Ken Traupmann, Ph.D.
CEO and Executive Director of Resources, Policy, and Planning

Dr. Traupmann is a behavior analyst, educator, and teacher trainer.  His baccalaureate is from Valparaiso University (1964) and he received training as a research psychologist at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, from which he received his Ph.D. in 1970.  He subsequently undertook postdoctoral research fellowships at the University of Texas in Austin and at New York University Medical Center, at which he also completed a clinical psychology internship.

While on the faculty of UCSD, Dr. Traupmann was conducting educational research at TIEE’s Children’s Workshop when he was offered the opportunity to become the organization’s Executive Director, a position he has held since January 1983.   He brought to TIEE the “catch ‘em being good” philosophy and the study of the science of behavior.

Dr. Traupmann has held teaching and research positions at the University of Texas, New York University Medical School, Rockefeller University, and the University of California San Diego.  He has taught theory and application of behavior analysis in psychiatric and educational settings as well as in numerous university courses.

Dr. Traupmann is expert in the teaching methods that have received  extensive research validation, about which he has taught in many workshops both locally and internationally, as well as in courses at San Diego State University.   He coaches TIEE personnel in instructional design, teaching methods, functional analysis of behavior, and behavior intervention planning in addition to mentoring research efforts of staff members.

In 1994, Dr. Traupmann was honored by the Association for Direct Instruction for his efforts as an administrator in implementing Direct Instruction programs across all of TIEE’s schools and, in the same year, he was honored by local chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children as Administrator of the Year. In 2009, Dr. Traupmann was honored by the Wing Institute in recognition of his work in the development, implementation, and sustainability of a data-based decision making organization.

Dr. Traupmann is past-president of the California Association of Private Special Education Schools (CAPSES) and has served on numerous California and national task forces concerning issues in education, including the certifying of teaching personnel.

Suzanne Fitch, Ed.D.
Executive Director of Programs and Personnel

Dr. Suzanne (Suzy) Fitch, received her B.A., M.Ed. in Counselor Education, M.Ed. in Special Education, and Ed.D. in Leadership from the University of San Diego.  She holds a California Multiple Subjects credential, a Special Education credential, a Pupil Personnel Service credential, an she is a licensed Marriage Family Therapist.

Dr. Fitch’s dissertation was the first systematic research to show that adolescents with learning and behavior problems could be taught to teach important academic and social skills to young children with learning and behavior disabilities.

Dr. Fitch  joined the staff of TIEE in 1983 as a school counselor and was promoted to the position of Director of the Urban Skills Center in 1984 when that school first opened.   In 1989, she was promoted to TIEE’s Director of Schools and, in 1999, she was promoted to Executive Director of Programs and Personnel.  In addition to her administrative duties, Dr. Fitch mentors and supervises TIEE’s school administrators.

Dr. Fitch has taught methods classes in special education at National University and San Diego State University, where she currently is an adjunct faculty member in the Special Education Department.   She also serves as the principal trainer of special education teacher coaches in a Federally funded project designed to improve the use of evidence based methods throughout the 14 school districts in California’s immense and sparsely populated Imperial County.   Dr. Fitch has also conducted workshops both locally and internationally on staff supervision and effective educational methods, including how to teach social skills and school-wide procedures.

Her teaching at SDSU’s Imperial Valley campus garnered her the Most Influential Faculty Member of the Year award in 2009.  In the same year, she was awarded the Wing Institute Award in recognition of her work in the development, implementation, and sustainability of a data-based decision making organization.

Dr. Fitch serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Direct Instruction, on the Advisory Board of the Autism Specialization program of San Diego State University’s Department of Special Education, and she currently serves on the Governmental Affairs Committee of the California Association of Private Special Education Schools (CAPSES) of which she is a past-President.

Margie Davenport, M.A.
Director of Admissions
Margaret (Margie) Davenport received Bachelor’s degrees in Elementary Education and Special Education (K-12) and she received a Master’s degree in Special Education of Students with Learning Disabilities (K-12) at Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado.  She holds California Multiple Subject and Learning Handicap Specialist credentials.

After obtaining teaching experience in a public school setting, Ms. Davenport began her career at TIEE in 1981 as a classroom teacher for elementary-age students with learning disabilities and severe problem behaviors.  She was promoted to Program Director of Children’s Workshop in 1985 and to Director of Student Affairs in 1989, a position she continues to hold.

Ms. Davenport is expert in designing and writing of effective Individualized Education Plans (IEP’s) and Individualized Transition Plans (ITP’s), training and supervising staff in the implementation of effective instructional practices, and in maintaining relationships with school district personnel, parents, and other community organizations that best serve the needs of TIEE’s special education students.

Ms. Davenport was honored in 1997 with TIEE’s Directors’ Award for her commitment to the Mission and goals of TIEE.

Barbara Lounsbury, M.D.
Medical Director

Dr. Lounsbury, TIEE’s Medical Director since 1994, completed her undergraduate education at Harvard University.  Her medical degree and fellowship training in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics was obtained at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Lounsbury is board certified in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.

Until 2005, Dr. Lounsbury directed TIEE’s Center for School Problems, which evaluated and treated children with learning problems and provided training for their families.

In addition to her work at TIEE, Dr. Lounsbury evaluates children at Kaiser Permanente’s John Richards Learning Center and she is Volunteer Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the UCSD School of Medicine.

Barbara Moulaison, M.A.
Director of Mt. Helix Academy

Barbara Moulaison received her B.A. from Framingham State College, Framingham, Massachusetts and her M.A. from Lesley College in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She holds California Multiple Subjects, Mild/Moderate Specialist, and Resource Specialist credentials.

Ms. Moulaison began her career with TIEE in 1992 as a classroom teacher. She was promoted to Coordinator of the Cook Education Center’s Adolescent Program in 1993 and to Director of Mt. Helix Academy when TIEE acquired that school in 1994.

Before joining the TIEE staff, Ms. Moulaison directed programs in special education and in gifted and talented education for public school districts in California’s central coast.   In addition to her work at TIEE, Ms. Moulaison has conducted workshops and teacher training sessions for the Association for Direct Instruction in Oregon, Utah, and Maryland.

Ms. Moulaison was awarded TIEE’s Directors’ Award in 2000 for her dedication to TIEE’s mission and goals, and she was awarded the Excellence in Education Award at the national conference of the Association for Direct Instruction in 2005.

Carol Nielsen, B.S., BCABA
Head School Coordinator, COOK Education Center

Carol Nielsen received her B.S. in Rehabilitation at the University of Arizona and completed the coursework and training for her Multiple Subjects credential and her Learning Handicapped Specialist credential at San Diego State University. She completed the coursework leading to her BCABA at the University of North Texas.

Ms. Nielsen began her career at TIEE in 1986 and has been the Coordinator of COOK Education Center’s Elementary Program (now COOK Education Center’s Foundations Program) since 1991.

Ms. Nielsen is an expert Direct Instruction teacher as well as trainer and coach of DI methods.  Her areas of professional specialization include basic skills curriculum, Direct Instruction programs and methods, teaching of school procedures, conducting functional assessment, and behavior intervention planning.

Ms. Nielsen has been a trainer and presenter for the Association for Direct Instruction at its projects in Chicago and Baltimore, and she has conducted workshops on effective teacher practices in central and southern California.

Ms. Nielsen received TIEE’s Teacher of the Year in 1990 and the Association for Direct Instruction’s Teacher of the Year in 1992.

Mary Taylor, M.Ed., BCBA
Director, Urban Skills Center

Mary Taylor received her B.A. from Marymount College in Tarrytown, New York, and her M.Ed. from the University of San Diego.   She holds California Multiple Subjects and Learning Handicapped Specialist credentials, and she received her BCBA in 2008 having completed the relevant course work from the University of North Texas.

Ms. Taylor began her career at TIEE in 1986 as a special education classroom teacher in the Urban Skills Center.   She has served as Coordinator of Professional Training, Director of Children’s Workshop, Director of Professional Training, and, in September 2008, she was promoted to Director of the Urban Skills Center.

Ms. Taylor has led numerous workshops on effective instructional methods, has given professional conference presentations on TIEE’s research, has been a teacher-trainer for the Association for Direct Instruction’s efforts in Utah and Maryland. She serves on the teacher training faculty of San Diego State University’s Special Education Department, where she teaches methods of classroom behavior management, including functional analysis assessment and behavior intervention planning. In addition to being expert in these areas, Ms. Taylor is also expert in instructional design and the production of effective staff training materials.

Ms. Taylor was awarded TIEE’s Teacher of the Year in 1991 for her outstanding teaching and TIEE’s Director’s Award in 1998 for her dedication to TIEE’s Mission and goals.

Hillary Whiteside, M.S., BCBA
Director of Children’s Workshop

Hillary Whiteside earned her B.S. in Psychology from San Diego State University and M.S. in Special Education from National University.   She also completed coursework for a Professional Clear Multiple Subjects credential with CLAD and a Professional Clear Moderate/Severe Education Specialist credential from National University.  She completed coursework leading to the BCBA at the University of North Texas.

Ms. Whiteside began her career in education with TIEE as a direct service paraprofessional. On completing her program of teacher training, she was promoted to classroom teacher and, in 2001, she was promoted to Program Coordinator.  In 2006, Ms. Whiteside was promoted to Director of Children’s Workshop.

In addition to her duties at TIEE, Ms. Whiteside also teaches in San Diego State University’s Department of Special Education and serves as Practicum Supervisor in the Masters in Autism Program.  She also is a member of that program’s Advisory Board.  Ms. Whiteside is expert in teaching behavioral supports for the classroom, in supervising and coaching teachers who are implementing ABA methods, and in developing educational programs for young children with developmental disabilities, including autism.

Ms. Whiteside was awarded TIEE’s Teacher of the Year in 2000.