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.
Next Steps Classroom Teacher
Jojo started her teaching career 11 years ago while living in Texas. At the time, she was originally hired to be an administrative assistant at a school. However, the Universe had bigger plans for her. The Director of the school called on Friday evening to see if she could step into a classroom on Monday morning. From that moment on, Jojo has been molding and enriching the minds of students. She has earned her Master’s in Elementary Education and holds a certificate in Reading and TESOL.
Jojo is excited and thrilled to be joining our team as our Step-Up classroom teacher. Her goal is to encourage growth and learning. She has a passion for teaching and meeting student individual needs.
She is a mom to a wonderful little boy that keeps her grounded and always on her toes. As a family they enjoy traveling and learning. Their favorite place is the beach.
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.
Emerging Skills Classroom Teacher
Gerrard is a dedicated Business Education certified teacher currently delivering dynamic, student-centered instruction at ELI, with prior experience serving learners across Volusia County. His adaptability, demonstrated by teaching out of field, fuels his commitment to crafting inclusive, engaging classrooms that celebrate every learner’s potential.
As an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., he serves as Financial Secretary on the Executive Board, overseeing chapter finances with precision and integrity. In recognition of his exceptional guidance, Gerrard was honored as one of only two Check & Connect Mentor of the Year awardees in Florida for the 2021–2022 year. Passionate about bridging rigorous content with real-world relevance, he continuously strives to inspire, support, and uplift all students in his care.
Multi VE Classroom Teacher
Mrs. Cadorette holds an Associate of Arts degree with a focus on Exceptional Student Education and a Bachelor of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis with a minor in Early Intervention. With over seven years of experience working with children, she is passionate about teaching in ways that honor each child’s unique learning style.
She creates an interactive and creative learning environment designed to foster growth and independence. Mrs. Cadorette finds joy in helping children make progress in their daily living, social, and academic skills, while building confidence and a lifelong love for learning.
Music and Art Teacher
Eleanor Studly has her AA from the University of Central Florida, with a focus on music education. Starting as an oboist, she began assisting in 1st and 3rd grade classes in her home town of St. Cloud Florida and discovered the joy of teaching and connecting with students. Eleanor is creative and compassionate, excited to support students’ self-expression in the arts and see what they create. In her free time, Eleanor enjoys being outdoors, spending time with her partner and 2 dogs.