Little Leaves is an organization of professionals who are passionate about working with children.
Our program is supervised by master’s and doctoral level Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and delivered by highly-trained therapists. We believe that our children’s families and caregivers are integral members of the treatment team and we treat them that way.
Little Leaves knows that providing the highest quality services to your child requires a team effort, and that is how we work. Within Little Leaves, we have created a model for our professionals to collaborate on treatment approaches, share best practices, and continuously learn from each other. Your child will be supported not just by his or her immediate team, but also by the decades of experience and expertise of all of our clinicians, many of whom have studied and trained in the finest ABA programs in the world.
Leadership Team
Bio
Marina Major, President, joined the founding team after 10 years with British Schools of America, a leading provider of British style international education based here in Washington DC. Ms. Major served as both its CFO and COO and was responsible for starting up four schools in the U.S. and assisting in the development of its international school. Ms. Major had oversight and responsibility for all BSA operations, spearheaded its expansion and multimilllion dollar construction projects and served on the school’s board of directors. Previously, she was Director of Administration and International Operations for Micro Analytics Inc., a leading logistics software developer and was responsible for company-wide operations at BT Office Products, where she worked directly for the executive board on corporate development initiatives. Ms. Major received a B.B.A. from the College of William and Mary, majoring in marketing with a minor in Spanish, holds a certificate in accounting from the University of Virginia, and is currently a CPA in the State of Virginia.
Marina Major
President
Bio
Amie Perl, Managing Director,has spent the better part of her career working for companies that change lives. Prior to joining Little Leaves, she served in various strategic and operational roles at Strayer University and Weightwatchers.com. She began her career in management consulting at The Boston Consulting Group where she worked with companies across a broad range of industries, and worked in finance at Goldman Sachs. Ms. Perl holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and graduated cum laude with a B.A. in applied mathematics from Harvard University. She is involved with Autism Speaks and previously served on the board of the Autism Society of Northern Virginia.
Amie Perl
Managing Director
Bio
Heather Jennett, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA, Director of Clinical Services, is a licensed psychologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst who has been working with individuals with autism and related disorders for over 20 years. Prior to working at Little Leaves, Dr. Jennett was a Senior Behavior Analyst on the Neurobehavioral Unit at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and held a faculty appointment at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Dr. Jennett earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Rutgers University and, while there, worked at the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center in a variety of roles. She is a member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International and the Maryland Association for Behavior Analysis, and has presented her research at national and international conferences and published in peer review journals.
Heather Jennett, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA
Director of Clinical Service
Bio
R. Justin Boyd, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA, Regional Director (DC Metro) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and licensed psychologist with over 15 years of experience working with children diagnosed with ASD and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Before joining Little Leaves, he served as a supervising psychologist with the Neurobehavioral Unit outpatient program at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. Dr. Boyd holds a M.S. in Special Education and a Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of Oregon. He is a member of the American Psychological Association, Association for Behavior Analysis International, and Maryland Association for Behavior Analysis. His research has been presented at regional and national conferences and workshops and published in peer-reviewed journals.
R. Justin Boyd, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA
Regional Director (DC Metro)
Bio
Erin Camp, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA, Regional Director (Baltimore), is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who has been working with individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities of all ages for over 15 years. Prior to joining Little Leaves, she directed ABA services in a community-based organization in Kansas City, MO. Dr. Camp holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of North Carolina-Wilmington and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Florida, and is a member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International and the Maryland Association for Behavior Analysis. Her research has been presented at regional and national conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.
Erin Camp Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA
Regional Director (Baltimore)
Bio
Barbara Davis, Ph.D., BCBA-D, Regional Director (South Florida), is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who has been working with individuals with intellectual disabilities for nearly 15 years. Barbara was previously the Little Leaves Regional Director for the DC Metro region before she and her family moved to the South Florida area in 2017. Since moving, she has served as the Clinical Director for two community-based residential programs serving children and adults with intellectual disabilities and severe problem behavior. Previously, she worked on the Neurobehavioral Unit at Kennedy Krieger Institute in various roles. Dr. Davis holds a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Florida, an M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis, and a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology – both from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She is a member of the Association for Behavior Analysis, International, Association for Professional Behavior Analysts, and the Florida Association of Behavior for Behavior Analysis. Her research has been presented at regional and national conferences and workshops and published in peer-reviewed journals.
Barbara Davis, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Regional Director (South Florida)
Bio
Kendra McDonald, M.A., BCBA, LBA, Regional Director, is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst who has been working with children and adults with autism and related intellectual disabilities for over 15 years. Prior to working at Little Leaves, Kendra was the Director of Clinical Services for The Arc of Loudoun, overseeing development and implementation of behavior analysis at The Aurora School, Open Door Learning Center, and The Aurora Behavior Clinic. She earned her master’s degree in psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Kendra has presented research with an emphasis on verbal behavior at national, state, and local conferences. She is a member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International and the Virginia Association for Behavior Analysis.
Kendra McDonald, M.A., BCBA, LBA, Regional Director
Center Directors and Supervising Behavior Analysts
Bio
Angela Malo, M.S., BCBA, LBA, (Center Director at Alexandria, VA) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst who has more than 8 years of experience working with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and developmental disabilities. Prior to joining Little Leaves, she provided both center-based and home-based ABA services in Michigan. Additionally, she conducted diagnostic assessments specializing in ASD. Angela holds a B.S. in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina, M.S. in General Clinical Psychology from Eastern Michigan University, and a post-graduate certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from the Florida Institute of Technology.
Angela Malo, M.S., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Maureen Rushton, BCBA , LaBA (Center Director at Reston, VA) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Assistant Behavior Analyst who specializes in working with children with Autism. She has worked in the area of early intervention for the past 15 years; providing services in school, home, and clinic settings. Prior to working at Little Leaves, she spent over 5 years as an ABA Program Supervisor at The Shafer Center, a non-public school for children with Autism located in Owings Mills, Maryland. For 2 years, Maureen served as a board member of the Baltimore Autism Society. Maureen holds a B.A. in Psychology and a B.S. in Biology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, completed her Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis at The Pennsylvania State University, and earned her M.A. in Professional Behavior Analysis from Florida Institute of Technology. Maureen’s professional interests include the study and application of Organizational Behavioral Management (OBM) to increase staff performance in the workplace.
Maureen Rushton, BCaBA, LaBA
Bio
Jess Poyer, M.S., BCBA, LBA, (Center Director at Germantown, MD)is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst with over 8 years of experience working with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other developmental disabilities. Before joining Little Leaves, she was an intern at the Virginia Institute of Autism and worked at the New England Center for Children (NECC). At NECC, she worked in both Massachusetts and Abu Dhabi with young adults in a residential program and preschoolers in a day program. Jess holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Virginia and an M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis from Western New England University. She is a member of the Maryland Association of Behavior Analysis and the Association for Behavior Analysis International.
Jess Poyer, M.S., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Jessica Garcia, M.A., BCBA, LBA, (Center Director at Silver Spring, MD) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst with over 10 years of experience working with children with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities. Prior to joining the Little Leaves team, she was the Clinical Director for a center-based ABA program in North Carolina and previously worked at the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Neurobehavioral inpatient and outpatient units. Jessica earned her B.S. in Psychology from Towson University, and her M.A. in Human Services Psychology with an emphasis in Behavior Analysis from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.
Jessica Garcia, M.A., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Leslie Brittain, M.A., BCBA, LBA, (Reston,VA) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over 5 years of experience working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities. She has worked with children and young adults in multiple therapeutic settings including homes, private schools, clinics, and public schools. Leslie holds a B.A. in Psychology and Special Education from James Madison University and a M.A. in Psychological Sciences, with a concentration in Behavior Analysis.
Leslie Brittain, M.A., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Brittney Lazor, M.A., BCBA, LBA, (Weston, FL) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Prior to becoming a Supervising Behavior Analyst, she was a Behavior Specialist at Little Leaves, a research assistant at Towson University’s Cognitive Development Lab, and an intern on the Neurobehavioral Unit (outpatient and inpatient) at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. Brittney earned her M.A. in Applied Developmental Psychology from George Mason University, where she specialized in Atypical Development and Behavior Interventions. She is a member of the Maryland Association of Behavior Analysis, the Florida Association for Behavior Analysis, and the Association for Behavior Analysis International. Her research has been presented at regional conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.
Brittney Lazor, M.A., BCBA, LBA,
Bio
Amanda B. Link, M.A., BCBA, LBA, (White Marsh, MD) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst who has been working with individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities for nearly 15 years. Before joining Little Leaves, she worked as the School Behavior Specialist for The Forbush Therapeutic Preschool at Towson, a nonpublic special education facility affiliated with Sheppard Pratt Health System. Amanda completed her M.A. in Clinical Psychology at Towson University before earning a post-graduate certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from The University of North Texas.
Amanda’s clinical interests include using principles of behavior analysis to build flexible behavior repertoires and applying Acceptance and Commitment Training to the early intensive intervention service model. She is a member of the Maryland Association of Behavior Analysis.
Amanda B. Link, M.A., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Jana Murgia, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA, (Reston, VA) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Licensed Behavior Analyst, and holds a Postgraduate Professional Teaching License for Special Education in the Commonwealth of Virginia. She has 15 years of experience working with children with Autism and other disabilities. Prior to working at Little Leaves, she worked for more than 8 years in both teaching and administrative capacities for Southeastern Cooperative Educational Programs, which supports students with Autism, intellectual disabilities, and behavioral challenges. Jana earned her B.A. in Psychology from American University and her M.Ed. from Cambridge College, concentrating in Special Education. She is a member of the Virginia Association for Behavior Analysis and the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts.
Jana Murgia, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Carrie Scheffenacker, M.A., BCBA, LBA, (White Marsh, MD) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a Licensed Behavior Analyst. She has worked with children with ASD and developmental disabilities for over 10 years in multiple academic and therapeutic settings. Prior to joining Little Leaves, she worked at the Model Asperger Program at The Ivymount School in Rockville, MD. Carrie holds a B.A. in Psychology from West Virginia University and a M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis with a concentration in Autism from Ball State University.
Carrie Scheffenacker, M.A., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Bianca Vassare, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA, is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, a Licensed Behavior Analyst, and a member of Association for Behavior Analysis International. Prior to working at Little Leaves, she spent 5 years applying CABASÒ ABA methodology in school settings to enhance verbal behavior repertoires of children diagnosed with Autism and other developmental disabilities. In addition, she has presented at the Association for Behavior Analysis International annual conference. Bianca obtained her Ph.D. and 2 master’s degrees in Applied Behavior Analysis from Columbia University.
Bianca Vassare, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA
Bio
Maureen Grajewski, M.S., BCBA, LBA, (Silver Spring, MD) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst with over 7 years of experience working with children with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities. Prior to joining the Little Leaves team, she previously worked as a Supervising Behavior Analyst in Honolulu, HI where she provided both center-and-home-based services to children with ages ranging from toddler to teenager. Maureen earned her B.S. in Psychology from Shippensburg University, and her M.S. in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. She is a member of the Maryland Association for Behavior Analysis.
Maureen Grajewski, M.S., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Yudelkis Fuste, M.S., BCBA, (Weston, FL) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who has more than 5 years of experience working with children with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. In the past, she has provided services across multiple therapeutic settings including in-home, schools, and clinics. Prior to joining Little Leaves, Yudelkis obtained experience as a Center Director at an early intervention center in Gainesville, FL, where she eventually proceeded to serve as the Lead Clinical Supervisor. Yudelkis earned her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Florida, and her M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of South Florida. She is a member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International and the Florida Association for Behavior Analysis, where her research has been presented.
Yudelkis Fuste, M.S., BCBA
Bio
Abby Brown, M.A., BCBA, LBA, (Silver Spring, MD) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst with over 10 years of experience working with children with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities. Prior to joining the Little Leaves team, she worked at a behavior analyst at a clinic in Texas and previously worked at the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Neurobehavioral Inpatient Unit. Abby earned her B.A. in Applied Behavior Science and Sociology from the University of Kansas and her M.A. in Human Services Psychology with an emphasis in Behavior Analysis from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.
Abby Brown, M.A., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Rebecca Strawbridge, M.A., BCBA, LBA, (Germantown, MD) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst who has worked with children with developmental disabilities for over 7 years in both home and school settings. Prior to her current role, Rebecca was a Behavior Technician with Little Leaves and also worked as an ABA therapist for a local organization that services individuals with autism across the lifespan. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from Salisbury University and her M.A. in Professional Behavior Analysis from Florida Institute of Technology.
Rebecca Strawbridge, M.A., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Cristina Palacios, M.A., BCBA, LBA, (Silver Spring, MD) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst. Prior to transitioning into her Behavior Specialist role, Cristina was a Behavior Technician and Training Specialist with Little Leaves. She has been with Little Leaves for 6 years working in both home services and at our centers. Before joining Little Leaves, she worked for 2 years as an undergraduate research assistant in the Child Study Center examining treatments of specific phobias and Oppositional Defiant Disorder in children and adolescents. Cristina holds a B.S. in Psychology from Virginia Tech and a M.A. in Professional Behavior Analysis from Florida Institute of Technology, where she conducted research on skill acquisition and delays to reinforcement. She is also fluent in Spanish.
Cristina Palacios, M.A., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Matthew Halstad, M.A., BCBA, LBA, (White Marsh, MD) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst. He has worked with children in the field of behavior psychology for over 10 years, in a wide range of residential and school-based settings. Prior to joining Little Leaves, he worked as a Behavior Resource Specialist with the Kennedy Krieger Institute, where he designed and implemented behavior interventions for students in their early childhood program. Matthew holds a M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Towson University and a certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from Penn State University.
Matthew Halstad, M.A., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Jessica Schuwer, M.Sc., BCBA, LBA (Alexandria, VA) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst who has worked with children with developmental disabilities for over 6 years in both home and school settings. Prior to becoming a Behavior Specialist at Little Leaves, she was a Behavior Technician with the company and worked as a Behavior Therapist in London, England. Jessica earned her B.Sc. in Psychology from the University of Surrey, her M.Sc. in Psychoanalytic Developmental Psychology from the University College London and her post-master’s certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from Johns Hopkins University School of Education.
Jessica Schuwer, M.Sc., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Layne Wells, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA, (White Marsh, MD) is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst with over 15 years of experience working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Layne started her career as a Special Education teacher for Montgomery County Public Schools before moving to New Jersey, where she taught at the Princeton Child Development Institute. After receiving her board certification in Applied Behavior Analysis, Layne worked as a supervising behavior analyst at The Shafer Center, where she later served as the Director of Education. Layne earned her B.S. and M.Ed. in Special Education with an emphasis on Autism Spectrum Disorders and severe disabilities at the University of Maryland.
Layne Wells, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Lisa Beard, M.A., BCBA, LBA, (White Marsh, MD) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst. Lisa has worked with children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities for the past seven years. She received her B.S. in Neuroscience with a minor in Psychology from Drake University in Des Moines, IA and her M.A. in Human Services Psychology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Prior to joining Little Leaves, Lisa worked for the Inpatient Neurobehavioral Unit at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and participated in behavior-analytic research at Drake University. Her research has been presented at regional and national conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.
Lisa Beard, M.A., BCBA, LBA
Behavior and Training Specialists
Bio
Tara Brightbill, RBT, (White Marsh, MD) is a Registered Behavior Technician and is pursuing national certification in the field. She has over five years of experience working with children in home, school, and center-based settings. Prior to Little Leaves, she worked as an undergraduate research assistant and presented her research at two nationally recognized conferences. She also volunteered at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital where she worked with infants with special medical needs to help them reach developmental goals. Tara holds a B.A. in Psychology from Goucher College and is currently pursuing her M.A. in Professional Behavior Analysis from Florida Institute of Technology.
Tara Brightbill, RBT
Bio
Tina Dang, M.A., BCBA, LBA (Germantown, MD) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst who has worked with children with developmental disabilities for over 5 years in home, school, and clinic settings. In addition to her work at Little Leaves, she volunteers at the Children’s Developmental Clinic at University of Maryland where she works with children who need ongoing fine and gross motor development, language development, reading support, coordination difficulties, and difficulties with recreational motor skills. Tina holds a B.S. in Kinesiology from University of Maryland a M.A. in Professional Behavior Analysis from Florida Institute of Technology.
Tina Dang, M.A., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Melissa Dutt, M.A., M.S., RBT, (White Marsh, MD) is a Registered Behavior Technician and is pursuing national certification in the field. She has been with Little Leaves since 2016, where she has provided early intervention services in the home, school, and clinic settings. Prior to Little Leaves, she assisted with research at University of Maryland at College Park, where she implemented behavioral interventions with substance dependent individuals. Melissa earned her M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Johns Hopkins University, then went on to complete an M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis degree with an emphasis in Autism. She is currently pursuing national certification in the field.
Melissa Dutt, M.A., M.S., RBT
Bio
Daritza Lahoz, RBT, (Silver Spring, MD) is a Registered Behavior Technician. She has worked with children with developmental disabilities for over 3 years in both home and clinic settings. Prior to working at Little Leaves, she served many families in the Prince Georges County Region as a Psychiatric Rehabilitation Facilitator and a Group Leader at a Family Crisis Center. Prior to transitioning into her role as a Training Specialist, she was a Behavior Technician for two years who worked in home sessions and was also part of the clinical team who piloted Little Leaves’ first center-based program in Silver Spring. Daritza earned her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Maryland with a concentration in Family Studies. She plans to pursue a dual masters degree in Applied Behavior Analysis and Counseling. She is also fluent in Spanish.
Daritza Lahoz, RBT
Bio
Caitlin Selden, M.A., BCBA, (Silver Spring, MD) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Since joining the Little Leaves team in 2016, she has worked with children with developmental disabilities in home, after-school care, and clinic settings. Prior to transitioning into the Training Specialist role, Caitlin was part of the clinical team who piloted Little Leaves’ first center-based program. Caitlin earned her B.A. in Psychology from Salisbury University, where she also volunteered at a residential training facility for adults with developmental disabilities. She earned her M.A. in Professional Behavior Analysis from Florida Institute of Technology.
Caitlin Selden, M.A., BCBA
Bio
Melissa Spear, M.A., BCBA, LBA, (Silver Spring, MD) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst. Since 2010, he has worked with children with developmental disabilities in a variety of settings conducting assessments, developing and implementing behavior programs, and providing social skills training. She also has experience training parents, teachers, and clinic staff on behavioral principles and interventions. Before holding her current role, Melissa worked as a Behavior Technician with Little Leaves. Melissa holds her B.S. in Psychology from West Virginia University and her M.A. in Professional Applied Behavior Analysis from Florida Institute of Technology.
Melissa Spear, M.A., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Mariel Thottam, MS, BCBA, LBA, (Silver Spring, MD) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst who has worked with children with developmental disabilities in clinic, home, school and community settings for over 5 years. Prior to her work at Little Leaves, she worked as a case manager in the ABA department of a multidisciplinary clinic and also provided push in ABA services in both public and private school settings in Manhattan, NY. Mariel holds a B.S. in Psychology from the College of Charleston and an M.S. in Development and Psychopathology from the University of Reading (England, UK). She also completed a post master’s certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from the Florida Institute of Technology.
Mariel Thottam, M.S., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Paulina Lauria, M.S., (Weston, FL) has worked with individuals with learning and developmental disabilities for over 4 years. Before joining Little Leaves, she provided center-based ABA services to infants with ASD in an intensive early intervention clinic. She also provided evidence-based behavioral interventions and social skills training to elementary-school aged children with ADHD in a school setting. Paulina holds a B.A. in Psychology and a M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis, both from the University of Miami. She recently completed all BACB-required coursework in the pursuit of national certification.
Paulina Lauria, M.S.
Bio
Ashley Panetta, RBT, (Reston, VA) is a Registered Behavior Technician and is pursuing national certification in the field. For over 4 years she has worked with children and young adults with physical and developmental disabilities in multiple therapeutic settings including homes, public schools, and clinics. Prior to her current role at Little Leaves, she was a Behavior Technician with the company and also worked in Tucson, Arizona both as a Behavior Technician providing in home care as well as a Transition and Rehabilitation Specialist for young adults transitioning out of the public school system. Ashley earned her B.A. in Health Sciences from Boise State University and is currently completing her M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis at Arizona State University.
Ashley Panetta, RBT
Bio
Amy Diehl, RBT, (Reston,VA) is a Registered Behavior Technician and is pursing national certification in the field. She has worked with children with developmental disabilities for five years in-home and school settings. Prior to working at Little Leaves, she was a Program Director at a private school, writing IEPs and behavior intervention plans and overseeing their implementation. She received her B.A. in Psychology from Bridgewater College and she is currently pursuing her M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis with an emphasis on Autism at Ball State University.
Amy Diehl, RBT
Bio
Emma Rauscher, RBT, (Germantown, MD) is a Registered Behavior Technician and is pursing national certification in the field. Before her current role, she worked with Little Leaves for two years as a behavior technician. She has experience working with children with developmental disabilities in the hone, school, and clinic setting. She earned her B.S. in Psychology from American University and is currently pursuing her M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis and her M.A. in Counseling Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
Emma Rauscher, RBT
Bio
Sadie Ingram, M.A., (Reston, VA) is pursuing a national certification in Behavior Analysis, with over 6 years of experience working with children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders and other developmental disabilities. Prior to joining the Little Leaves team, Sadie worked as a Clinical Specialist at the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Pediatric Feeding Disorders Unit. She began her career in the field as a Behavior Technician at Little Leaves during her undergraduate career. Sadie earned her B.A. in Psychology with a concentration in Child Development from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and her M.A. in Human Services Psychology with an emphasis in Behavior Analysis from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.
Sadie Ingram, M.A.
Bio
Diana Le, RBT (Silver Spring, MD) is a Registered Behavior Technician. She has been part of the Little Leaves team since 2015, working with children with developmental disabilities in homes, after-school care, in school support, and clinic settings throughout Maryland. Diana received her B.A. in Psychology at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is currently completing her M.A. in Professional Behavior Analysis at the Florida Institute of Technology and is pursuing national certification in the field.
Diana Le, RBT
Bio
Kristin Pennewill, RBT, (White Marsh, MD) is a Registered Behavior Technician and is pursing national certification in the field. She has worked at Little Leaves for over 2 years now starting in homes and in preschools prior to transitioning to center-based therapy. Before joining Little Leaves she worked as a one-on-one aid and was also a preschool teacher. She received for B.S. in Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University and is currently pursuing her M.A. in Special Education with an emphasis on Applied Behavior Analysis at Arizona State University.
Kristin Pennewill, RBT
Bio
Maaham Usmani, RBT (Reston, VA) is a Registered Behavior Technician. She has been with Little Leaves for almost 2 years during which she has provided early intervention services to children with physical and developmental disabilities in the home, school, and clinic setting. Before holding her current role, Maaham worked as a Behavior Technician and a Senior Technician with Little Leaves. She received her B.A. in Psychology and Economics from George Mason University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. Maaham is currently completing her M.A. in Special Education and Applied Behavior Analysis from Pennsylvania State University and is pursuing national certification in the field.
Maaham Usmani, RBT
Behavior Technicians
Behavior Technicians work under our Supervising Behavior Analysts and implement the treatment according to the plan. Our therapists have extensive experience working with children and a true passion for what they do. Before working with your child, all therapists receive intensive training from us both in the theory of ABA and how to work specifically with your child. They either have or are pursuing certifications as Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs).
Administration
Bio
Catherine “Cassie” Raley, Director of Operations (Mid-Atlantic), comes to us from St. Mary’s County, MD. She graduated cum laude with a B.A. in conflict analysis/dispute resolution and anthropology from Salisbury University. Cassie found her passion for health care administration while working in the front office of an outpatient therapy clinic in Southern Maryland. Since her initial role, she has gained experience in front office skills, insurance coordination and verification, and human resources management. Cassie plans to attend graduate school for health administration.
Catherine “Cassie” Raley, Operations Manager
Bio
Jasmine Robinson, Family Support Specialist, LMSW, is a Licensed Master Social Worker who helps new and inquiring Little Leaves families navigate the intake and onboarding process in order to receive appropriate care coordination and support. Prior to her current role at Little Leaves, Jasmine provided school-based mental health services and early childhood mental health consultation for children and families in the Baltimore area. She has also previously worked with Little Leaves as a Behavior Technician. Jasmine holds a B.S. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
Jasmine Robinson, Family Support Specialist, LMSW
Bio
Lisa Mummey, Business Manager, joined Little Leaves with 12+ years of experience in medical billing for non-profit facilities and physician offices, and provider relations for an insurance company. She has extensive experience supporting patients in ensuring they receive the full benefits available through their plan.
Lisa Mummey, Business Manager
Bio
Mel Valier, Business Manager, joined Little Leaves with 15+ years of healthcare accounting, auditing, and contract analyzing experience. Prior to joining Little Leaves, Mel worked for OPTUM as a Contract Analyst for over 11 years; where she was the top performer in the territory while retaining high quality. Mel has extensive knowledge and expertise in handling a variety of insurance payers and in healthcare reimbursement methodology. She is a part time student in college studying for her B.S. in Social Work.
Mel Valier, Business Manager
Rebecca Reese, MBA, Marketing and Development Manager, Florida
Bio
Rebecca Reese, MBA (Market and Development Manager, Florida), joins Littles Leaves after working in marketing and business development for Nova Southeastern University (NSU) Mailman Segal Center for Human Development for 13 years. Rebecca earned her BS with a concentration in Marketing and her MBA with a concentration in Management at NSU and found her passion serving the community by connecting children and families impacted by autism to critical resources. In addition to her professional experience, Rebecca has served on the Broward County Autism Speaks Board, the Gilda’s Club South Florida Young Professionals.