Our Team
Willowcrest’s holistic immersive program is delivered by people who are the best at what they do, both by training and because they hold high expectations and bring consistent, deliberate, and exceptional support.
We know how difficult it is to find good help, effective therapy, and kind and empathetic therapists. At Willowcrest we meet children and parents where they are and offer support that help both children and their parents succeed.
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Teachers
Ryan Sinton
Elementary Teacher
Ryan Sinton has an Elementary Education License and a Bachelor's degree in Dance from the University of Colorado, Boulder, as well as a Special Education Generalist License from the University of Colorado, Denver.
Ryan is a dedicated special education teacher who fosters an engaging and predictable
learning environment for her students. She prioritizes inclusion and employs movement, music,
and a multi-sensory approach to meet diverse learning needs. Ryan specializes in curriculum
development and programing for K-3rd grade students with ASD, offering instruction across
various subjects and collaborating with IEP teams, para educators, and district specialists.
Ryan actively participates in several committees, including MTSS (Multi-
Tiered Systems of Support), SLS Respite Night Co-Coordinator, and Coordinator of Summer
Board Game Camp.
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Melika Vafa
Preschool Teacher
Melika Vafa has her Master’s and teaching credentials in Early Childhood Special Education. Working with children is her passion. She’s been working as a teacher for 5 years, and before that worked as a Behavioral Therapist and Positive Behavior Support Coach for 5 years.
In her personal life, Melika loves doing yoga and meditating every morning. She’s a morning person and loves sunshine. She also loves eating at restaurants and used to do food photography as her hobby. She has a 7-year-old son named Dara and a Maltipoo dog named Bruno.
Administration
Natally Raisin
Executive Director
Natally Raisin is the Founder and Executive Director of Willowcrest School. She was born and raised in Los Angeles, and she holds a BA in Women's Studies from Cal State University, Northridge. Natally spent 15 years in the hospitality industry managing and opening restaurants in LA and London for Nancy Silverton, Joe Bastianich and Nick Jones. She took time off in 2011 to raise her daughter, and again in 2015 when her son was born.
In response to her son's early Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis, and in an effort to create more resonant work, Natally founded Willowcrest School. Willowcrest is the embodiment of her experiences working to support her son in navigating the world confidently and independently. It’s the manifestation of hundreds of hours spent in therapeutic sessions – Speech, Occupational Therapy (OT), Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and Prompt. It's a reflection of all her time spent volunteering in Pals Programs, Preschool Collaboratives and Kinder Pods. It's the fruit of having attended dozens of IEP meetings, Dispute Resolutions, psychological evaluations and mediations.
Through this journey, Natally picked up information, strategies, and ideas which have culminated in her commitment to supporting other kids and their families during a crucial stage of life. This commitment is rooted in a philosophy of nurturing each child and fostering agency and connection by bringing together therapies and education in one place. Natally noticed that this kind of holistic approach was missing from the experiences she had, and through Willowcrest, she aims to fill that gap.
When Natally isn't supporting the students and staff of Willowcrest School, she advises parents on procuring services from the Regional Center and In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), and shares information about the Individual Education Plan (IEP) process as well as prioritizing services and school placement.
Sara Beth Kaufman, BCBA
Clinical Director
Sara Beth Kaufman is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She has over 19 years of experience working with children with autism, ADHD, anxiety disorders, developmental delays and their families. Following her graduation from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a BA in psychology she immediately began working in the field of autism and behavior analysis. She later continued her graduate training and received her Masters in Counseling with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from California State University-Los Angeles. While studying, she worked for a behavioral agency and ultimately became the clinical director. Working with staff, parents, schools and collaborating with other professionals Sara was able to help children increase positive behaviors and decrease challenging behaviors.
Sara has been in private practice for over 8 years specializing in program development, parent education, school and home consultation. She is passionate about making positive changes for children and their families.
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