Education
B.A., Psychology, Providence College
M.S.Ed., Special Education, Simmons College
M.S.Ed., Behavioral Education, Simmons College
Ed.D, Special Education Leadership, Nova Southeastern University
Dr. Bessette has extensive experience in special education in both private and public school settings. She has been providing behavior-analytic services in public school settings since 2002. She has held positions at the New England Center for Children as well as public school districts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. She also holds licensure from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as a special educator (Autism Endorsement) and special education administrator. She is currently a BCBA for the Westborough Public Schools. Her dissertation research focused on the use of behavioral skills training to increase levels of treatment integrity by paraprofessionals working in public school special education programs. Areas of interest include evidence-based assessment and intervention, staff training, verbal behavior, social skills training, and behavior analytic applications to nutrition and health.