Hanna Wolde, Supervising Behavior Analyst

Hanna Wolde has been working for Learning ARTS since 2006 as a Behavior Technician and Behavior Specialist. Currently, Hanna is the Behavior Analyst and Regional Supervisor for all Learning ARTS programs in the Central Valley.  Her responsibilities include: designing, implementing, and evaluating programs; supervising Behavior Specialists and Therapists; training; overseeing and reviewing clients’ assessments and behavior intervention plans; tracking clients’ progress; and providing parent training and education. Hanna received her Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis from California State University, Fresno and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.  Hanna’s Master’s thesis topic was, “The application and the effect of errorless teaching procedures on rate of skill acquisition for children with autism.”  She presented her research at multiple state and national conferences including the California Association for Behavior Analysis, Association for Behavior Analysis- International, and presented a poster at the Nevada Association for Behavior Analysis.  She also worked for Fresno Unified School District as a consultant who provided direct and consultation services to students and school staff related to Positive Behavior Support Plans by analyzing data for functional behavior assessments, implementing class-wide and individual behavior support plans, and training teachers and other support staff to implement such programs.

Mike Stephens, Behavior Analyst

Mike Stephens has been a Behavior Specialist with Learning ARTS since June 2012.  He attended California State University, Fresno where he received a Bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2006 and a Master's degree in psychology with an emphasis in ABA in 2012. His Master's thesis involved video modeling to teach parents to better implement behavior intervention strategies. In October 2012 Mike earned his BCBA certification. Mike currently works out of the Fresno office for Learning ARTS. He also does some consultation work for his local school district in Ahwahnee California. After work he stays busy with his 3 wonderful children.

Gloria Walker, Behavior Specialist

Gloria Walker is a Bilingual Behavior Specialist, fluent in English and Spanish. She has been working with children on the autism spectrum for over 5 years in the classroom and with Learning ARTS since 2007.  Gloria provides training, in English and Spanish, in behavior management for parents who are in need of immediate guidance. Gloria completed her undergraduate work at CSU Stanislaus in Turlock, earning a Bachelor’s Degree and is currently applying to pursue her Master’s Degree in Psychology.

Taylor Gaines, Behavior Specialist

Taylor Gaines gained an interest in children with autism during her undergraduate degree at Fresno State . She started taking classes on behaviorism at Fresno State University and has been involved with children with autism ever since. After graduating in 2007 with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology with and emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis she began working at Learning ARTS She started as a behavior technician, she then was promoted to a staff trainer and in 2012 she was promoted to a behavior specialist. Taylor Gaines holds Masters of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling from Fresno State University. She has worked with a wide array of people with disabilities including autism, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, Intellectual disability, depression, bi-polar disorder, substance abuse, and Rett's syndrome. Taylor notes she has a passion to help children and parents dealing with Autism. She will be pursuing a Board Certified Behavior Analysis Certificate at Fresno State University in the summer of 2013.

Othon A. Gurrola, Behavior Specialist

Othon A. Gurrola first started working with kids at the age of 18. After graduating from Fresno State University, with a BA in Psychology, he decided to pursue a career in the field of Special Needs.  Within the first few months he discovered how rewording it could be to work with kids with special needs and in particular those kids with Autism and because of it, it did not take him long to figure out he had found a calling. In March of 2011 he joined the Learning ARTS family as a Behavior Specialist.       

Danielle Glynn, Behavior Specialist

Danielle was hired by Learning ARTS in 2007 as a Behavior Technician. She was motivated to work in this field because she has a cousin that has autism. Danielle was promoted to a Staff Trainer in 2009 and then promoted to a Behavior Specialist in 2013. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Communication Disorders and Deaf Studies -Speech Language Pathology from California State University, Fresno and is pursuing a Master's Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. In the near future she seeks a BCBA certification. Danielle says some of the highlights of her job are hearing a child produce a sound/word, imitate a motor skill or try a new play skill for the first time after working on it for a long period of time.

Mary Vongsackda, Behavior Specialist

Mary Vongsackda has worked with clients on the autism spectrum and clients with other disabilities for about 5 years.  She started working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis at a center based program at California State University, Fresno and now she currently works in-home at Learning ARTS.  Mary graduated from California State University, Fresno with her Master of Arts in General/Experimental Psychology in 2011 and she received her certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis in 2009 at California State University, Fresno as well.  Mary enjoys working with children and dedicates her work to help improve each of her clients' needs.

Dulce Ruiz, Behavior Specialist

Dulce started working with Learning Arts in 2011 as a Technician and was later promoted as a Behavior Specialist. She is fluent in Spanish and English, which has allowed her to assist in the parenting classes. She has worked with children with autism spectrum disorder since 2010 and studied at California State University, Stanislaus and completed Bachelors in Psychology.

April Torres, Behavior Specialist

April started working with children in 1997 doing behavior intervention with children in the juvenile justice system. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology with a Victimology Option in 1999 and began working with women and children who were victims of domestic violence. April gained knowledge and compassion in social services that she wanted to utilize in other areas. In 2004 she left social services to work with children in the educational field. April received her Designated Subject Credential in Law Enforcement and taught Criminal Justice at high school level. She has earned a Multiple Subject Credential in 2010 as well as earning a Master’s Degree in Education, specializing in Differentiated Instruction and Best Practices. April started with Learning ARTS in 2012 as a Behavior Specialist. April says: “Learning ARTS allows me the opportunity to work directly with children and their families. It is very exciting to witness the growth and progress our clients continue to make regardless of their obstacles.”

Yvette Lopez, Behavior Specialist

Yvette has over 3 years experience working with children with developmental delays. She acquired a Bachelor's Degree of Psychology from CSU Fresno and received the ABA certificate. Yvette is pursuing a Masters of Social Work.

Ryanne Amomonpon, Behavior Specialist

Ryanne Amomonpon has been a Behavior Specialist for Learning ARTS since 2011.  Prior to Learning ARTS, Ryanne had been a Lead Behavioral Therapist for over 3 years at the Central California Autism Center.  Along with her experience, she earned her B.A. from the California State University of Fresno with departmental honors in psychology and has an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis.  During her undergraduate work Ryanne conducted a study on the effects of within-stimulus prompting, such as highlighting, on reading comprehension skills in children with autism.  Ryanne also presented her findings at the 2011 California Association for Behavior Analysis Annual Western Regional Conference as well as at the Central California Research Symposium.  She recently earned her M.A. from the California State University of Fresno in Psychology with an emphasis in the General Experimental Program.  Her thesis also explored the effects of within-stimulus prompting on audiovisual integration in hopes to improving speech perception in children with autism.  Ryanne has an extensive background in research and plans to continue her research to better the lives of children with autism.

Suzie Maldonado, Behavior Specialist

Susie Maldonado earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a concentration in Human Development from California State University, Stanislaus. Susie has been working with Learning ARTS and children on the Autism Spectrum since 2010. Susie started as a Behavior Technician and became a Behavior Specialist in 2012. She has followed her passion ever since: to help Autistic children and their families achieve a greater understanding of the disorder. She is currently offering bilingual services to our Latino families affected by Autism and provides Behavioral Consultation Services that give parents proven skills than help children with Autism.

Wayne Johnson, Behavior Specialist

Wayne Johnson has been working with children with disabilities and on the autism spectrum for over 5 years specialized in dealing with problematic behaviors. He started his experience after graduating with his Bachelors in Psychology in 2007 and has been a member of the Learning ARTS team since January of 2012. Wayne enjoys assisting families and working with children to help teach techniques in minimizing dealing with difficult behaviors.