School Services

Trainings are provided virtually via Zoom®. A school district in the greater Houston area may request an in-person session if within driving distance of the trainers.

Tier 1 training includes a half-day multi-district presentation.  Group training topics include:

• Understanding and reducing problem behavior
• Utilizing reinforcement in the classroom
• Proactively teaching routines
• Selecting basic data collection methods

*3.5 continuing education credits are provided to all attendees for completing a Tier 1 training.

Tier 2 offers optional enrollment in a more intensive training experience. Tier 2 requires a 4-6 week commitment and offers a 1:1 individualized training with BCBAs with a focus on one of the following topics:

• Increasing communication
• Creating token economies
• Increasing independence
• Supporting students in inclusion environment
• Establishing group contingencies
• Writing IEP goals and managing data collection
• Reducing problem behavior

Tier 3 focuses on teachers who want to learn to train others on campus using an evidence-based training program. Tier 3 teachers learn to transfer their new skills to a colleague using a training strategy called Behavior Skills Training (BST).

*Continuing education credits are provided to all participants in Tier 2 and Tier 3 training equal to the number of training hours.

Trainings are offered to all teachers, paraprofessionals, or instructional and behavioral specialists who hold a teaching certificate in Texas. Until this year, we have primarily worked with staff who teach students within a one-hour distance from the university campus. However, because our training is now offered virtually, we are particularly excited to offer our program to educators who work for independent school districts all over Texas. In addition to districts in the greater Houston area, we have had the privilege of extending our reach to Marfa ISD, Brownwood ISD, Farmersville ISD, Dime Box ISD, Axtell ISD, Wolfe City ISD, Matagorda ISD, and Trinidad ISD.

Dorothea C. Lerman, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA

Dorothea Lerman is a professor of behavior analysis, a licensed behavior analyst, and a board-certified behavior analyst. She also chairs the master’s program in behavior analysis and serves as director of the UHCL Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities (CADD). She received her doctoral degree in psychology from the University of Florida, specializing in behavior analysis. Her areas of expertise include autism, developmental disabilities, early intervention, functional analysis, teacher and parent training, and treatment of severe behavior disorders.

She currently oversees several programs at CADD, including a focused intervention program for children with autism, a vocational program for adults with disabilities, a student support program for college students with autism, and a teacher training program for local school districts.

Dr. Lerman has published more than 100 research articles and chapters, served as editor-in-chief for The Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and Behavior Analysis in Practice and has secured more than $2 million in grants and contracts to support her work. She was the recipient of the 2007 Distinguished Contribution to Applied Behavioral Research Award and the 2001 B.F. Skinner Award for New Researchers, awarded by Division 25 of the American Psychological Association. She also was named a Fellow of the Association for Behavior Analysis-International in 2008. 

Charity English, M.A., BCBA, LBA

Charity English graduated with a master's degree in behavior analysis from UHCL in 2014. Throughout her career, she has supervised over 25 graduate students at UHCL in various roles. Charity has utilized behavior analysis to improve the lives of children and adults in various settings, including ABA clinics, churches, in homes, and in many educational agencies.

She has spent the last nine years working alongside teachers, paraprofessionals, related service professionals, school psychologists, principals, special education directors, and district staff to deliver quality behavior analytic supports in classrooms that support children with autism, emotional disturbance, intellectual disabilities, speech impairment, vision impairment, among other disabilities.

Charity has given presentations to teachers and specialists in more than 20 school districts across Texas. She has partnered with educators to create behavior plans, discuss placements for special education students, determine needed accommodations, create IEP goals for students, assess behaviors and academic deficits, create trainings for staff, and monitor progress in the classroom.

Amy Richardson, M.A., BCBA, LBA

Amy Richardson graduated with a master’s degree in behavior analysis from UHCL in 2014 where she earned her certification to function as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Prior to this opportunity, she spent 15 years teaching special education in the public school system which included early-childhood education through young adults transitioning out of the school setting.

Since graduation, Amy has utilized her certification to improve the lives of children, adults, and their families in various settings including ABA clinical settings where she served as the executive director. She was responsible for providing training and supervision to registered behavior technicians, supervising students earning their BCBA certification, and serving as a mentor to other BCBAs.

Most recently, she has spent her time working alongside teachers, principals, special education directors and other district staff to deliver quality behavior analytic services in the school setting. This has included presentations and training to further assist staff supporting students with autism, emotional disturbance, and intellectual disabilities, among others. Amy has had the fortunate opportunity to partner with more than 15 school districts across Texas on a variety of topics pertinent to the education system.