INFINITY ACADEMY - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Co - Founder
• Directors - President

Dr. Brenda Bradshaw is the co-founder of Infinity Academy. A former elementary and middle school teacher, special reading teacher, assistant professor of elementary education, author and publisher, "Dr. B" has a passion for kids, literacy and making learning engaging. She is also certified in gifted education and has had extensive training in helping children with underlying cognitive barriers to learning. She is Chairman of the Board of STARS for Autism, an organization whose members lend support, training, advocacy, respect and service to the autism community. Her award-winning book, The Alien Logs of Super Jewels, is a zany first-person account of a young girl with Asperger's Syndrome. Dr. Bradshaw remains focused on the mission and goals of the the Academy, works with community outreach and support, and enjoys assisting students and teachers in any way possible in the daily activities of the school.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Advisory Board

Dr. Barboa holds degrees in speech pathology and audiology, communication sciences and disorders, psychology, and early childhood education. She is an experienced speech-language pathologist, with a background as a special education director, director of an autism center, and university professor. She has worked as an educator in America and Europe and has presented numerous programs to professionals across the country. Dr. Barboa served as the Vice President on the Infinity Academy Board of Directors from 2016 to 2020 and currently serves on the advisory board. Dr. Barboa has authored several books including Stars in Her Eyes: Navigating the Maze of Childhood Autism, which she wrote with Elizabeth Obrey. Her other books include Steps: Forming a Disability Ministry, and a children's series about autism, based on the book Albert is My Friend. Dr. Barboa is the recipient of the Jefferson Award for Community Service. She currently resides in Battlefield, Missouri with her husband, Mike.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Advisory Board
• Supervisor
• Professional Counselor

Dr. Robert Jason Grant is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor, and Certified Autism Specialist. Dr. Grant owns and operates a private practice mental health clinic in Missouri. He specializes in Play Therapy techniques with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Dr. Grant also specializes in working with Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Developmental Disabilities and is the creator of AutPlay Therapy®, an Autism treatment using Play Therapy, behavioral therapy, and relationship development approaches. Dr. Grant is the author of several publications including the books AutPlay Therapy Handbook and Play Based Interventions for Autism, ADHD, Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Developemental Disabilities. Dr. Grant conducts various presentations and workshops on topics such as Play Therapy, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Dr. Grant has conducted trainings and workshops throughout the United States and has presented at various national conferences including the American Counselors Association, and the Association for Play Therapy. Dr. Grant served on the Board of Directors for Infinity Academy from 2016 to 2018 and currently serves on the advisory board. Visit www.robertjasongrant.com or www.autplaytherapy.com for more information.

Job Titles:

• Counselor in the State of Missouri

Jen Hargrove is a licensed counselor in the state of Missouri, High School Special Education teacher and case manager. She has 16 years experience helping individuals, couples and families reach their full potential and work through life's challenges. She is deeply passionate about serving others through counseling. Her desire is to help people be set free and find all that life has to offer. She has a Master's in Education and Mental Health Counseling with a Certificate in Addictions. She also holds educational certifications in math, science, special education, and school counseling in Missouri and Florida. In her free time, she teaches online and raises her four children ranging in ages from 3 to 22.

Job Titles:

• House Leader

Jessica earned a bachelor of science degree in criminology and has worked with special needs children and adults for 17 years. She started working with individuals with special needs when she had her daughter who was born with Down Syndrome. During the past ten years, she worked in public schools and private settings with individuals with special needs. She loves to find new ways to help individuals enjoy things they love and to help improve life skills for healthy independent living. At home she enjoys being with her family, exploring new places and gardening.

Job Titles:

• Director
• Directors - Secretary
• Executive Director & House Leader

Julie Doerr is the current Director of Infinity Academy. She earned her bachelor of arts degree in Elementary and Special Education, a master of arts in Counseling, and a Specialist Education degree in Elementary and Secondary School Leadership & Administration, all from Lindenwood University. Julie has worked in private and public schools, she has worked with a variety of individuals with special needs. As a child, she struggled in school and only graduated because of alternative school programs and a few truly dedicated teachers that took her under their wings. She became a teacher in hopes of being that same inspiration to her students. She is also a wife and mother and in her free time, she enjoys reading, floating, and camping. She enjoys learning about each student and supporting them in reaching their personal goals.

Job Titles:

• Directors - Treasurer

Kristen graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1995 with a master's degree in income tax accounting. After graduation, she worked for Arthur Andersen for about three years, after which she retired to stay home to raise and homeschool our children. Since retiring from Arthur Andersen, she has maintained continual employment in the bookkeeping field. She worked as the accountant for their church for 10 years, then for her pastor managing his not-for-profit for 8 years, as well as helping to manage the books for a large Christian seminary in the country of Jordan. She and her husband have five children ranging in age from 24 down to 10. The first three are adults and live in Oklahoma. Kristen and her husband moved to Springfield in September 2020 with their two youngest sons. Her youngest son is on the autism spectrum, and they transitioned him from homeschool to Infinity last November. He loves school now and is maturing in many ways. Infinity has been a blessing to their family. Her family loves Infinity Academy and they desire to help it transition from what it is now to what it is to become.

Leo LaFauce has lived in the Springfield area for 5 years with his wife and son. He has served on another board for a small private school in Illinois. He earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Kansas and furthered his education at the University of Minnesota. He currently is employed with a contract company as a Clinical Perfusionist. His responsibility is to operate the heart/lung machine for patients that have open-heart surgery. He has spent his entire career in the healthcare field in both managerial and clinical positions. Leo's son, Adam, is a 2020 graduate of Infinity Academy, with a traditional high school diploma that he earned in a non-traditional environment. Before Infinity Adam struggled in school, at Infinity he flourished and participated in social activities, field trips, and other school functions successfully.

Job Titles:

• CNC, Board of Directors - Member

Matt was first introduced to the non-profit world as a volunteer for the Red Cross back in 2005, helping with local fire/disaster response. He served as shelter manager for several emergency shelters during the 2007 ice storm and during several large local tornados. While working and training volunteers for deployment he learned about development, which eventually led him to help with grant writing, facilitating partnerships, and consulting. Matt loves working with kids of all ages helping them to learn and grow in many ways but especially in the arts. As staff and as a volunteer he has served organizations helping kids. Matt has worked as a mentor/counselor for high-risk foster kids, served as the Technical Director in the theatre at Kickapoo High school for 6 years, helped develop the youth volunteer program at the local Red Cross office, and held fundraising positions with several non-profit organizations in the Ozarks. Through all of his positions, he has learned about the challenges and joys of non-profit leadership from many different points of view. Matt has degrees in Graphic Design & Printing Technologies from Ozarks Technical Community College and is currently working towards a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Missouri State University. Matt is a Certified Development Executive (CDE), Certified Nonprofit Executive (CNE), and Certified Nonprofit Consultant (CNC) through NANOE, National Association of Nonprofit Organizations & Executives. Matt is focused on the mission and goals of the academy and will strive to develop community awareness and outreach through corporate sponsors, private donors, and community partnerships.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Advisory Board

Sherry earned her bachelors degree in Elementary Education from Drury University, Springfield, MO, and her Masters in Elementary Education from Missouri State University. She retired with 39 years of teaching experience on the elementary and middle school levels, with the final 14 being as a teacher educator/trainer/supervisor at Missouri State University. Sherry served as president of the Community Teacher Association of the Missouri State Teachers Association (MSTA) in Republic, Mo, was the Elementary representative of the Springfield Public Schools MSTA , president of the SW District Classroom Teachers Association of MSTA, and was awarded a lifetime membership in the PTA, While at Missouri State University, Sherry served as the advisor and co advisor of the Student Missouri State Teachers Association, Dr. Grant served on the Board of Directors for Infinity Academy from 2016 to 2020 and currently serves on the advisory board. After her retirement, she was awarded the honor of Emeritus Status from Missouri State University.