Our Team

Evan Schermer, MS, Co-Founder/President

Evan Schermer is the Co-Founder and President of the Center for Social Enrichment and Educational Development,  or The SEED Center. Mr. Schermer holds his Master of Science Degree in School Psychology from St. John’s University and his Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Psychology from Towson University. He is a New York State certified school psychologist and has worked in the field of special education for 25 years. Prior to starting The SEED Center, Mr. Schermer helped build and establish several private schools for individuals with autism and other related disabilities. He has and continues to provide consulting services for public schools where his specialty is reducing school costs while increasing their efficiency and effectiveness.

Evan Schermer has advanced training in Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) and leads many workshops and professional development trainings on CPS as well as other topics related to autism and special needs. Mr. Schermer is a certified instructor in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (CPI) and trains and certifies all therapists employed by The SEED Center.  He acts as an advocate for families providing support, knowledge, and guidance in the area of special education law and poilcies. In addition, has been an expert witness for impartial hearings in the NY Metro area. Mr. Schermer is the former Chairman of the Custom Education Foundation, which is a not-for-profit (501c3) organization that provides resources and support to individuals with special needs and their families. Finally, Evan Schermer is proud to have been awarded the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Entrepreneurial Success Award in May 2015. Mr. Schermer’s experience and knowledge, clinically and professionally, ensure a solid foundation and strength for The SEED Center to excel and grow.

Charlene Schermer, MA, Co-Founder/Vice President

Charlene Schermer is the co-founder and Vice President of the Center for Social Enrichment and Educational Development , or The SEED Center. Mrs. Schermer received her Master of Arts in Special Education from New York University and her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a specialization in Early Childhood Studies from Long Island University. She holds a dual teaching certification in Special Education and Elementary Education, as well as a NAP Montessori Teacher Certification. Mrs. Schermer has received training in Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS), Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Recipe for Reading and the Wilson Reading Program. She has been working in the field of education for over 12 years and has experience working with individuals with autism and other related neurobiological disorders such as Asperger’s syndrome, bi-polar disorder, Tourette’s syndrome, ADHD, OCD, anxiety, and depression.

Andres Alvarez, Finance Director

Andres joins The SEED Center as the Finance Director. He’s primarily responsible for overseeing the day-to-day financial activities of the company and that these are in compliance with company standards. In addition, he oversees the billing and coding of all services at the center. He holds a bachelor’s degree in legal studies from Western Connecticut University and an associate’s degree in accounting. Mr. Alvarez has years of experience in billing, coding, accounting services, tax preparation, and payroll. Mr. Alvarez has registered with IRS-CITA program to help individuals with preparation of tax returns.

Betzy Ayala, MS, Lead Behavior Therapist

Betzy joins The SEED Center as a Behavior Technician. She has worked in the public school systems as a para-educator for the past 10 years. Working with the children there motivated her to pursue a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Phoenix, and then earn her Master’s in Science with a specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis from Capella University. She enjoys working with children and there have been many experiences working in the public school system that made her fall in love with this field. Betzy’s passion and her goal is to help foster a positive learning experience for every child, and to help them be as successful and as happy as they can be in life.

Talonda Johnson, BA, Office Manager

Talonda Johnson joins The SEED Center as an Administrative Assistant. Talonda graduated from Sacred heart University with a degree in Business Administration. She has worked in multiple settings including out-patient physical therapy as a Patient Services Specialist for Select Medical Corp. and Skilled Nursing Facility as a Business Office Manager for Lord Chamberlain. Throughout the years, she has also worked with many kids from all walks of life as the Youth Coordinator for the Greater Love Temple Church. She is extremely passionate and very excited for this new opportunity to join The SEED Center team to make an impactful difference in people’s lives, take on new challenges and go beyond expectations!

Nidia Melendez, Client Accounts Manager

Nidia joins The SEED Center as the Client Accounts Manager. She is primarily responsible for managing account relationships with our clients and overseeing matters related to insurance and billing. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Columbia University in Psychology and is pursuing her master’s in Mental Health Counseling. She has a diverse background in Healthcare Management and brings to The SEED Center adept industry knowledge and expertise in administration. She is delighted and looks forward to combining her experience with her purpose and passion for leading and helping others. 

Kate Stephan, Office Administrative

Kate Stephan joins The SEED Center as an office administrative. She is working towards her degree in communication studies with a dual minor in public relations & psychology from Emerson College. She is very passionate about working with people of all ages and is extremely excited to make a positive impact on people’s lives while working at The SEED Center.

Emily Blau, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA

Emily Blau joins The SEED Center as a Licensed Behavior Analyst and Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She holds a Master’s of Education from Lesley University and has completed a graduate certificate in Behavioral Interventions in Autism at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.  She has taught in private schools serving students of diverse backgrounds and needs.  As the mother of a child with autism spectrum disorder, she has implemented Individualized Education Plans, Functional Behavior Assessments and Behavior Intervention Plans. Emily is passionate about using her knowledge and experience to help children and families coping with the challenges of autism spectrum disorder.

Amanda Morales, MA, BCBA, LBA, Lead Clinical Supervisor, Director of Operations

Amanda joins The SEED Center as a Licensed Behavior Analyst and Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She holds a BA in Psychology with a concentration in Developmental Psychology from the College of Mount Saint Vincent, and a Master’s Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis with a concentration in Autism Studies from Ball State University. Amanda works directly with clients and their families in home, school, and community settings. With over 10 years of experience working with individuals with autism, she is deeply passionate about enriching the lives of her clients by supporting them in meeting their goals, and developing their independence. 

Melissa Sumadchat, MA, BCBA, LBA

Melissa joins The SEED Center as a Licensed Behavior Analyst and Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She received her BS in Health Science with a concentration in Disabilities Studies from Stony Brook University, and her MA in Psychology with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Melissa has worked in the preschool setting as both a teaching assistant and behavior therapist for 5 years. In her spare time, Melissa enjoys teaching and taking dance classes.

Arielle Spitzer, MA, BCBA, LBA

Arielle joins The SEED Center with her BA in Elementary Education and Special Education from the University of Vermont. Her Masters degree is in Special Inclusive Education from Teachers College at Columbia University. She became a BCBA after completing coursework at St. Joseph’s College. After five years teaching in self-contained/specialized program classrooms, Arielle is so excited to join the team of clinical supervisors at The SEED  Center.

Shalet Sunny, MS, BCBA, LBA

Shalet Sunny joins The SEED Center as a Licensed Behavior Analyst and Board-Certified Behavior Analyst. She holds a BA in Psychology with a concentration in Addiction Disorders and Recovery Studies from Texas Tech University, and an MS in Behavior Analysis from Simmons University. Shalet has worked directly with clients in multiple ABA settings including school, community, residential and in-home. Shalet has experience working with children and young adults with moderate to severe disabilities. She is passionate about positively impacting the lives of her clients by helping them
learn functional skills to improve life experiences.

Xiao (Celia) Fu, MA, BCBA, LBA

Celia joins The SEED Center as a Licensed Behavior Analyst and Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She received her Master’s Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Arizona State University and Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Capital Normal University in Beijing, China. She has intensive experience working with children diagnosed with Autism and developmental delays. Celia translated and published books about Autism to help more families.

Danielle Christon, RBT

Danielle joins The SEED Center as a Registered Behavior Technician. She has worked as a para-educator with autistic children in the public school system for the past 5 years. She enjoys working with children and looks forward to working with The SEED Center!

Esmerelda Robinson, BA, RBT

Esmerelda joins The SEED Center as a Registered Behavior Technician. She holds a BA in Psychology and Communication Sciences and Disorders from Queens College, City University of New York. Esmerelda has worked with individuals with disabilities for over 10 years, and has over 5 years of experience working with individuals on the autism spectrum. She is skilled in home-based therapy and works as an RBT/para-educator with autistic children in the Connecticut public school system. Her passion for helping others provides her with the drive and motivation to continue her education in both Speech and Applied Behavior Analysis. She looks forward to the endless possibilities and knowledge she will gain here at The SEED Center!

Jennifer Sandoval, BS, RBT

Jennifer joins The SEED Center as a Behavior Technician. She has worked in Stamford public schools for 14 years, first as a para-educator with autistic children and for the past 11 years as an Occupational Therapy Assistant. She has experience with children ranging from the ages of 3 to 16, and with children on the autism spectrum and other developmental disabilities. She graduated from Western Connecticut State University with a Bachelor’s in Psychology.  As a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, she has years of experience with collaborating with parents, teachers, and other stakeholders for a comprehensive approach to care. Jennifer hopes to carry this experience over to The SEED Center and is very motivated to continue her education to perfect her skills as a keen observer, creative strategist, and critical thinker. Most importantly, she wants to help each individual realize their full potential by understanding each individual’s needs and using each of their personal strengths to do so. 

Robert Pascarelli, M.Ed, RBT

Rob Pascarelli joins The SEED Center as a Registered Behavior Technician. Rob has been a preschool teacher for the past 14 years and during that time has discovered his desire and passion to help children with challenging behaviors. He has an associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education, along with a Master’s Degree in Special Education. He is currently enrolled at Western Connecticut State University and is getting his Masters in Applied Behavior Analysis with plans on becoming a BCBA. Rob is excited to join The SEED Center team and is looking forward to making a difference in the lives of children while supporting their families. 

Benoise Celestin, BS,RBT

Benoise joins The SEED Center as a Behavior Technician. She is a Norwalk
native who recently graduated in the class of 2022 from Southern Connecticut State
University with a BS in Sociology. Benoise has experience working with
children of all ages as well as in-home direct assistance for the elderly. She
plans to pursue her masters degree in the future, but is excited to bring her
skills and experiences to The SEED Center and learn more in hopes to make a
difference in the lives of children.

Sarah Bazata, BA, RBT

Sarah joins The SEED Center as a Registered Behavior Technician. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology from Villanova University. She has been teaching preschool for the last five years and possesses ample ABA internship and research experience. Sarah is extremely excited to be starting her career as a member of The SEED Center team!

Kristin Osburn, BS, BA, BT

Kristin joins The SEED Center as a Behavior Technician. Kristin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Leadership Studies from the University of Rhode Island. She is currently enrolled at Western Connecticut State University getting her Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis with the goal of becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Kristin has been working with children from all backgrounds for the last six years and is passionate about this fieldwork. She is excited to be working at The SEED Center and looks forward to getting her RBT. 

Nikole Pino, BT

Nikole Pino joins The SEED Center as a Behavior Technician. Nikole has over six years of experience working in child care in a school setting as an after school group leader, a school aide, and a paraprofessional for elementary to middle school-aged children. She hopes to further her experience working with children with special needs and make meaningful connections with those she services. 

Terry Jones, MS, BT

Terry joins The SEED Center as a Behavior Technician. He has a MS in Applied Psychology from Sacred Heart University. He plans to continue his studies to earn a PhD, but he is excited to join The SEED Center team and learn from his peers in the field of Applied Behavioral Analysis.

Mishel Pottackal, BS, BT

Mishel joins The SEED Center as a Behavior Technician. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management information systems from Central Connecticut State University. She is a Norwalk native who has experience working with residents with dementia and volunteering with individuals of all ages. She is excited to bring her talents and experiences to The SEED center and hopes to make a difference in the lives of children on the autism spectrum. 

Anejah McLaurin, BA, BT

Anejah joins The SEED Center as a Behavior Technician. She recently received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a minor in Human Development and Family Sciences from the University of Connecticut. She has volunteered in daycare settings working with children from 2- 7 years old and was a mentor in high school. Anejah is very excited to continue working with children at The SEED Center, and to develop new skills!

Daniel Rodrigues, BS, BT

Daniel Rodrigues joins The SEED Center as a Behavior Technician. He received his BS degree in Psychology from Quinnipiac University and is also CPR and First Aid certified. He has spent the last five summers working as a counselor at Mount Pleasant’s Recreation Camp and has an extensive background working with children of all ages and abilities. Daniel’s goal is to devote his time to understanding each child’s strengths and attributes and help them use those effectively to improve their quality of life. Daniel is thrilled to be starting his career in ABA therapy with The SEED Center team!

Miriangely Salto, BA, BT

Miriangely Salto joins The SEED Center as a Behavior Technician. She holds a BA in Psychology from The City College: Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership. Miriangely plans to pursue her masters degree in Mental Health Counseling in the near future. Throughout college she has been working on becoming a Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor and is now also working on becoming a Registered Behavior Technician. She is excited to start building connections and making a difference in lives of children on the spectrum and their families!

Liam Benjamin, BA, BT

Liam Benjamin joins The SEED Center as a Behavior Technician. He received his BA in Psychology from the University of Colorado and has years of experience working with children as a camp counselor at Brunswick Sports Camp in Greenwich. Liam’s goal is to help the children he works with lead a fulfilling life unbounded by their disabilities. He can’t wait to start working with the learners at the SEED Center. 

Jacob Rucquoi, BA, BT

Amanda Wilkins, BT

Amanda Wilkins joins The SEED Center as a Behavior Technician. She is a student at UCONN Stamford campus, working towards a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Human Development & Family Sciences. Amanda is eager to learn more about applied behavior and gain new skills! She has worked with children in the past at summer camps and is very excited and grateful to be working at The SEED Center. 

Dina Wahab, MA, BT

Dina joins The SEED Center as an RBT. Dina has worked in Stamford, Westport & Norwalk public schools for 15 years as a para-educator with autistic children. She has experience with children aged 3 to 16 diagnosed with developmental disabilities. She received her Master’s degree in Family Studies therapy from Fairfield University. Dina has a passion for working with children and looks forward to continuing her education in ABA to improve her skills as RBT.

Juliana Flores, BT

Juliana joins The SEED Center as a Behavior Technician. She is a student at Housatonic Community College working on her associate’s degree in Psychology. Juliana is planning on earning her bachelor’s degree at Southern Connecticut State University. She is excited to join The SEED Center and ready to learn more about Applied Behavior Analysis.

Stephanie Becerra, BS, BT

Stephanie joins The SEED Center as a Behavior Technician. She holds a degree in Criminal Justice and has a diverse background in law. Stephanie is passionate about early childhood and being able to help and make a difference in children’s lives.  She intends to pursue her career and earn her master’s degree.

Lizbeth Rosario, BS, BT

Lizbeth joins The SEED Center as a Behavior Technician. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Manhattanville College. She has experience working as a mental health worker in numerous residential settings. Lizbeth is hoping to enroll in a program to earn her MSW within the next year.

Mariah Matyas, BS, BT

Mariah joins The SEED Center as a Behavior Technician. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Southern New Hampshire University, yet most of her studies were spent at Marlboro College in Vermont, with a focus on behavioral psychology and child development. She aims to complete her master’s with a focus on Somatic Clinical Psychology. Mariah has worked in the school system with children of many different backgrounds, ages, educational levels, and behavioral stages. She hopes to bring her passion for the youth and experience in education to The SEED Center to help provide a comfortable and safe space for all learners to thrive.

Leanna Seepersad, BS, BT

Leanna joins The Seed Center as a Behavior Technician. She graduated from Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry with a bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science and a minor in Childhood Education. She is currently earning her master’s in education and looks forward to utilizing her knowledge in this field to help children. Leanna has several years of experience working with children of all ages. She is very excited about this opportunity to continue to watch children grow and develop into confident, self-sufficient learners. Leanna is thrilled to be starting her career as an ABA Therapist with the SEED Center as a team!

Khaleed Pritchard, BS, BT

Khaleed joins The SEED Center as a Behavior Technician. He obtained a Bachelor’s in Audio Production & Recording Arts from Mercy College. He recently moved to Stamford, CT from New York and worked as a recording studio engineer and tutor. His goal is to better understand each child’s strengths and abilities and make a difference in their lives. Khaleed looks forward to working with The SEED Center.

David Acocella, BA, BT,

Tanaka Saint Louis, BT

Tanaka Saint Louis joins The SEED Center as a Behavior Technician. She is currently a student at Western Connecticut State University (West Conn) and is getting her Bachelor’s in Sociology with a minor in Psychology. In her free time, she likes to watch movies and listen to podcasts. Tanaka has experience as a preschool teacher’s aide and is excited about connecting with all of the learners at The SEED Center. 

Keisha Fletcher, BA, BT

Keisha joins The SEED Center as a Behavior Technician. She is an educator, with over twenty years of experience working with children between the ages of 11- 18. Keisha is passionate about working with children to assist them to become
productive members of society by focusing on their abilities instead of their disabilities. She is planning on pursuing her Masters in Special Education to better serve the learners at The SEED Center.

Aedan Frumento, BA, BT

Aedan joins The SEED Center as a Behavior Technician with a BA in psychological sciences from the University of Connecticut. He is currently pursuing his doctorate (PsyD), and is working to gain therapeutic experience with neurodiverse populations. With years of early childhood care experience and a vested interest in clinical psychology, he looks forward to meeting the needs of his clients while helping them reach their goals!

Kendra Velasquez, BT

Kendra Velasquez joins the SEED Center as a Behavior Technician. She is currently a student at the University of Connecticut, pursuing her BA in both Human Rights and Psychology. She has a strong commitment to supporting underserved and disadvantaged areas, especially children. To aid in the growth of children into contributing members of society, she wishes to get experience working with children’s abilities. Her passion is advocating for human rights in all fields, such as law, healthcare, social resources, and mental health. She has worked with children at a summer camp and been a mentor for incoming college freshmen. Kendra is eager to learn new skills in order to best help children reach their full potential through ABA.

Angie Guzman, BT

Angie Guzman joins the SEED center as a behavior technician. She is a current University of Connecticut student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a human development and family sciences minor. Angie has been working in child care for more than six years. She has spent the majority of her time working with kids in daycare settings as a lead teacher, but she has also worked with kids of all ages at camps and as a mentor. Angie is excited to be a part of the SEED center. She is ready to build relationships with her clients and change the lives of children on the spectrum.

Saffron Dabre, BA, BT

Saffron Dabre joins the SEED Center as a behavior technician. She graduated from the University of Connecticut with a BA in psychology. She has previous experience working with seniors who have Alzheimer’s, and she is thrilled to continue working with individuals at the SEED Center. In the future, she intends to continue her education. She also has a strong passion for improving people’s lives and assisting those in need. She anticipates learning from the SEED Center and gaining worthwhile experiences. 

J’nai Richardson, BT

J’nai Richardson joins The SEED Center as a Behavior Technician. She is a student at the UCONN Stamford campus, working towards a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a concentration in Research. With a passion for areas of advocacy and advances in behavioral health research, she is excited to grow her experience here at the center. She is looking forward to making a positive impact and meeting all of the learners!

Sophia Porzio, BT

Sophia Porzio joins The SEED Center as a floater Behavior Technician. She is a student at UCONN Stamford campus, working towards a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She has worked with children in the past through the Horizons Bridgeport program, which supports students as they progress through their educational journey. Sophia is very excited to start working with learners and helping them meet their goals. She is also looking forward to gaining many new skills!

Briana Sinclair, BT

Briana joins The Seed Center as a Behavioral Technician. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at the University of Connecticut. She has worked as a camp counselor where she worked with children ages 5-10 years old. She also worked as a Residential Assistant where she gained a lot of interpersonal experience with her residents. Her passions consist of helping others, doing calming activities such as yoga and listening to music. She plans to pursue her masters degree in either ABA therapy or social work as she continues to grow and gain experience in the field here at The Seed Center.