Up Up and Away

Nurturing Happiness, Fostering Growth
Meet the Team

Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Adriana Pensiero
I'm a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, licensed in New York and Connecticut. I hold a Masters in Applied Behavior Analysis and have been working with individuals with special needs for 10 years. I love what I do, and everyday is a chance to learn and have fun. I'm passionate about listening to client's needs, and fostering a safe and nurturing environment to learn. The most rewarding part of my job is seeing a client learn new skills and thrive in new environments.

Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Anisha Thomas
I am a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with a Master’s degree in ABA and several years of experience supporting children with autism and developmental disabilities across early intervention, preschool, and clinic settings. I believe every child deserves individualized, compassionate, and assent-based care that focuses on socially significant goals to improve quality of life and support families. I value collaborating with families and multidisciplinary teams. I'm committed to continued growth to create lasting and meaningful progress for the learners I support.

Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Ariana Matzner
I have dedicated over a decade to the Special Education field. Throughout this time, I have obtained Certification as a Special Education teacher, my BCBA, and LBA. I have experience in various settings, including schools, home-based environments, and clinical settings. I am always looking for creative ways to support my clients in achieving their goals whether that be related to academics, social skills, or community based activities.

Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Clare Macannan
I've been working in ABA for over ten years. I have worked with children from age 2-13, and across a variety of settings (schools, clinics, summer camps, and in home). I enjoy working with young learners teaching them to communicate and express themselves. I regularly work with other providers, such as speech, OT, and PT, to ensure my clients receive the most comprehensive and collaborative treatment. I love finding ways to keep sessions fun and engaging for clients.

Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Demi Fragale
I am a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (NY State Licensed), and hold a Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Musical Theatre. I have worked with individuals with developmental delays and autism for over ten years, and enjoy incorporating my love of singing and art into my work. I am passionate about fostering a safe, happy, and trusting relationship with all of my clients, while helping them develop new skills in a fun learning environment.

Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Dara Greenberg
I am a BCBA/LBA. I come from the field of early intervention and have a passion for working with young children and their families. I am interested in natural environment teaching and honing in on teachable moments to help children learn. I am looking forward to beginning my role at Up Up and Away and continuing to help children thrive!

Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Eleni Katechis
Coming Soon

Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Erika Flores
I am a BCBA and New York State certified Special Education Teacher. I have 12 years of experience working with children with disabilities. I’ve worked as a classroom teacher, SEIT, Site Director and supervisor. I’ve specialized in Early intervention and Child Development. I am passionate about helping children reach their highest potential through play. I foster a nurturing environment, where kids can learn, have fun, and most importantly be themselves.

Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Felicia Turturiello
With over 10 years of experience, I have an extensive background in Special Education, Counseling, and Applied Behavioral Analysis. As a Family Education and Advocacy Specialist, I specialize in mediating between families and the Administration for the Child Services Department. I can also assist with navigating the NYSED process, including the IEP process and 504 plans, and serve as an expert witness at impartial hearings.

Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Habiba Sultana
As a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with over a decade of experience working with children ages 2–18, I am passionate about helping individuals with diverse needs reach their full potential through individualized and meaningful support. I earned my Master of Arts from Teachers College, along with New York certifications in both General and Special Education, allowing me to integrate educational principles with the science of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). I value a collaborative approach and work closely with families and multidisciplinary teams to provide effective support across home, school, and community settings.

Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Hannah Zaks
I am a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with 15 years of experience supporting children and young adults on the autism spectrum, ages 2–21, and began my career at a charter school in East Harlem dedicated to educating individuals with autism through ABA. While working as both a head teacher and clinical supervisor, I earned my master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education and became a BCBA. I am passionate about teaching functional communication, social interaction, self-advocacy, and independence skills, and I especially enjoy creating visual supports that make abstract concepts more accessible while helping families experience a greater quality of life together.

Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Jacqui Pinczewski
I am a Board Certified and Licensed Behavior Analyst committed to empowering individuals with special needs. Holding a master's degree in special education and certification as a special education teacher, I specialize in developing individualized behavior intervention plans that promote positive behavioral changes and skill development. My experience spans working with children across various settings - schools, clinics, home programs, and community programs. I create supportive environments that foster growth and independence while staying at the forefront of ABA methodologies to ensure my clients receive the most effective and compassionate care.

Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Jessica Kozak
I am a Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral (BCBA-D) with over 12 years of experience supporting learners across a variety of settings to build communication, social, and adaptive living skills. I earned my New York certifications in General and Special Education in 2017 and later received my PhD in Applied Behavior Analysis from Teachers College, Columbia University in 2020, and have worked as a Special Education Teacher, Teacher Mentor, and supervising BCBA. I am passionate about collaborating closely with learners, families, and multidisciplinary teams to create individualized supports that promote independence.

Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Natasha Kodiak
I’m a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and have been working with individuals with developmental disabilities for over 10 years. I hold a masters in special education with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis. I am passionate about assisting individuals to reach their full potential, while providing a safe and fun learning environment. My clinical interests include teaching clients self-advocacy and promoting body autonomy — two skills that I believe empower individuals to feel confident when navigating their environment!

Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Nichole Favazza
I entered the ABA field in 2013, with a MA in School Psychology. After falling in love with behavioral science, I went on to receive training at a multi-discipinary pediatric center, where behavior analysts, speech pathologists and occupational therapists collaborated to develop highly individualized treatment plans. I love to incorporate art, music, play, and movement into therapy sessions and foster new hobbies or interests for my clients. While I says there are many rewarding parts of my job, one of my favorite moments is to see my client use newly learned skills in new places, such as at a playground, at a grandparents house, or at school.

Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Nicole Haferl
I am a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over a decade of experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities across a variety of settings. I am passionate about empowering individuals to discover the power of their communication through tailored strategies and creating a safe, fun learning environment. The most rewarding part of the job is supporting individuals and their families to foster new skills, and celebrating every win during their journey.

Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Sabreen
I am a BCBA licensed in New York and Connecticut with a Master of Education in Special Education specializing in ABA as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Speech Language Pathology. With over a decade of experience working with children ages 2–15 across schools, clinics, homes, and community-based programs in India, Singapore, Canada, and the United States, I bring a culturally responsive and globally informed perspective to my practice. I am passionate about empowering learners through engaging, play-based environments and value collaborating closely with families and multidisciplinary teams to provide compassionate, evidence-based support that creates meaningful change.

Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Shelby Semmes
I am a BCBA licensed in New York and Connecticut. I also am a certified Special Education Teacher in Connecticut. I have worked with ages 2-22. I have experience in various settings including home, school and clinic. I am passionate about wanting to give everyone an opportunity to learn in a safe and non judgmental environment.

Certified Teacher
Stacey Magrone
I am a New York State-certified special education teacher with extensive experience supporting students with diverse learning needs through personalized, strength-based instruction. I use a multisensory approach to teaching reading, writing, and math, allowing me to create engaging and accessible learning experiences tailored to each student’s unique learning style in both classroom and one-on-one settings. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Special Education, I am passionate about using evidence-based practices to make learning empowering, meaningful, and accessible for every student I work with.
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(available for CEU credit) for all staff