About Our Staff

Steve Detweiler
Executive Director of Education Services

Steve Detweiler is the Executive Director of Education Services at Foundations Behavioral Health (FBH). Steve holds a Master of Science degree in Special Education and, prior to becoming an administrator, taught both general and special education in urban, suburban, and rural settings in public and private schools at the primary and secondary levels. He earned certificates from the Commonwealth of PA for teaching and as a Director of Education, from three leadership programs, three crisis prevention/intervention programs, and as a Facilitator for Restorative Practices. He oversees the educational services for over 500 children and adolescents with special needs in a network of 4 private day schools, a residential program, and three acute inpatient behavioral health hospital programs. FBH education services work with over 75 public school districts and Charter Schools from eight states. Steve has been an integral part of the program development, formalization of curriculum, policy & procedure development, licensing, and national accreditation for all the FBH schools and education programs. Additionally, Steve has helped develop and currently oversees LifeWorks Schools, including a private licensed academic middle and high school for students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). He has 12 years of Senior Management team experience and is a member of the Council for Exceptional Children as well as the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Steve also has over ten years’ experience on the Board of Directors for non-profit organizations that support children with special needs in his community. Steve also has 13 years of experience as a contracted high school soccer coach.

Paul D’Amore
Director of Education

Paul D’Amore is the Director of Education for Foundations Behavioral Health’s LifeWorks System. In this position, he is responsible for the oversight of the day to day operations, staffing, supervision of building administrators, curriculum & instruction, accreditation, and performance improvement. He has experience as a teacher and building principal in grades 1 through 12. Since 2006, he has been an adjunct professor at Immaculata University teaching both English and Research courses. Currently, Paul is a doctoral student at Texas Tech University enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Educational Leadership Policy.

Candy Cohen
Director of Intake

Candy Cohen is the Director of Intake for the LifeWorks Schools, supported by Rachel Coldsmith-Willis, Intake Coordinator. Ms. Cohen has been a school counselor since 1998 and has been at LifeWorks since 2005, as a school counselor, Assistant Director, Interim Director and currently Director of Intake. Ms. Cohen oversees the admissions process for all LifeWorks Day School students which involves receiving referrals from numerous districts in many counties and several states, reviewing the paperwork, scheduling and conducting intakes and tours for families and students, coordination of care and making decisions regarding acceptance. The Intake Department assists the Supervisor of Special Education in the Residential student admission process. Ms. Cohen serves as a lead liaison to all Local Education Agency Representatives. She holds certificates in UHS Leadership Excellence as well as Foundations Leadership Academy.

Jesse Menarde
Clinical Director of Schools

Jesse Menarde has been working in the mental health field for the past 20 years. He received his Master of Science in Counseling from West Virginia University and completed additional course work in Counseling Psychology from Temple University. Jesse has worked in outpatient, partial hospitalization, BHRS, inpatient and residential treatment facilities. He is currently the Clinical Director of Schools for Foundations Behavioral Health’s LifeWorks System. In this position, he is responsible for the oversight of the counselors and behavior managers across the system, clinical programing, crisis management trainings and the overall clinical well-being of all the students. Jesse has been a trainer of Handle with Care and Verbal De-escalation for the past fourteen years and became a master trainer (training other trainers) in 2018. He also has completed his certification as an Olweus Bulling Prevention Program trainer. Finally, since 2004 Jesse owns a private practice where he works with adolescence and adults specializing in trauma interventions.