Our Team
Medical Director Chris Plauché Johnson, MEd, MD, is a Board Certified Neurodevelopmental Pediatrician and retired as a Professor of Pediatrics at University of Texas Health Center in San Antonio in 2007. She was the Founder and Volunteer Medical Executive Director of Children’s Association for Maximum Potential (CAMP) Inc., a 30-year-old United Way agency that serves children with autism. She served on the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Committee on Children with Disabilities from 1997-07 and as Co-Chair of the Autism Expert Panel from 2003-07. She was the lead author for development of the AAP Guidelines for diagnosis and management of children with autism (both 2001 and 2007 sets) and the AAP Toolkit that accompanied the guidelines. Dr. Plauché serves on several editorial boards and has published chapters, review articles and commentaries addressing autism, mental retardation, developmental screening, normal development and family supports. She is currently enrolled in the Master’s program at Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio.
Executive Director Jessica H. Franco, PhD, is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist (CCC-SLP) and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She has been working with children with autism for over 12 years. Before joining the Autism Community Network, she traveled as an autism consultant for schools and centers around the country. Jesse specializes in treating communication disorders and severe challenging behaviors, and acts as a mentor for clinical therapists seeking to improve their understanding of autism-related behavior and interventions. She holds degrees from the University of Kansas and University of Texas at Austin.
Assistant Medical Director Patrick Holden, MD, is a Board Certified child psychiatrist and Professor of Psychiatry at University of Texas Health Center in San Antonio. He has a special interest, and has been working with children with developmental disabilities for over 16 years. In addition to his clients at ACN, Dr. Holden treats children at UTHSCSA and Behavioral Health Clinic at Christus Santa Rosa downtown.
CLINIC:
Clinic Coordinator Tina G. Tschoepe, MS, CCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist with over 10 years of experience. She received both her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees from Southwest Texas State University. She has received specialized training in the areas of autism, apraxia of speech, language disorders, Beckman oral-motor therapy, PECS, and the SOS Approach to feeding therapy. Tina holds certifications with both the American Speech Language Hearing Association, and the Texas State Board of Examiners in Speech and Language Pathology. She is Hanen Certified in the It Takes Two to Talk, More Than Words, and Learning Language and Loving It Programs.
Director of Training and Research, Berenice de la Cruz, PhD, BCBA-D, received her PhD from The University of Texas at Austin in Special Education specializing in autism and developmental disabilities. For her dissertation, she developed a self-monitoring treatment package to support teachers in developing and implementing interventions in the classroom. Dr. de la Cruz received her Masters in Clinical Psychology at University of Texas at El Paso, where she researched animal models of autism. She has worked with people with autism and other developmental disabilities for 10 years in school and home settings as a teacher, therapist, and trainer for parents of people with autism and professionals servicing people with autism. Dr. de la Cruz has published several peer-reviewed research articles and co-authored several book chapters in the fields of developmental disabilities, addictive behaviors, and social cognition.
Christie Aylsworth, MS/CCC-SLP has been practicing as a pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist in the San Antonio area since 2000. She received both her undergraduate and graduate degree from Baylor University. Christie has worked with a variety developmental disablities in multiple pediatric settings including outpatient clinics, developmental centers, and schools. She has been a member of an autism diagnostic team since 2004 and is certified by the Hanen Centre.
Lupe Castañeda, MS, BCBA, is the Executive Director of Behavior Analytic Solutions, LLC. He has worked with individuals with autism and other disabilities for more than 18 years. He currently provides behavioral consultation, staff training for public and private agencies, and training for parents of children, youth, and adults with various disabilities throughout Texas. Mr. Castañeda is also residing as Chair of the newly formed South Central Texas Autism Special Interest Group (Texas Association for Behavior Analysis).
Marisol Flores, LBSW is a social worker/case manager for Any Baby Can. She has been working with families who have children with disabilities for 16 years and has 5 years of experience working in the field of Special Education. She is bilingual and has specialized training in autism diagnosis. Marisol graduated from UTSA with a BS in biology in 1995.
Adrienne Gaither, OTR graduated from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio with a BS in Occupational Therapy. She has been working with children with developmental challenges such as Autism Spectrum Disorders, and ADHD since 1996. Adrienne has served in a variety of settings including non-profit agencies, outpatient clinics, border-based schools, and schools for children of active military. She has given workshops on sensory processing, integrated play groups, neurodevelopmental treatment, and feeding. She is certified in the administration and interpretation of the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests (SIPT) and is trained in Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT) for the pediatric population. Adrienne completed a Level I Intensive Mentorship with Dr. Lucy Jane Miller at the Sensory Therapies and Research in Denver, and is trained in the Sequential Oral Sensory (S.O.S.) approach for problem feeders.
Shana Gilbert, OTR is a pediatric Occupational Therapist. She graduated from the UTHSC-SA in 1996 and has since worked in a variety of pediatric settings to include public schools, local child development centers, military bases, emergency children shelters, and outpatient therapy clinics. Her professional experience also includes a 5 year involvement with a non-profit diagnostic clinic for children with autism.
Sandy Jessen, Parent Liaison, Education Specialist, and “blogger” has two sons, one of whom is autistic. She has a BA in Literature from the University of California at Santa Cruz, and holds a California State Teaching Credential in English and Bilingual Crosscultural Education Aquisition Certificate in Spanish from the State of California. She is also credentialed in California and to teach middle school special education. Sandy has had two Fulbright Teaching Echange Scholarships in Latin America: in Mexico and Chile.
Amit Nadkarni, MA received his Bachelor’s degree from Drury University in Springfield, MO with majors in Biology and Psychology, and a minor in Global Awareness. He then pursued a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in Corpus Christi, Texas. His work experience includes working as a Home-based Behavior Therapist with The May Institute in Boston, MA and most recently a Contract Psychologist for Nueces County-MHMR in Corpus Christi, Texas. Currently he is working towards his certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.
ADMINISTRATION:
Sandra Cedillo is the Executive Assistant for ACN. She has been working in the field of Developmental Disabilities for 19 years. For the past 12 years, she has worked with the various developmental disabilities doctors in San Antonio. Over the past 5 years, Sandra has focused her knowledge toward working with the various city agencies assisting children and their families with autism.
Teresa Gaona is the Billing and Collections Coordinator for ACN, and has over ten years of experience in the medical field. After several years working in private practive, in 2001 Teresa went to work with Dr. Chris (Plauche) Johnson at the Village of Hope, where she handled Medicaid as well as commercial insurance claims and verifications. In 2003 Teresa moved to a large physicians’ group practice where she handled insurance and billing. In February of 2009 she joined ACN in order to help families with billing and financial assistance.
Brooke Lamartina, MA, LPC-I is the Community Outreach Coordinator for ACN. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. She then moved to San Antonio to pursue her Master’s degree in Community Counseling from University of Texas at San Antonio. Brooke graduated with her MA in May of 2008. Recently, Brooke became a Licensed Professional Counselor-Intern (LPC-I) and is in the process of obtaining her hours to become an LPC.
Covita Moroney is Director of Development for ACN. Her previous employment includes having served as Vice President of Marketing and Development for the Carver Community Cultural Center and Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the San Antonio Symphony. Covita is co-founder and General Manager of San Antonio Vocal Arts Ensemble (SAVAE) and a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
José Sáenz joined our team as accountant/bookeeper in March, 2010. He came to ACN from Alamo Solutions, where he filled a similar role. For five years José was a payroll analyst for Valero Energy Corporation, where he managed payroll for refineries in four states. He also served as corporate payroll analyst for PAK-MOR in San Antonio and the Sacramento Bee in Sacramanto, California.