Our Mission
Capstone Academy provides effective education services to individuals with Autism through Applied Behavior Analysis and a multi-disciplinary collaboration. Capstone Academy helps individuals reach their maximum potential in all areas, including academic achievement and community and family participation. In addition, Capstone Academy will contribute to the field of Autism and education by conducting research and partnering with universities and local hospitals to educate future professionals.
Our Team

Amanda Flavell, M.A., BCBA is the Executive Director and Founder of Capstone Academy
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 has over 20 years of experience working with individuals with autism and their families. Throughout her career, Ms. Flavell has worked in public school districts as a consultant and BCBA and in private academic schools in a Trainer and Director capacity. She has experience with staff recruitment and staff training, as well as providing supervision for those seeking Board Certified Behavior Analyst certification. Ms. Flavell’s administrative involvement has included the development of and adherence to program budgets, community partnership development, and assisting in documentation associated with grants. Ms. Flavell has extensive experience in developing and overseeing state of the art behavior analytic education programs in the school setting, as well as in the community. She has facilitated successful student transitions to other educational settings as well as vocational settings.

Tammy Hosbach, M.Ed., BCBA is Capstone Academy’s Director of Education
Ms. Hosbach holds an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Susquehanna University. She earned her Master’s degree in Elementary Education from Cabrini College. Additionally, she completed her BCBA/Applied Behavior Analysis course work at the University of Western Florida. Ms. Hosbach first joined Capstone Academy in 2018, and worked as a Trainer before serving as the Director of Education. Ms. Hosbach has 20 years’ experience working with individuals with autism, ranging in age from 3 to 21. She has worked in private academic schools dedicated to serving individuals with autism, as well as in the home setting. Ms. Hosbach has also worked in special education roles the public school, specifically working with struggling readers in the Title 1 Program and the RTI (Response to Intervention) Program.
Trainers and Associate Trainers
Each classroom has a Trainer or Associate Trainer who has completed or is currently enrolled in a Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis. They also either currently hold or will obtain BCBA certification upon completion of their Master’s coursework. Trainers and Associate Trainers provide staff training regarding the individualization and implementation of ABA instruction. They also oversee student programming to insure advancement of skills and oversee the FFBA and PBSP development.
Program Consultant
DAWN BUFFINGTON TOWNSEND, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Dr. Dawn Townsend is actively involved in autism intervention and serves as:
1) Executive Director of the Alliance for Scientific Autism Intervention (ASAI), a membership organization that promotes excellence in scientific autism intervention.
2) Executive Director Emerita of, and acting Consultant to, the Institute for Educational Achievement (IEA), a non-profit education, adult day, and developing residential program for children, adolescents, and adults with autism.
3) Senior Director of Curriculum Development at The True Professional (TTP), an organization dedicated to improving residential and community support to autistic adults through foundational and professional development courses for those delivering support services.
Dr. Townsend earned a doctorate in psychology / behavior analysis from the CUNY Graduate School and University Center. She was the founding Executive Director of IEA and developed both educational and adult life-skills programs during her 20-year career there.
Dr. Townsend served as the Treasurer of the New Jersey Association for Behavior Analysis for 10 years, as an advisory board member for several autism intervention programs globally, as a guest editor on several journals in the field of autism, and as an adjunct lecturer at Queens College (CUNY). She has extensive research experience in autism intervention, with an emphasis on establishing systems to promote high-quality intervention and developing communication and social skills in children, adolescents, and adults with autism.
Dr. Townsend has mentored many professionals at the masters and doctoral levels. Her research has focused on the development of high-quality intervention programs and social and language skills in children and adolescents with autism. She has published numerous articles in both basic and applied behavior analysis journals. In addition, she has made numerous presentations on autism intervention at local, national, and international conferences and promotes the application of behavior analysis in the effective education of individuals with autism through consultation with other programs and professionals worldwide.