Destiny Garner

Lead Teacher & Founder

Mrs. Garner has a Bachelor Degree in Social Work (BSW) from Western Carolina University (WCU) with experience in Child Welfare and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). She has an active NC Teaching License in Special Education General Curriculum K-12. Mrs. Garner has taught in the public school system as a pull-out resource teacher and an EC Self-Contained teacher. She is a Certified Autism Specialist (CAS) through the International Board of Credentialing & Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). She is trained in Nonviolent Crisis Prevention by the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI). She is trained by UNC-Chapel Hill’s TEACCH Autism program in the Fundamentals of Structured Teaching. She is currently working to complete her Board Certification for Advocacy in Special Education (BCASE). Mrs. Garner has two autistic sons which strongly motivated her to create a school in this rural area for autistic children.

Crystal Mullinix

Teacher

Mrs. Mullinix has two children, ages 7 & 8. She is Autism Certified (AC) by the International Board of Credentialing & Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). She has an Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education. She worked as a Preschool Teacher for 6 years. She has experience working as a Teacher Assistant in K-12 Special Education Classrooms and as an Autism Educational Support Professional. Mrs. Mullinix is currently working to complete her Bachelor's Degree in Education with a Concentration in Special Education. Mrs. Mullinix is trained in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention by the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI). She feels like she has found her true calling in life!

Elsa

Therapy Cat

Elsa is a Ragdoll breed cat that serves as a full-time therapy animal for the IMA campus.
Gentle and mild-mannered, Ragdolls sometimes operate more like a canine than a cat. They seek out human contact and are extremely affectionate. Because of their gentle nature, they're an excellent choice to have as an emotional support animal. A study found that, cats' preference for subtle social interactions may make them more appealing to autistic children. Since pets have no hidden motives or changes in mood, they can help children cope with emotions and tolerate others.