Emerald Coast Autism Center

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Upcoming Events

Parent Date Night

When: March 09, 2012

Emerald Coast Autism Center
Attention Parent's of ECAC! We will have a Parent Date Night on Friday, March 9, 2012 from 5:30pm-8pm. There will be a sign up sheet provided for you on the corkboard in the coming week... [read more]

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Home » About Us » Meet Our Staff

Meet Our Staff

Email Staci

Staci Berryman

Founder and Executive Director

Staci Berryman is the Founder and Executive Director of the Emerald Coast Autism Center. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana in 1992. After graduation she accepted a position as an elementary school teacher in Houston, Texas. In 2004, Staci became a lead teacher for the Special Services Department at Rocky Bayou Christian School, where her work in special education sparked a strong professional interest in autism. As a result, Staci began working on her Master’s in Special Education with Grand Canyon University in 2006, earning the MS degree in 2007. Immediately Thereafter, Staci enrolled in the Behavior Analysis Program at Penn State University, earning her credentials as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) in 2009. In 2010 Staci was named an Adjunct Professor of Behavior Science with the University of West Florida, Pensacola. She is additionally a certified instructor for the Crisis Prevention Institute, Inc., and provides ABA-related parent training to families throughout the Florida Panhandle through the Early Steps Program.

Email Ellie

Ellie Campbell

Staff Supervisor

Ellie Campbell is a Staff Supervisor for the ECAC. She is a 2003 graduate of Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science degree Psychology. She went on to teach Language Arts in the Walton County (Florida) public school system. Ellie has been working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) since 2008.

Email Lynsie

Lynsie Matern

Staff Supervisor

Lynsie Matern is a 2007 graduate of Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. Prior to coming on staff at ECAC, she worked as a counselor and was the Head of Kindergarten Programs for the Extended Day Enrichment Program at Killearn Lakes Elementary School in Tallahassee, Florida. Lynsie has been working in the field of ABA since August of 2009 and has finished her graduate coursework at the University of West Florida. She plans to sit for the board certification examination in January of 2012. She will soon finish her Masters of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis and Exceptional Student Education through the University of West Florida.

Email Catherine

Catherine Luecht

Staff Supervisor

Catherine Luecht is a 2008 graduate of the University of West Florida with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Special Education and Elementary Education. She is a staff supervisor at the Emerald Coast Autism Center where she is skilled in creating individual programs based on the Verbal Behavior Milestones Assesment and Placement Program (VB-MAPP). She also creates successful behavior protocols for children with inappropriate behaviors. Catherine has been working with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and closely related disorders since 2009. She has completed her coursework in Applied Behavior Analysis at the Florida Institute of Technology and will sit for the BCaBA exam in the spring.

Email Patrick

Patrick Mills

Lead Teacher/Therapist

Patrick Mills is a 2010 graduate of the University of West Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, including English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Reading endorsements. He is a certified Florida teacher. Patrick has been a therapist with the Emerald Coast Autism Center since 2010.

Email Sara

Sara Sporer

Lead Teacher/Therapist

Sara Sporer is a 2006 graduate of the Baptist College of Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. She has been certified with National Institute of Learning Differences (NILD) as a first-year cognitive therapist, and worked in the special education department of Rocky Bayou Christian School. Sara then spent two years overseas working with children with Autism. She is working on her BCABA certification with Florida Institute of Technology and plans to complete her studies in the spring.

Email Jessica

Jessica Shook

Lead Teacher/Therapist

Jessica Shook graduated from Castleton State College in Vermont with a Bachelor of Science degree in Developmental Psychology. She has worked in the field of ABA for five years with children with autism/special needs for 10 years. Jessica has completed her graduate program coursework in ABA at Simmons College in Boston and plans to sit for the BcaBA exam within the year.

Email Ashley

Ashley Cruise

Therapist

Ashley Cruise is a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. While pursuing her Bachelor's Degree in Exercise Science, she also worked with children with disabilities in their homes as Direct Care Staff for a local autism center. This sparked her interest in working with students on the Autism Spectrum. She plans to continue her education by obtaining a Master's Degree.

Email Chelsi

Chelsi Chilcott

Therapist/Speech-Language Pathologist

Chelsi Chilcott is a 2007 graduate of Florida State University where she obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She then went on to Southeastern Louisiana University where she earned her Master of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 2010. Chelsi is currently licensed to practice speech-language pathology in Florida by the Department of Health.

Email Heidi

Heidi Banks

Speech Therapist

Heidi Banks grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and graduated from Louisiana State University in 1990 with a Bachelor of General Studies. In 1994, she graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University with a Master of Education degree. She completed her Certificate of Clinical Competence in speech-language pathology in 1995 at the Greenery Neurological Center of the Gulf Coast. For the last 14 years, she has built an eclectic resume of professional experiences in a variety of academic, clinical, and medical settings. Currently, she is a certified member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and is licensed to practice Speech-Language Pathology in Florida through the Department of Health/Division of Medical Quality Assurance. Heidi received the ASHA Award for Continuing Education (ACE) in recognition of continued professional study.

Email Nicole

Nicole Wall

Therapist

Nicole Wall is a 2009 graduate of the University of Miami with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a double major in Psychology with an emphasis on childhood disorders. She is a certified teacher K-9th grade with an ESOL endorsement. After graduation, she spent two years as a first grade teacher. Seeing children with special needs in those classrooms not reaching their full potential sparked her interest in special needs education, in particular children on the autism spectrum. Soon, Nicole plans to return to school in pursuit of a Master's Degree in Special Education as well as pursue her BCBA certification.

Email Ashley

Ashley Throneberry

Therapist

Ashley Throneberry is a 2011 graduate of the University of Florida with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology with a focus on ABA Psychology. While attending the University of Florida, she did her undergraduate research with special needs children under Dr. Brian Iwata. After working with children with Autism, she felt that this was her calling. Ashley plans to pursue her Masters Degree in ABA Science and then go on to obtain her BCBA.

Email Michael

Michael Nickerson

Therapist

Michael is a 1994 graduate of the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise and Sport Science with an emphasis in Sport Psychology. He has worked as a Health & Fitness Director for the YMCA and served as a volunteer youth sports coach for many years. Michael is a certified General Special Education Teacher. He has worked in the public and private educational settings serving children with emotional, learning and cognitive disabilities.

Email Alisha

Alisha Sanders

Therapist

Alisha Sanders is a 2007 graduate from Wayland Baptist University with a Bachelors of Arts in Secondary Education. She has completed several hours of graduate coursework in Special Education and intends to complete her Masters of Arts of Exceptional Student Education- ABA at UWF in the near future. Alisha is a certified teacher and holds endorsements in both Secondary Social Studies and Elementary Education in three states. Prior to joining ECAC, she held various positions supervising, teaching and caring for children of all ages and cognitive abilities, including those diagnosed with ASD and behavioral deficits.

Email Rob

Rob Berryman

Therapist

Rob Berryman is a 2005 graduate from the University of Nebraska. He began working with children with autism in 2010 and has been working as a therapist at ECAC since January of 2011. He plans to begin his coursework for BCaBA credentials in 2012.

Email Lindsey

Lindsey Ancona

Therapist

Lindsey Ancona is a 2007 graduate of Illinois State University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Elementary Education, with reading and language arts endorsements. She is a certified teacher in Illinois as well as in Florida. She worked one-on-one with special needs students at Steck Elementary School in Aurora, Illinois for three years. Soon after, she took a position in Central Florida teaching Kindergarten at a conversion charter school that is also a Title 1 school.

Email Elizabeth

Elizabeth Owens

Therapist/Intern

Elizabeth Owens recently earned her Associates of Science in Early Childhood Education from Northwest Florida State College. She spent the last three years in the field of early childhood education as a pre-school teacher. Elizabeth is currently working on her Bachelors of Science in Psychology.

Email Anna

Anna Phillips

Therapist

Anna Phillips is a 2012 graduate of UWF with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Educational Studies in Special Education. She began working with students with disabilities in 2006 as a teacher's aide and continued to work with students of all ranges of disabilities throughout the remainder of her high school and college years. She plans to continue her education in 2013 focusing on students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Email Alex

Alex Randall

Intern

Alex Randall is an intern at Emerald Coast Autism Center. She currently attends Auburn University where she is majoring in Human Development and Family Studies with a concentration in Child Development. Alex has hands on experience in both the research and therapeutic side of Autism. After working with children with Autism and completing her own research paper on the impacts of Autism in the medical settings, she knew that she was called to this field. Alex plans on graduating this summer and pursuing her Master's degree in ABA so that she may obtain her BCBA.

Email Jill

Jill Gordon

Office Manager

Jill Gordon graduated in 2003 from the University of Florida with her degree in Interdisciplinary Social Science with an emphasis in History, Art History and Cultural Anthropology. After working in the corporate fashion world for 8 years as a District Manager, she changed career path and began working for the Emerald Coast Autism Center in October 2011.