THE PHILOSOPHY

GET INSPIRED

“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to

have tried to succeed.”

–Theodore Roosevelt-

our team

jOE cARABASE

With nearly two decades of experience, Joe Carabase is a nationally recognized fitness and wellness coach known for helping clients transform their bodies and lives from the inside out. He has worked with leading brands such as Men’s Health and Beachbody, and serves as the trusted Fitness Expert for Great Day Connecticut. A certified hypnotist, Joe integrates mindset and subconscious reprogramming into his approach, empowering clients to overcome internal barriers for lasting change. As the founder of m.e.l.t. Fitness, In30Fit, and now D-Fine Mind & Body Wellness, Joe continues to redefine what’s possible in health and personal transformation. Most importantly, he’s a proud husband to Marikate and dad to Maeve and Joey.

mARIKATE cARABASE

Marikate Carabase is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over 15 years of experience supporting children with diverse behavioral needs across school, clinic, and residential settings. She holds a Master’s degree in Special Education from Simmons University and a degree in Applied Behavioral Analysis from Western New England University. As the co-founder of Apogee CT, Marikate is redefining education through an individualized approach that supports each student’s development. Above all, she takes the most pride in being the mother to Maeve and Joey, who inspire her passion for helping every child thrive.

Jennie Nietupski

Professional experience:

Associates degree in general studies & science

Over 6 years working in public schools, prek-2

Experience as both special ed & regular ed paraeducator

Why am I passionate about working with children?

I have always adored children and working with them has only deepened that appreciation. Pre-k through grade 1 always held a special place in my heart. It's a great joy to see the world through a child's lens and having the privilege to witness them grow in independence & knowledge. It's truly a blessing to be able to work with children and help them along this journey of life.

What resonates most with Apogee's mission?

In this community, parents have the most influence over their child's education. As a homeschool mom this means everything to me. It’s crucial for our kids to socialize and communicate with children beyond their own age bracket and this is something we can accomplish together at Apogee CT. Children were not designed to sit still for 8 hours and at Apogee I find great comfort in knowing my daughter can be her true self and still have a wonderful, beneficial experience.

Christina Alger

I believe education is not only about academics, but about helping children develop curiosity, confidence, character, and the ability to think and learn independently while partnering with families along the way.

· Over 25 years of experience caring for children, beginning as a neighborhood babysitter in my early teens and continuing through the years of supporting local families with childcare, as well as a Sunday school teacher for K-2 in my family’s church.

· I am a Mother of 3, including an 18-year journey of raising children through different stages of life and development, giving me firsthand appreciation for each child’s unique needs, strengths andpersonality.

· Over the past year while my youngest son attended Apogee, volunteering in the classroom, I discovered a true passion for working with and supporting children as they learn through play. It filled my heart with such joy while building meaningful relationships with the kids last year and look forward to continuing this year.

· I am passionate about creating a nurturing environment where children feel safe, seen and valued, allowing them to build confidence and a love of learning

· I love encouraging their natural curiosity and celebrating their individual personalities and helping them grow socially, emotional and academically.

· Building trusting relationships with not just the children but their families as well, to build a strong partnership and community with likeminded values.

Laura Fiducia

Professional experience:

I have over a decade of experience working with children across a variety of public and private special education settings. I hold a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology and Special Education, and my work has also expanded beyond the classroom through holistic parent coaching, Reiki, hypnosis, and floral arts. These experiences have shaped my whole-child approach and my belief that children thrive when we support them as individuals through their mind, body, and spirit.

Why am I passionate about working with children?

I’m passionate about creating environments where every child feels seen, supported, and empowered to discover how they learn best. I’ve spent my career working with learners with a wide range of strengths and needs, and I love finding ways to make learning accessible, meaningful, and engaging for the individual child. As a former athlete and dancer, I also deeply value movement and have seen firsthand the positive impact physical activity can have on regulation, confidence, and learning.

What resonates most with Apogee’s mission?

What resonates most with me is the opportunity to rethink what education can look like. I believe children deserve more than a one-size-fits-all approach. They deserve the freedom and support to explore their strengths, become confident learners, trust themselves, and genuinely enjoy the process of learning and growing