Meet the Team
Amanda Flavell, M.A., BCBA – Capstone Academy Executive Director
Amanda Flavell is the Executive Director of Capstone Academy. She has over 20 years experience working with individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families. Prior to starting Capstone Academy, Ms. Flavell worked at a licensed private academic school for individuals with autism, for 11 years, serving as a Director for seven years. As Director, Ms. Flavell was responsible for staff recruitment and staff training, as well as providing supervision for those seeking Board Certified Behavior Analyst certification. Ms. Flavell's administrative involvement included assisting in the development and adherence to the program budget, community partnership development, and assisting in documentation associated with grants. In regards to student involvement, Ms. Flavell was responsible for student recruitment, intakes, and student placement either through parent or district placement. Ms. Flavell oversaw program advancement and student program development, as well as the implementation and development of the empirically-based applied behavior analytic programming. She also conducted functional behavior assessments and developed behavior intervention plans. Ms. Flavell has also served as a consultant in local public school districts.
Ms. Flavell holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Dickinson College and received her Master's degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Penn State University. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.
Melissa Thompson, MA, BCBA – Capstone Academy Director of Education
Melissa Thompson is the Director of Education at Capstone Academy. She has been working with children in various capacities for over 20 years. Ms. Thompson began her career working as a child and adolescent therapist where she was responsible for providing both individual and family counseling, facilitating social skills groups in the school setting and teaching life skills to foster children who were preparing to live independently. She returned to school and obtained her special education teaching certificate, teaching in the emotional support classroom at the elementary level and later teaching math, science, and life skills at the high school level. After moving to Pennsylvania in 2014, Ms. Thompson worked as a supervisor at a child care center before moving into a long-term substitute position at an elementary school. Ms. Thompson has been at Capstone Academy since it opened its doors in August 2016. She began her career at the school as an Instructional Assistant before transitioning into the role of Special Education Teacher. She has held her current position of Director of Education since February 2017. Ms. Thompson serves as the Trainer for one of the oldest groups of students, focusing on staff training and program development for transition-age students. Ms. Thompson holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Southern Methodist University, a master’s degree in Social Work from Indiana University and a master of arts in Special Education – Applied Behavior Analysis from Arizona State University. She holds a Pennsylvania Private School teaching license in the area of Special Education: Socially and Emotionally Disturbed and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.
