Founder/Owner
M. Kate Sallade MS BCBA, LBA – an Autistic adult, Autism mom, and Autism and ABA advocate, Kate has worked in the ABA field since 2008 and has a passion for revolutionizing the industry by promoting self-advocacy, individuality, and wellness. Kate was awarded the Charles Kimber award by the Florida Association for Behavior Analysis in 2019 for her legislative advocacy that prevented massive cuts to Medicaid services in the state of Florida. Kate runs the company with passion and humility and is the primary crisis management, CPR, and first aid trainer for all staff, ensuring that she gets to know every employee across every location. Kate works directly in the school throughout the week and provides her direct email and phone number to families for anything they might need. Growing up in Deltona and working in Volusia County for all of her life, Kate has known some of the children that we serve for many years, even since birth. With experience working with clients from 2 to 65 years old, she approaches every case with a life-long outlook and advocates for individuality, independence, and happiness.
Director of Education
Ronald Diaz Almanza, BA Psychology is a full-time teacher and advocate for persons with disabilities and neurodiversity. He currently serves as Director of Education for E.L.I and helping with anything that is needed to ensure the progression and success of the students at E.L.I. Ronald has a Bachelors’ degree in Psychology with a concentration in Business and Social Science teaching certificate. He has worked with individuals aged 2-24 since 2017, before embarking on his teaching career Ronald worked as a Registered Behavioral Technician for 3 and a half years. During his free time, Ronald enjoys working on his hobbies like photography and cooking. Ronald is extremely passionate about E.L.I’s mission and is here to support the academic growth for all of our students.
Director of Operations
Kelsey Cash is a dedicated professional with a passion for supporting children, bringing over 8 years of invaluable experience in the field of education and child development.
As the Director of Operations at the Exceptional Learning Institute (E.L.I.), she oversees the planning and coordination of field trips, school events, and daily operations, ensuring a smooth and enriching experience for both students and families. Kelsey’s leadership reflects her commitment to excellence and her ability to balance both the administrative and creative aspects of her role.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, she enjoys exploring her creativity through various projects and finds joy in reading, which continues to inspire both her personal growth and her professional approach. Her career reflects not only a dedication to education but also a genuine compassion for the children and families she serves.
Beginners Class Teacher
Rebecca Marchand has her Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education along with two minors, one in Autism and the other in Creative Writing. She graduated from Liberty University with magna cum laude and honors including Alpha Lambda Delta and National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She has her DCF credentials and her Florida teaching license.
Despite all her educational accomplishments, at the age of 7, Rebecca was diagnosed with Trisomy X Syndrome and knows the difficulties of learning with challenges. When told that she could never learn or function as an adult, she took on the challenge to overcome everything. From a Sensory Processing Disorder to a Auditory Processing Disorder and a reading comprehension disorder, she has learned to overcome the challenges that had once seemed to control her life. Now, she is ready and willing to teach children who struggle in learning and everyday challenges.
Rebecca has a passion to teach children of all backgrounds and learning abilities. She believes every child can thrive in their own style of learning, because every child deserves a chance at education. She has a very caring attitude and a big heart towards familes and children with special needs. She resides in Enterprise Florida on a farm with her family, two horses, ten rabbits, two dogs, two fish, and one cat.
Special Intervention Teacher
Katie Meier has her AA in Human Services with an emphasis on Early Childhood Development and Childhood education and is continuing her education in Childhood Education. She has been with E.L.I.’s sister company BFC working as a registered behavior technician since June 2022. Before that, she was a diverse education professional with over 7 years’ experience working with students from different backgrounds, in the civilian and military aspect, focused on implementing highly effective instructional practices to improve students learning and academic performances as a paraprofessional. She began her passion for working with children, and children with special needs, as a lead pre-K teacher for 3-year-olds. She is compassionate and devoted to creating a healthy, constructive life and future for her students. Katie married her high school sweetheart and together they have three daughters. They traveled the US with her husband’s military career for 11 years before settling in Orange City, Florida. Katie loves going to the beach, outdoor adventures and dancing in her spare time.
Upper Classroom Teacher
Ms. Makayla earned her Associate of Arts degree from the College of Central Florida and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at Saint Leo University.
She began her career as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) at BFC and is now excited to transition into the classroom in a teaching role. In her free time, Makayla enjoys sipping coffee, listening to music, and reading a good book. She is deeply passionate about education and is committed to making a meaningful, positive impact in the lives of her students.
Step-Up Classroom Teacher
Maria is a recent graduate of the University of Central Florida, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Exceptional Student Education along with endorsements in Reading and ESOL. During her time at UCF, she served as a Lead Pre-K teacher for three years and worked as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) for one year, gaining valuable hands-on experience supporting diverse learners.
Maria plans to continue her education by pursuing a M.E.D in Exceptional Student Education to further expand her knowledge and discover new strategies to better support her students in the classroom. She believes that all students can achieve mastery when provided with the appropriate accommodations and engaging, hands-on learning experiences. Maria is passionate about helping students build confidence and develop a love for learning by supporting a variety of learning styles and encouraging students to recognize their strengths,
Her goal is to ensure that every student has the tools, support, and opportunities they need to succeed.
Outside of teaching, Maria enjoys trying new recipes, reading, and spending quality time with family and friends