Aimee Massafra, Ph.D., BCBA
Aimee Massafra, Ph.D., BCBA
PRIMARY SPECIALTY
Special Education
CONTACT
Biography
Aimee has always demonstrated a passion for teaching and after receiving her master’s degree in special education in 2008, she developed an autism support program at an elementary school in a small rural school district in Southwestern Pennsylvania. She also has experience in family-based counseling, teaching elementary and middle school learning support, and working with middle school students with significant needs. She passed her Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) certificate exam in May 2018 and has maintained her certification through continuing education and teaching applied behavior analysis (ABA) courses throughout the last 6 years. Since graduating with her Ph.D. in 2019, Aimee has had experience working in a facility school serving students with autism and as a clinician providing services to children and adolescents with autism and other developmental disabilities. She also has experience teaching undergraduate and graduate level courses in special education and applied behavior analysis. She has presented at several local and national conferences and has published in peer-reviewed journals. Additionally, she has experience supervising trainees seeking their BCBA certification, as well as providing professional development and training to schools and other organizations. Her areas of interest are applied behavior analysis, autism spectrum disorders, evidence-based practices, preservice teacher education, and paraeducator development and training. Most recently, Aimee has begun volunteering with her local school district by serving on leadership, policy, and district accountability committees.
Specialty
- Special Education
- Applied Behavior Analysis
Education
2019
Ph.D. in Special Education
University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO
Dissertation: "A Qualitative Investigation of Preservice Special Education Teacher Programs’
Preparation of Preservice Special Education Teacher to Work with Paraprofessionals."
2008
M.Ed. in Special Education
Pennsylvania West University, California, PA
2003
Minors in Sociology and Human Development and Family Studies
The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Scholarly Activities
2024
District Accountability Committee (DAC), Adams 12 Five Star Schools, Thornton, CO
2024
Adams 12 Five Star Leadership Academy, Adams 12 Five Star Schools, Thornton, CO
2024
Conference Presentation, Coaching for Community: Supporting Rural Schools in Developing 2024 Autism Intervention, American Council on Rural Special Education, Las Vegas, NV
Professional Experiences
2023
Adjunct Faculty
University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO
Taught courses in the Special Education MA Intervention Specialist Program. This included teaching courses in the ABA concentration, autism certificate, and the Educational Leadership and Special Education Administration program.
2022
Grant Coordinator
University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO
Developed a sustainable supervision practicum model, a protocol for BCBA supervision and training, and a practicum course for students enrolled in a MA Intervention Specialist program with an emphasis on Applied Behavior Analysis for a state grant.
2020
Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Trumpet Behavioral Health, Northglenn, CO
Provided ABA services for individuals with autism, including assessment, program development, supervising RBTs, family training, and community support.