Meet the empowered team

Sanaz Hanifi

🌟 Introducing Sanaz Hanifi: The Empowered BCBA 🌟

Meet Sanaz, we are so excited to have welcomed Sanaz to our Empowered care team. Holding a position as our Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Sanaz stands as a shining example of expertise and unwavering dedication within the field of applied behavior analysis.

🎓 Educational Beginnings: Sanaz's journey began with a college degree in Early Childhood Education from Vanier College in Montreal. Sanaz has a Master's degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from the esteemed Florida Institute of Technology. Her strong educational foundation is the bedrock upon which her impressive career is built. This foundational education ignited her lifelong passion for child development specializing in autism and education.

👩‍🏫 Years of Experience: With over 15 years of hands-on experience in the childhood education field, Sanaz has been instrumental in shaping the futures of countless children. She specializes in supporting individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), addressing communication, social, and behavioral challenges. She works with individuals to assess and address challenging behaviors, such as aggression, self-injury, and non-compliance. With extensive experience supporting families, she provides guidance and training on how to support their loved ones with developmental challenges. Sanaz is a strong advocate for clients and their families, assisting them in accessing appropriate services, resources, and support within their communities.

🧩Autism Advocacy: Sanaz's passion extends to the specialized world of Autism, where she has dedicated 7 years to making a profound impact on the lives of individuals on the autism spectrum. Her expertise in this area is truly exceptional.

Jennifer Allnutt

🌟 Introducing Jennifer Allnutt: The Empowered Certified Teacher.🌟

Meet Jennifer, a vital member of our care team. Jennifer plays an essential role in ensuring the well-being and progress of our students. With her wealth of experience and boundless compassion, consistently going above and beyond to create a positive and nurturing environment for out students to learn and grow. 🧡

🧩Jennifer's teaching approach is highly collaborative, emphasizing the development of personalized treatment plans tailored to each child's unique goals, interests, and experiences. She utilizes a collaborative approach to create individualized treatment plans that align with your child's distinctive goals, interests, and experiences. Jennifer is dedicated to delivering a strengths-based approach, empowering families to develop skills and tools for coping with challenges in a way that is engaging and meaningful.

🎓 Educational Beginnings: Jennifer boasts a wealth of experience as an Ontario Certified Teacher with over a decade of teaching in inclusive education environments. She holds a Bachelor of Education from McGill University and has taught in diverse regions, including Quebec, England, Alberta, and Ontario. Driven by her passion for students' well-being and learning needs, Jennifer pursued a Master's Degree in Education.

👩‍🏫 Years of Experience: This educational journey equipped her with effective strategies to establish inclusive and supportive learning environments. In addition to her formal education, Jennifer has acquired various teaching qualifications, including Teaching Students with Communication Needs (Autism Spectrum Disorder), applied behavioral analysis, and special education. Her expertise in differentiated instruction and social-emotional learning enhances her ability to craft engaging and effective learning experiences for all students. Jennifer is committed to making a positive impact on the educational journey of each child she works with.

Amanda Graham

🌟 Introducing Amanda Graham: Founder and Director of Empowered Academy

Meet Amanda, a visionary leader dedicated to empowering individuals and families.

🌟 Amanda's Dedication to Mental Health: 🌟 With 15 years of experience in mental health, Amanda supports families, advocates for at-risk youth, and addresses mental health and autism. Studying psychology at Carleton University, she blends academic knowledge with her role as a devoted mother of four and foster parent. This unique blend positions Amanda as a compassionate leader at the forefront of Empowered Academy's mission.

🧡 Personalized Approach:Amanda collaborates closely with families, developing care plans tailored to their specific needs. Her empathetic understanding creates effective strategies for individual well-being.

🧩 Hands-On Direction:As the Director, Amanda oversees operations with a meticulous approach, ensuring clients experience a successful and transformative journey to well-being.

🌟 The Foundation of Empowered Academy:Amanda's vision is rooted in the belief that support should be accessible to all. She created Empowered Academy as a magical haven where children flourish, learn, and thrive without judgment. This vision reflects her commitment to inclusivity and compassion, ensuring every child has a nurturing environment to reach their full potential.

Jessica Rose Burns

🌟 Jessica Rose burns: Behaviour therapist - Care Coordinator🚀

Introducing Jessica, the driving force behind Empowered Academy! 🌟 With a background in behavior therapy and a specialization in teen mental health, she brings a wealth of expertise to our center. Running our life skills and social skills groups, Jessica fosters growth and empowerment among our students with her compassionate approach and dedication.

But Jessica's role extends beyond therapy sessions. As our Care Coordinator, she ensures the seamless operation of our center. From managing day-to-day tasks to providing unwavering support to our families, Jessica's commitment to excellence ensures that everyone feels welcomed and cared for at Empowered Academy.

Mike Wlotzki

🌟 Meet Mike Wlotzki: Coaching/Business Development Professional Consultant 🚀

Thrilled to introduce Mike, a pivotal member of Empowered Academy! As a Coaching and Business Development Professional Consultant, Mike brings unparalleled support to our community. His expertise extends beyond the ordinary, acting as a business consultant and life coach.