Sponsor of the Month-Peas For Kids

By Maria Smietana – Editor-in-Chief

Before Allison Charette opened PEAS for Kids (PEAS stands for Psychoeducational Evaluations and Advocacy Solutions) 18 months ago, she had already built an impressive portfolio of academic credentials and work experience. A native of Sheboygan, WI, Charette proudly chose her parents’ alma mater, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where she earned a B.S. in psychology, an M.S. in education, and an education specialist degree (Ed. S.) in school psychology.

Charette first lived in the Hoosier state from 2010-2011 while completing her school psychology internship in Richmond. During the 2011-2012 school year, she went back home and not only finished writing her master’s thesis but gained real-life working experience covering school psychologist positions for employees on maternity leave. That summer, she spent two months in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, working as a gymnastics instructor at Camp Walt Whitman, one of the hundreds of summer camps that have been a traditional part of New England childhoods for over a century. It was there that she met Pat, a fellow instructor who would eventually become her husband.

Over the next five years, Charette worked as a school psychologist for the Naperville, Illinois Community Unit School District 203, UNO Charter Schools (now Acero Schools) in Chicago, and as the testing coordinator for Chicago Public Schools. After becoming engaged in 2016, she and Pat realized they wanted a different lifestyle for their future family, so they moved to Indiana, where she took a school psychologist position for Indianapolis Public Schools. “I now contract with schools all around the state of Indiana, including virtual schools,” she said. “I also obtained my Director of Exceptional Needs Licensure in 2021, as well as my Independent Practice Endorsement, which allowed me to open PEAS for Kids.”

PEAS for Kids specializes in educational consultation, advocacy, and customized assessment plans for kids in grades ranging from prekindergarten through 12th grade and beyond. “Assessment plans address emotional concerns and learning disabilities such as dyslexia, as well as characteristics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),” Charette said. “We utilize the results of our evaluations to provide recommendations for home and school. We then work with parents in advocating for their child’s educational needs within the school setting. Beginning this August, we will also be offering one-on-one tutoring for all ages and abilities.”

PEAS for Kids has also started providing support for school districts that are having difficulty navigating the evaluation process, which can be due to staffing shortages, Covid-19 protocols, or other factors. In the process of making that leap, “we carefully picked some of the most talented school psychologists, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, social workers, and board-certified behavior analysts (BCBAs) that Indiana has to offer,” Charette said.

PEAS for Kids strives to set itself apart by offering support to parents even after their child’s evaluation has been completed. “Oftentimes, parents are given a report after meeting with the clinician regarding the results of the evaluation, but typically it ends there,” Charette said. “In contrast, PEAS staff members attend meetings with parents and help advocate for goals and recommendations consistent with the results of the evaluation.” The company is also looking into developing a nonprofit side to be able to provide services to students whose parents have difficulty affording the cost of an outside evaluation or tutoring services.

Charette’s general advice for special needs families is to keep asking questions once their child enters school. “The special education process can be extremely confusing,” she said. “Even after [earning three degrees], as well as spending 12 years in the business, I am continuously learning new things and searching for answers.

Please, please ask as many questions as you need to feel comfortable!”

When the Charettes aren’t working on growing their businesses (Pat opened EFS Indy, an in-home personal training company, while Allison was launching PEAS for Kids), they’re likely spending time with friends and family. Her parents, now retired, still reside in Sheboygan, home of Sargento Cheese and die-hard Green Bay Packers fans. “I have a gigantic extended family, with 11 aunts and uncles on my mom’s side, and four on my dad’s side,” she said.

“My mother was born in Colombia, South America, and her family moved here when she was 9 years old. I absolutely love getting together with them because everyone sings, dances, and mingles until the wee hours of the morning. They live all over the country, so it’s always special when we are all together in one place.”

As a couple, the Charettes enjoy eating out, traveling, playing golf, completing fitness races together, and attending sporting events. Six years after meeting at summer camp, the two were married at Traders Point Creamery in 2018 and added a Covid puppy to the family in 2020.

Charette supports Special Needs Living because it provides vital information to families with children who have varying ability levels. “These families can often be overwhelmed with where to find information, and I believe this magazine provides the resources they need all in one place,” she said.

Business Contact Information: Allison M. Charette, M.S. Ed., Ed. S. Nationally Certified School Psychologist Founder, PEAS for Kids allison@peas4kids.com www.peas4kids.com (920) 980-1172