Engage Kidz

Patty Maxwell - Founder - M.Ed., M.S., BSL

Patty's commitment to becoming a Licensed Behavioral Specialist and Parenting Coach stemmed from her own journey coping with her daughter's learning and behavioral challenges. She found it extremely difficult and frustrating to find support & services that really helped families go from struggling to thriving while still making time for the rest of her family and herself.

Patty received her 1st master’s degree in Special Education from The University of Pittsburgh and 2nd master’s in Infant Mental Health from Chatham University. Patty is a Licensed Behavior Specialist and has been a developmental and behavioral consultant for Early Intervention Services for 14 years prior to starting Engage Kidz. She has also worked in many positions in the mental health field including Behavioral Therapist, Intensive Case Management and Family Based Therapist.

Patty’s various educational background and experiences have allowed her to work with a wide range of ages (birth through adulthood) and supporting an array of learning abilities including individuals with autism, learning disabilities, behavioral challenges, intellectual disabilities and emotional disorders.

Her passion is to support children and their families so that they can find peace and happiness.

Jodi Dugan-Director - M.Ed., BCBA, BSL

A former special education supervisor, Jodi discovered her passion for children when she volunteered as a summer camp teacher. There she had the opportunity to observe a child with autism receiving support services and was impressed. She immediately applied for a Therapeutic Support Specialist position (TSS) and discovered her life's passion. She stayed with that agency for more than 15 years and enjoyed a number of positions as she continued her education. Her roles have included TSS, Behavioral Support Consultant (BSC) and Behavioral Health Rehabilitative Services (BHRS) supervisor.

Jodi has also worked as a special education supervisor and behavioral analyst for a private school and as a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) supervisor for graduate students at the University of Pittsburgh.

After earning a bachelor of arts degree and certification in elementary education from Washington and Jefferson College, Jodi earned a master's degree in education specializing in autism and applied behavior analysis from the University of Pittsburgh. Jodi has been a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst since January 2011 and a licensed behavior specialist since June 2013. Today she works as a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) for children ages 2-14 with autism and has earned a reputation for being fiercely committed and dedicated to the families, teachers and students in her care. Her life's passion is to help children with autism grow as individuals and thrive in their home, school, and community.

Jordan Dornin-Bs.eD.

Jordan’s love of special education began when she worked at a summer camp for children with special needs while in high school. Realizing the potential impact, she could have changed the course of her life and inspired Jordan to earn a bachelor’s degree with a dual major of Early Childhood and Special Education from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Over the past 10 years Jordan has enjoyed being able to impact and educate both young and adult students with all abilities including autism, emotional disorders, physical limitations, intellectual disabilities, and behavioral concerns. After many successes, she discovered a passion for working with parents and families, so early intervention services were a perfect match. Today Jordan works as a part of the Engage Kidz team offering educational and behavioral services to children, families, and teachers.

Meggan Fleming - M.Ed.

Meggan Fleming has spent more than fifteen years working in special education. She is a committed educator and truly enjoys working with families, teachers, and caregivers.

After receiving a degree in Elementary/Special Education from Slippery Rock University, Meggan began her career teaching in an Easter Seals classroom. She was quickly promoted to the position of Integration Specialist where she helped families through the transition process away from Easter Seals and into their individual school districts. During that time Meggan earned a Masters Degree from the University of Pittsburgh in Early Intervention with a specialization in autism.

Meggan is dedicated to helping families, teachers, and caregivers work through challenging behaviors to make educational, social, and interpersonal experiences more enjoyable and positive.

Janelle Waag- M.Ed.

Janelle Waag is a developmental/behavioral therapist who believes that early intervention into a child’s development is key to helping them grow to their full potential. She coaches parents, educators, and children through challenging times. Janelle works alongside parents and educators, developing tools that help children enjoy individual success.

Janelle is a graduate of Indiana University of PA with a degree focused on child development and family relations. She has a Master’s degree in early childhood education from Carlow University. She has worked as a Therapeutic Support Staff, in a school setting as a preschool teacher in a special education school, and as a developmental and behavioral therapist in Early Intervention.

When Janelle is not working with children, families, and teachers, you’ll find her enjoying the most recent beach read and hanging out with her 2 children.

Nancy lehman - B.A. Psychology

Nancy knew two things at a young age: she loved being around kids, and she loved Psychology. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, along with a graduate certificate in Infant Mental Health and has spent over 20 years working in the field she loves. Nancy achieved a certification in drug and alcohol counseling and worked with juveniles in placement as well as in a high school/middle school prevention program. After her son received early intervention services, Nancy knew that was the next step in her career, and her goal was not only to help children with developmental delays, but to provide much needed support to parents and caregivers navigating a world of uncertainty about their child’s development.

Since 2006, Nancy has worked with children, parents, caregivers, and teachers in classrooms, helping them learn ways to support children with developmental delays, communication challenges, social/emotional struggles and challenging behaviors. She focuses on relationships and the power of relationships to build confidence in caregivers and children. Nancy uses parent/caregiver and child strengths to build a strong foundation for growth and uses a collaborative method with caregivers, ensuring a team approach to supporting children. She has experience in many areas including autism spectrum disorders, behavioral challenges, developmental delays and social/emotional concerns. She believes that “wondering” has power, and that “wondering” leads to understanding, which leads to empathy and the tools for behavior change.

HUNTER HUDSON - M.Ed.,LBS

Hunter spent 4 years working as a direct support professional, working with adults with special needs while attending Indiana University of Pennsylvania for her bachelors in Disability Services. Upon graduating, Hunter then became a behavior specialist and quickly learned her passion for all things behavior! Hunter then decided to further her education and went on to receive her Master’s of Education and Applied Behavior Analysis from California University of Pennsylvania. While completing her masters program, Hunter began working as a Behavioral Health Technician (BHT), working with children with developmental disabilities, trauma backgrounds, and their families in their homes, school, and community settings. Upon completing the master’s program in May of 2022, Hunter transitioned to the role of a behavioral consultant. Hunter enjoys working with children with trauma backgrounds and helping parents navigate the waves of behavior!

When Hunter is not working, you’ll find her enjoying hikes in nature, playing with her dog, Monte, and doing CrossFit to prioritize her health!

RACHAEL OTT - MS, BCBA, LBS

Over the past 19 years Rachael has worked in the BHRS/IBHS field with a wide range of individuals from 2 to 21 years of age. She is currently a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She has worked as a Behavior Specialist since 2008 and Licensed Behavior Specialist since 2012. She obtained many different roles including outpatient therapist, mobile therapist, strength-based therapist, Licensed Behavior Specialist, and Assistant Clinical Director.

Rachael obtained her Bachelors’ Degree in Criminology and Sociology in 2004 from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She started working as a TSS with various individuals with autism, learning, and behavioral disorders in 2004 which led her to receive her master’s degree. She received her Master’s Degree from Clarion University in Rehabilitation Counseling in 2008 and in 2022 she completed the ABA/CLM (competent learner model) Advanced Competency Certificate Program. This program helped her become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

She is devoted to supporting and advocating for families, teachers, and caregivers to effectively manage challenging behaviors by showing compassion and respect across all settings. Her passion is to help create hope for parents and their children as well as provide guidance.

When she is not working, Rachael spends the majority of her time at her sons baseball games, or daughters gymnastics or cheer competitions, and with her family.