Danielle Damico MA, BCBA, LBA
Director of Growth and Planning
Bio
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 strengthen her ability to serve students and families.
As Director of Growth & Planning at Spiritos School, Danielle focuses on advancing the school’s mission of providing compassionate, trauma-assumed ABA paired with strong academic instruction. She plays a key role in strategic development, program expansion, and building partnerships that connect Spiritos School to the broader community.
With 15 years of experience supporting individuals with special needs and disabilities across a variety of settings, Danielle is dedicated to creating inclusive opportunities for students and their families. Her work emphasizes person-centered care, community engagement, and sustainable growth so that Spiritos School can continue to be a place where students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Stephanie Mackey M.ED, BCBA, LBA
Principal
Bio
Stephanie has dedicated the past ten years to the field of Special Education, serving as both an elementary and secondary school teacher. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with a wide range of professionals, always with the shared goal of advancing student success and well-being. Her educational philosophy is grounded in the belief that every student can learn when provided with a positive and nurturing environment, strong leadership, a committed educational team, an encouraging community, and a collaborative support system—all qualities that Spiritos School exemplifies.
She earned her 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 expanded her expertise by completing a Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis at George Mason University, leading to her licensure as a Behavior Analyst.
PT Bailey
Administrative Director
Bio
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
Bio
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
Bio
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
Bio
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
Bio
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.
