Autism Outreach - Our BCBA's

Board Certified Behavior Analysts

Michelle (Hurst) Carney, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA, Executive Director

Ms. Carney graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from West Chester University. She began her career as a behavior specialist at a private school in Pennsylvania for children with learning disabilities, emotional disturbances, conduct disorders, autism spectrum disorders and pervasive developmental disorders. While pursuing her Master’s Degree in Special Education, Ms. Carney worked as a teacher at the first center-based ABA program in Pennsylvania.

After receiving her Master’s Degree, she moved to Virginia to supervise an ABA pilot program in Fairfax, Virginia. She was responsible for supervision and implementation of in-home ABA services for children diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorders and autism spectrum disorders. In addition, she began a private practice (Autism Outreach, Inc.) to service those families and children not eligible for school supervised ABA programs. She has served as a consultant to many families in the Northern Virginia, Virginia Beach, Maryland, Washington D.C., Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New York areas. In addition, Ms. Carney has trained in several social skills programs and was a former RDI® consultant.

In 2008, Ms. Carney was an adjunct professor at the University of Mary Washington which is located in Fredericksburg, Virginia. She taught a course required for the BCaBA certification. She has served on the board of directors for Autism Pathways and the Autism Society of America, Northern Virginia Chapter.

Ms. Carney specializes in IEP support, Social Thinking® and Behavior Intervention Plans. She aides in the supervision of individuals eligible to sit for the BCaBA or BCBA exam. Ms. Carney is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

In her free time, Ms. Carney enjoys running, football and traveling with husband!

Leslie Moon, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA

Ms. Moon graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Developmental Psychology from George Mason University. She began her career as an ABA therapist working in a preschool autism program for Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia under Michelle (Hurst) Carney. She went on to become the lead therapist for the program and began recruiting, hiring, and training new therapists and programming for the children. During this time, Ms. Moon earned a Master's Degree in Education with a concentraion in Counseling and Development, and has worked as a program consultant for Autism Outreach, Inc. since 1999.

Ms. Moon has been responsible for supervision and implementation of in-home ABA services for children and adults with varying disabilities from ages 2-30. She aides in the supervision of individuals eligible to sit for the BCaBA or BCBA exam. Ms. Moon specializes in Discrete Trial Teaching and potty training.

She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and is a Licensed Behavior Analyst by the Virginia Board of Medicine.

In her free time, Ms. Moon enjoys spending time with her grandchildren and family, reading and going to the beach.

Erica Stapler, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA, Center Based Director

Ms. Stapler graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from Wheeling Jesuit University in 2006. Upon graduating, Ms. Stapler began working as a an ABA therapist at a private school in Wheeling, WV, where she worked with a variety of children on the autism spectrum providing intensive 1:1 ABA-DTT. During this time she received on-going training from the Lovaas Institute.

Ms. Stapler returned to the Washington, D.C. area in 2008 and began her career with Autism Outreach, Inc.

Ms. Stapler graduated from George Mason University in May 2014 with a M.Ed., in Special Education with a concentration in Early Childhood Special Education. In August 2014 Ms. Stapler became a BCBA.

In addition to consulting, Ms. Stapler is currently the Director of Training and Scheduling Coordinator; she trains all new therapists within the company on the basic principles of ABA and AOI Policies and is our trainer for preparing therapists as Registered Behavior Technicians (RBT) through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board®. Ms. Stapler is the author of the Theory of Mind Curriculum designed to target executive functioning skills.

Ms. Stapler specializes in Theory of Mind Development, IEP support, challenging behaviors and the developlment of Behavior Intervention Plans. She aides in the supervision of individuals eligible to sit for the BCaBA or BCBA exam. Ms. Stapler is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and is a Licensed Behavior Analyst by the Virginia Board of Medicine.

In her free time, Ms. Stapler enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, and reading.

Samantha Thompson, BCBA, LBA

Samantha has a B.A. in Psychology and her M.A.T in Special Education (K-12) from James Madison University. She was a Special Education Teacher for 5 years working with students with intellectual disabilities.

Leah Koontz, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA

Leah is from Sterling, VA and has lived in Northern Virginia all of her life. She currently lives in Reston. She attended West Virginia University for her undergraduate degree – graduating in May of 2011. In December of 2019 she received her Masters in Early Childhood Special Education from George Mason University. She is currently enrolled in Florida Institute of Technology’s BCBA program! Her plan is to finish those courses, her supervision hours, and pass the BCBA exam by December 31st of 2021! Leah loves working at AOI as a Master Therapist and believes that all of the BCBAs and therapists are one-of-a-kind, special people. She cherishes the feeling of knowing that what she does makes a huge difference in each of the kiddo's lives. :)

Nicole Morris, BCBA, LBA

Nicole is from Sterling, VA and now lives in South Riding with her husband and rescue dog. She graduated from Longwood University in 2012 and has a Masters in Special Education from George Mason University. She also has graduate certificates in Adapted Curriculum and Applied Behavior Analysis. Before starting at AOI, Nicole spent 6 years as a special education teacher for Loudoun County Public Schools in a self-contained program for students with Autism grades 3-5. Nicole has just passed her boards and is a BCBA (July 2021). Nicole loves helping our kiddos become the best versions of themselves. Nicole has a passion for all things behavior and communication and has found the right place here at AOI!

Board Certified assistant Behavior Analysts

Sarah Sullivan, M.Ed., BCaBA, LABA

Ms. Sullivan graduated from the University of Mary Washington with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology in 2007. During her time as an undergraduate, she completed coursework in developmental psychology, psychology of exceptional children, and developmental linguistics. Ms. Sullivan completed a Master’s degree in Special Education at the University of Mary Washington in 2009 and is considered Highly Qualified to teach Language Arts. She has worked with children with autism since 2005, beginning as a therapist and lead therapist. Ms. Sullivan was hired as a Program Consultant by Autism Outreach, Inc. in 2008.

Ms. Sullivan is a Board Certified assistant Behavior Analyst and is a Licensed Assistant Behavior Analyst by the Virginia Board of Medicine. She serves the Richmond and surrounding area.