Together For Our Keiki - Board of Directors

Amanda N. Kelly, PhD - Florida

Dr. Kelly obtained her bachelors in Elementary Ed., her masters in Behavioral Education, and doctorate in Behavior Analysis. Dr. Kelly has served on multiple boards and committees including Together For Our Keiki, the Hawaiʻi Association for Behavior Analysis, and the Hawaiʻi Disability Rights Center. While on the islands, Dr. Kelly worked for several behavior analytic agencies, as well as Counselor at Assets Elementary, located in Honolulu. Dr. Kelly's dedication and commitment to improving access to services, as well as her outstanding advocacy, has resulted in several awards: Jerry Shook Practitioner of the Year, Advocacy Group of the Year, Provider Advocate of the Year, and AIRC Champion. Dr. Kelly is considered a thought-leader in behavior analysis and education and is often highly sought after as a speaker at national, as well as international events. In addition to possessing her license as a Hawai'i Behavior Analyst, Dr. Kelly is also licensed in Hawai'i in Elementary Education. In 2021, Dr. Kelly relocated to central Florida where she serves as the Chief Clinical Officer for Breakthrough Behavior, which serves over 350 clients. 

Ashley Monden - Hawaiʻi Island

Ashley is a Licensed Special Education teacher, who is in her second year teaching at an elementary school on Oahu. Before relocating to Oahu, Ashley worked as a teacher on Hawaiʻi Island. Prior to becoming a teacher, Ashley worked as an Educational Assistant, for close to a decade. Currently, in addition to working as a public school teacher, Ashley also works part-time as a Registered Behavior Technician for an ABA agency on Oahu. Ashley obtained her Masters in Special Education from Chaminade University and has completed the approved course sequence in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of West Florida. In addition to supporting our keiki in our community, Ashley is quite the foodie.

Debi Ho'ohuli - Maui

Originally from West Oahu, Debi has more than 15 years of experience working in various capacities and environments with children, adolescents and adults with special needs and their families in the State of Hawaiʻi. She has provided services to clients in therapeutic living programs, forensic housing programs, group homes, alternative learning centers, military facilities, preschools, public schools, private schools, community settings and home settings. Debi is a graduate student at the University of West Florida and enrolled in the Masters in Exceptional Student Education/Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Specialization program. Her recent professional preferences include Parent Training/Consultation and Direct Care Staff Training. Debi is committed to the dissemination and ethical implementation of behavior analysis throughout Hawai’i nei. Debi currently oversees the agency’s Department of Health -Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities (DOH-DD/ID) Medicaid Waiver Program as well as the Parent Education and Training Program for ABA agency on Maui. 

Jennifer Lonardo - Hawaiʻi Island

Jennifer Lonardo has a Bachelors degree in Psychology from the American University of Paris and is fluent in French. She completed her Masters program in Professional Behavior Analysis at the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) and earned her BCBA. Jennifer has over 10 years of experience in the fields of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Human Services. She has worked in hospitals and schools, in-homes, and in residential programs for children and adults with mild, moderate, and severe impairments. Jennifer has completed internships in neuropsychology and ABA in hospitals and homes in Paris, France and has worked in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, California, and currently Hawaiʻi. 

Kasey Barnes - Virgina

Kasey Barnes is a Special Education teacher who earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Learning and Development from The University of Texas at Austin in 2017. She worked as a Functional Skill Classroom (FSC) teacher with the Hawaii DOE for two years, where she met Dr. Kelly. While teaching in Hawai'i, Kasey saw an immense need to advocate for students with disabilities to receive equitable access to a free appropriate public education. After some time back on the mainland in Texas, Kasey returned to school at American University to pursue a masters degree in Education Policy and Leadership. She continues to learn about Special Education Advocacy and hopes to continue to support students, families, and teachers in the state of Hawai'i throughout her career as an educator. Kasey currently resides and practices as a Middle School Special Education teacher in Virginia.

Lara Bollinger - Virginia

Lara Bollinger is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and law school graduate. Lara obtained her bachelors in Family and Community Services from the University of Delaware, her masters in Special Education from Northeastern University, certification in Behavior Analysis from FIT, and most recently, completed her law degree at UDC. Lara has been a BCBA since 2010 and has worked with individuals with developmental disabilities in a variety of settings. While in Hawai’i, Lara joined the HABA Legislative committee, where she became an advocate for students with disabilities to state legislators, working to achieve successful licensure for behavior analysts and statewide Autism insurance reform. While pursuing her law degree, Lara volunteered with the Legislation and Juvenile and Special Education clinics. Lara has also interned at Advocates for Justice and Education, where she assisted families with accessing appropriate educational services for their children. Lara successfully passed the DC bar and will be looking to take the Florida Bar, as she has recently relocated to Florida. 

Lisa Sakuda - Oahu

Lisa earned her Bachelors in Family Resource Management Studies at the University of Hawaiʻi. She has experience working as a teacher's aide at Alani Childrens' Center. Lisa subsequently worked as a Classroom Preschool Teacher at The Childrens' Center for 6 years. She also has experience working as a Paraprofessional Tutor for the Hawaiʻi Department of Education (Hawaiʻi DOE). While enrolled in a behavior analysis certificate program at the University of West Florida (UWF), Lisa obtained her RBT (Registered Behavior Technician)  credential. Lisa currently works full-time as an RBT for a local ABA-agency. She has completed her coursework towards certification in behavior analysis and is currently obtaining her supervision and mentorship, in order to be eligible to take the national exam.