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Barton Lab

Our Team

The Brains of Barton Lab

Claire Winchester is a doctoral student in Early Childhood Special Education at Vanderbilt University. She is looking forward to continue learning, working and growing with compassionate individuals. Hometown: Tyler, Texas.  Focus/Specialization:  Assessment and diagnosis of young children with disabilities and delays, family-centered supports for social-emotional development and challenging behavior, and translation & cultural adaptation of assessment, diagnosis, and intervention tools. Goals: Open and run her own international childhood consulting firm! What is your favorite thing to do for self-care? Doing anything outside and traveling to visit friends and family! Fun Fact: I didn’t learn how to ride a bike until 4th grade!

 

Brandy Locchetta is a doctoral student in Early Childhood Special Education at Vanderbilt University. Before coming back to Vanderbilt, she worked at the state level in GA to increase access to high-quality childcare for children with disabilities and challenging behavior. Hometown: Duluth, Georgia. Focus/Specialization: Inclusive practices that improve developmental and behavioral outcomes for young children when implemented and sustained by practitioners in natural environments. Goals: To work in a position that affords me the opportunity to use what I know about policy, practice, and research to improve systems so that all young children and their families have access to high quality early learning environments. What is your favorite thing to do for self-care? Walking with my pup Ruthie or wandering around HomeGoods! Fun Fact: I am Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s #1 fangirl!

 

Sarah Scott is a doctoral student in the Early Childhood Special Education program at Vanderbilt University. She is most looking forward to continue to have in-depth conversations with other professionals and start solving issues she saw while she was a teacher. Hometown: Florence, South Carolina. Focus/Specialization: School-aged early learners (ages 4-7), complex developmental delays, social-emotional and behavioral supports, and inclusive practices. Goals: Identify and share solutions that reduce exclusionary practices (suspensions, expulsions, extended office visits, etc) for young learners with disabilities. Teaching future teachers is something she looks forward to doing, as well as continuing to do research. What is your favorite thing to do for self-care? Going to dance classes, paddleboarding/canoeing, reading fiction, cuddling my dog, movie nights with my husband, and collecting plants. Fun Fact: Prior to this, I was on a founding team of an elementary school startingwith the very first class of kindergarteners as their special education teacher, and then I stuck around to coach their future teachers and watched them grow up to become 5th graders.

 

Hanlin Chen is a master’s student in the Early Childhood Special Education program with the Applied Behavior Analysis add-on. She is most looking forward to discovering new things in her academic classes as well as exploring Nashville! Hometown: Shanghai,China. Focus/Specialization: Early assessment and intervention. Goals: Become a behavior therapist in a clinic.   What is your favorite thing to do for self-care? Travel! Fun Fact: I always wanted to be a cartoonist!

 

 

Grace Eatman is a master’s student in the Early Childhood Special Education program with the Applied Behavior Analysis add-on. She is most looking forward to working with people who share her same passion at Vanderbilt! Hometown: Gallatin, Tennessee. Focus/Specialization: Trauma-informed care and play based learning. Goals: Become a teacher. What is your favorite thing to do for self-care? Taking my dog for a swim! Fun Fact: I love to needlepoint and garden!

 

 

Lin Pi is a master’s student in Early Childhood Special Education at Vanderbilt University. Hometown: China Focus/Specialization: Learning how to implement early behavioral interventions for children with disabilities from multi-cultural backgrounds. Goals: To be a special education teacher in public school settings. What is your favorite thing to do for self-care? Morning yoga and meditation. Fun fact: I consider myself a creative cook.

 

Brooke Edelstein is a master’s student in Early Childhood Special Education with the Applied Behavior Analysis add-on at Vanderbilt University. She is most looking forward to getting hands-on research experience and collaborating with quality people. Hometown: Manchester, Massachusetts Focus/Specialization: Song and play-based learning, and autism spectrum disorder. Goals: To gain as much experience as possible in the special education field and eventually open up her own early childhood preschool or clinic. What is your favorite thing to do for self-care? Being in nature, spending time with friends and family, and hiking. Fun Fact: Brooke  hiked and camped in the Negev Desert in Israel.

 

Alysa Longo is a master’s student in the Applied Behavior Analysis track at Vanderbilt University. Hometown: New Jersey What is your favorite thing to do for self-care? Cooking healthy meals and a regular workout schedule.

 

 

 

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 Students who Graduated 

D’Anna Hasik is a recent graduate from the Early Childhood Special Education program with the Applied Behavior Analysis add-on. She is looking forward to having professors who are very hands on and direct with their students’ experiences. She looks forward to the connections and resources that she will have access to through the program. Hometown: Waynesville, MO. Focus/Specialization: Play-based learning and preference/reinforcer assessments. Goals: Deciding whether or not to become a BCBA in a clinical setting or working as a teacher in an inclusive classroom! What is your favorite thing to do for self-care? Going to hot yoga and getting my sweat on! Fun Fact: I recently adopted a dog from the Nashville Humane Association back in October! His name is Zaza!

 

Maggie Wickman is a recent graduate from the Early Childhood Special Education program with the Applied Behavior Analysis add-on. She is most looking forward to working alongside other professionals who share the same passion for working with kids who have challenging behavior and getting to work hands-on with families. Maggie taught first-grade special education for two years before attending Vanderbilt. Hometown: Chicago, Illinois. Focus/Specialization: Trauma informed practices in young children (birth-8) with severe challenging behavior and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder as well as Functional Communication Training (FCT). Goals: Open up my own clinic to serve children who come from low income and/or traumatic backgrounds while utilizing trauma-informed practices. What is your favorite thing to do for self-care? Go hiking with my puppy, try a new baking recipe or get my sweat on at the gym! Fun Fact: I was a cheerleader in college!

 

Madeline Marchetti is a recent graduate from the Early Childhood Special Education Master’s program with the Applied Behavior Analysis add-on in May 2022. Maddy recently accepted a position as a Special Education Resource Teacher (K-2) in Franklin, TN. Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee. What is your favorite thing to do for self-care? Bake and watch movies! Fun Fact: I have a cat named Tiny!

 

 

Megan Williams is a recent graduate from the Early Childhood Special Education program with the Applied Behavior Analysis add-on in May 2022. She recently started a position as a BCBA in Murfreesboro, TN! Hometown: Sandy Run, South Carolina. Focus/Specialization: Parent Coaching and trauma informed care. Goals: To work as a BCBA in a clinic ideally focusing on parent training/support. What is your favorite thing to do for self-care? Order pizza and watch movies! Fun Fact: I have a cat named Wally!

 

 

Baylee Webb is a recent graduate from the Early Childhood Special Education program with the Applied Behavior Analysis add-on in May 2022. Hometown: Lebanon, Tennessee. What is your favorite thing to do for self-care? Going on walks with my dog. Fun Fact: I have a  dog named Bindi!

 

 

 

 

Marina Velez is a doctoral student in Early Childhood Special Education at Vanderbilt University. Her primary research interests involve the promotion of social emotional competence in young children. She recently conducted meta-analysis to identify evidence-based strategies to promote peer-related social skills in young children with and at risk for disabilities. Favorite children’s book: Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses Favorite game/toy: Catan with my son Where did you grow up? small town Arkansas What was your favorite subject in school? Math When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? The first female President of the United States

 

Jen Bancroft is a Speech and Language Pathologist, now pursuing her doctorate degree in Early Childhood Special Education, with a minor in Behavior Analysis. Her research interests include: (a) the development of play skills and social competence in children with developmental disabilities and (b) increasing collaboration between teachers and related services providers to improve the delivery of services for children with disabilities. She is currently working on a research project using the system of least prompts paired with verbal models to increase pretend play in children with developmental disabilities. Favorite children’s book: Silly Doggy Favorite game/toy: Hide and Seek Where did you grow up? Southern California What was your favorite subject in school? Math When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? A sign language teacher

 

Gabriela Robinson is a Child Studies graduate student with an Applied Behavior Analysis add-on. She is most excited about working with a research team that is generating and using information to help children and their families. Favorite children’s book: Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes Favorite game/toy: anything related to Scooby-Doo, whether it is a stuffed animal, a board game, or a video game Where did you grow up? San Antonio, Texas What was your favorite subject in school? Chemistry and Calculus When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? A lawyer

 

Lauren Schulte is a master’s student in the Early Childhood Special Education Program and she is also doing the Applied Behavior Analysis add-on. She is very excited to work with an awesome lab team and learn from leaders in the field of special education! Favorite children’s book: Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss Favorite game/toy: Trouble (board game) & a kitchen set Where did you grow up? Chicago suburb  What was your favorite subject in school? Social Studies When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? A paleontologist

 

Emma Skiba is a master’s student in the Early Childhood Special Education Program with the Applied Behavior Analysis add-on. After completing her bachelor’s degree in psychology and working as an RBT for two years, she is excited to work with people who are just as passionate about helping all children learn, grow, and thrive. Favorite children’s book: Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae Favorite game/toy: Play-Doh Where did you grow up? Ocala, Florida  What was your favorite subject in school? English When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? A ballerina

 

Caroline Baum is a master’s student in the Early Childhood Special Education program with the Applied Behavior Analysis add-on. She is really looking forward to working with children with disabilities and their families. Favorite children’s book: Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans Favorite game/toy: Backgammon or any board game Where did you grow up? Atlanta, GA  What was your favorite subject in school? Math When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? A singer-songwriter

 

Gabrielle Trimlett has a bachelor’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis and completed her Master program in Early Childhood Special Education at Vanderbilt University in 2020. While in the program, she completed a research project analyzing the effects of a system of least prompts procedure, peer modeling, and contingent reinforcement to increase the complexity of board game play, and to increase the duration and complexity of social communication related to board game play in children with developmental disabilities. Favorite children’s book: Where the Wild Things Are Favorite game/toy: Clue, kitchen set Where did you grow up? Warwick, NY What was your favorite subject in school? English When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? Veterinarian

 

Yuxin Tang completed her Master program in Early Childhood Special Education at Vanderbilt University in 2020. She recently completed a research project analyzing the effects of email feedback on teacher’s use of emotion words in their classrooms and their influence on children’s social emotional competency. Favorite children’s book: Journey To The West (西游记） Favorite game/toy: Hide and Seek Where did you grow up? China What was your favorite subject in school? Math When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? Teacher

 

John Wright completed his doctoral studies at Vanderbilt in 2019. He is a faculty member at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY. His primary area of interest involves academic support and interventions for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID). In particular, he focuses on supporting STEM participation for kids with ASD and ID. Favorite children’s book: Yesterday I Had the Blues Favorite game/toy: Clue & Mousetrap Where did you grow up? Johnston City, IL What was your favorite subject in school? Math When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? Architect

 

Emily Eames completed her master program in Early Childhood Special Education at Vanderbilt University. She is working as Preschool Special Education Teacher at the Franziska Racker Centers in Ithaca, NY. She worked on a research project analyzing the effects of different play materials on preschoolers’ complexity of play behaviors, social play behaviors, and engagement in play. Favorite children’s book: The Velveteen Rabbit Favorite game/toy: Baby dolls Where did you grow up? Central New York What was your favorite subject in school? History/Social Studies When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? Figure skater

 

Ana Paula Martinez completed her master program in Early Childhood Special Education at Vanderbilt University. She recently completed a research project analyzing the effects of email performance-based feedback on preservice teacher’s use of promoting social interactions in their classrooms, and the impact it has on children’s social interactions between typically developing children and children with disabilities. Her results were positive in that teachers increased their use of statements that promote social interactions after receiving performance-based feedback and children increased their social interactions. We are working on submitting this study for publication and look forward to replicating in the Barton lab in the upcoming years! Also, Paula received the 2019 Distinguished Service in Special Education Award from the Early Childhood Special Education program.

 

Rachel Nicole Francis is a first grade special education teacher in a full inclusion setting. What is your favorite children’s book? “The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!” by Mo Willems What is your favorite game/toy? Board games! Specifically Clue and Sorry Where did you grow up? A small town in East Texas. What was your favorite subject in school? Reading When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? A rockstar, but she wanted to be a teacher too…just in case the rockstar gig didn’t work out. What was the most exciting thing you did in graduate school?  Being apart of a research lab was very exciting! It was exciting to have opportunities to conduct and present research!! I miss it! Also, I met some of the best people in grad school and now some of them are my best friends. They made my experience in Nashville/grad school exciting and enjoyable. We would embark on spontaneous outings, which always led to great food!

 

Celia O’Flaherty now works for Kingdom Autism and Behavioral Health in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. She splits her time between consulting various schools in the rural areas of Vermont and New Hampshire, and managing a caseload of children with autism at the center in St. Johnsbury. She is lucky to work with a dedicated, knowledgeable team who opened the first autism center in the area, so various families now have access ABA services that were not available before! Favorite children’s book: Dear Girl Favorite game/toy: Sand, buckets, and shovels Where did you grow up? Kansas City, Missouri What was your favorite subject in school? Sociology & Psychology When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? A teacher, of course! And, for a short time, I was inspired by a great science teacher to have the lofty goal of being a geneticist. This was short-lived. What was the most exciting thing you did in graduate school? Formally, the most exciting part of my graduate experience was the exposure to all sorts of preschool, clinic, and special education models through research projects and internships. There was no better way to become a well-rounded behavior analyst than this! Informally, the most exciting part of grad school was scoring BOXES of pizza after each Barton Lab potluck. A poor grad school student’s DREAM!

 

Jia Qiu is currently a full-time special education teacher and part-time BCBA. What is your favorite children’s book? The Little Princess What is your favorite game/toy?  Ticket to ride Where did you grow up? Chongqing, China What was your favorite subject in school?  Biology  When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? A gourmet chef What was the most exciting thing you did in graduate school? white water rafting, attending Tennessee ABA Annual Conference

 

Gounah Choi received her master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education with emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis at Vanderbilt in 2016. She is currently a first year doctoral student in Special Education at the University of Washington. Her current research interests include caregiver-implemented interventions and culturally responsive interventions for young children with disabilities and families. Favorite children’s book: An Elephant and Piggie series Favorite game/toy:Play-Doh and Penguins on Ice Where did you grow up? Ansan, a suburban city in Korea What was your favorite subject in school? English (as a second language) and Korean literature  When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? Humanitarian aid workers What was the most exciting thing you did in graduate school? Using behavioral strategies to help kids communicate!

 

Evelyn Mauldin is a practicing BCBA for a Nashville Autism Services. NAS is a small, nonprofit organization where she supervises other BCBAs and trains parents and teachers in the home, school, and community settings. In her free time she enjoys reading and working on her vegetable garden with her husband.  What is your favorite children’s book? – The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood; Wave by Suzy Lee  What is your favorite game/toy? Anything that makes my clients laugh – I love being a reinforcer for them!!  Where did you grow up? Mississippi Gulf Coast What was your favorite subject in school? English!  When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? A veterinarian  What was the most exciting thing you did in graduate school? Conducting my thesis and student teaching.

 

Monica Rigor is a Clinical Quality Manager at ACES Comprehensive Education Services based in San Jose, Ca. She supports a team of masters level supervisors and BCBAs, and supervises in-home ABA programs for clients ages 2-22 along the central coast. What is your favorite children’s book?  Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day What is your favorite game/toy? Spot It  Where did you grow up?  Santa Cruz, CA What was your favorite subject in school?  Science  When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?  An archaeologist  What was the most exciting thing you did in graduate school? Seeing how strategies learned in classes translated to the classroom setting and were successful in helping children learn.