Cortney Keene
39 | Owner & Clinical Director, Keene Perspectives
Residence: White River Junction
Career highlight(s) you are most proud of:
Working with so many talented and dedicated teams in my journey through special education and applied behavior analysis, including the 
Hartford School District, the Vermont Interdisciplinary Team, the Vermont Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports initiative and all of our other school districts, related service providers and community-based collaborators. All of that experience and collaboration empowered me to lean into the risk of starting a small business with my husband, 
Chris, to fill a need in our community by providing high-quality services and creating a workplace with a strong culture where everyone feels joy every day. As we close in on five years with our amazing team, I am so proud and grateful to have made this leap and for the learning opportunities presented each day.
Your community involvement:
Building knowledge and understanding of the science of behavior for high school and college students looking to consider a career in behavior analysis or a related field. I also work hard with my team at KP building collaborative efforts supporting and facilitating experiences and opportunities in the community for children and families with autism and other neurodiverse profiles who may not otherwise participate. We have collaborated with the Special Needs Support Center (Sensory Friendly Upper Valley), Circus Smirkus, Northern Stage, Lebanon Opera House and the Brave Challenge to help create sensory-friendly and inclusive opportunities for everyone.
Inspiration for living and working in Vermont:
I have spent most of my formative years in Vermont and have always felt a sense of comfort and belonging with the culture here. Even when going to school or living out of state for short periods of time, there was always a pull back to the Green Mountains. Despite being a transplant, my roots have grown deep here. Vermont fits like a Vermont Flannel cozy blanket!
Favorite part of your job:
the chance to make so many meaningful human connections, helping others to connect in meaningful ways and grow their voice, and the life-changing impact of the work we do.
Most inspiring mentor:
Sarah Carter, Joanne Unruh, Ken Kramberg, Liz Barker, Linda Mulley, Chris Knippenberg, Sherry Schoenberg and Tammy Alexander have all helped shape and hone my professional toolbox through thoughtful conversation, a mixture of positive and hard feedback, challenging me to stretch my thinking and modeling how to navigate the over the years.
Best career advice you have received:
The three best pieces of career advice I have received are 1) that feedback is a gift; 2) to see every experience and interaction as a learning opportunity and 3) to focus on the humans and building relationships. The work and tasks will always be there, but none of it matters — nor will any career be successful — without meaningful connection and relationships with the people involved.
Something fun about yourself that few people know:
I grew up in two Vermont general stores: Graniteville General Store and the Harmonyville Store). I was also a figure skater and used to practice Middle Eastern and American belly dance!
Three words that best describe you:
Passionate, determined and insatiable.
Favorite Vermont escape:
Exploring the places off the beaten path, for sure. The hidden-gem restaurants, the local shops, the amazing views, the winding trails — so many wonderful places and great people!
Favorite Vermont season:
Fall, 100%. The colors are delicious and stunning.
Favorite downtime activities:
Learning new things. (Sorry, I’m a super-nerd!)
Favorite social media:
Instagram, because it is entertaining to see the world through visual imagery reflecting other people’s perspectives.
Person you would most like to share a Vermont beverage with:
The same people who comprise my list of mentors. It has been too long, there is so much to talk about and share, and I miss our conversations.
Cause(s) you would support if you had unlimited funds:
Equal rights for all, sustainability for all and our planet, and a means to promote the positive impact of compassionate, human-first behavior analysis.
A song on your playlist you are embarrassed to admit to your best friend:
“Next Contestant” by Nickelback.
Where you see yourself professionally in the next five to 10 years:
I want to be an agent of change in the field of special education and behavior analysis in Vermont. It is important to me to promote the science of behavior and to be a leader in showing how impactful human-first, progressive Applied Behavior Analysis can be for individuals and organizations.
Goal(s) you’d like to accomplish in the next five to 10 years:
Expanding our clinical services to support more families in our region and providing meaningful, fulfilling jobs and career paths for motivated, compassionate people in our community. I would also like to support efforts at the state level to expand ABA services, to build capacity and supports at the district and local level for schools, and to help train a highly skilled workforce to meet the dynamically changing and evolving needs of Vermont learners.
How your community service has changed since the pandemic:
It has become significantly more difficult in that in-person activities and social dynamics have shifted. With creative solutions, I am still focused on providing new and exciting opportunities for learners in our community and ways to connect families across our region to build support networks for themselves and meaningful social opportunities for their children.
How your job has changed since the pandemic:
Everything is a bit more challenging, with extra hurdles. The biggest challenge has been growing our amazing team so that we can reach even more learners, families, schools and communities.
