Elevation Ability Services: Leadership Team
Dr. Keelee Burtch-Gitt
Founder And Executive Director
Keelee has been in the field of developmental disabilities for over twenty-three years, she has a Masters of Arts in Special Education, a Doctorate of Philosophy in Education and Child Development, and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Dr. Burtch spent the first seven years of her career in public schools as a special education teacher, autism specialist, and eventually a district special education administrator.
She eventually left public education for higher education where she was an Associate Professor of Special Education. She wrote and developed a four-course certificate program in autism intervention strategies for teachers. Keelee opened a private practice in 2008 that focused on in-home behavioral therapy for children and adults with developmental disabilities. The practice grew throughout Colorado and was acquired in 2011 by a national behavioral health organization where she remained the Regional Operations Director until 2012 when she accepted a leadership position at a local non-profit. After four years in non-profit management, her entrepreneur spirit was ready to venture into private practice again. She dreamed of providing quality behavioral services as well as education support for people with developmental disabilities. Keelee is a member of Association of Behavioral Analysis International (ABAI), Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), Four Corners Association of Behavioral Analysis, and Colorado Applied Behavioral Analysis Association (COABA). Keelee is a past treasurer of the Colorado Coalition of Autism Professionals (COCAP). Her research area is in the supervision of paraprofessionals working with people with developmental disabilities, language development for children with autism, as well as organizational behavior management. Keelee has three sons, a bonus son, and bonus daughter. She loves spending time with her partner, Jayson, her family, traveling, golfing, skiing, watching football, and working out.
Jessica Low, MA, BCBA
Co-Founder And Executive Clinical Director
Jessica began working with children with developmental disabilities in 2001 as a paraprofessional in the public education system. While working in the public education system, she began providing in-home therapy and community based services for children with autism and other developmental disabilities through a local community center board.
Jessica completed her Bachelor’s of Arts with a Special Education Teaching Licensure in 2009 from Metropolitan State College of Denver. Jessica taught early elementary (K-3rd grade) students in a day treatment facility and also provided behavior consultation services (all grade levels) within the school district she taught. In 2011, Jessica pursued her Masters in Early Childhood Education and Development and BCBA licensure at the University of Colorado Denver. At this time, she also left teaching and began working full time providing direct in-home ABA services for children with autism and other developmental disabilities. In 2013, Jessica obtained her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and completed her BCBA course work. In 2014, Jessica completed her Board Certification and licensing process to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) as well as the requirements to be a supervisor in the field.
Jessica’s areas of expertise are in developing and implementing individualized and effective treatment plans that address socially significant behaviors, including those behaviors that present with risk of harm. Jessica has over 20 years of experience working directly with individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities in a variety of settings (i.e. educational settings, home, community and clinic). Jessica has worked with children as young as one all the way up to middle age adults. Jessica is committed to improving the quality of life for the individuals she has the privilege to serve. Jessica is married to a math teacher, and has two sons who she loves spending time with.
Lara Leonard, M.S., CCC-SLP
Lara began her career as a speech-language pathologist in 2013 after earning a Master’s degree in Communication Disorders from Truman State University. Inspired by her close relationship with her younger brother, Danny, who has Down syndrome, Lara was drawn to the field of special education.
Shortly after graduating, she relocated from her hometown of St. Louis to Denver, where she began working with children and their families in home-based settings. Over the years, Lara has worked with students aged 3 to 21 in both public schools and specialized facility schools.
Lara is passionate about supporting students with complex communication needs. Her areas of expertise include augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), gestalt language processing, expressive language, pragmatic language and literacy development. Her goal is to provide individualized support to each student she works in order to help them communicate to the best of their ability, allowing them to meaningfully connect with others and advocate for themselves.
When she’s not working, Lara enjoys skiing, hiking, camping, seeing live music, and traveling
Ali Adams, OTD, OTR/L
Ali is a dedicated occupational therapist with a passion for providing personalized care to children and their families. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Health Science from Towson University and later completed her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science at the same institution. Ali is committed to empowering children and students to reach their full potential, fostering independence through community-based interventions. With experience working in both schools and hospitals, she has worked with individuals across the lifespan. Outside of her professional life, Ali enjoys staying active through exercise, hiking, skiing, and camping—often accompanied by her two dogs!
Margaret Gertzog, MA, BCBA
Margaret grew up in Northern Virginia. She moved to Australia and then New Zealand in 2016 where she completed graduate school at the University of Auckland and received her certification as a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst in 2019. Margaret has been working with the neurodivergent community since 2013 and has experience working in-homes, clinics, and schools. Her passion is working in a facility school setting in a multi-disciplinary environment. Margaret particularly loves working with this population. Her main goal is to create a space where students consent to their education by demonstrating joy throughout the school day. In her free time, Margaret enjoys spending time with her own daughter, hiking, and reading.
Mary Forest, Special Education Teacher
Mary started working with children with special needs in 2017 at Elevation Ability Services. Through working at Elevation Mary discovered a passion for working with students with special needs and pursued a degree to teach students with special needs. In 2021 Mary graduated with her special education teaching license from the University of Northern Colorado. While pursuing her degree Mary worked as a paraprofessional in a significant support needs classroom. Mary is passionate about promoting students’ ability to reach their highest level of independence and to be able to learn vital skills they need to access the everchanging environment around them. In her free time Mary enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, going to concerts, and going to the mountains.
Emily Gibson, LCSW
Emily is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Mental Health Specialist with Elevation Ability Services. She provides trauma-informed support to students, collaborating with families and staff to address social-emotional needs. She also equips staff with strategies for fostering mental health and connects families to community resources.
Since beginning her career in 2010 at a Denver-area community mental health center, Emily has gained experience in individual and family therapy, leading evidence-based group interventions, end-of-life hospice care, and specialized support in schools.
In educational settings, Emily has designed and implemented social-emotional programs for early childhood and elementary students, focusing on the unique needs of students with autism and developmental differences. Her combined expertise in mental health and special education enables her to create holistic support systems that promote student success.
Emily holds a Master’s of Social Work from Metropolitan State University of Denver (2017) and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of New Mexico (2009). Outside of work, she enjoys thrifting, photography, and traveling with her husband and son.
