ATLAS LEADERSHIP

Founder & Executive Director

Amanda is the founder and Executive Director of the Atlas Foundation for Autism and a special education teacher with over 18 years of experience within the educational field. She is a SUNY New Paltz alumni and has completed the Administrative Certification Program from the College of Saint Rose/CITE. Amanda has worked with students ranging in age from 3 – 25 years old with an array of differences including Autism, Cognitive Delays, Emotional Disturbances (PTSD, Schizophrenia, Oppositional Defiance Disorder, etc.) and other learning and developmental challenges. Prior to Atlas, Amanda had co-founded and run the Emerge & See Education Center polishing the framework for the integrative model that now is the baseline for the Atlas' program philosophy. Amanda has been through certified trainings in ABA, TEACCH, BART, and multiple trainings in DIR/Floortime. She is proud to act as a liaison within the NY ASD and special ed community sharing resources, support, and heart with our incredible students, families, and other community leaders. 

 Program Supervisor 

Rodney Edwards has a BFA in Media Arts and Art Education from the School of Visual Arts. He is a Brooklyn NYC native. Rodney has been working with children and young adults with special needs, for 15+ years. His background consists of a Juvenile Counselor, Special Education Substitute Teacher, Psychosocial Assistant, and Crisis/ Behavior Specialist. He is well versed in Conflict Mediation, Classroom Management , and Crisis Prevention Management. Rodney is a self-taught visual artist, who has had several Art Exhibitions in the NYC area. He continues to welcome all opportunities and to learn new strategies, in promoting a positive and cohesive learning environment. 

Office Administrator 

Matthew is a native New Yorker and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brandeis University and a Master of Arts degree in Educational Theatre in Colleges and Communities from NYU Steinhardt. Matthew has worked in various offices in an administrative capacity for over a decade. The combination of his office experience and his background in education makes Atlas an ideal setting! While not at Atlas, Matthew can be seen on stage as a professional actor and singer. 

 School Director 

A member of the Atlas community since 2015, Erica is proud to serve as Atlas’ School Director. With over 20 years of experience working with children with special needs in a variety of settings, including inpatient psychiatric, BOCES, and non-public schools, Erica has a long history of helping students and families through investing in relationships. Erica received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Boston University, and her Masters in School Psychology from Rochester Institute of Technology. In addition to her certification as a School Psychologist, Erica became a certified RDI Consultant in 2009, and has also received certification in Strategies for Crisis Intervention and Prevention, Cornell University's Therapeutic Crisis Intervention, and clinical training in administration of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale (ADOS). Erica has presented at the Annual Relationship Development Intervention Conference, for the New York Association for Applied Behavior Analysis, and the Keyspan Lecture Series. One of Erica's most humbling positions is as the mother of two growing boys.

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Occupational Therapist 

 Laura received her master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Springfield College and her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a minor in Psychology from Roanoke College. She has worked with children between the ages of 18 months and 23 years old with various diagnoses including autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing disorder, Prader-Willi syndrome, cerebral palsy, and heart conditions. She is dedicated to providing an individualized, holistic approach when helping each child enhance their occupational performance in their school setting and other everyday environments. She also believes in the importance of promoting the carryover of skills and techniques by effectively communicating with other disciplines and families. Laura enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. 

Occupational Therapist
 

 Dolores received her Associates of Applied Science Degree from Mercy College, graduating from the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, followed by her Bachelor’s in Science. She has worked in the pediatric field for over 15+ years, as well as worked with the adult and geriatric populations. Dolores has a passion for helping children be able to participate in everyday activities. She continues to broaden her knowledge on various topics and diagnosis through continuing education classes including; sensory integration/processing, implementing play based therapy, an introduction to DIR/Floortime as well as strategies for various behaviors. Dolores’ interests are working with kids of all ages on their fine, visual motor, and executive functioning skills to increase success within their school and community settings, as well as provide ADL training. Additionally, Dolores collaborates with teachers as well as related service providers, in an effort to positively impact the students' achievements for optimal success and performance throughout the day. 

Occupational Therapist 

 Shelly is a bilingual (English/Spanish) occupational therapist with experience in pediatric care and neurological rehabilitation. She earned her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Boston University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience from Rowan University. With experience in outpatient pediatric care, she has worked with children with developmental, neurological, and sensory challenges. Skilled in sensory integration, fine motor development, and self-care training, she ensures therapy sessions are both effective and engaging by taking a strengths-based, child-led approach. Shelly likes to design interventions that incorporate each child’s interests and motivations, fostering meaningful progress and functional growth. She values collaboration with educators, families, and support staff to ensure a positive and empowering experience for every child. Outside of work, Shelly enjoys traveling, reading, visiting cafes, and spending time outdoors hiking or biking. 

Speech Therapist

Justine Parrinello received her bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders at Queens College. She received her master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology from Long Island University Brooklyn Campus. She is a New York State licensed Speech-Language Pathologist and holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from ASHA as well as a professional certificate as a Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (TSSLD).

Over the past 7 years, Justine has had the opportunity to professionally work with children 0-21 with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Developmental Delays, Feeding/Oral Motor Disorders, Apraxia, Hearing Impairments, Fluency Disorders, Medically Fragile Children, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), Cognitive Delays, Receptive & Expressive Language Impairments, Pragmatic Language Deficits, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders. and Articulation/Phonological Disorders.

Speech Therapist

Ana graduated from Teachers College, Columbia University, with a Master’s degree in speech-language pathology and is currently completing her clinical fellowship year. She was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and is fluent in both Spanish and English. She is passionate about working with the autism population and dedicated to helping her students meet their communication, social, and behavioral goals. She values the importance of creating a safe and supportive environment where her students feel empowered and confident. 

School Counselor

 I’m Laura, and I recently joined the Atlas family as the new school counselor! I received my bachelor's degree in Psychology and Family Child Science from Florida State University and my master's degree in International School Counseling from The College of New Jersey. My first job after graduation was a behavior therapist, and I immediately decided I wanted to dedicate my career to advocating for populations that need it most! I spent the past decade moving around the globe and helping children with various needs and am ready to plant my roots in New York! I’m a lover of nature, all animals and coffee. I love teaching mental health vocabulary and utilizing a strength-based approach to encourage all students to meet their highest potential. 

Lead Teacher 

Michael D. Marsalis holds both a BA in Philosophy and a MSEd in Early Childhood Special Education from Hofstra University. Mr. Marsalis has a combined total of more than 20 years of professional experience in teaching/social services. He also is a co -author of research that was published in the book entitled, Person- Centered Planning Research Practice and Future Directions, by Steve Holburn and Peter M.Vietze. Mr. Marsalis is new Teacher at Atlas and looks forward to working in the school. 

Lead Teacher

 Taylor is a college graduate from University at Buffalo with a bachelors degree in Education. She has worked with children of all ages and volunteered at many different organizations since the beginning of her high school career. She loves working with children and hopes to pursue a masters degree in special education. She is very excited about working at Atlas and hopes to gain more experience as the years go by. 

Lead Teacher

Rona received a bachelor's degree in English literature from Binghamton University in 2018. She worked as a substitute teacher and a student teacher at the local school district with students in a multitude of grade levels within both general and special education. After graduating, she moved on to teach in Dwight School's Early Childhood Division, alongside working towards a master's degree in adolescent English education at Hunter College. She has a genuine passion for teaching and providing children the best possible environment to suit their individual needs, educational and otherwise. Her hobbies include painting, watching sunsets, writing, learning, exploring new places, and spending time with loved ones. 

Lead Teacher  

Hi! My name is Zoe Wiggins and I am a teacher at Atlas. I grew up between Los Angeles, California and Bristol, England, and I moved to New York City to attend The New School in 2009. I have been working with kids for over 10 years and became a special education teacher through the New York City Teaching Collaborative in 2020, earning my Masters of Science in Special Education in May 2022 from Pace University. I worked in District 75 for two years and am excited to continue helping neurodiverse students reach their full potential at Atlas. In my spare time I love to scuba dive, draw, paint, sculpt, make prints, read, cook, go to museums and take my dog Moose to the park.