Preschool and Early Elementary Learning (PEEL) Lab

Doctoral Students

Katie Zimmerman is an Assistant Professor in Special Education at the University of Kansas and the Early Childhood Institute Director at the Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities. She is from Salem, Virginia and got her undergraduate degree in Special Education at The College of William and Mary. Katie received her PhD from Vanderbilt University in the Early Childhood Special Education program. Her favorite memory from the PhD program was leading small group instruction with friends, especially complex and diverse block play. Katie’s favorite childhood book is Precious and The Boo Hag Written by Patricia C. McKissack and Onawumi Jean Moss.

Kate Chazin is a doctoral-level Behavior Analyst at TRIAD – The Autism Institute at Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. She serves as a researcher and coach on capacity-building projects for caregivers and teachers of young autistic children. She also facilitates collaboration with TRIAD’s Autistic Advisory Council and supports planning of an autistic-led conference on behavior analytic practice. Her current research primarily centers on (a) self-determination in early childhood, (b) assessing and honoring child assent, and (c) collaborating with autistic adults to improve social validity of behavior analytic practices. One of her favorite moments from the doctoral program was learning that she and Dr. Ledford both read encyclopedias for fun as children (#nerdalert 🤓)

Masters Students

Class of 2016

Chelle (Harbin) Stoneburg is BCBA at Child and Family Development, a large multidisciplinary clinic in Charlotte, NC. She coordinates the early intervention ABA program. She is originally from Apopka, FL and received her undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences from Auburn University (War Eagle!). She graduated from Vanderbilt with her Masters of Education in Early Childhood Special Education. Her favorite part of the ECSE program involved research projects in the local elementary schools. And of course, planning outlandish birthday surprises for Dr. Ledford! Her favorite book series is Pete the Cat.

Betsie Johnson is an ABA Clinical Manager at Project Play Therapy, a multi-disciplinary pediatric therapy company serving the greater Nashville area. She is from Nicholasville, Kentucky. She has an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from the University of Kentucky, and graduated from Vanderbilt in 2016 with a master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education. Her favorite memory while at Vanderbilt was her fellowship at the Susan Gray School teaching in the Turtle Buddies and Wise Owls classrooms with Abby and Miaya, the best teaching team of all time. Her favorite childhood game was backyard football and her favorite children’s book is The Velveteen Rabbit.

Sarah Ward is currently the lead BCBA at an early intervention program. Sarah is from Whitefish Bay, WI and received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Minnesota. Sarah graduated from the Early Childhood Special Education masters program from Vanderbilt. Her favorite memory from the program was when she worked with a little boy with autism spectrum disorder on a speech intervention during his nap time, and as she entered the classroom he would sit up off his cot and excitedly sign “shoes” and “socks.” w Her favorite childhood book is Knuffle Bunny.

Class of 2017

Natasha Patel is a behavior analyst at an applied behavioral analysis (ABA) company that focuses on early intervention. Natasha is from Amarillo, Texas and received her undergraduate degree in Special Education from the University of Texas. Natasha received her masters degree in the Early Childhood Special Education program with an ABA focus at Vanderbilt University. Her favorite memory from the masters program was observing a child make progress and be successful in class with the support of a behavior intervention plan. Her favorite early childhood book was The Giving Tree.

Kirsten Osborne is currently an early childhood special education teacher in Williamson County Schools outside Nashville. She graduated from the Vanderbilt master’s program in 2017, and she loved being a Susan Gray fellow in Cuddlebugs and Wise Owls. Her favorite memory was helping her students with disabilities access trick-or-treating during the Pumpkin Parade on campus. She is from Allentown, PA, and she has a bachelor’s degree from Duke University in education and public policy. Her favorite book to read to children is Caps for Sale.

Vivian Morales graduated from the Early Childhood Special Education and Applied Behavior Analysis master’s program in 2017. After graduating, she worked as a behavior therapist providing in-home and in-school services for children across New York City and is currently working as a Learning and Behavior Specialist for an elementary school in the Bronx, NY. She is originally from Miami, FL and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Florida International University. Her favorite memory from Vanderbilt was being able to work with so many amazing kids at the Susan Grey School either in a 1:1 setting, socializing with friends on the playground, or learning new skills in the classroom. Her favorite children’s books are Where the Sidewalk Ends and Madeline.

Class of 2018

Samantha Jones currently serves as a BCBA Program Coordinator at a pediatric therapy company. She grew up in Marietta, Georgia and majored in Special Education at Georgia College & State University. While in the Early Childhood Special Education program at Vanderbilt, her favorite memory involved listening to all of the giggles and hilarious comments pre-k friends made during Nap Group days. One of her favorite books to read to kiddos today includes We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.

Jessica is from Alpharetta, Georgia and received her bachelor’s degree in Special Education from the University of Mississippi. She received her master’s degree is in Early Childhood Special Education with an ABA endorsement from Vanderbilt University. Her favorite memories from the program occurred in nap group as the kiddos never failed to put a smile on her face and gave her the best opportunities to be coached by the brilliant Dr. Ledford and Katie Zimmerman!

Samantha Leahy is currently applying for early childhood special education teaching positions in public school districts in the greater Los Angeles area. She recently transitioned from a role as a Clinical Manager for an ABA company serving primarily young clients with autism. Samantha is from Brookline, MA and received her undergraduate degree in art history and biology (wild, right!) from Bowdoin College. At Vanderbilt, Samantha studied Early Childhood Special Education and ABA. Samantha loved coding her thesis project on social interactions during art time because she got to analyze the amazing ways children communicate with one another. Her favorite activity to do with young students is child-directed free art activities.

Class of 2019

Anne Lord is currently an early childhood special education teacher for Williamson County Schools in Tennessee, after graduating from the Vanderbilt ECSE program in 2019. She is a prior graduate of the University of Alabama with a degree in Multiple Abilities, and is originally from McLean, Virginia. Her favorite memory of the program at Vanderbilt is teaching turn-taking and other social skills through fun games during our daily naptime group. Her favorite book to read as a child, and with her students today, is “Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse” by Kevin Henkes.

Kari Gagnon is currently a self-contained special education teacher in Upstate New York. Kari graduated from the Vanderbilt ECSE masters program in May of 2019. After graduating, Kari worked as an early childhood special education teacher in Metro Nashville Public Schools. She is from Cooperstown, New York, and previously graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Childhood Education and Childhood Special Education from Elmira College. While at Vanderbilt, she enjoyed teaching social and communication skills through small group games and read alouds during Dr. Ledford’s research-based Nap Group. As a teacher, Kari enjoys reading “Harry the Dirty Dog” by Gene Zion, and playing cooperative games such as Count Your Chickens, with her students

Reeves Turner serves as the Training Coordinator at Pathways Autism Center in Atlanta, Georgia. She graduated from University of Georgia with a B.Ed. in Early Childhood Education and Teaching in 2017, and graduated from Vanderbilt with an M.Ed. in Early Childhood Special Education in 2019.

Class of 2020

Catherine Simpson graduated from Vanderbilt with her Master’s in Early Childhood Special Education and a specialization in ABA in May of 2020. She received her undergraduate degree in psychology from Washington & Lee University, and she is from Richmond, Virginia. While at Vanderbilt, Catherine loved to play games with preschool students on the playground. Her favorite book to read with children is Andrew Henry’s Meadow.

Priscilla Shin is from Chapel Hill, North Carolina and received her undergraduate degree in Child Development and Family Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Priscilla recently graduated from the Early Childhood Special Education masters program at Vanderbilt University and is now a behavior analyst in the Early Learner Program at the Center for Pediatric Behavior Health. Her favorite memory from the masters program was when she received the compliment “I like your feet” when teaching children about giving compliments. Her favorite childhood game is CandyLand.

Megan Harden is a lead BCBA at a company providing clinic-based ABA services to young kiddos with autism. Originally from Kansas City, Megan earned her bachelors degree in Psychology and Child Studies from Vanderbilt. Megan recently completed the Child Studies M.Ed program on the ABA track. One of her favorite memories from the masters program was teaching nap group kids to give compliments and hearing one tell another lab member, “I like your body.” Her favorite children’s book currently is The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles and her favorite book as a child was Wacky Wednesday by Dr. Seuss.

Maeve Hasselman is an early childhood special education teacher employed through the Department of Defense Education Activity. Her current assignment is Pierce Terrace Elementary School on Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina. She is from Oakmont, PA, and she has a bachelor’s degree from Saint Vincent College in Early Childhood Education and Special Education. She graduated from the Vanderbilt Early Childhood Special Education master’s program in 2020, and was a Susan Gray fellow in Mighty Chipmunks and Frog Friends. Her favorite memory was getting to see skills that were taught to the children in nap group (run by Ledford Lab) generalize to the classrooms in SGS where she taught. Her favorite book series to read with children are the Llama Llama books.

Class of 2021

Gabby Robinson is back in her hometown of San Antonio, TX, where she have been working as a BCBA providing in home and center based services to young kids and early adolescents with autism. Gabby received her bachelors degree in Psychology from Texas A&M, and her Master’s degree in Child Studies from Vanderbilt. Her favorite game as a child was SORRY! Disney. Her favorite memory in the program so far has been helping toddlers complete the coolest ocean puzzle.

Evyn Zelnio is a current second year Master’s student in the Early Childhood Special Education program. She is from Atlanta, Georgia and received her undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Georgia. A favorite memory from the program is having one of her students randomly begin to say Evyn’s name only in an extremely deep voice. Her favorite children’s book is If You Give a Pig a Pancake.

Georgia Pace graduated from Vanderbilt’s Early Childhood Special Education program in 2021. Georgia hails from San Diego, California and majored in Psychology at the University of Notre Dame for her undergraduate degree. Her favorite children’s game is freeze dance.

Annie Riedlinger is enjoying being a stay-at-home mommy in Nashville, TN. Originally from Toronto, Ontario, Annie received her undergraduate degree in psychology from Queen’s University and Master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education at Vanderbilt University. Her favorite part of the program so far is getting to be silly with the nap group kiddos. Her favorite game as a child was sharks and minnows.

Masters Students

Class of 2023

Lillian Louise Tang is a second year Master’s student in the Early Childhood Special Education program and is from Manila, Philippines. Lillian got her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education majoring in Early Childhood Education from De La Salle University Manila in 2018. Before coming to Vanderbilt, she worked as a preschool teacher and cognitive brain trainer. Her favorite childhood book is Hooray for Diffendoofer Day!

Grace Feiner is a second year Master’s student in the Early Childhood Special Education Program and is from Long Island, New York. She recently graduated from Elon University, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and worked as an undergraduate researcher in the Infant Development Lab. Her favorite childhood games are Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders.

Neeraja Prabhakaran is a second year Master’s student in the Early Childhood Special Education program and is from Chennai, India. She graduated from the Madras school of social work, India with a degree in Psychology in 2020. Her favorite childhood book is Green Eggs and Ham.

Taylor Bair is a second year Master’s student in the Early Childhood Special Education Program and Applied Behavior Analysis Program and is from Greensboro, North Carolina. She received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Appalachian State University. Her favorite children’s book is If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.

Preschool and Early Elementary Learning (PEEL) Lab Lab Members