Meet Our Staff
Danielle Damico MA, BCBA, LBA
Executive Director
Danielle is a licensed Behavior Analyst with over 10 years of experience in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and holds a provisional teaching license in Special Education for K-12. She is currently pursuing her full teaching license to further enhance her ability to support students. Danielle previously worked at Spiritos School for three years, where she developed a deep passion for the school’s mission, leading her to take on this role herself. With 15 years of experience working with individuals with special needs and disabilities across various settings, Danielle is dedicated to trauma-informed therapy, compassionate ABA, and crisis intervention techniques. Her goal is to provide person-centered care that meets the unique needs of every student and their family, ensuring a supportive, inclusive, and nurturing environment for all.
Stephanie Mackey M.ED, BCBA, LBA
Principal
Stephanie began her educational career at The Faison Center for Autism in Richmond, Virginia, and has since spent 9 years in Special Education, working as both an elementary and secondary school teacher. Throughout her career, she has had the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse group of professionals, all working toward the common goal of enhancing student achievement and well-being. Stephanie’s educational philosophy is rooted in the belief that all students can learn when provided with a positive and nurturing environment, strong leadership, a dedicated and focused educational team, an encouraging community, and a collaborative support system—all qualities that Spiritos School embodies.
Stephanie holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University and a master’s degree in education with an endorsement in Special Education from The University of Richmond. In 2023, she further advanced her expertise by earning a master’s degree in Applied Behavioral Analysis from George Mason University, becoming a Licensed Behavior Analyst.
PT Bailey
Administrative Director
PT is an experienced administrator with over 15 years in the medical field, having worked in diverse areas including Long Term Care, Community Mental Health, ABA, and most recently helping to build an authorizations team of over 50 professionals at VCU Health Systems. Throughout her career, PT has taken on a variety of roles, from hospital unit secretary to billing and accounts receivable, and eventually to operations management. After a few years away from the ABA field, she saw the opportunity to return and make a meaningful impact, joining the Spiritos School team as the Administrative Director. PT is deeply passionate about providing comprehensive care and administrative support to clients and their families, ensuring that all needs are met with dedication and efficiency.
Anna Hawkins M.ED.
Teacher
Anna has over fourteen years of experience as a Special Education teacher in both the private day and public-school settings. She has worked with students at the elementary and secondary levels in both the self-contained and comprehensive classroom models.
Anna has had the opportunity to work with students with a variety of functional, academic, and behavioral support needs. She is dedicated to fostering an environment where every student feels valued, understood, and capable of achieving success.
Anna received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Longwood University in 2009. She also attended University of Richmond, where she received a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with an endorsement in Special education in 2017.
Grace Methven M.ED., BCBA, LBA
School BCBA
Grace is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over 5 years of experience in the Special Education and ABA fields. She worked as both a teacher and behavior analyst at The Faison Center in an elementary school classroom. Prior to joining the Spiritos School team, she also provided in-home ABA therapy to clients ages 2-21. She is passionate about supporting clients in learning functional ways to communicate and providing meaningful support to their families to promote long term growth across environments.
Grace received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from The College of William and Mary before returning to school to receive a master’s degree in Special Education with a certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from George Mason University. She became a Licensed Behavior Analyst in 2021.
Ginger Whitfield M.ED.
Teacher
In 2013, Ginger began her journey in Education, earning a BA in Interdisciplinary Elementary Education and Social Studies in 2017 and a Master’s in Education with a Special Education endorsement in 2018. She is currently the lower elementary classroom teacher at Spiritos School and works as a private tutor for elementary students at Tutoring Club in Midlothian, Virginia.
Ginger’s career began in 2018 as a Special Education teacher in an inclusion classroom, and in 2021, she transitioned to a General Education first-grade classroom. Her passion for Special Education stems from her belief that every student deserves a personalized educational experience. By tailoring education to each student’s needs, Ginger helps them gain the tools necessary for long-term success.
Heidi Schleider SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Heidi Schleider, a certified Speech-Language Pathologist, is passionate about empowering individuals to maximize their communication abilities. After earning a bachelor’s degree in communication disorders from Penn State and a master’s from SUNY Buffalo, Heidi began her career as a medical speech-language pathologist, working in hospitals, clinics, and rehabilitation centers. Her focus shifted to supporting young children with speech and language delays after her son’s autism diagnosis, leading her to join Spiritos School in 2011.
Specializing in areas such as language development, speech sound production, fluency, AAC, and feeding, Heidi uses play-based, collaborative therapy tailored to individual needs. She holds ASHA’s Certificate of Clinical Competence, a Virginia license, and certification in The Greenspan Floortime approach, delivering evidence-based interventions in a nurturing environment.
