In this episode of Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Change Makers, Dr. Esther C. Bubb sits down with Jennie Prochorenko-Stadelberger, Special Education Consultant with Sereni Law Group LLC, for a rich discussion on servant leadership, behavior-driven decision making, and educational advocacy. We explore how servant leadership and behavioral science intersect to drive student success, strengthen teams, and sustain compliance without overwhelm. Jennie shares her journey from classroom teacher to systems leader, why she rejects silos in favor of interdisciplinary collaboration, and how strategies like positive reinforcement, ABC analysis, PBIS, and prompting & fading help students and adults thrive. We also cover responding to parent crises with emotional intelligence, coaching staff for capacity building, and turning legal standards into clear, actionable checklists.

In sharing her journey from the classroom to educational leadership and legal consultation, Jennie offers real-world insights on:

Top Takeaways: Find a win in every day; all children can learn with the right tools; active listening is a leader’s superpower; own your seat at the table.

This episode is a must-listen for educators, administrators, advocates, and leaders committed to equitable, compliant, and effective educational systems.

Jennie Prochorenko-Stadelberger’s Bio

Jennie provides extensive expertise in special education advocacy with highlights of maintaining and leading complex educational teams and systems. She has dedicated her career to ensuring equitable, compliant, and effective educational programming across diverse settings. As a former special education administrator, she has successfully led initiatives to develop and monitor legally compliant individualized educational plans, ensure FAPE compliance, and implement inclusive practices. Her experience includes managing federal and state grants, fostering collaborative teams, and advocating for students and families to promote access and success in every educational setting while linking stable supports to community resources when entering into school-aged services as well as the postsecondary sector of education.

Jennie works closely with legal teams, community organizations, and educators to develop tailored programs that enhance student self-advocacy, foster family engagement, and uphold rigorous standards of educational excellence. By leveraging data analysis, detail-oriented professional development, and strategic planning, she advances inclusive practices and ensures program fidelity across multiple sites.

Her passion for creating inclusive, student-centered environments underscores her commitment to equitable educational opportunities and continuous improvement in all facets of special education and systemic leadership. 

In this powerful episode of Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Change-Makers, Dr. Esther C. Bubb is joined by Dr. Tessa Barry and Dr. Donnell Thomas for a rich, reflective conversation on behaviorally informed leadership in education and beyond. Drawing from their shared Grenadian roots and diverse professional journeys, including education, agriculture, justice, and policy, the guests explore how early life experiences, cultural values, and intentional behaviors shape effective, sustainable leadership.

Together, they explore leadership through a behaviorally informed and culturally grounded lens, examining how leadership is shaped by lived experience, education, community, and systems. They discuss leadership as influence rather than position, the importance of humility and flexibility, and why creating safe, supportive environments is essential for learning and growth. From classrooms to communities to systems-level change, this episode highlights how consistent values, collaboration, and everyday leadership behaviors—listening, modeling, reinforcing, and adapting—create meaningful impact and drive sustainable change.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Whether you are an educator, administrator, emerging leader, policymaker, behavior analyst, or change-maker committed to ethical and human-centered leadership, this episode offers powerful insights you can apply immediately, challenge how you think about leadership, and inspire you to lead with intention and purpose.

🎧 Tune in to explore how leadership behaviors—not just authority—drive lasting change.

Dr. Tessa Barry’s Bio

What does leadership look like when it’s grounded in everyday behavior, not titles or authority?

In this episode of Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Change Makers, host Esther C. Bubb is joined by Evangelist Dr. Monay Legette, Ed.D., Principal and Building Supervisor at Samuel Everitt, for a powerful conversation on translating leadership vision into daily practice.

Dr. Legette shares her leadership journey and offers candid reflections on building trust, designing systems with purpose, and honoring the whole person in schools and organizations. Together, they explore how behaviorally informed leadership, rooted in clarity, empathy, and intentional environments, can shape culture, support accountability, and create spaces where people thrive.

In this episode, you’ll hear insights on:

Whether you’re an educational administrator, emerging leader, or change maker working in complex systems, this episode offers grounded, practical strategies for leading with intention and impact. 🎧

Tune in to discover how leadership behaviors—not titles—create cultures of belonging, trust, and sustainable change.

Leadership Before the Title: How Early Career Experiences Build Ethical, Behaviorally Skilled Leaders

In this episode of Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Change Makers, Dr. Esther C. Bubb sits down with Mikhaela C. McKinnie, a senior at Temple University double-majoring in Financial Planning and Real Estate, to explore how leadership is shaped long before formal authority is granted. Through reflections on early career experiences, high-pressure environments, cultural exposure, and personal growth, this conversation highlights how ethical, people-centered leadership develops through everyday actions and intentional choices.

Whether you’re early in your career or mentoring emerging leaders, this episode offers a powerful reminder: leadership is not a destination—it’s a daily practice.

About Mikhaela:

As a highly dedicated Senior at Temple University, double-majoring in Financial Planning and Real Estate, I am focused on building a career founded on trust and exceptional service. Throughout my client-facing career, I have developed a strong dedication to prioritizing the needs of every client I serve. As I pursue my CFP® designation as a participant in Vanguard's Financial Advisor Development Program, I am committed to empowering clients through financial literacy and helping them build a solid foundation for a stable financial future. I also have a strong interest in real estate investment and am eager to expand my industry knowledge, grow my network, and explore new opportunities. With my global perspective and curiosity, I aim to serve clients from diverse backgrounds and help them achieve their unique financial goals.

Dr. Esther C. Bubb and guest, Tracey F. Wise, explore why motivation thrives in environments of trust and clarity and how leaders can create environments that spark engagement and trust.

Tracey's Bio

Tracey F. Wise, M.Ed., is a highly experienced and credentialed educational leader with over two decades of expertise in special education law, student services, and compliance monitoring. Tracey offers deep knowledge of federal and Pennsylvania special education regulations, along with a career-long commitment to student-centered advocacy and equitable service delivery.

Dr. Esther C. Bubb and guest, Dr. Natalie Hess, unpack what it means to lead when you’re tired, stretched thin, or tested, and the behavioral science behind staying centered when it matters most.

Dr. Hess's Bio:

Dr. Natalie Hess is the Director of Special Education and Support Services for the Brandywine School District, where she leads district-wide programs and services for students with disabilities and their families. A career special education executive, she has led large-scale systems in urban, suburban, and regional settings, including serving as Assistant Director of Student Services for the Delaware County Intermediate Unit and Deputy Chief of the Office of Specialized Services in the School District of Philadelphia, supervising services for more than 19,000 students across 220 schools.

Her leadership is grounded in behavioral science, emotional intelligence, and a deep commitment to creating regulated, emotionally safe environments for adults and children. Drawing on ABA-based self-management, resilience research, and her own experiences leading through crisis, staffing shortages, and high-stakes compliance demands, Dr. Hess focuses on concrete behaviors that help leaders stay centered, protect their teams, and preserve dignity for students and families.

Dr. Hess holds a Doctorate in Learning and Organizational Change from Baylor University and has presented nationally on early intervention, special education leadership, and organizational change. She is an active member of multiple professional organizations and is passionate about helping leaders sustain their work with clarity, compassion, and steadiness over time. 

Dr. Esther C. Bubb and guest, Tyrrea L. Graves, explore what genuine reinforcement looks like, how recognition strengthens teams and relationships, the art of leading with positivity without slipping into toxic positivity, and how leaders can hold space for hard emotions while still offering hope.

Tyrrea's Bio:

Tyrrea L. Graves is the innovative Owner and Chief Executive Officer of Autistic Angels Behavioral Health, LLC. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Licensed Behavior Specialist (LBS) with a Special Education Director Certification from the University of Delaware. She holds a Master of Education from Widener University, a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Wilmington University, and a Post-Master’s Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from Saint Joseph’s University.

With more than 20 years of experience across clinical and educational settings, Tyrrea has dedicated her career to supporting children and adults with developmental, emotional, behavioral, and intellectual disabilities throughout Delaware and Pennsylvania. Her work spans home-, school-, and community-based environments, where she applies evidence-based Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) practices to deliver consultation, staff development, and caregiver training. She partners with caregivers, administrators, educators, and support teams to ensure best practices are implemented with fidelity and sustainability.

Tyrrea’s professional expertise includes conducting Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs) and developing individualized Behavior Support Plans (BSPs); designing targeted professional development and coaching initiatives that enhance staff capacity and confidence; implementing behavior support within the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework; and providing systems-level behavioral consultation to strengthen schoolwide practices. Her approach integrates rigorous data-driven methods with compassion, equity, and student-centered outcomes to create meaningful, lasting change for the individuals and communities she serves.

In addition to her direct service work, Tyrrea has supervised and mentored professionals pursuing certification through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), including BCBAs, BCaBAs, and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs).

Committed to lifelong learning and professional excellence, Tyrrea continues to expand her expertise through research, training, and advanced education. She is especially passionate about developing inclusive academic and social skills programming that empowers school-aged learners to thrive, reach their full potential, and achieve long-term success.

Autistic Angels Behavioral Health, LLC 

Autistic Angels Behavioral Health, LLC is dedicated to supporting children and adults with intellectual, developmental, and emotional disorders. Recognizing the unique challenges individuals and families face, we provide compassionate, individualized services that transform obstacles into meaningful progress. Our mission is to maximize each person’s potential through evidence-based Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) practices that promote the development, strengthening, and long-term maintenance of functional life skills.

We are committed to addressing the physical, emotional, and behavioral needs of those we serve through comprehensive, person-centered care that empowers individuals to achieve greater independence, confidence, and overall quality of life.

Vision

"Where Compassion Meets Progress"

We envision a future where every individual is valued, empowered, and fully included within their community--living with dignity, independence, confidence, and a deep sense of purpose.

In the very first episode of Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Changemakers, host Dr. Esther Bubb lays the foundation for what meaningful, sustainable leadership is really made of behavior. Not titles. Not charisma. Not personality. Behavior. Observable. Measurable. Teachable. Shapeable.

Dr. Bubb breaks down how applying behavior science to leadership transforms classrooms, clinics, teams, and families. You’ll learn why leadership is within your control and what it means to grow your practice one intentional action at a time.

This episode explores:

You’ll also be guided through three grounding questions to clarify:

To close, Dr. Bubb invites you to craft your personal leadership mission statement, a simple, powerful tool that keeps your leadership aligned with your purpose, your values, and your daily behavior.

If you’re ready to lead with clarity, compassion, and intention, this episode is your starting place.

Tune in, reflect deeply, and grow intentionally… one behavior at a time.

Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Changemakers is where leadership meets behavior science, and where educators, clinicians, and humans grow.

Hosted by Dr. Esther C. Bubb, this podcast blends inspiring leadership wisdom with practical applied behavior analysis, emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and real‑world stories from schools, homes, and organizations.

Each episode explores the small, powerful behaviors that create meaningful change:

Whether you're an educator, behavior specialist, administrator, mental health leader, or simply a human trying to lead with clarity and purpose, this podcast gives you the tools, language, and confidence to lead intentionally and compassionately.

This is not leadership theory.

If you're ready to expand your leadership capacity, deepen your self-awareness, improve your decision‑making, and inspire others, this podcast is your new leadership home.

Let’s grow together, one intentional behavior at a time.