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Leap Ahead Professional Autism Services

Leap Ahead Professional Team

Leap Ahead’s Professional Team includes Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), Board Certified Associate Behavior Analysts (BCaBAs), Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs), one Speech/Language Pathologist (SLP) and one Occupational Therapist (OT). Our staff has expertise in working with varied functioning levels of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as well as other related disorders.

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Please contact us to learn more about employment opportunities.

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Talisha A. Sachlis M.S., BCBA, LBA 

Executive Director, Founder

 

Talisha graduated with a Bachelor of Psychology from George Mason University and received her Master’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Phoenix. She completed her Applied Behavior Analysis coursework through George Mason University and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She began her career as a Behavior Therapist for Fairfax County Public Schools in 1998. After one year, Talisha was promoted to a supervising teacher for the ABA Pilot Program. She was responsible for supervision and implementation of in-home and school setting ABA services for children diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Despite the numerous efforts by the parents, the Pilot Program ended. Talisha opened Leap Ahead, Inc. in 2002. She served as a Board Member from 2014-2015 for the Autism Society of Northern Virginia and was the Chair for the Education and Support Committee.

BCBAs and BCaBAs
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MistyAnn Harris

M.ED., BCBA, LBA

Case Manager,

Clinical Director

Dezira Dewhurst

B.S., BCaBA, LBA

Assistant Case Manager,

Assistant Director

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Tiffany Polifko

M.T., BCBA, LBA

IEP Advocate,

Ethical Coordinator

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Elizabeth Schabinger

M.Ed., BCBA, LBA

Case Manager,

Mentorship Coordinator,

RBT Coordinator

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Joseph Clem

M.ED., BCBA, LBA

Case Manager,

Quality Assurance Coordinator

Sherry Csutoros

M.ED., BCBA, LBA

Case Manager,

Ethical Coordinator

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Andrea Taliaferro

M.S., BCBA, LBA

Case Manager

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Kristie Adams

MA, BCBA, LBA

Transition Coach,

Case Manager

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Caitlin Lamm

M.ED, BCBA, LBA

Consultant

RBTs
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Azeb Adere

B.S., Senior RBT

Daniel Ferguson, BT

Daniel Ferguson

B.A., RBT

Nuvia Garcia Vijil, RBT

Nuvia Garcia Vijil

RBT, Translator

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Rachael Nicklas

A.A., BT

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Denise Patricia Romero

RBT, Translator

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Erika Escobar

A.S., RBT

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Helen Hardy

B.S., BT

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Isabella Paterno

RBT

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Mary Hampton

B.S., RBT

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Nicole Rattigan

M.Ed., RBT

Client Intake Assistant

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Tykiera Nelson

B.S., RBT

Client Intake Assistant

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Maegan Simpson

B.S., RBT

Client Intake Assistant

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Ludovic Marie

B.S., RBT

Client Intake Assistant

Christine Dallek, B.A, RBT Client Intake Assistant

Christine Dallek

B.A., RBT

Client Intake Assistant

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Lauren Rogers

B.A., RBT

Client Intake Assistant

Tiffany Robinson, B.A., BT

Tiffany Robinson

B.A., RBT

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Erica Williams

B.A, RBT

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Mitch Taylor

RBT

Client Intake Assistant

Speech Language Pathologist - Occupational Therapist

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Bethany Rubinstein

M.S., CCC-SLP

Specializes in AAC Devices & Communication Partner Training

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Gretchen Ward

M.S., OTR/L

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Emma Metzler

MA, Speech & Language Pathologist

Administration Team
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Melina Campbell

Clinical Administrator

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Katie Loving

Operations Manager

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