Imagine Living Solutions (ILS) serves at-risk communities in both urban and rural regions of New York State. As a Community-Based Organization (CBO), ILS partners with faith-based institutions, schools, and local businesses to provide programs and support.

Meet the ILS Leadership Team

ILS was founded in 2004 by three dedicated professionals, including Academics, Behaviorist, Entrepreneurs and PhD Candidates and psychotherapists. They bring decades of experience working with youth in New York’s urban areas as well as with international education institutions.

Director’s Credentials

EDUCATION

• PhD (candidate) Psychology-Kaiser University – 2020 – Present
• Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) – Cert Hunter College Grad. School CUNY – 2024 – Present
• Master of Science (MS) in Education/Special Education, Touro College Graduate School of Education & Psychology
• Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Economics & Finance, Minor in Journalism, CUNY York College
• Additional Certifications: New York State Teaching Licenses for General & Special Education; CPR; Conflict Resolution.
• Community & Volunteer Service: New York Cares, Cypress Hills Community Center for Seniors, North Brooklyn Community Council (Board Member, 2004–2011), New York City Council (Community Volunteer & Writer/Editor, 2000–2011), New York State Senate (Legislative Assistant), Green Point Observer (Writer)

Organizations and Volunteer Work

• New York Cares, Cypress Hills Community Center for Seniors, (Board Member, 2024 – Present)
• North Brooklyn Community Council (Board Member, 2004–2011),
• New York City Council (Community Volunteer & Writer/Editor, 2000–2011),
• New York State Senate (Legislative Assistant), Green Point Observer (Writer)

• Urban Youth Initiative Inc.; Writer, Green Point Observer; North Brooklyn Community Council, Inc, (2004-2011)
• New York City Council, (Board Member 2000-2011), Community volunteer & Writer/Editor for the Brooklyn
• Newspaper; Prince Hall Scholarship Committee, Chairperson.

Languages

• English (Native)
• Spanish (Advanced: reading, writing, speaking)
• Mandarin (Basic functional: speaking, listening)
• Arabic (Basic: reading, speaking)

Director’s Professional Experience

Domestic (USA, 1987–2021)

Behavior Intervention Specialist, Psychotherapist, Clinician

MHH (Clinical Service), Psychology Department

07/2021 – Present

Hired as a conduit and liaison between corporate leadership, facility staff members and clients to develop to train on techniques for navigating disruptive activities during daily proceedings. Partnered and coordinated with medical facilities, providers and clients assuring the best care was being provided to patients. Trained staff and clientele techniques to ameliorate disruptive activities.

Championed and administered psychological behavioral in compliance with New York State regulations. Elevating the services and care provided to patients, designed, implemented and trained staff on innovative resolutions and challenges within the facility. Systematically monitored and reported out progress to senior management and clients maintaining compliance and creating visibility. Often mentored residences on best practices and coached them to be better and compliant in their delivery of care

Early Interventionist, Applied Behavior Analyst

Achieve Beyond Bilingual, Inc., Queens & Brooklyn, NY

02/2016 – 02/2017 – 06/2020 – 8/2021

Hired as an independent contractor to develop language learning programs to meet the needs of developmentally delayed and disabled children (ages 6 months – 10 years) in particular children with bilingual (English & Spanish) needs.
Instituted ADA (American’s with Disabilities Act) and IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) child language program remediating behavioral issues.

Families needed coping strategies to manage their children’s potentially difficult behaviors. Conducted language assessments through receptive and expressive communication to identify, gather, monitor, guide and coach children with Autism (ASD.) These assessments drove the development of coping strategies for the family managing difficult child behavior as well as improved the language skills of the child.

These assessments created a path for the child through their Infant and Family Service Plan (IFSP) and the Committee on Special Education & the Preschool Committee of Special Education (CPSE.) This program created a positive rapport with families and boosted behavioral and language skills not just with their families but teachers and classmates. Parents were taught invaluable strategies to manage disruptive behaviors successful.

Special Education Teacher

Heart Share School, New York

03/2016 – 02/2017

Experienced in self-contained settings for students with Autism (specialty) ages 14 – 21. Administer NYS Alternate Assessments – as well as initial and interim/predictive assessments for developmentally disabled students with autism, to construct and manage IEPs goals.

Special Education Teacher

Hebrew Academy for Special Children, New York

07/2015 – 02/2016

Hired by this non-profit in a teacher role to provide educational and clinical services to individuals from 2 to 11 years of age, that exhibited developmental delays. Collaborated with parents to provide high quality education and therapeutic services to children with special needs.

Facilitated learning for children and young adults with autism. Established the ADA and discreet chill program to get language from the child to help remediate behavior issues. Taught children with a wide array of special needs. Utilized assessments to create, implement and monitor the student’s classroom behavior and development. Incorporated various conflict resolution strategies to mitigate and guide students through disruptive behaviors and ultimately formulated data to develop “best practices” for other teachers of special needs students.

Lecturer, Education Consultant

New York City Department of Education (Tenured Instructor) & Private education centers and corporate research institutes

01/1988 – 09/2014

With over three decades in education, the director has worked as both a classroom teacher and adult instructor across nonprofit, private, and government sectors. The director’s expertise includes instructional design, learning and development, and curriculum innovation. The director is recognized for problem-solving, leadership, and the ability to adapt teaching methods to diverse learners.

Behavior Intervention Specialist, Social Worker, Counselor
PSCH (Professional Service Care & Health), Psychology Department

12/2014 – 04/2015

Hired as a conduit and liaison between corporate leadership, facility staff members and clients to develop to train on techniques for navigating disruptive activities during daily proceedings. Partnered and coordinated with medical facilities, providers and clients assuring the best care was being provided to patients. Trained staff and clientele techniques to ameliorate disruptive activities.

Championed and administered psychological behavioral in compliance with New York State regulation.

Elevating the services and care provided to patients, designed, implemented and trained staff on innovative resolutions and challenges within the facility.

Systematically monitored and reported out progress to senior management and clients maintaining compliance and creating visibility. Often mentored residences on best practices and coached them to be better and compliant in their delivery of care.

Special Education Teacher
New York City Department of Education

01/1988 – 09/2014

Recruited to educate in self-contained settings for students with Autism: specialty, E.D, D.D. and M.R. ages 14-21. Created innovative curriculum and reading + math learning program for special needs students. Facilitated the array of categories of special needs student within the Department ranging from age 2 years to 21 years of age.

Designed and developed an inclusion program entitled “The New Continuum.” Piloted the concept of combining general student population classes with special needs students creating an inclusive program. This program incorporated classroom safety and other precautions making sure all students were in a safe learning/classroom environment. Program was ultimately instituted across the district wide platform based upon the success of the program.

Formulated strategies and best practices in alignment with New York State learning criteria driving effectiveness. In partnership with staff, utilized interdisciplinary assessment results/ data to further define and map out more robust curriculum. Acknowledged for big improvements made and appointed to spearhead district wide projects.

Writer, Editor NYS Senate District Newsletter – State Senator Martin Malave Dilan

NYS Senate Liaison to New York Department of Education New York State Senate

03/2003 – 01/2004

Staff liaison to former NYC School District 23 and Community Board 16. Coordinated and participated in community issues that impacted health and education in the North Brooklyn area. Advised and assisted community residents in resolving a variety of social matters and educational concerns. Organized district-wide discussions regarding the potential impact on the young learner and their families researched education legislation issues regarding Early Childhood, Elementary and Middle Schools. Edited and wrote weekly newsletter centering on legislative events in Albany and the State Senate District office.

Received recognition for spearheading a Senate Newsletter and district newspaper. Recognizing a communication disconnect in an economically challenged district needing support, spearheaded regular meetings to confer with Federal, State and local New York City agencies and government officials, creating and producing a Senate Newsletter and district newspaper. Articles featured areas of interest such as; potential budgeting matters and future funding prospects for school boards, community boards and local businesses.

Produced, published and wrote bilingual articles in local community papers. Offered position as Editor and Chief for Prime Time News, newspaper.

International – China (2017–2019)

Lecturer, Education Consultant

Anhui Progressive Culture & Education Co. Ltd., Huainan & Hefei

03/2018 – 01/2019

Partnered with universities, colleges, and international education firms to design and deliver higher education programs. 

Developed and taught courses in English, Marketing, Statistics, Early Childhood Development, and American Culture. 

Created and implemented an international exchange program for Chinese students, serving as liaison between Chinese and U.S. institutions. 

Designed curriculum and cultural orientation programs that increased student enrollment and received recognition for program success.

International Teaching Expert – Consultant

E-Door Foreign Language Institute, Wuxi City, China

08/2017 – 03/2018

Primary teacher for teaching students English as a second language with various approaches and to assist them in exposure with the English language, knowledge and culture. Prepared individualized lessons in collaboration with a Chinese Teaching Assistant, including; preparing formal and informal assessments; coordinating class and school activities, functioning as a support to Chinese teachers and evaluating student performance. Contracted.

International Teaching Expert – Consultant

Qunxing Foreign Language School, Yiwu City, China

02/2017 – 08/2017

Teacher for Chinese students’ English language, knowledge and culture. Prepared curriculum, formal and informal assessments for student performance evaluation. Short-term contract.

International – Egypt (2014)

International Teaching Expert, Education Consultant

American International School – Egypt West, Cairo

Delivered classroom instruction based on U.S. grade-level standards. 

Designed and evaluated coursework to prepare students for the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. 

Utilized technology and diverse teaching strategies to support student engagement and learning outcomes.

Practitioners Skill & Depth of Experience

Reviews have been left by a team of skilled professionals that have utilized our services.