What's New at AOI

 

Master Consultants

Our master consultants have 5+ years of experience in the field with a Master's degree or higher with a BCBA.


Michelle L. Hurst, M.Ed., BCBA

 

Ms. Hurst 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. Hurst 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. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. In addition, Ms. Hurst has trained in several social skills programs.

In 2008, Ms. Hurst 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 was also appointed to the board of directors for the Autism Pathway Foundation (an organization that raises funds for families that have individuals with Autism living in Loudoun County, Virginia)

In 2009, Ms. Hurst was appointed to the board of directors for the Autism Society, Northern Virginia Chapter.

 

Leslie Smith, M.Ed., BCBA

Ms. Smith 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. 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. Smith earned a Master's Degree in education and has worked as a program consultant for Autism Outreach, Inc. She has been responsible for supervision and implementation of in-home ABA services for children with varying disabilities from ages 2-19. Leslie is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

 

 Jillian Austin, M.Ed., BCBA

Ms. Austin graduated with a Masters in Education with licensure in Special Education (K-12), from James Madison University in the spring of 2007. Her student teaching was in an elementary classroom for children with autism and mental impairments. She has been an ABA therapist since high school and was promoted to lead therapist after high school. Throughout college, Ms. Austin taught therapeutic horse back riding lessons for adults and children with physical and mental disabilities, where she was also responsible for developing an “Image Enhancement” curriculum for students with emotional and behavioral disorders. She also attended and participated in multiple trainings, conferences and coursework to enhance her knowledge and experience with children on the Autism Spectrum. She was hired as a consultant for AOI in the Spring of 2007.

 

 

 

 

Tammy Ferraco, MS BCBA

 

Mrs. Ferraco graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology in 2004. As she completed her certificate in Elementary Education, she began working as a behavioral therapist to children and adults on the spectrum. She taught a year in South Carolina to fourth grade students as well as tutored at a learning center. On her return to Pittsburgh, Mrs. Ferraco pursued her Master of Science degree in Applied Developmental Psychology, with a focus on emotional and behavioral disorders. She returned to behavioral therapy, where she completed trainings on verbal behavior, sign language, CPR, and crisis prevention and intervention. In 2007, she completed her Master of Science degree with a program design for children with Asperger’s Syndrome. In February of 2008, she relocated to Virginia and was hired as a full time therapist at AOI. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

 

Senior Consultants

Our senior consultants have 5+ years of experience in the field with a Master's degree pursuing a BCBA or a Bachelor degree with a BCaBA.

 

 

Sarah Sullivan, M.Ed, BCaBA

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.  Ms. Sullivan is a Board Certified assistant Behavior Analyst and plans to pursue her BCBA.   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.  She is currently our primary Program Consultant in Fredericksburg, Virginia and surrounding areas as well as our Therapist and Hiring Manager.

 

 

 

 

Leatha Huntington, B.A., BCaBA


Ms. Huntington graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with an emphasis in behavioral analysis. She graduated with the Magna cum Laude designation from Florida International University in April of 2007. She started working with children who have Developmental Disabilities in 2007 at New Way Day Services, Inc. as a behavioral therapist in Miami Florida. Ms. Huntington worked with children and adults in the home and group home settings. She provided parent and staff training on behavior programs and wrote plans for the Local Review Committee. Ms. Huntington completed her internship and received her Board Certified assistant Behavior Analyst certification in August 2008. Ms. Huntington was hired as a Senior ABA Therapist in the fall of 2009. She started the consultant in training program in September 2010 and has been co-consulting on some of the teams. Ms. Huntington will be completed the consultant in training program in December 2010.She is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Community Counseling and hopes to become a BCBA and a LPC upon completion. 

 

Erica Stapler, BA,BCaBA

 

Mrs. Stapler graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from Wheeling Jesuit University in 2006. In the spring of 2006, Mrs. Stapler interned at the Augusta Levy Learning Center in Wheeling, WV, where she learned the basics of ABA. Upon graduating, Mrs. Stapler began
working as a full-time ABA therapist at the Augusta Levy Learning Center where she worked with a variety of children on the autism spectrum providing an intensive 1:1 ABA-DTT program to children with autism. During this time she received on-going training from the Lovaas Institute. Mrs. Stapler returned to the Washington, D.C. area in 2008 and began working as a Senior Therapist for AOI in June 2008. Mrs. Stapler is a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst. In addition to being a Consultant, Mrs. Stapler is currently the Therapist Training Manager for AOI; she trains all new therapists within the company and also provides monthly special interest trainings to all therapists. Mrs. Stapler has begun creating a new curriculum focusing on teaching
the necessary skills for Theory of Mind. She plans to pursue her masters degree and BCBA in the future.

 

 

Associate Consultants

Our associate consultants have 5+ years of experience in the field with a Bachelor's degree pursuing a BCaBA.