The Hirsch Academy Staff

Shelley Carnes, MS, OTR/L

Head of School, Founder

Shelley Carnes has over 25 years of experience in partnering with the autistic community. She is a licensed Occupational Therapist, an Expert DIR Floortime Provider and is one of the co-founders of The Hirsch Academy. Shelley has a Bachelors of Science in Rehabilitation Science from Auburn University and a Masters in Occupational Therapy from Brenau University. She is a passionate supporter and advocate for the neurodivergent community and is a voracious learner of what more can be done to support and empower the beliefs behind neurodiversity. Shelley loves being a wife and a mom to two kids and two furry animals. She loves playing and exploring outside, playing the piano and will dance any chance she can get.

Leslie Cotton-Smith, M.Ed.

Executive Director, Founder
I am the mom of the amazing 7yo who inspired the creation of Hirsch Academy –
And it has been the most enlightening , joyous adventure!!!

I brought to Hirsch a BA in recreation and an MEd in counseling with years of experience in both. But bringing my love, passion, curiosity, respect and an open mind have been even more essential.

As our vision is to create an academic/social atmosphere. Everyone deserves feel joyful about coming to school. Everyone deserves to feel safe, understood and respected, knowing everyone during the day is presuming that they are competent.

It remains an honor to know these amazing students who really are our teachers in many ways as they lead us all into our future.

Julie Carnes, MA, LPC

Clinical Director, Founder

Along with being a co-founder of The Hirsch Academy, Julie is our school’s Clinical Director. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor working primarily with preschool and elementary aged children and their parents using a DIR/Floortime approach. She offers individual counseling, parent coaching and paired play sessions in her private practice located at Floortime Atlanta. She also does school observations and consultations as well as supervision of beginning professional counselors.

Julie has a Bachelor’s degree from Mercer University in Special Education with a minor in Psychology, Montessori primary certification, and a Master’s in Psychology/Counseling from Goddard College. She was a Montessori teacher for 12 years and the Education Director for 10 years of a Montessori school serving over 300 children from preschool through middle school. Julie has led parenting classes for over 30 years. For the last 20 years, she has been coaching parents in the DIR model and is a member of the national DIR faculty. She has worked in the areas of bereavement in young children, social cognition, and peer mediation. She has provided workshops for parents and teachers on such topics as floortime, understanding learning variations, helping children with emotions and social cognition, and conflict resolution.

Laurie Cotton-Smith, OTR, MSW, MHP

Treasurer, Founder

Laurie Cotton-Smith helped found the Hirsch Academy for her 6-year old son who needed a school that could meet his sensory needs and different learning style. While simultaneously working in her chosen field of Historic Preservation, she took on the financial and HR duties at the school. She is presently retired from her preservation job, but continues to work closely with Hirsch staff and other members of the Board of Directors on the business management of the school. Laurie has degrees from Tufts University, New York University and Georgia State University. She enjoys spending time with her family and rowing on the Chattahoochee River.

Lead Teachers

Alex Zbeeb
Alex graduated from the University of Georgia in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science focused on Child and Family Development. She began her teaching career with Glynn County Schools where she taught in both a Special Education preschool program as well as an inclusion class for Georgia’s Pre-K. After four years, she returned to her hometown of Atlanta where she continued teaching Pre-K at a local private school, During that time, she also worked as a nanny for a former Hirsch student where she quickly fell in love with the approach Hirsch used in supporting its students both emotionally and academically. In 2008, Alex joined the staff at the Hirsch Academy where she maintains her position as a lead teacher. During her time at Hirsch, Alex has continued her education by retaining and intermediate certification in DIR/Floortime and piloted a year long parent participation class as well as the A.C.T.S. Training Course for the use and training of the letter board process.

Brittany Smith
Brittany graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Valdosta State University in 2010. She taught public school for two years, in addition to her Floortime/DIR training. She is also a graduate of the A.C.T.S. Training Course for the use and training of the letter board process. Brittany has been with Hirsch since 2014 and is currently a lead teacher. She gets the most joy in supporting meaningful relationships with her students and creating an environment that inspires an excitement to learn. Brittany also enjoys eating brunch with her husband on the weekends and traveling with her family as often as she can.

Jill Brownley
Jill is a graduate of Flagler College in St Augustine, Florida, where she received a dual Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Exceptional Student Education in 2006. After college she moved to New York City and taught at the Rebecca School. She began teaching at the Hirsch Academy in 2011. Jill has an intermediate level DIR/Floortime certification and has completed the A.C.T.S. training cohort with Elizabeth Vosseller. Other than teaching Jill loves to spend time with her family on the beach in Florida. She and her husband enjoy traveling, spending time outdoors with their dog Buster and trying new cuisines.

Kelci Sorenson
Kelci graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Kennesaw State University in 2015. Kelci has been with Hirsch since 2015 as a lead teacher after she was referred to Hirsch after working with a family who told her about their experience at Hirsch Academy where their son attended years prior. She decided that she had to see Hirsch for herself and this is where her journey began. She is an adventure seeker and loves to travel to new places. She considers herself a “come back” collegiate athlete who’s dusting off her old cleats for her home town softball league. Kelci is most passionate about empowering her students emotionally, socially, and academically. She is also a graduate of the A.C.T.S. Training Course for the use and training of the letter board process.

Susan Lisenby
Susan is a lifelong learner. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia, and Mercer University’s School of Law, with an added certification in Language Based Learning Disabilities. She is ACTS certified and working toward certification in FC with the Wellspring Guild. Susan helped develop Hirsch Academy’s Abbreviated Day Program, and has been its Lead Teacher since 2016. Following her interests in communication, she teaches Philosophy, Writing Groups and Critical Thinking. Susan is the proud mom of a college student, Bennett, and happy wife/reluctant golf partner to her favorite person, husband Steve. She is a beach girl, Pilates and walking devotee, book nerd, and music collector. Susan believes in hands-on learning, the immense value of mistakes and the importance of belonging.

Coach Chris
Coach Chris has been with Hirsch since 2016 as the lead movement specialist. Chris brings his background in Exercise Science in various camp settings and preschools to Hirsch Academy as our “Coach Chris”. He is a recent graduate from Georgia State and is eager to focus on the strengths of Hirsch students to get them excited to continue moving their bodies and fall more in love with exercise.

Assistant Teachers

Leighann Troino
Leighann graduated in 2015 from Georgia Gwinnett College with a Bachelor’s degree in Developmental Psychology. She began with Hirsch in our Internship Program during the 2015-2016 school year and has since become an assistance since fall of 2016. Leighann is a graduate of the A.C.T.S. Training Course for the use and training of the letter board process. She has a love for teaching students and ensuring they believe they are capable of anything. She also enjoys all things Disney, traveling, calligraphy, maintaining her small business and spending time with her husband and her favorite cat, Kit Kat.

Christa Orbann
Christa worked with children at a private school for many years while completing a Bachelors degree in Psychology and Human Service from Clayton State University. After working as a Judge’s Assistant for a couple of years, Christa quickly found her heart being pulled back towards serving those in need. She has spent the last year working as an Engagement Coordinator at an assisted living center and completing a certification in Yoga Therapy through The Center for Integrative Yoga Studies. She comes to Hirsch with an undeniable calling to work with children, helping and encouraging them in their growth! Outside of Hirsch Academy Christa’s pride and joy is a four year old German Shepherd named Zuko, who lives to brighten the day of anyone he sees! Taking note from Zuko, Christa is excited to be joinng Hirsch Academy as a source of light to all!

David de Lima
David de Lima is from São Paulo, Brazil and lived in Mexico before moving to Atlanta in 2011. He earned his degree from Universidade Nove de Julho, in São Paulo, Brazil. David is the founder of Capoeira Passo a Frente, a Brazilian Martial Arts academy in East Atlanta, is a Contra-Mestre and has been training capoeira for 22 years. He brings more than 10 years of teaching experience and is excited to join our Hirsch family as an assistant.

Zak Sideris
Zak recently joined the Hirsch team as a substitute teacher in 2018, and is now ecstatic to start as an Assistant Teacher! He firmly believes that the philosophies and beliefs at Hirsch Academy need to be utilized in EVERY classroom. Zak has wanted to work with children ever since he was one, and has made strides towards getting training and a degree in Early Childhood Development. Zak owns a mini zoo, his hair color changes bi-monthly, and he is an active member of The Arts. He prides himself in his passion for learning a new skill whether it be an instrument, a language, or both! He truly looks forward to the journey ahead with all of the children that teach him every day.

Jordan Wolfe
I am so honored for the opportunity to be apart of Hirsch Academy! I graduated from Auburn University with a bachelors degree in Rehabilitation and also am a board certified Occupational Therapy Assistant! I have been married for 7 wonderful years and have one dog named Radley! I am so honored to be a part of the innovative classrooms at The Hirsch Academy!

Therapists & Consultants

Jessisca Sibley
Jess graduated with a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from New York University in 2011. She has worked at the Hirsch Academy intermittently over the past 10 years and continues to thrive on the nurturing and inspiring environment that Hirsch has fostered. She specializes in thinking deeper in supporting students in developing a stronger sense of body awareness by integrating boot camp style exercise, as well as creating opportunities form students to learn and accomplish life skill goals they have set for themselves. Her Floortime training has helped her develop a strong relationship with her students while creating ways to teach skills that might otherwise deter children from trying.

Leigh McCune
Leigh McCune is the Play Specialist at Hirsch Academy. She leads individual and group play sessions which incorporate mindfulness, relaxation, and self regulation strategies. She also teaches yoga and meditation to Hirsch students. Leigh strives to model and teach the qualities of self awareness, self acceptance and determination to discover and be our own best self. Leigh has a degree in Psychology from Louisiana State University and has made a lifelong study of human potential. Leigh is also an Orton Gillingham Reading Instructor, a Reiki master trainer, and a Laughter Yoga Instructor. Leigh’s other activities include reading (lots!), making body butter and soap, cooking, Atlanta foodie adventures, and hanging out with her grandson, Evan.

Whitney Pfohl
Whitney recently graduated with her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at GA State. She was an intern at Hirsch during the 2017-2018 school year and the staff and students fell in love with her. She has a background working with children, particularly, those with mild-to-moderate learning disabilities and children who fall on the Autism spectrum.​​ She also has a strong background in cheerleading and has coached the past couple of years at Gymnastics and Cheer and hope to bring this enthusiasm and playfulness to Hirsch. As of 2018, Whitney will be with us as our new Floortime Player under the supervision of Julie Carnes.

Jerry Zalnoski
Jerry works with all the Hirsch students throughout the week bringing music and art to the classroom. He has combined his art school degree from the University of Florida, his independant record label / folk-rock music career, and 10 years of teaching at Atlanta’s Paideia school and brought it ALL to Hirsch as our Music and Art Specialist. He continues to be involved in songwriting and has a collection of original songs ready to be recorded for the next Jerry Zee CD. He says, “As long as I have an outlet for creativity, I feel like I’m doing what I came here to do.” Lucky us!

Chris Zelski

Kiersten Pierce
Kiersten is a recent graduate with her Master’s in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling from GA State. Her past experiences include a B.S. in Health Administration from Auburn, and teaching Pre-K at First Baptist Church in Decatur. Kiersten’s passions are to work with children with disabilities and help them to overcome daily challenges. Kiersten is the mother of two children (ages 10 and 12). She has also been the PTA President at Westchester Elementary and PTA Vice-President at Claremont Elementary. Kiersten has been a volunteer, intern and very active within the Hirsch community for the last year and a half. She has recently started volunteering at Stride Ahead Equine Therapy. She truly enjoys the joy and purpose she has experienced with each of the Hirsch children. Kiersten will be Brittany’s assistant teacher next year.

Beyond Play

Katherine Shuey
Katherine Shuey is the Founder and Director of Beyond Play, an Atlanta-based organization dedicated to promoting access and advocacy for the disability community. Working in schools across Atlanta, Katherine and her team consult with teachers and families to provide accommodations, inclusion opportunities, and adaptive strategies for students with sensory, regulation, and motor differences.

Amber Freeman

Lynsey Maya

Rachel Diehl

Audrey Baskin
Hi, my name is Audrey Baskin. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and moved to Atlanta 18 years ago. I am the mother of 3 beautiful children. I have a degree from Georgia Piedmont Technical College in Early Childhood Education and have been continuing my studies in Georgia Gwinnett College. I work with Beyond Play as a Communication and Regulation Specialist with children between 5 and 15 years old on the autism spectrum. I love working with children and being a part of the Beyond Play and Hirsch families!

Jill Turner

Student Support Staff

River – School Spirit Professional

River
River joined our Hirsch family in 2019 and is welcomed at Hirsch for her sweetness and cuddles. She enjoys playing with children, long walks, and belly rubs.