Friends of Lexis
We are thrilled to have so many passionate, enthusiastic, and experienced individuals who are committed to the success of the school. Please read on to learn more about the dedicated professionals and leaders who have become Friends of Lexis.Lexis Preparatory School has engaged the assistance and support of several key community professionals. Our Professional Advisory Board assists the development team and school leaders, and provides guidance on key issues. Advisory Board members are not compensated for their time and contributions. They are not responsible for the day-to-day operations of the school and are not asked to endorse any part of the program or the entire program. On behalf of the entire Lexis Prep community, we sincerely thank the Professional Advisory Board for their generous donation of time and knowledge.
Raun Melmed, M.D.
Medical Director at Melmed Center and co-owner of Lexis Preparatory School
Dr. Raun Melmed, medical director of the Melmed Center and a developmental and behavioral pediatrician, founded the Melmed Center in 1989. He is a co-founder and the medical director of the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center. A native of South Africa, he completed his postgraduate studies in Israel, New York City and Boston. He was a fellow with Dr. Mel Levine at the Children's Hospital in Boston where he was an Instructor at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Melmed is an Adjunct Senior Researcher at the Translational Genomics Institute in Phoenix. He is a member of the Society for Behavioral Pediatrics and the Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, the Ambulatory Pediatric Association and he is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Melmed is principal investigator in numerous studies including the use of novel therapeutic agents in the treatment of ADHD and autism. He is a co-principal investigator in studies involving family linkage, proteomics and gene expression in autism.
Anita Werner, M.S., CCC-SLP
Director at Pediatric Speech and Language Specialists and co-owner of Lexis Preparatory School
Anita brings over twenty-four years of extensive clinical experience to the practice and is widely recognized for her work in speech and language therapy. A frequent lecturer and consultant, she has extensive experience diagnosing and providing speech therapy for children, working to better educate parents, supporting teachers and interfacing with pediatricians. Some of her other honors include: Owner and President of Pediatric Speech and Language Specialists, Master of Science, summa cum laude - Southern Methodist University, Bachelor of Science cum laude - Arizona State University, Certificate of Clinical Competency in Speech Pathology, American Speech / Language / Hearing Association, Arizona State Board License for Speech Pathology, Member - American Speech / Language / Hearing Association (ASHA), Member - American Academy of Private Practice in Speech Pathology (AAPPSPA), Member - Arizona Speech Language and Hearing Association (ArSHAA).
School Development Team
While leadership for daily operations occurs locally, the school development team of Dr. Walt Karniski, Ms. Lois Delaney, Mr. Todd Avis, and Mr. Jeff Poole provide support based on their years of experience with Tampa Day School (which Lexis Prep is modeled after) and in the field of specialized education.
Dr. Karniski is the Executive Director of Lexis Preparatory School. He is a board certified Developmental Pediatrician. He initially trained as a pediatrician at the University of Kansas and then as a research fellow with Dr. Mel Levine at the Children's Hospital in Boston where he was an Instructor at Harvard Medical School. He was the Director of Child Development at All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg and then Director of the Division of Child Development at the University of South Florida College of Medicine until 1993. He has published articles and research papers in developmental pediatrics. He has held numerous positions to advocate for children, including the Medical Director of the Child Protection Team, the Medical Director of the Regional Perinatal Intensive Care Center, a member of the Florida Infant Hearing Impairment Advisory Council and the Florida Governor’s Autism Task Force. In 1997, he established the Florida Children’s Center, a multidisciplinary program for the evaluation and treatment of children with Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorder, and Behavioral Disorders. For 15 years, he was the Executive Director of Tampa Day School, a school for children with non-traditional learning styles. He and Lois Delaney own and operate the Bowman Academy, a preschool in Tampa, with his wife, Teresa Burgess, Head of School. With Lois Delaney, he started Keystone Preparatory School, for high school students with atypical learning styles. Although he lives in Tampa, Florida, he will be at the school on a frequent basis and will play a critical daily role in managing and developing the program at Lexis.
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Lexis Preparatory School has truly provided an individualized plan for our child. He is excited to go to school and has regular “Aha” moments. Our child does not have a disability; he simply learns differently and now he knows he can learn!
Stephanie & Robert HisleScottsdale, AZ
