about us
2024-2025 Faculty & Staff
Head of School
Kathy Chumas
Kathy received her Bachelor of Science in Physical Education/Health and Fitness from Frostburg State University and completed her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at Shenandoah University. She is a registered and licensed occupational therapist (M.S. OTR/L). Kathy began working at The Diener School in 2007. Prior to becoming Head of School in 2019, she served in a variety of roles at Diener including Occupational Therapist and Director of Admissions & Therapeutic Support. In pediatric clinical settings, Kathy has performed assessments and developed occupational therapy treatment plans for children with a variety of diagnoses including sensory processing disorders, developmental delays, and communication disorders. Kathy has attended various workshops on cutting-edge treatment strategies for children diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, visual processing disorders and language-based challenges. A sample of trainings include: Sensory Integration, Anxiety Among Children, Learning without Tears, Zones of Regulation, Social Thinking, and Executive Functioning Strategies for Educators.
Administrative Staff
Kristine Manlove-Casa
Assistant Head of School
Kristine received her Master’s of Science in Education, Teaching Students with Special Needs, in 2011 from Kaplan University, Chicago, Illinois. She also received a BS in Business Administration in 2009 from Wesley College in Delaware. Kristine started at The Diener School in 2011 and has served in a variety of roles including Lead Teacher, Learning Skills Specialist, and Director of Curriculum & Instruction. She played a crucial role in developing the Middle School and has been the Director since its inception. Kristine is a certified Phono-Graphix Tutor and continues to attend workshops on Orton Gillingham, Executive Functioning, Kinesthetic Learning, Teaching the Anxious Child, Effective Ways to Deliver Reading Comprehension, Teaching Phonics and Spelling for Beginning and Transitional Readers and Foundations of Number Sense. Kristine is also a certified trainer in CPI Nonviolent Crisis Intervention.
Laurie Aaronson
Director of Development
Laurie has been part of our Diener Team since 2009. She began her career at Diener as the Office Manager and later expanded her role to Director of Operations and Development. Laurie oversees the Operations and Finance Manager as well as the Advancement Coordinator and is the liaison between our Board Treasurer. Laurie also organizes activities, community events and fundraisers. She is committed to building and fostering relationships with parents, alumni and the greater community while creating mutually beneficial relationships with new donors to support Diener.
Lois McCabe
Director of Admissions
Lois became the Director of Admissions at Diener when we opened our doors in Fall 2007. She then stepped into the role of Head of School from 2013-2016. After a brief absence, she returned in 2019 to take on her current role as Director of Admissions. Lois earned her Bachelor’s Degree from American University and her Law Degree from Temple University. Lois has been advocating for special needs families for over two decades. She became a Special Education Advocate for Children in the D.C. Superior Court Family Services where she managed cases which involved advocating for children with special needs through school visits, IEP meeting, school placement, and due process hearings. Lois also worked as a special education consultant providing professionals and parents with pragmatic information regarding the ever-changing needs, issues, and options facing the special needs community.
Alicia Evers
Advancement Coordinator
Alicia attended Pennsylvania State University, with an interest in Human Development and Family Studies. She joined our Diener community in the fall of 2019. She comes to the Diener School from Erie, PA where she spent the past four years working and volunteering at a grieving center for children, adolescents, and their families. Prior to this, she spent several years at the Barber National Institute as a special education para-educator in classrooms and as an administrative assistant in the Adult Day Program.
Esther Finkelstein
Director of Operations and Finance
With over 20 years of experience in finance and operations management, Esther brings a wealth of expertise to her role as Director of Operations and Finance. She has demonstrated exceptional skills in overseeing Finance, Operations, Audit, Vendor Contracts and Relations, Procurement, Facilities, and Human Resources Management. Esther earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Finance from Liberty University and holds a certification in Human Resources Management from Florida Atlantic University. Additionally, she is a QuickBooks ProAdvisor and has consulted for startups, non-profits, and small to mid-sized businesses.
Esther’s career began early, managing finance and operations for her family’s grocery store and restaurant franchise. Her dedication extends beyond her professional work; she is deeply committed to addressing homelessness and supporting women and children. Esther has volunteered with various organizations, partnered with local community groups to tackle homelessness, served as a Guardian ad Litem/CASA volunteer, and worked as an Ambassador for Shared Hope International.
Marcus Scott
Building Engineer
Marcus Scott is a dedicated building engineer with a diverse background in facilities management. Prior to specializing in engineering, Marcus held a multifaceted role at a law firm, ranging from reception to law librarian. His experience in both environments has equipped him with a unique perspective on problem-solving and project management.
Leadership Staff
Lindsey Menard
Middle School Learning Skills Specialist
Lindsey earned a dual bachelor’s degree in English and Education from Bucknell University. Lindsey is currently pursuing her Master’s in Special Education at American University. After graduation, she worked as a one-to-one Literacy Tutor at an elementary school in Washington DC and spent a year working with a small group of elementary students who were participating in distance learning through the. Lindsey joined Diener for the 2021-2022 school year as a Teaching Partner. In addition to supporting classroom teachers, she worked to fill in the curriculum with multi-sensory reading, arts, and cooking activities throughout the year. She is excited for another great year at Diener!
Katelen Muriel
Elementary School Learning Skills Specialist
Katelen earned an undergraduate degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in Multicultural Special Education from the College of Mount Saint Vincent. Katelen started at Diener in Fall of 2019 as a teaching partner and after a year, she was promoted to a Lead teacher/Science teacher position for the middle school. Before starting at the Diener School, Katelen lived in New York City working as an ABA therapist at the Center of Autism and Related Disorders. She gained 2 years of experience applying behavioral analysis principles with children/adults who have ASD. She also has over 4 years of student teaching experience in elementary schools throughout the Bronx, New York. Katelen has training and is certified in executive functioning strategies, Multi-sensory Math, Social Thinking, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED), first aid, and CPI Nonviolent Crisis Intervention. She is beyond excited to return to Diener for her fifth year!
Nicole Tanjutco
Director of Curriculum & Instruction
Nicole earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Towson University in 2014 and her Master of Science in Instructional Design and Curriculum Development from the same institution in Spring 2022. She began her career in education with experience in Baltimore County and Montgomery County Public Schools before joining Diener in 2015 as a teaching assistant. Within a year, she was promoted to lead teacher, later serving as the Middle School Learning Skills Specialist until 2023. Nicole is currently the Director of Curriculum and Instruction, a role she assumed in 2023. She also served as Camp Director from 2019 to 2022.
In addition to her primary roles, Nicole has been the advisor for the student government for the past two years, where she has been instrumental in fostering student leadership and engagement. She is also committed to mentoring new teachers, supporting their professional development and integration into the school community.
Nicole’s extensive training encompasses executive functioning strategies, Multi-sensory Math, Phonographix, IMSE Intermediate Orton-Gillingham, Study Sync, Learning Ally, Fast Forward, and Orton-Gillingham Plus. She is also proficient in CPI Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, Transformational Leadership, Leadership and Group Dynamics, and Project Management.
As Chair of the AIMS Accreditation Steering Committee at Diener, Nicole is dedicated to driving educational excellence and continuous improvement within the school.
Lead Teachers & Teaching Partners
Jenni Cook
Lead Teacher
Jenni obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Pennsylvania State University in 2000 and completed her Master’s degree from Johns Hopkins in Early Intervention Special Education in 2009. Jenni joined The Diener School in 2009 and has held a variety of positions while at Diener including Elementary School teacher, Learning Skills specialist, and Director of the Lower School. She returned to the classroom in 2017 to work more directly with students and capitalize on her considerable skills as an educator. Jenni has been trained in The Character Education Virtues Project, Zones of Regulation, Social Thinking, Multi-sensory Math, Phono-Graphix, Read Naturally Fluency Program, and Orton-Gillingham.
Casey Devine
Teaching Partner
Casey graduated from Towson University this past May, earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She has held a position at Kennedy Krieger on the Pediatric Neurobehavioral Unit for over a year and a half. She is also a Registered Behavior Technician. Casey has gained a lot of experience in Applied Behavior Analysis and has a passion for working with children with autism spectrum disorder. Her interest in working with kids sparked in high school and has grown exponentially through her continued education and experience. Casey is excited for her first year at Diener!
Becky Flaherty
Teaching Partner
Becky received her Bachelors of Arts in Justice and Law from American University in 2022. Prior to Diener, she worked as a Teaching Assistant at Georgetown Day School, primarily in the Elementary School division. Becky has a passion for working with children (and adults!) with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Becky also completed a service year through Americorps City Year, where she worked at MLK Jr. Elementary School. There, she led both academic and behavioral small group interventions in her 5th grade class. Becky is a classical flutist, and extremely musical. One of her favorite teaching memories was leading the student Drumline at MLK Jr. and introducing her students to music from around the world.
Tatiana Francisco
Lead Teacher
Tatiana holds a Bachelor of Science in Family Science from the University of Maryland, with a minor in Human Development. She recently received her master’s degree in Special Education with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis from Arizona State University in Spring 2022. Prior to joining Diener, Tatiana worked in Montgomery County public schools as an intern in their Special Education programs. In 2017, Tatiana completed a semester externship at The Diener School, and in 2018 she began working full-time as a Teaching Partner at Diener. With her Master’s degree in hand, this year, she will be starting a new role as a Lead Teacher in the Elementary School. Tatiana has extensive training in Social Thinking, Multi-sensory Math, IMSE Orton Gillingham, Applied Behavior Analysis, and CPI Nonviolent Crisis Intervention.
Cyd Igot
Teaching Partner
Cyd joined The Diener staff for the 2022-2023 year. Cyd received a Bachelor of Behavioral and Social Science from the University of Maryland, with a major in Sociology and a minor in Women’s Studies. She began her love of working with children initially as a tutor for Kaplan, an ESL teacher in Santiago, Chile, and a homeschool teacher for the Assisi-Bridge School Co-op. Cyd worked in mental health, helping young people suffering from persistent mental illness find employment. She has since begun the A Letter For You Project, collecting thousands of anonymous handwritten letters for people having a hard time in life, to help them realize there is love, support, and encouragement in the world. In 2016, she was invited to do a TEDx Talk sharing the lessons learned and wisdom gained from the project. She self-published A Letter For You; A Collection of Handwritten Letters for Survivors in 2020. Her work has also included disaster relief, fundraising, logistics, delivery of food, clothing, construction materials, and medicine in the Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan. She has dedicated herself to the empowerment of all people, big and small, and enjoys salsa dancing, traveling, and making a difference where she can.
Kathy Koetz
Lead Teacher
Kathy Koetz holds a Bachelor of Science in Adolescent English Education from Long Island University and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Lindenwood University. Kathy's professional journey includes her current role as a middle school teacher at Diener School, where she began in the 2020-2021 school year, and her previous position teaching Special Education at The Lourie Center in Rockville, Maryland.
While attending college in New York, Kathy gained valuable experience working at MercyFirst, a human and social service agency in the New York metropolitan area. She completed her student teaching at P256Q, a middle and high school program on the MercyFirst campus. She also volunteered to facilitate a therapeutic reading program for MercyFirst's child psychologist.
In addition to her teaching career, Kathy has published a children's book, Rosie's Rescue Ranch, and is currently working on a new book project, set to be published in June 2025.
Kendra Lane
Lead Teacher
Kendra graduated from the University of Maryland with a double degree in Neuroscience and Child Psychology. She earned her Masters in Leadership in Special Education from Notre Dame of Maryland University. After undergrad, she spent a few years in Maui, Hawaii conducting marine biology research on humpback whales and working as a naturalist. After returning back to her home state of Maryland, Kendra began pursuing her career in education. Kendra started as a lead preschool teacher. She then transitioned into an assistant upper elementary school teacher for Butler Montessori. For the last 4-5 years, Kendra taught high school special education for Sheppard Pratt. Also, she works part-time as a registered behavioral technician. Kendra has years of ABA experience and a passion for working with all age groups. She is very excited to start her first year at Diener!
Michelle Mahon
Lead Teacher
Michelle joined The Diener School Team in Fall 2022. Before coming to The Diener School, she co-led the second-grade class at The Maddux School and has been taking classes towards a second Master’s degree in Special Education. Michelle also holds a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Northeastern University. Michelle is certified to teach Handwriting Without Tears and Orton Gillingham Reading and Writing Program. She has been a teacher for over 16 years, first in a nursery school setting, then at The Maddux School for the last 14 years. Michelle completed specialized training in The Maddux School Social Learning Curriculum and demonstrates expertise in creative arts and curriculum integration.
Franny McHale
Lead Teacher and Social Studies Teacher
Franny began at the Diener School in Fall 2022. Previously she worked in an Early Childhood Inclusive Preschool in NW DC. Franny has been working with our Elementary students teaching Social Studies and Math. She loves to collaborate with kids and adults to discover what makes everyone unique. Franny holds a Master of Arts in Learning Disabilities from American University where she graduated in May of 2022. She also studied Early Childhood Education as an undergrad at the College of Wooster in Ohio. She has worked with children in many different capacities: ski instructor, swim instructor, tutor, camp counselor, and lead teacher for 3-4 year olds.
Lucas Medina
Teaching Partner
Lucas received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 2012 from Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, West Virginia. He began his teaching career in 2016 for Montgomery County Public Schools at Loiederman Middle School working with English language learners. He slowly extended his role and began assisting within the Special Education program at Loiederman after a few months. Lucas is also an experienced soccer coach and has trained with multiple teams of various age groups in the Metropolitan area. He currently works with former professional DC United legend, Luciano Emilio (Luciano Emilio Soccer Club). Lucas has been a Teaching Partner at The Diener School since February 2023.
Jen Nimalan
Lead Teacher
Jen holds her bachelors from University of Maryland Baltimore County where she double majored in Biology and Psychology and minored in Chemistry in 2015. She also earned a Masters in Special Education with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis from George Mason University in 2022. Prior to working at Diener, Jen worked in the ABA field for over 7 years and has been an RBT since 2019.
Danielle Oakley
Lead Teacher
Dani earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education and Elementary Education from Indiana University - Bloomington in 2019. Dani also completed a master’s degree program in Special Education-Autism Spectrum Disorder in December of 2023. She joined Diener in Fall 2019 as a Teaching Partner and is now a Lead Teacher. She has her teaching license in grades K-6 for general education and special education and is trained in the multi-sensory Orton-Gillingham phonics curriculum. She is excited to be returning to Diener for her 6th school year!
Emily Pasquale
Teaching Partner
Emily earned an undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in Art from Wagner College and a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the College of Staten Island. Prior to joining the Diener School team, Emily completed field placements in New York at P.S. 57 and the Wagner College Early Childhood Center, private tutoring, and worked at a daycare where she did small group instruction with children with special needs. Emily's background in the mental health field has given her great insight into childhood development and learning disorders, allowing her to readily recognize the unique needs of each child in the classroom and beyond. Emily is professionally certified to work with children with neurodevelopmental disorders. She is excited to join the Diener team, to get to know her students, and to meet her students' needs to help them thrive in every way. She is equally excited to learn about her students as she is to teach them!
Amanda Sickel
Lead Teacher
Amanda is excited to return to Diener this year. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from McDaniel College and holds two Master of Science Degrees in Behavior Analysis from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology and in Special Education from McDaniel College. Amanda has spent many years in the classroom working with students in various capacities including, most recently, at the Auburn School where she taught Middle School math and science. She has also provided one-on-one services to students in a school and clinic setting prior to the start of her teaching career. Amanda has training in executive functioning skills, multisensory math, the Social Thinking Curriculum, and Positive Behavior Intervention Support. She is looking forward to getting to teach science in the new science lab this year!
Jennifer Simpson
Teaching Partner
Jennifer has a Master of Science in School Counseling from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Dickinson College. Prior to working at Diener, Jennifer worked for 5 years at Ivymount School and 16 years at The Maddux School. She has worked with Pre-K through 2nd-grade students and enjoys supporting students, families, and teachers wherever most needed. Jennifer began at the Diener School in Fall 2022.
Aafia Syed
Lead Teacher
This is Aafia’s second year at The Diener School, and it is her eighth year teaching across a variety of self-contained and inclusive settings. She holds a dual master’s in Early Childhood Education and Special Education from Bank Street College of Education and a bachelor’s in Writing Seminars from Johns Hopkins University. Aafia has experience successfully implementing programs like Social Thinking, Zones of Regulation, Handwriting Without Tears, Responsive Classroom, Orton-Gillingham, and more. Most importantly, Aafia believes that all children are capable of learning when given the tools and opportunities they need. She is eager to know and understand her students as individual learners, as well as grow alongside her students each day.
Natalie Vernigor
Teaching Partner
Natalie Vernigor is joining the Diener team for the first time in the 2024-2025 school year. Natalie holds a Bachelor of Psychology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and plans on pursuing a graduate degree. She discovered her passion for teaching while working with Identity, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting students with both academic and social skill challenges. Prior to this, Natalie gained valuable experience as a paraeducator at Mill Creek Towne Elementary with Montgomery County Public Schools. Natalie is super excited for the upcoming school year and looks forward to contributing to the Diener community!
Sabrina Wasfi
Lead Teacher
Sabrina received her Bachelor of Science degree in 2017 from Frostburg State University with a major in Ethnobotany and a minor in Anthropology and Forestry. She is currently pursuing a master’s in teaching for Special Education Early Childhood. After graduating ¬undergrad, Sabrina transitioned to environmental education through Delaware State Parks and the Howard County Nature Conservancy. That experience allowed Sabrina to identify her true passion, working with kids, so she decided to pursue the education field. Sabrina began as a teacher’s aide for a few years before becoming a lead preschool teacher. Sabrina returned to school to further her career and accepted the role as a lead special education teacher. She is certified in CPI Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, FBA Functional Behavior Assessment & BIPs Behavior Intervention Plans, and Positive Behavior Interventions, Strategies, & Supports. She looks forward to joining the Diener team this year!
Eva Whitaker
Teaching Partner
Eva graduated from American University in 2024 with a degree in Elementary Education. During her final semester, she interned at The Diener School, where she gained invaluable experience in creating multisensory lessons and supporting each student's needs. She is pursuing her master’s degree in special education at American University. Eva enjoys bringing energy and positivity to the learning environment and is eagerly anticipating a fantastic year ahead at The Diener School!
Bernina Woodson, B.S.
Teaching Partner
Bernina is a professional Associate Teacher with over fifteen years of experience working in early-childhood settings, including nine at The Maddux School.
She has extensive experience tutoring and coaching vulnerable children and adults and has a particular passion for guiding the development of play and social skills in young children. Bernina holds a Graduate Certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders from George Washington University and earned a Bachelor of Science in General Studies with a concentration in special education, education, and psychology from Liberty University.
Therapeutic Team
Kayla Dunn
Speech Language Pathologist
Kayla started her Diener journey during the 2017-2018 school year as a teaching partner before leaving to pursue her Masters of Speech and Language Pathology from the University of Maryland. Before making her way back to Diener in 2024, Kayla worked as an SLP in Montgomery County Public Schools as well as with adults in a skilled nursing facility. During her time in MCPS, Kayla worked closely with students and families in order to establish foundational language skills as well as social skills in individual, small group, and whole group settings. Kayla is excited to rejoin the Diener family and is passionate about providing functional, evidence-based services to her students.
Dr. Joy Kolb
Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Joy Kolb has been consulting with families and schools for over 20 years. She is a licensed psychologist and board-certified behavior analyst in private practice in Gaithersburg, MD. Dr. Kolb’s treatment focuses on providing evidence-based strategies and manageable recommendations that can be applied to each setting. Her treatment emphasizes realistic interventions that are individualized to the unique needs of each student. Dr. Kolb’s clinical interests include individual treatment as well as providing trainings for caregivers and school staff.
Frankie Lydon
Art Instructor
Frankie began working at Diener as a teaching assistant and gradually moved into the field of art education. Frankie's passion for art design was evident and she took on the role of Art Instructor for several years. Frankie has been at Diener for over a decade and enjoys working with all our great kids.
Sarah Michael
Speech Language Pathologist
Sarah will be joining the Diener School in the fall of 2024, bringing 15 years of dedicated experience in speech-language pathology. She completed her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Maryland, where she honed her expertise in communication disorders and therapy techniques. In addition to her master’s degree, Sarah holds a minor in linguistics, enriching her understanding of language structure and development. Sarah’s career began in the dynamic environment of public schools, where she supported students across a wide age range, from early childhood through middle school. Her commitment to personalized therapy led her to also work in a private practice setting, where she tailored speech therapy programs to meet the unique needs of each individual. As a licensed speech-language pathologist in Maryland, Sarah upholds the highest standards of clinical practice, holding the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s esteemed Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP). Her extensive experience spans from working with children as young as 6 months old to adolescents up to 21 years old, encompassing a diverse spectrum of speech and language challenges. She is passionate about collaborating with colleagues, parents, and students to foster effective communication skills and enhance social interactions. Excited to embark on her first year at the Diener School, Sarah is eager to contribute her knowledge, compassion, and energy to the school’s community.
Jo Pittman, MT-BC
Music Therapist
Jo is a licensed and board-certified music therapist who specializes in working with individuals with various neurodiversities and anxiety. Jo holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy and Psychology from the University of Miami and she is currently working toward her master’s degree in School and Mental Health Counseling from the University of Pennsylvania. Jo started as a Teaching Partner at the Diener School in 2021 and has since grown into her current role as Music Therapist. At Diener, she leads push-in music therapy classes and provides therapeutic support to students using expressive arts modalities. In addition to her role at Diener, Jo is currently a part-time school counseling intern at MCPS and a mental health counseling intern at Urban Playology, LLC. Prior to joining the Diener team, Jo was a music therapy intern at Levine Music in DC, where she provided music therapy services to students and families in the community and public school system. Jo has additional training in Social and Emotional Teaching and Learning, Multisensory Orton Gillingham Phonics, Zones of Regulation, and Neurodevelopment in Music Therapy. She can’t wait for another school year with Diener’s awesome students, families, and staff!
Sammi Rosenfeld
School Counselor, MD LCPC/DC LPC, NCC
Sammi joined our Diener community in 2020. She works full-time as the school counselor for both elementary and middle schools. Sammi received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and Kinesiology from the University of Michigan and her Master of Science in Education in School and Mental Health Counseling from the University of Pennsylvania. She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in both Maryland and Washington, DC, and is also a National Certified Counselor. Along her journey towards The Diener School, Sammi taught performing arts and multiple body-mind-focused topics at Georgetown Day Lower/Middle School, Imagination Stage Inc. Inclusion and Access programs, and many other local educational programs. She also was a Rehabilitation Support Specialist at PRS Inc., an adult psychiatric facility. When she lived in Philadelphia, PA she worked as a K-2 School Counselor at a Title 1, inner-city, Philadelphia Public School serving students with severe trauma and diverse needs. In her career, Sammi has worked with students ages four to seventy with a variety of neurodiversity, backgrounds, and barriers. When not at Diener, Sammi maintains a small private practice in DC, teaches therapeutically supportive dance classes, and choreographs and performs when opportunities present. Her dance background, along with her studies in movement science and love of play and the arts, greatly influences her therapeutic approach. She loves supporting students at Diener through a multi-sensory integrative approach where modalities such as play therapy, expressive arts therapies including dance therapy and psychodrama, and somatic work such as biofeedback, blend together with cognitive behavioral supports.
Laurie Schneider
Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Laurie is a licensed and board-certified behavior analyst with 8 years of experience using ABA strategies to support children with diverse needs. She grew up in Berlin, Germany and in 2015 received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Hamburg. She moved on to getting her master’s from Ball State University in Applied Behavior in 2017, while working as a registered behavior technician (RBT) in a clinical setting in Texas. She loved working 1-on-1 with autistic children and using child-centered, play-based strategies to help them achieve their social, emotional and adaptive goals. Laurie earned her BCBA certification in February 2018 and went on to be a Case Supervisor, where her roles shifted to completing assessments, developing individualized, comprehensive treatment plans, training technicians and providing guidance to caregivers.
Laurie also has multiple years of experience working as Behavior Specialist in Texas public schools. In that role, she has trained administrators and teachers on how to use least-restrictive and evidence-based strategies to support student behavior in a variety of classroom models. As a Behavior Specialist, Laurie was a trainer for the district in non-violent crisis intervention, behavioral interventions, classroom management and trauma-informed practices. Before relocating to Maryland, Laurie worked as Assistant Clinical Director for an ABA clinic and worked to gain more experience with assent-based and neuro-divergent affirming practices in ABA.
Laurie whole-heartedly believes in Ivar Lovaas’ quote: “If they can’t learn the way we teach, we teach the way they learn”. She is excited to join the Diener team this year that works hard to ensure that every student gets what they need to succeed.
John Soares
Adaptive Physical Education
Coach John graduated from the University of Maryland in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition Food and Sciences. He continued his education at Montgomery College to pursue an advanced degree in Early Childhood Education. John worked at MoCo Movement Center Pediatric Therapy Gym as a Movement Coach and he brings his creativity and enthusiasm to the Diener team. He is also a dedicated soccer coach for the MSI Soccer League and is currently working for the former MLS MVP Golden Boot winner Luciano Emilio Soccer Club. John has been the Fitness Instructor at The Diener School since 2016.
Sean Strumpf
Behavioral Assistant & Social Skill Support & Camp Director
Sean joined our Diener team in 2016 as a Teaching Partner. For the past few years, he has been in the position of Behavioral Assistant and Social Skills Support. Additionally, Sean was the Director of our 2023 summer camp program. He earned an Associate of Arts degree from Montgomery College in 2012. He worked as a special education para-educator for Montgomery County Public Schools from 2014-2016. In addition, from 2015 to the present, he works at Changing the Lives of Children with Autism (CLCA) as an intensive individual support technician. He holds multiple certifications, which include: CPI Nonviolent Crisis Intervention; Prevention and Management of Aggressive Behavior (PMAB); Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED); and First Aid.
Paris Woolford
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Paris received her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and a minor in Dance from Old Dominion University in 2016. She received her Associate of Applied Science as an Occupational Therapy Assistant from Eastern Virginia Career College in 2019 and completed her Level II Fieldwork at The Lab School of Washington. At the Lab School, Paris provided interventions to middle school-aged children in study skills, functional independence, self-regulation, and executive functions to students with ADHD, various learning disabilities, and anxiety. Paris joined Diener in Fall 2021 working closely with our Middle School students and enjoys collaborating with our staff.