empowering individuals with disabilities through community connection & employment opportunities
Meet The Team
Halie Tumbleston
Executive Director
Halie, BCBA & M.S. Curriculum & Instruction, started her career as a special education teacher for high school students with moderate to severe disabilities. She expanded her career in ABA while co-founding Be the Change. She is currently working to affirm neurodiverse practice as a BCBA. In her free time, she enjoys spending her time with her Great Dane, Flower & her 2 cats, Jamungii & Petri.
Shaina Bermudez
President
Shaina, BCBA & M.S. in Curriculum & Instruction, began her career as a high school resource & cross-category teacher for disabled students. She felt called to work more closely with children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) & became an ABA therapist.
Shaina enjoys creating ceramic arts, crafting, yoga, gardening, & spending time with her husband & son.
Nathan Todd
Nathan holds a BS in Social Sciences from Charleston Southern University and has dedicated over 30 years to advocating for and with people with disabilities. Living with Cerebral Palsy, he has spent the past 15 years coaching individuals of all ages, helping them unlock their potential. An advocate for strength training and emotional intelligence, Nathan is also the author of *Empower Yourself: Awaken the B.E.A.S.T. Within*. His passion and expertise continue to inspire and empower the community he serves.
ETE Coach
Diana has worked in Property Management and has worked at a summer camp with kids and horses. She wanted to work with Be The Change to gain more experience with Social Media.
Halie Tumbleston
Executive Director
Halie, BCBA & M.S. Curriculum & Instruction, started her career as a special education teacher for high school students with moderate to severe disabilities. She expanded her career in ABA while co-founding Be the Change. She is currently working to affirm neurodiverse practice as a BCBA. In her free time, she enjoys spending her time with her Great Dane, Flower & her 2 cats, Jamungii & Petri.
Shaina Bermudez
President
Shaina, BCBA & M.S. in Curriculum & Instruction, began her career as a high school resource & cross-category teacher for disabled students. She felt called to work more closely with children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) & became an ABA therapist.
Shaina enjoys creating ceramic arts, crafting, yoga, gardening, & spending time with her husband & son.
Skyela Ellington
S Madison
Volunteer Coordinator
Secretary
Skyela is a dedicated and passionate Registered Nurse who provides above and beyond care to all of her patients. In her free time she loves reading and spending time with her husband and 2 cats, snake, and turtle! Skyela has been a volunteer with us and is looking forward to supporting our mission and community.
Madison has worked in education for over 11 years. She is currently a PowerSchool Coordinator with South Carolina Public Charter Schools. She graduated with a BA in Forensic Psychology in 2024 and will soon begin pursuing her Masters in Psychology. She has always had a passion for advocating on the behalf of others.
Dr. Sarah Votta
Bree Schorr
Inclusive Community Coordinator
Marketing Advisor
Dr. Sarah Votta is a PhD in Education in Special Education.
During her master’s program, she worked with CarolinaLIFE, supporting college students with disabilities as a resident mentor, instructor, independent living coach, & job coach. In 2018, she began teaching middle school special education, working with students with mild to moderate disabilities for two years.
Since 2021, Dr. Votta has served as a transition specialist with Charleston County School District, where she works with high school students with disabilities & their families to support successful transitions from school to adulthood, including postsecondary education, employment, and independent living.
In 2022, Dr. Votta was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Since then, she has become an active advocate with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, raising funds for Walk MS for the past four years & serving on the organization’s Coastal Council to help advance support, awareness, & resources for individuals & families affected by MS.
Bree, who earned her BA in Business Administration has experience as an event coordinator in Marketing. She actively seeks out opportunities to stay involved in the community - both personally and professionally and is excited to be apart of the Be the Change team! You can find her outdoors exploring new places, checking out new coffee shops with friends an spending time with family.