About Jill

Jill Havard, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA, brings 24 years of combined experience in special education and applied behavior analysis to her role as Behavior Specialist at Region 7 Education Service Center. Her unusually broad professional background spans classroom instruction, campus support, clinical supervision, district leadership, and regional technical assistance, giving her a comprehensive understanding of the challenges educators face at every level of a school system.

 

Throughout her career, Jill has served as a special education teacher, instructional specialist, Board Certified Behavior Analyst, ABA clinical supervisor, special education coordinator, and assistant director of special education. She has led behavior services and specialized programming in large Texas school districts serving thousands of students with disabilities, supervised multidisciplinary teams and BCBAs, and developed districtwide systems designed to strengthen implementation, build staff capacity, and improve outcomes for students with complex behavioral and instructional needs.

 

Jill’s expertise includes functional behavior assessment, behavior intervention planning, positive behavioral supports, special education discipline, manifestation determination reviews, crisis prevention and response, program development, and systems-level implementation. Her leadership experience also includes supporting districts through due process, mediation, TEA complaints, corrective-action planning, and other complex special education matters. She has designed practical tools, training systems, implementation-fidelity measures, administrator resources, campus-support processes, and professional learning experiences used to move behavioral support from paperwork to meaningful classroom practice.

 

A certified Nonviolent Crisis Intervention trainer with advanced physical-skills training, Jill combines extensive behavioral expertise with a deep understanding of IDEA, Texas requirements, and the realities of school implementation. She is known for translating complex guidance into clear, practical support that educators can use immediately.

 

Jill holds a Master of Education in Special Education with an emphasis in Emotional Disturbance and an Autism Endorsement. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, a Texas Licensed Behavior Analyst, and a certified special education teacher. Her work is grounded in the belief that effective behavior support is not a separate initiative—it is an essential part of meaningful access, strong instruction, student dignity, and lasting educational success.

Specialties

 

• Behavior
• Multi-Tiered System of Supports: Behavior and Mental Health
• Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)
• Functional Behavior Assessments (FBA)
• Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP)
• Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
• Behavioral Data Collection and Progress Monitoring
• Behavior Systems and Program Development
• Special Education Discipline
• Manifestation Determination Reviews (MDR)
• State Performance Plan Indicator 4: Suspension and Expulsion
• Restraint and Time-Out
• Crisis Prevention and De-escalation
• CPI Nonviolent Crisis Intervention®
• Restorative Practices
• Mental and Behavioral Health