Our Staff

Office Staff

Kerantha Poole-Christian

Kerantha Poole-Christian

CEO-Owner, PhD/CCC-SLP

Kerantha brings to Atlantic Speech Therapy a wealth of experience. She obtained her Master of Arts in Communications Sciences and Disorders at Montclair State University. She has an earned PhD in Education. Kerantha has experience with patients of all ages, ranging from NICU to adults.  Areas of specialty include dysphagia, voice, cognition, and language.  She loves to travel and spend time with her twins.  

Brittany

Brittany

Office Administrator

Brittany was born in Iowa and lived in Fort Myers Florida for almost 20 years.  She has been in Jacksonville since the Fall of 2012 and graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic University with a Bachelor’s in Church Music.  Brittany has held many positions, her most fulfilling being a gymnastics coach and piano teacher for over 15 years. She now holds the full-time Office Administrator position and has enjoyed working at Atlantic Speech Therapy thus far and getting to meet wonderful families!  She looks forward to continuing with AST!

Courtney

Courtney

Office Administrator

Courtney was originally born in San Diego, California but later moved to Georgia with her family.  She continued to live in GA for 14 years, including the 4 years she attended the University of Georgia where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Development. Courtney and her family have been in Jacksonville since 2015 and both she, and her husband and two boys, love living here!  Speaking of her sons, Courtney was first introduced to Atlantic Speech Therapy when her oldest son was receiving speech therapy services there. Having completed his speech therapy, it is neat to witness how things have come full circle with Courtney now holding a position as the billing specialist at Atlantic Speech Therapy. Since joining the team in 2020, Courtney has really enjoyed being a part of this incredible group of people and loves seeing the kids reach their full potential through the services offered at Atlantic Speech Therapy!

Speech Language Pathologist

Alicia

Alicia

Speech-Language Pathologist

Alicia has a BA in Government from the University of Virginia, a BS in Secondary Education from Virginia Commonwealth University and a MS in Speech Pathology from the University of Hawaii.   With over 20 years of experience as a speech pathologist in a variety of settings, she and her family moved to Jacksonville from the Washington DC area following her husband’s retirement from the US Army.  Alicia feels privileged to work with military families and especially enjoys teaching social thinking skills using the framework of Michelle Garcia Winner.

Jessica

Jessica

Speech Language Pathologists

Jessica was born and raised in Jacksonville Florida. Graduated with a BS from Columbia College in Speech-Language Pathology and an MS from Florida State University in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Specialties include deaf and hard of hearing, autism spectrum disorder, articulation & phonology and early intervention therapies, infant feeding, and communication development. For fun she loves to go to the beach to relax and spend time with her family.

Sonali

Sonali

Speech-Language Pathologist

Sonali is originally from Huntsville, AL . She graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Nova Southeastern University. She has worked in a hospital setting, skilled nursing facilities, outpatient clinics for pediatrics and geriatrics, and private schools. She likes to work with the pediatrics and geriatrics populations.

Marlene

Marlene

Speech-Language Pathologist

Marlene graduated from Loma Linda University with a BA in Communication Disorders and obtained her MA in Communication Sciences and Disorders from San Diego State University.  She has a passion for working with children who have speech or language difficulties and enjoys helping them reach their potential.  She is fluent in Spanish and PECS trained.

Chloe

Chloe

Speech Language Pathologist

Chloé was born and raised in Jacksonville Florida. She received her BS in Communication Science and Disorders and MS in Speech-Language Pathology from Florida State University. Being an Army wife, she has had the opportunity to work in a variety of settings, including private practices, early in-home intervention, outpatient children’s hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities. She loves working with children, especially ages birth to three. She was introduced to the field of speech pathology by her mother, who has been a special education teacher for over 25 years. She discovered a love for speech therapy by volunteering in her mother’s classroom. Chloé loves helping children become functional communicators by working along with their families. 

Mikayla

Mikayla

Speech Language Pathologist

Mikayla was born in Norfolk, VA, and raised in Jacksonville, FL as part of a military family. Mikayla received her undergraduate and graduate degree from the University of Central Florida; Go Knights Charge On! She returned home to Jacksonville in 2019. Since graduation, she has worked mostly with the pediatric population in the private clinic and school setting. Her graduate work experience includes working with children in the private practice setting as well as adults in the outpatient and inpatient setting with a focus on brain injury rehabilitation. Mikayla enjoys working with school-aged children on receptive/expressive language, phonology and articulation, and feeding and swallowing.

Cristina

Cristina

Speech Language Pathologist

Cristina is a military brat, so home is where her family lives.  She moved to Florida from North Carolina in 2017, and currently calls Apollo Beach her home!  She studied Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Go Spartans and Minerva!  Treating clients with fluency and articulation needs is her favorite. In her free time she enjoys listening to podcasts, walking outside, and playing her ukulele. SheI hopes to travel more with my husband-to-be during their spare time this year.

 

 

 

Susan

Susan

Speech Language Pathologist

Jupiter Florida is where I call home. I attended Florida State University to receive my Masters in Communication Science and Disorders. One of my favorite things to treat with the kids I work with is Fluency. In my free time you will catch me spending time with my family playing with our farm animals.

Meredith

Meredith

Speech Language Pathologist

Meredith was born and raised in South Florida.  She graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelors in Speech-Language Pathology and in 2007 with a Masters Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders.  In 2012, she moved to Jacksonville, Florida.  She has worked in an outpatient clinic, skilled nursing facilities, home health, and school settings.  Her passion is working with birth to three in early intervention, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and the Down Syndrome Population.  For fun, Meredith enjoys shopping, bike riding, reading, and spending time with her family.

Kristine

Kristine

Speech Language Pathologist

Kristine was born and raised in Florida and has spent most of her life in Jacksonville. She graduated with a BS in Special Education from Elon University and an MS from Florida State University in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Before pursuing her MS, Kristine worked as a special education teacher providing educational services for children with learning disabilities, deaf and hard of hearing, and autism spectrum disorders. Kristine specializes in speech sound disorders, childhood apraxia of speech, and early language. Out of the office, Kristine enjoys spending time with her family and cute corgi.

Occupational Therapist

Mary S.

Mary S.

Occupational Therapist

With A BS in Occupational Therapy from the University of Florida in 1985 she has 28 years experience in working with children of all ages and diagnosis. Her career began in south Florida where she advanced to the Director of Occupational Therapy and a pediatric program coordinator in an outpatient rehabilitation setting. She has been in the Jacksonville area for the past 19 years working with children in both the inpatient hospital and outpatient therapy environments. She specializes in working with children with autistic spectrum disorder, neurological deficits and sensory processing dysfunction and has completed extensive continuing education coursework. She developed a website for management of computer applications and games entitled games4the spectrum.

Physical Therapist

Nutritionist

Dana

Dana

Dietician and Nutritionist

A member of the Atlantic Speech Therapy team since 2017, Dana brings over a decade of dietetics and nutrition experience.  Prior to joining AST Dana worked as a Registered Dietitian at Baptist Medical Center. During her time at Baptist, Dana focused on nutrition in oncology, the ICU, nutrition support, stroke, and women’s care including pregnancy, as well as assisting in developing and implementing the electronic medical record for nutrition. A graduate of the University of North Florida Dana has had the privilege of both achieving and using her Master’s of Health Science to benefit the First Coast community. The birth of her son prompted Dana’s interest in pediatric nutrition. Dana enjoys employing this combination of interest and expertise by helping parents, caregivers and their children follow simple steps allowing food to nourish their bodies and lives.