Our Team
ASUA takes pride in cultivating a highly skilled, experienced, and caring faculty and staff body. Comprised of dedicated teachers, instructional assistants, related service providers, administrative assistants, business operations professionals, and administration, the ASUA staff is highly diverse and brings their knowledge and skill to ASUA to help support our mission, vision, and continue our unique task of building inclusive communities.
Executive Team
ASUA’s Executive Team leads with a focus on program quality and community impact, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovative leadership.
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Jamie Jenkins, M.Ed. (she/her)
Chief Executive Officer
Jillian Winn, M.Ed., BCBA
(she/her)
Chief Program & Culture Officer
Kay Stauffer, SHRM-CP
(they/she)
Chief Operations & Innovation Officer
Strategic Leadership Team
ASUA’s Strategic Leadership Team drives organizational alignment and growth by bridging executive vision with program implementation, ensuring cohesion across sites and initiatives.
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Brenna Murphy (She/Her) Head of School
Evan Fisher (He/They)
Head of Operations
Senior Team
ASUA's Senior Team leads A Step Up Academy's Flagship at Royal, developing the highest quality, research-based programming for autistic children, adolescents, and young adults.
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Operations and Finance Teams
Amanda Savastana, MS, OTR/L (She/Her) Director of Clinical Programming
Tim Kurpiel B.S.Ed. (He/Him) Director of Special Education
Mason Clark (He/Him) Director of Academic Programming
Kayla Griffin, M.A., BCBA. (She/Her) Director of Behavioral Programming
ASUA’s Operations and Finance Teams supports the school's sustainable growth, manages operational resources, and facilities to allow educators to focus on student-centered programming.
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Ev Smith, (He/They) Procurement Coordinator
Jose Perez, (He/Him), Facilities Team Lead
Bianca Monroe (She/Her) Human Resources Administrator - People & Culture
Chris DeWitt, (He/Him), School Services Team Lead
Jessica Anderson, (She/Her), Custodial Team Lead
Kim Kennedy, (She/Her) Custodian
Colton Ulrich, (He/Him) Custodian
David Teet, (He/Him), Custodian
Meiko Rivera, (She/Her), Executive Assistant to the Chief Operations & Innovation Officer
Maya Sharp, (She/Her), School Services Coordinator
Khalis Russell, (He/Him), School Services Coordinator
Abby Bock, (She/Her), Communications Coordinator
Cindy Hutton, (She/Her) Senior Accountant
The Step Up Institute Team
The team at The Step Up Institute provides transition programming to students between the ages of 16 and 22 while also leading ASUA's other initiatives such as our Clinical, Educational, and Professional service hubs.
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Emma Fisher, M.Ed. (She/Her) Data Systems and Reporting Coordinator
Erin DeWitt (She/Her) Registered Behavior Technician
Kimberly Martin (She/Her) Program Facilitator
Cameron Bullard (He/Him)
Program Coordinator
Caitria Bowen, M.S., CCC-SLP (She/Her) Speech-Language Pathologist
Wilson Toruno, M.Ed, LBS (He/Him) Transition Director
Ian Mallaghan-Rasco, Ed.S., NCSP (He/Him) School Psychologist
Behavior Team
ASUA's Behavior Team provides direct behavioral support to ASUA's students to ensure each child is equipped with the tools needed to access learning.
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Camryn McCloskey (She/Her) Behavior Interventionist
Jacque Kaczmarczyk (She/Her) Behavior Interventionist
John Patrick (He/Him) Behavior Interventionist
Ryan Schwendiman M.A., BCBA (She/Her) Lead Behavior Specialist
Shannon Kelly (She/Her) Behavior Interventionist
Amanda Vellner, MA, BCBA, LBS (She/Her) Behavior Specialist
Clinical Team
ASUA's Clinical Team provides direct therapies to ASUA's students and supports the Clinical Services Hub to provide needed therapies to non-enrolled students and children.
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Ashley Bajer, COTA/L (She/Her) Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Emily Knowles, MOT, OTR/L (She/Her) Occupational Therapist
Kara Fruscione DrOT, OTR/L (She/Her) Occupational Therapist
Kelly Mancini (She/Her) Occupational Therapist
Kimberly Howell (She/Her) Occupational Therapist
Lauren Mayer (She/Her)
Speech Language Pathologist Assistant
Lauren Margolis, M.S., CF-SLP (She/Her) Speech Language Pathologist
Alyssa Hughes M.S. CCC-SLP (She/Her) Lead Clinical Specialist
Tara McGillian, COTA/L (She/Her) Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Dana Pilotti, M.S. CCC-SLP (She/Her) Speech Therapist
Bailey Krewson M.S., CCC-SLP (She/Her) Speech-Language Pathologist
Lucy Evangelista, MSOT, OTR/L (She/Her) Occupational Therapist
Educational Team- Royal Flagship
ASUA's Educational Team provides holistic classroom support to each student at ASUA, creating engaging and loving educational spaces where all children can thrive.
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Erica Davis (She/Her) Teacher
Gemma Freeman (She/Her) Teacher
Ian Pearsall (He/Him) Teacher
Ryan Rose, MSS (He/Him) Teacher
RandiLynn Egan (She/Her) Teacher - Special Education
Anna Baruffaldi (She/Her) Social Skills Interventionist- Program Coordinator
Anastasia Gelin, RBT (She/Her) Teacher's Assistant
Brianne Mulderig (She/Her) Registered Behavior Technician
Taylor Stewart (She/Her) Teacher's Assistant
Megan Conville, M.S., BCBA (She/Her) Transition Coordinator
Veromevie Sanoumega (She/Her) Instructional Assistant
Debora Sermarini, (She/Her) Registered Behavior Technician
Amarra Rosania (She/Her) Registered Behavior Technician
Michelle Nugent (She/Her) Teacher's Assistant
Kionna Mitchell (She/Her) Instructional Assistant
Emily Lazovich (She/Her) Teacher's Assistant
Creative Arts Team
ASUA's Creative Arts Team provides therapeutic enrichment and creative specials to enrolled and non-enrolled students through their expertise in art, music, dance & movement, and more.
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Stephen Yee (He/Him) Assistant Music Teacher
Gigi Benzio - Teacher - Art
Emilie McElhenie, CTRS (She/Her) Creative Arts Specialist (Dance/Movement)
Alyssa Gerold (She/Her) Music Teacher
Patrick Cronin (He/Him) Music Therapist
Simone Lawrence (She/Her) Art Therapist
Brendan Schluth (He/Him) Creative Arts Coordinator
Isabel Bramhall (She/Her) Assistant Music Teacher
Educational Services
ASUA's Educational Services Team provides direct support to ASUA's wonderful educators through their assistance with scheduling, planning, nursing, and more.
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Robin Wagner (She/Her) Education Coordinator
Christy Loveless (She/Her) School Nurse
Educational Team- Annex Separate Learning Center
ASUA's Educational Team provides holistic classroom support to each student at ASUA's Annex Separate Learning Center, creating engaging and loving educational spaces where all children can thrive.
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Jess Harron, M.Ed. (She/Her) Education Director
Emily Gramlich (She/Her) Behavior Director
Tia Persolio, MSOT, OTR/L, (She/Her) - Occupational Therapist
Rebecca Kellogg, MS, CCC (She/Her) - Speech Language Pathologist
Ms. Christina A. Dorman, M.Ed, (She/Her) - Special Education Teacher
Danii Mann, MPS, ATR-BC, (She/Her) - Art Therapist
Bella Villeda, (She/Her) - Special Education Teacher
Caroline Dietrich, M.Ed, (She/Her) - Special Education Teacher
Holland Smith, CTRS, (She/Her) - Recreational Therapist
Cameron Hoke, (She/Her) - Educational Coordinator
