Meet Your child’s Team
All staff are required to complete the 40-hour training in Applied Behavior Analysis as a Registered Behavior Technician.
Administrative team
Ms. Kris
Founder, CEO/Executive Director, Reading Specialist, Positive Behavior Support Specialist, Certified Special Education Teacher, Kristina@azbreakthroughacademy.org
Tel: 866-620-9380, ext. 1
Kristina holds a Master’s of Science degree in Marriage and Family Therapy with a specialty in Play Therapy and a certificate in Child Trauma from the Harris Institute. She also holds a post-graduate certificate in Positive Behavior Intervention & Support (PBIS)/Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), a certificate in Structured Literacy specializing in the treatment of Dyslexia, and a post-baccalaureate certificate in Special Education. Kristina has numerous specialized trainings targeted to benefit the learners at Breakthrough Academy including the highly-regarded, intensive Morningside Academy Summer School Institute to study Precision Teaching and Mathetics (from which Direct Instruction is derived). Learn more about our Director here.
Executive Administrative Assistant & Billing Specialist
Leighann@azbreakthroughacademy.org
Tel: 866-620-9380, ext. 3
Mrs. Leigh Ann works hard supporting the operations at Breakthrough! Mrs. Leigh Ann has a passion for helping families with special needs and is a mother of two young adults children who successfully live with learning differences.
Mrs. Bernice
Assessment Coordinator, Special Education Teacher, and Reading Specialist, Bernice@azbreakthroughacademy.org
Mrs. Bernice has over 20 years experience teaching and working with students with disabilities. Her expertise is in the Science of Reading, but she is skilled and talented with all aspects of education. Mrs. Bernice has been trained in Precision Teaching by the prestigious Morningside Academy. Mrs. Bernice is our Reading Instructor and also oversees the collection of performance data that helps our team (and learners) make decisions.
Mr. Baxter
Assistant Operations Director, Baxter@azbreakthroughacademy.org
Mr. Baxter helps our entire school stay organized and operational! Please reach out to him for tours, new enrollments, transportation needs, field trip information, and other school-related matters. He is proud to be a part of a school that makes a positive difference for its learners! Photo coming soon!
Instructional TEAM
Ms. Tarrah, M.Ed, Instructor,
Tarrah@azbreakthroughacademy.org
Ms. Tarrah has a Master’s degree in Elementary Education and has seven years of teaching experience as a 5th grade general education teacher and over 20 years in the field of Education. She is a passionate teacher who loves our field and working with our learners! Ms. Tarrah imbeds Science and Social Studies standards and content while teaching Composition.
Ms. Reanne, B.S.Sci, Instructor
Reanne@azbreakthroughacademy.org
Ms. Reanne has a Bachelors degree in Behavior Science and has training in ABA, Precision Teaching, and the Lindamood-Bell Reading Intervention program called “LiPS”. Ms. Reanne is our first alumnus of Breakthrough Academy (class of 2014) and we are so proud and lucky to have her! She is talented, creative, and a 3rd degree Black Belt in Karate. In addition to her Mathematics teaching duties, she implements our Karate curriculum!
Ms. Rendi, Instructor,
Rendi@azbreakthroughacademy.org
Ms. Rendi is a former Registered Behavior Technician and brings vast experience in behavior management to the classroom. Ms. Rendi is our “FLEX” (social emotional learning) Instructor and has been trained in all of the FLEX curricula. Ms. Rendi is currently enrolled in a dual-general and special education certification teaching program and she has been trained in Precision Teaching by the prestigious Morningside Academy. Her classroom is filled with fun and collaboration!
Mrs. Christina, Instructor
Mrs. Christina is an experienced educator with over 12 years working with children with disabilities. She understands the importance of and is passionate about teaching independent living skills. Her class targets Nutrition and healthy cooking but also teaches Hygiene and valuable life skills. Our learners love her hands-on class! As a mother of children with special needs, Mrs. Christina has a special place in her heart for our learners.
Mr. sam, PE Instructor
(photo coming soon!)