Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Affiliations
Publications
Timeline
Generic

Jocelyn Priester

Summary

Dedicated professional with strong background in providing evidence-based behavioral services to individuals and families. Skilled in developing treatment plans, conducting assessments and documenting progress. Committed to advocating for mental health and well-being of clients.

Overview

23
23
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Board Certified Behavior Analyst

Kiddos' Clubhouse/Alpharetta, GA
08.2012 - Current
  • Conduct skill evaluations using the Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills – Revised (ABLLS-R), Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (VBMAPP), Promoting Emergence of Advanced Knowledge assessments (PEAK), Assessment of Functional Living Skills (AFLS),and functional behavior assessments
  • Provide BACB supervision standards for Registered Behavior Technicians conducting direct behavioral services and seeking hours to achieve the requirements to sit for the BCBA exam
  • Create and write behavior plans and goals to address improving skill acquisition and decreasing the occurrence of challenging behavior
  • Implement directly and supervise the implementation of behavior programs by direct therapy staff to increase skill acquisition and reduce challenging behaviors
  • Collect, graph, and visually analyze data to determine if interventions are successfully addressing behavior change targets
  • Conduct parent consultations for successful carryover of programming in the natural environment and communicate with families and caregivers regarding their child's plan of care
  • Manage ABA discipline's schedule, for entire team
  • Communicates with all new and prospective families and gathers intake data for behavioral services.
  • Collaborated with other professionals to coordinate comprehensive care for clients.
  • Displayed sensitivity to cultural and linguistic needs of clients and families served.

Behavior Analyst for Acute Autism Unit

Laurel Heights Hospital, UHC
06.2011 - 12.2012
  • Create behavior programs to facilitate a deceleration of severe target behaviors that impeded natural environment living (home/school)
  • Provided emergency response in crisis situations to diffuse tensions and prevent violence.
  • Bi-Monthly meetings with team members, BCBA-D and psychiatrists to discuss progress, medication management, and behavior reduction protocol
  • Provide supervision and training of direct staff providing ABA services for patients 8-21 years old
  • Facilitated community-based outings to support re-acclimation to the least restrictive environment
  • Listened to clients' concerns and provided encouragement and support.
  • Provide intensive parent training to re-implement patient back into home and school environment
  • 97% success rate 3 months after discharge.

Private Behavior Consultant

Atlanta, GA
02.2009 - 12.2012
  • Develop and implement behavioral reduction plans and individualized home-school programs to increase verbal behavior, listener responding skills, social skills, age-appropriate play, academic skills and reduce inappropriate behaviors while increasing functional replacement behaviors
  • Conduct descriptive and functional assessments and write functional behavior programs at client's home and/or clinic-based settings
  • Provide weekly training of parents, teachers, and other professionals on school-based programs, data collection procedures and behavior plans
  • Provide ABA direct and consult services for learners aged 8 years old-14 years old
  • Managed schedule, parent communication and billing of all ABA services with insurance.
  • Worked collaboratively with other mental health professionals to provide consistent care and minimize diversion.

Clinical Supervisor

May Institute, Atlanta, GA
08.2006 - 01.2009
  • Designed and supervised the implementation of in-home and school-based behavior intervention programs
  • Lead and directed team of 6 direct staff members, along with parents and other professionals on acquisition and behavior reduction plans
  • Provided training and on-site support to professionals (including school consultations) and caregivers in behavior analysis
  • Assisted with training of teachers in Sumter County, South Carolina in Applied Behavior Analysis and positive behavior supports
  • Performed observations and assessments (ABLLS-R and social skills assessments) for children with autism
  • Developed behavior intervention plans and skill acquisition programs
  • Analyzed data to inform treatment decisions on target behaviors
  • Provide ABA direct services for Tri-Care recipients and supervision for direct staff providing services for learners aged 3 years old-16 years old
  • Member of peer review meetings
  • Reviewed current literature and attend professional meetings and workshops
  • Attended multiple state and national professional conferences and continuing education seminars.
  • Responded to crisis situations with calm and professional approach to optimize support.

Associate Director, QuestWorks

Quest, Inc., Orlando, FL
01.2006 - 07.2006
  • Responsible for the supervision of 28 staff members
  • Oversee a vocational facility that serves 175 clients diagnosed with varying developmental disabilities, mental health diagnoses and moderate to severe behavioral problems requiring oversight from district review committee
  • Coordinate daily staffing schedules and client transportation
  • Evaluate clients' ability to work in competitive employment and advocate as needed
  • Schedule, coordinate, and conduct intake paperwork for all new admissions
  • Trained and developed department leaders and management staff for specific projects and ongoing operational needs
  • Assisted senior leadership in managing all aspects of operations.
  • Successful in transferring 15 clients into supported employment
  • Secured contracts with parks and recreation, Disney, and other prominent businesses to secure adequate and competitive employment for individuals with mental health and intellectual disabilities
  • Review all behavior plans, justification letters, and annual reports sent to the state for evaluation increased client funding by $30,000+ within a 6-month period.
  • Assisted senior leadership in managing all aspects of operations.
  • Trained and developed department leaders and management staff for specific projects and ongoing operational needs.

BCABA Program Coordinator, Quest Works

Quest, Inc, Orlando, FL
07.2005 - 01.2006
  • Serve as head of the treatment team, providing competency-based training and supervision regarding implementation procedures
  • Provide ongoing evaluation, assessment and documentation of staff implementation and client progress and modify treatment accordingly
  • Phased out non-behavioral strategies used to decelerate problem behaviors and implemented behavioral based programs
  • Successful in reducing overall frequency of severe problem behaviors on facility and increase on-task job completion and contract fulfillment
  • Wrote behavioral and medical justifications to receive proper funding for Medwavier clients in vocational setting
  • Maintain DeMarva (Medicaid waiver) requirements for 100+ clients.

Behavior Analyst for three residential group homes

Spectrum Community Services, Ltd., Orlando, FL
12.2003 - 07.2005
  • Responsible for assessment, development, implementation, monitoring and modification of behavior programs for clients ages 8-72 in three different group home settings, clients may have one or more DSM-IV or mental health diagnosis
  • Conduct descriptive and functional assessments
  • Design and implement behavioral interventions based on the principles of behavior; develop skill acquisition and deceleration programs
  • Conduct training of all new employees on crisis intervention procedures as a master trainer
  • Analyze, train, and modify behavior intervention targets based on data collection and staff feedback
  • Work closely with public school system (teacher meetings, IEP meetings) and vocational settings to maintain consistent acquisition programs and deceleration plans for children and adults the group home setting
  • Complete treatment plans, met with local review committee, and other professionals to maintain an ethical and effective behavioral and group home program for all individuals
  • Monthly meeting with psychiatrist to discuss medication management and care.

Educational Behavior Specialist

Threshold, Inc., Childhood Development Center
09.2002 - 12.2003
  • Designed early intervention programs, which include teaching functional communication skills, pre-academic and academic skills and social skills training in both classroom and community settings
  • Supervised student behavior during daily academic routines to secure safety of students and staff.
  • Utilized positive reinforcement to maximize desired behavior and educational outcomes.
  • Implement behavior plans approved by BCBA to increase replacement and acquisition skills and decrease target behaviors
  • Conducted parent and teacher training on replacement, target behaviors, and acquisition programs
  • Integrated intensive behavioral students back into public school system while providing 1:1 supports for child
  • Supports faded as child stabilized in new environment.

Behavior Training Specialist

12.2000 - 09.2002
  • Implement behavior plans based on FL 64-B
  • Taught critical life and self-care skills
  • Conducted vocational skills training in a sheltered workshop setting
  • Focused on teaching functional communication training and other functionally equivalent replacement behaviors
  • Medication management.

Education

Master of Science - Applied Behavior Analysis Program

Florida Institute of Technology
Orlando, FL
05.2006

Bachelor of Arts - Communicative Disorders

University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL
12.2001

Associate Degree -

Valencia Community College
Orlando, FL
07.2000

Skills

  • Functional Behavior Assessment
  • Parent and Caregiver Training
  • Collaboration with Multidisciplinary Teams
  • Schedule Management
  • Patient Intake
  • Staff Training
  • Community-Based Instruction
  • Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention
  • Pivotal Response Treatment
  • Self-Management Strategies
  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication

Certification

  • American Heart Association First Aid and CPR Certifications
  • BACB Certification # 1-06-3192

Affiliations

Association for Behavior Analysis, International (ABAI)

Publications

Tullis, C. A., Gibbs, A. R., & Priester, J. (2020). The effects of vocal stereotypy on secondary target acquisition. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 13, 862-871. 

Tullis, C. A., Gibbs, A. R., Priester, J., & Tillem, A. (2021). Emergence of verbal responses using instructive feedback: A replication and extension. Behavioral Interventions.

A., Gibbs, Tullis, C., Priester, J., & Reddock, C. (2023). Teacher Problem Explanations Using Instructive Feedback: A Replication and Extension. The Analysis of Verbal Behavior.

Timeline

Board Certified Behavior Analyst

Kiddos' Clubhouse/Alpharetta, GA
08.2012 - Current

Behavior Analyst for Acute Autism Unit

Laurel Heights Hospital, UHC
06.2011 - 12.2012

Private Behavior Consultant

Atlanta, GA
02.2009 - 12.2012

Clinical Supervisor

May Institute, Atlanta, GA
08.2006 - 01.2009

Associate Director, QuestWorks

Quest, Inc., Orlando, FL
01.2006 - 07.2006

BCABA Program Coordinator, Quest Works

Quest, Inc, Orlando, FL
07.2005 - 01.2006

Behavior Analyst for three residential group homes

Spectrum Community Services, Ltd., Orlando, FL
12.2003 - 07.2005

Educational Behavior Specialist

Threshold, Inc., Childhood Development Center
09.2002 - 12.2003

Behavior Training Specialist

12.2000 - 09.2002

Master of Science - Applied Behavior Analysis Program

Florida Institute of Technology

Bachelor of Arts - Communicative Disorders

University of Central Florida

Associate Degree -

Valencia Community College
  • American Heart Association First Aid and CPR Certifications
  • BACB Certification # 1-06-3192
Jocelyn Priester