The Learning Tree's
Little Tree Learning Center
Kim H. Smith, M.S., BCBA - Director
Kim is an Experimental Psychology graduate student at Auburn University specializing in Behavior Analysis. While in graduate
school, she has worked under James M. Johnston, Ph.D. She also held the position of Assistant Practicum Director for the
Master's program in Applied Behavior Analysis at Auburn for 2 years supervised by Robert Babcock, Ph.D. Prior to attending
graduate school, Kim was an Applied Behavior Analysis consultant and in-home teacher for children diagnosed with autism
spectrum disorders. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Montevallo with a Bachelor's degree in
Psychology in 1997.
Laura Perry, B.A. – Assistant Director
Laura received an A.S. in Business from Southern Union State Community College in 2003. She earned her B.S. in Psychology with
a minor in Business Administration from Auburn University in 2005. As an undergraduate at Auburn she served in a practicum
in both the Behavior Toxicology Rat Lab and the Auburn Autism Center's Leaps and Bounds program. Laura started as a teacher in
our 2 ½ and 3 year old classroom in August of 2005. She had done such a stellar job with the children in the classroom that,
while still maintaining her role as teacher, she was promoted to Assistant Director in March on 2006.
Robin Blake, B.A. – Teacher
Robin is a 2003 graduate of Auburn University with a Bachelor or Arts in Psychology. She began her working career as a Case
Manager at Mobile Mental Health Center’s child and adolescent program in Mobile, Alabama. In 2004 she began working for
Goodwill Easter Seals of the Gulf Coast as a Program Manager in the Educational Services department. Robin then moved into
Goodwill Easter Seals Early Intervention Program where she worked as a Special Instructor. In 2005 a promotion in her husband’s
career moved her back to Auburn, Alabama. She is currently the teacher in the 4 and 5 year old classroom at The Little Tree.
Ashley Clanton, B.S. - Teacher
Ashley is a 2006 graduate of Auburn Univeristy in Special
Education. She worked in Lee County Public Schools for 1 year before joining
the Little Tree staff in June 2007. She is a classroom teacher for our 4 & 5
year olds. Ashley was recently married and she lives in Auburn, Alabama with
her husband Tim.
Julie Harris, M.S., BCBA- Clinical Coordinator
Julie received her bachelor's degree in Psychology from Emory University in 2003. Julie received her Master's degree in Applied
Behavior Analysis in Developmental Disabilites from Auburn University in 2006. Prior to joining the Little Tree staff, Julie worked
as an assistant teacher, lead teacher, and then Toddler Center Coordinator at Walden Early Childhood Center, Atlanta, GA. She has also
worked as a Behavior Analyst for DHR in Montgomery, AL teaching a parenting/behavior management course to foster parents, biological parents, and DHR staff.
Summer Summer 2007 Auburn University Master's and Undergraduate students
Master’s students serve as Case Managers for the children with autism. They assess and develop plans catered to the child they
are working with. The case managers coordinate in-home intervention and work directly with the parents and Undergraduate
students by training and monitoring to make sure everyone involved is up to date on treatment goals and plans. Treatment goals
and objectives are reviewed weekly to bi-weekly in a clinical meeting to insure progress is being made.
Undergraduate Students serve as direct care to the children. They work hands on in the classrooms with all children. They
insure engagement is kept high and social interactions are occurring between the peer mentors and the children with autism.
The Undergraduate Students also are assigned a child with autism to assist in 1 to 1 sessions and ensure data is collected
through out the entire day.