Meet the Founders

  • Laurie

    Sister #2

    Educational Director

    As Educational Director at Pathways Academy, Laurie leads with a deep commitment to academic excellence and student wellbeing. She designs and oversees our curriculum, ensuring it’s both engaging and evidence-based. Laurie uses data-driven insights to guide interventions, delivers clear and transparent academic reporting, and provides ongoing support to our teachers.

  • Jenny

    Sister #3

    Operations Director

    Jenny is co-owner of The Umbrella Center where she serves as the Operations Director. Jenny keeps everything running smoothly behind the scenes at Pathways Academy and The Umbrella Center. As Operations Director, she oversees the day-to-day logistics that make high-quality care and education possible.

  • Krissy

    Sister #4

    Clinical Director

    Krissy is co-owner of The Umbrella Center where she serves as the Clinical Director. With a strong background as a BCBA, she focuses on ensuring seamless collaboration between Pathways Academy and The Umbrella Center. Her goal is to help every individual receive consistent, high-quality care across both settings.

Our Story

We grew up in a big, eccentric family that prioritized fun and growth over what the neighbors thought. Our dad is a physician turned Dad-Of-The-Year who always has a spreadsheet or dad joke ready for any situation. Our mom was an educator who was affectionately known as “Queen Wipp,” she was celebrated for her intelligence, compassion, and unwavering commitment to her students. It is with this background of hard work and inherent silliness that in 2022 we opened up an ABA center, The Umbrella Center.

Since opening our doors at The Umbrella Center, we’ve had the privilege of walking alongside families as they navigated the world of school. We know that for some of you, finding a place where your child truly fits in the public or traditional school system has been incredibly hard. We’ve sat with you in meetings where you felt overlooked, and we’ve heard your heartache when it felt like your child wasn’t being seen or valued for who they are. 

So, we did what sisters do—we put our heads and hearts together and decided to create something new. We’re thrilled to introduce Pathways Academy at The Umbrella Center! 

And lastly, we want to say this from the heart: we know that many of you are really happy with your current schools—and we LOVE that. As proud daughters of a public school teacher (and with one of us still working in public schools), we have deep respect for the great work happening there. Public schools can be wonderful places for kids, and we’re cheering for you too.

Teacher

Abby Murphy, MS. Ed., BCBA

Abby is a passionate educator dedicated to creating a classroom where every student feels seen, heard, and valued. With a deep commitment to social-emotional learning, she empowers students to understand themselves, advocate for their needs, and celebrate their unique strengths. Abby believes that every child can learn and deserves access to meaningful, inclusive education.

In her classroom, safety and trust come first—it's a space where students are encouraged to grow at their own pace, in their own way. Abby thrives on building strong relationships, fostering a sense of community, and making learning an enjoyable, enriching experience.

Abby is thrilled to combine her experience as both a special education teacher and a BCBA to help develop Pathways Academy at The Umbrella Center.