Influential Woman · School and clinical services for children with special needs
Jennifer Burto
BCBA, CPR
Vice President of Clinical Operations, Solterra School
VA
Her Story
About Jennifer
Jennifer Burto serves as Vice President of Clinical Operations for Solterra School, a new outplacement school in Virginia for students who cannot thrive in public school settings. She began her career as a teacher in public schools in 2013 and transitioned into applied behavior analysis after recognizing the need for additional support for students with special needs. She worked as a behavior technician while pursuing her graduate studies, became a BCBA, and advanced to clinical director at a multi-specialty clinic providing speech therapy, occupational therapy, and behavior analysis to individuals with special needs. In her current role, she oversees clinical operations, supports teachers and clinical staff including RBTs, SLPs, occupational therapists, and behavior analysts, and collaborates at the executive level to build the school from the ground up. Burto earned her bachelor's degree in teaching from Florida Atlantic University in 2011 and her master's degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from the Florida Institute of Technology in 2021. She maintains certifications including BCBA, CPR, and Safety Air crisis prevention, and holds memberships with the BACB, BABA (Virginia Association for Behavior Analysts), and the Virginia Board of Medicine. She attributes her success to staying knowledgeable about the field, particularly changing insurance guidelines, and being an attentive listener to staff. Burto values supporting the needs of children and families through collaboration, focusing on staff mental health and work-life balance, and prioritizing positive outcomes over financial drivers.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jennifer
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think just really being knowledgeable about the field, and always reading up on what's current, especially when insurance guidelines are changing. Just being very versed with what's new and what's coming up, passing that information to staff, making sure everyone's on the same page, and just listening. I'm definitely a good listener, and staff appreciates that.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
To not second-guess myself. Not to question myself, and just do what I think is best, and not overthink. Going with my gut and doing what I feel is best has probably been the best advice I've gotten.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Learn as much as you can about the admin side if you're interested in that, and question everything. If you're applying for jobs and something doesn't sound right, it's probably not. Don't be afraid to question, ask for more, ask for clarification. If you feel that it's not right, look elsewhere. If you want to move up or start your own business, make sure the company will support you with that.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges relate to insurance and billing for services because that's always changing. Medicaid changes all the time with different requirements and stipulations. It's getting harder to bill for services without families spending a ton out of pocket. Reimbursement rates aren't sustainable, forcing companies to private pay which isn't feasible for families.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Supporting the need and the why behind it, not driven by financial outcomes. Focusing on staff mental health, work-life balance, providing positive feedback, looking at the child's whole picture, communicating with families, collaboration, and making sure you're meeting the needs of both families and children.
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