Our Leadership
Julia Smith MA, BCBA, LBA
Founder & Executive Director
Julia is a board-certified behavior analyst who has worked in the field of early childhood education and behavior analysis for 17 years. She received a BS in Special Education-Early Intervention from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a MA in Applied Behavior Analysis from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She has experience as a preschool teacher as well as a clinician; working with young children and adolescents with special needs across school, home, and clinic-based settings. She has worked closely with teachers to develop curriculum and behavior intervention plans that support every student. Julia is passionate about early childhood education and research-based practices that facilitate learning through play, healthy environments, and meaningful relationships.
Kaitlin Hendrickx MA, BCBA, LBA
Providence Program Director
Kait is a board-certified behavior analyst who has worked in the fields of special education and behavior analysis for 15 years. She received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Johns Hopkins University and a master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis from Western New England University. She has worked with individuals aged 2-22 across a variety of settings, including hospitals, private and public schools, and clinics. Most of her career has been spent working
with neurodivergent children, and she loves being a part of their big and small successes as they grow and learn. She is passionate about helping children reach their potential, and is excited to bring her experience and enthusiasm to Paper Crown Preschool.
Meg Keefe, MA, BCBA, LBA
Portsmouth Program Director
Meg Keefe began her career as a general education teacher and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst to better support the wide range of needs in her classroom. She holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Rhode Island, a Master’s in Teaching from Roger Williams University with a concentration in Multicultural Education and Teaching for Social Justice, and completed her BCBA coursework at Hunter College. Meg has taught in public, private, and outdoor education settings, working with learners from age 2 through adulthood. She is passionate about helping children grow into their most authentic selves and about partnering with teachers and families to create inclusive, supportive learning environments. She believes deeply in the power of play, joy, curiosity, and real-world experience as essential tools for children to construct their own knowledge and develop a lifelong love of learning.
Natalie Elshaw, RBT
Pre-K Lead Teacher & Assistant Administrator
Portsmouth Program
Natalie joined Paper Crown at our Portsmouth location shortly after we opened in October 2022. She worked as a teacher assistant in our toddler program for a year before being promoted to Lead Toddler Teacher. Natalie completed her Registered Behavior Technician certificate in October 2024 and has most recently stepped into the role of Pre-Kindergarten Lead Teacher and Assistant Administrator. Growing up in Maine, Natalie has always had an appreciation for nature and outdoor play. She has always been passionate about working with young children and is never afraid to be silly when it comes to playing with the kids.
Emily Antonelli, BS, RBT
East Greenwich Program Director
Emily received an AA in Child Development from CCRI in 2013 and a BA in Psychology form Rhode Island College in 2022. She has worked with children from infancy to adolescence over the course of 27 years in both private and public schools as a teacher’s assistant and as a special education paraprofessional. She is also the mother of two teenaged children. Emily is honored to have the opportunity to nurture and teach young children as they play and form social connections, both in the classroom and outdoors in nature.
What Sets Our Educators A Part...
Our Interview Process
When adding to our team, we consider more than just previous experience and level of education. Through a series of interviews, we also look to assess commitment to teamwork, willingness to learn and accept feedback, level of engagement, and style of interaction with young children.
Hands-On Training and Ongoing Professional Development
All newly hired staff members are required to complete 25 hours of training that focuses on Health & Wellness, Safety & Emergency Procedures, Developmental Milestones, Wellness & Nutrition, and Behavior Management. All new team members are also required to complete an in-classroom training series that is broken down into measurable goals throughout their first three months of employment to ensure quality of care is maintained as our team grows.
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Additionally, Paper Crown Preschool provides 14 hours of lecture-based professional development trainings throughout the school year for all staff members, as well as ongoing, direct training within the classroom by our BCBAs and Curriculum Coordinator. Trainings focus on skill-development related to caring for young children, our curriculum, and behavior support guidelines.
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Behavior Support Coaching
Significant, ongoing challenging behavior can lead to teacher burnout and a reduction of learning within the classroom. When teachers are given the tools needed to prevent and respond to challenging behavior, everyone wins.
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Our teachers are trained in the principles and concepts of Behavior Analysis and are provided ongoing support from our Board Certified Behavior Analysts to ensure both students and teachers have a positive classroom experience.
Teacher Highlights
Casey Burnett
Pre-K Lead Teacher
East Greenwich Program
Casey has been teaching at our East Greenwich preschool for 3 years, working her way through multiple promotions from TA, to lead toddler teacher, and then stepping into the lead pre-k teacher role this past school year. Casey is truly a ray of sunshine whose positive attitude and kindness radiate throughout her classroom. She cares deeply about her students, putting 100% into every lesson plan and activity. Casey is always calm under pressure and is a pro at caring for boo-boo’s due to her experience as a lifeguard before joining Paper Crown. Thank you for all that you do, Miss Casey!