Our Dedicated Leadership & Staff

Allen Tomasello is the founder and Director of Discovering Kids Consultation Service and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. He received his master's degree in Special Education from Liberty University and has worked with individuals with autism for the past 36 years.

He runs the early intensive behavior intervention program for children birth to 5 years, and provides behavior consultation and training to families, private organizations, and public schools for learners age 5–21. He regularly conducts workshop trainings for staff in verbal behavior, natural environment training, discrete trial instruction, teaching independence, and understanding behavioral function.

Originally from Pennsylvania, he began his career at the Princeton Child Development Institute (PCDI) in New Jersey (founded 1970), and moved to Maine in 1998 when hired by Bancroft NeuroHealth as Director of the Center for Autism Research and Educational Services (CARES).

He has also been a youth baseball and football coach for over 29 years, teaching life skills through goal setting, fair play, and teamwork. He has been married for over 30 years and has ten children with his wife, Cheryl.

Erica holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from the University of Maine and is a Maine-certified Special Education Teacher, Birth–Grade 8. She has completed graduate coursework in Maine Studies, a Certificate in Teaching Deafblind Students, the TouchChat App Partner Program (AAC), and holds Behavioral Health Professional (BHP) certification.

In January, Erica celebrates 10 years with Discovering Kids and 10 years providing ABA-based specially designed instruction. Her experience with children with autism spans 35 years.

She loves finding "the way in" for each child — sometimes a planned strategy, sometimes following a child's interest, sometimes just being a little silly — and believes preschool should be a place where kids feel safe, understood, challenged, and excited to come each day.

I'm Melanie Fessler the lead teacher at Discovering Kids, MDI. I hold a Master's degree in Special Education. This will be my fifth year working in education, and I'm passionate about creating fun, meaningful learning experiences for every child. I especially love teaching through play, art, and outdoor exploration. I believe children learn best when they are engaged, having fun, and exploring the world around them. My goal is to create a supportive and inclusive environment where every child feels valued, encouraged, and excited to learn.

I've called Maine home for nearly six years. Outside of teaching, I enjoy spending time with my husband, our two cats, and our dog. Most of my free time is spent working on our house and tackling the never-ending list of projects that come with being a new homeowner!