ Discover a preschool where learning, play and child development expertise come together
- 📆 Wednesday, October 28th from 5:30-7pm in North Port
6929 Outreach Way, North Port, FL 34287 RSVP NOW - 📆 Wednesday, November 4th from 5:30-7pm in Sarasota
4620 17th Street, Sarasota, FL 34235 RSVP NOW
