Meet Your child’s Team
All staff are required to complete the 40-hour training in Applied Behavior Analysis as a Registered Behavior Technician, a 22-hour ABA-based crisis management training, and social/emotional professional development.
Administrative team
Ms. Kris
Founder, CEO/Executive Director, Reading Specialist, Certified School Counselor, Positive Behavior Support Specialist, Certified Special Education Teacher, Kristina@azbreakthroughacademy.org
Tel: 866-620-9380, ext. 1
Kristina is currently completing her second Masters of Science degree. This M.S. Ed. degree is in Transformative Teaching and Learning with a Certificate of Specialization in Social-Emotional Learning, Mindfulness, and Yoga, a Social-Emotional Learning Facilitator (SEL*F) Certification, and T.E.A.C.H. Method Certification (trauma-informed teaching). Kristina also holds a Master’s of Science degree in Marriage and Family Therapy with a specialty in Play Therapy and a certificate in Child Trauma from the Harris Institute. She also holds a post-graduate certificate in Positive Behavior Intervention & Support (PBIS)/Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), a certificate in Structured Literacy specializing in the treatment of Dyslexia, a post-baccalaureate certificate in Special Education, and a state certification in School Counseling. Kristina has numerous specialized trainings targeted to benefit the learners at Breakthrough Academy including the highly-regarded, intensive Morningside Academy Summer School Institute to study Precision Teaching and Mathetics (from which Direct Instruction is derived). Learn more about our Director here.
Executive Administrative Assistant & Billing Specialist
Leighann@azbreakthroughacademy.org
Tel: 866-620-9380, ext. 3
Mrs. Leigh Ann works hard supporting the operations at Breakthrough! Mrs. Leigh Ann has a passion for helping families with special needs and is a mother of two young adults children who successfully live with learning differences.
Mrs. Bernice
Assessment Coordinator, Special Education Teacher, and Reading Specialist, Bernice@azbreakthroughacademy.org
Mrs. Bernice has over 20 years experience as a Special Education Teacher. Her expertise is in the Science of Reading and has completed the LTRS Structured Literacy training, but she is skilled and talented with all aspects of education. Mrs. Bernice is currently completing her M.S. Ed. degree is in Transformative Teaching and Learning with a Certificate of Specialization in Social-Emotional Learning, Mindfulness, and Yoga, a Social-Emotional Learning Facilitator (SEL*F) Certification, and T.E.A.C.H. Method Certification (trauma-informed teaching). She has also been trained in Precision Teaching by the prestigious Morningside Academy. Mrs. Bernice is our Reading Instructor and also oversees the collection of performance data that helps our team (and learners) make decisions.
Mrs. Bernice has two grown children with Autism and is passionate about providing quality education to children with disabilities.
Mr. Baxter
Assistant Operations Director, Baxter@azbreakthroughacademy.org
Mr. Baxter helps our entire school stay organized and operational! Please reach out to him for tours, new enrollments, transportation needs, field trip information, and other school-related matters. He is proud to be a part of a school that makes a positive difference for its learners! Photo coming soon!
Instructional TEAM
Ms. Tarrah, M.Ed, Lead Instructor,
Tarrah@azbreakthroughacademy.org
Ms. Tarrah has a Master’s degree in Elementary Education and holds a dual certification in General and Special Education. She has more than 20 years of experience in the field. She has been trained in Precision Teaching by the prestigious Morningside Academy. She is a passionate teacher who loves nothing more than closing learning gaps for our learners! She coaches our other Instructors to increase rates of learning of our learners. Ms. Tarrah is the proud parent of a child with Autism and has seen first-hand the success of our effective programs!
Ms. Rendi, Instructor,
Rendi@azbreakthroughacademy.org
Ms. Rendi is a former Registered Behavior Technician and brings vast experience in behavior management to the classroom. Ms. Rendi is our “FLEX” (social emotional learning) Manager and has been trained in all of the FLEX curricula. Ms. Rendi is currently enrolled in a dual-general and special education certification teaching program and she has been trained in Precision Teaching by the prestigious Morningside Academy. Her classroom is filled with fun and collaboration! Ms. Rendi is a mother to a child with multiple disabilities and is dedicated to our field!
Mrs. Stephany, Instructor,
Stephany@azbreakthroughacademy.org
Mrs. Stephany has a Master's degree in Special Education and 5 years experience teaching Special Education. As a mother to special needs children, she is passionate about helping our learners reach their goals!
Mrs. Christina, Instructor
Mrs. Christina is an experienced educator with over 12 years working with children with disabilities. She understands the importance of and is passionate about teaching independent living skills. Her class targets Nutrition and healthy cooking but also teaches Hygiene and valuable life skills. Our learners love her hands-on class! As a mother of children with special needs, Mrs. Christina has a special place in her heart for our learners.
Mr. sam, PE Instructor
Mr. Sam loves working with our learners! He has the most loving heart! He is patient and passionate about teaching the importance of physical self-care and the skill of rule-governed play to our learners. Mr. Sam was one of our first graduates at Breakthrough Academy and uses his first-hand experience with our programs to support our learners.
Chef Ed, HOme Economics
“Chef” Ed is our lovable and resident comedian! Chef Ed has a degree in Culinary Arts after retiring as a Deputy Sheriff and serving in the United States Air Force for 8 years as a Security Forces Member prior to that. Chef Ed sought to support our learners in the important area of Home Economics and, specifically, Nutrition and Cooking. He thoroughly enjoys working with our learners!