Shira Zelman, BCBA, LBA, MS ED
Shira Zelman (Pressburger) is a dedicated educator and consultant with extensive experience supporting students in self-contained classrooms across kindergarten through high school. She works with individuals who present a wide range of abilities and challenges, including students who are non-verbal, non-ambulatory, and developmentally delayed, with diagnoses such as autism and Down syndrome. In her school setting, she trains and mentors both new paraprofessionals and seasoned special education teachers, helping to create classrooms rooted in compassion, structure, and evidence-based practices.
Her journey with Practical Functional Assessment (PFA) and Skill-Based Treatment (SBT) began as an implementer, receiving expert consultation from FTF Behavior Consulting. From the very start, she saw the transformative impact this compassionate approach had on her students—teaching them to communicate, tolerate, and cooperate in powerful and life-changing ways. Inspired by these outcomes, she went on to complete the Train the Trainer program and has since guided dozens of implementers in using PFA and SBT to create meaningful, lasting change in their own settings.
In the upcoming school year, Shira will continue expanding this work by implementing universal protocols and Preschool Life Skills school-wide, further deepening her commitment to helping students thrive through relationship-based, trauma-informed support.
As a business owner and consultant, she offers customized coaching for teams and individuals seeking support in PFA and SBT. Through live coaching, Zoom sessions, and individualized planning, she provides hands-on, responsive guidance at every step—ensuring that both clients and implementers feel empowered, confident, and supported.
Whether working in schools or through private consultation, Shira’s mission is simple: to help individuals replace challenging behavior with joyful, functional alternatives—rooted in trust, dignity, and real progress.
Specialties:
- Implementing SBT with students with Downs Syndrome
- Supporting teams and special education teachers to scale SBT throughout a school setting
Website: https://www.butterflypathwaysaba.com/projects-6
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