Business Spotlight: Practical Behavior Solutions

Year-round private school in Dunnellon offers an alternative to being bused into Ocala for children with special needs.

Adrienne Ellers knew when she crossed the bridge on Highway 484 into Dunnellon that she was home. Like many others, Ellers was from somewhere else, but immediately felt that Dunnellon was special. “It reminded me of my hometown,” said Ellers.

Ellers was recruited to Marion County in 2004 to help the school system develop its first programs to assist with the teaching of students with autism. After some time working to get the program up and running, she noticed some things that led her to where she is now: running a private school in the heart of Dunnellon’s historic district where about six dozen children between the ages of three and twelve receive their education.

“The kids were being bused to Ocala,” said Ellers, noting that some were getting on the bus as early as 5:20 am.

Ellers felt that the Dunnellon community students should not have to be bused to Ocala and set about to open a school in Dunnellon. After the pandemic hit, other accommodating schools were shuttering their doors, and Ellers felt even more certain she should open her own school. Five years later, Practical Behavior Solutions operates on an extended 233-day school year, with a special focused summer session in June.

Practical Behavior Solutions’ current campus, in what used to be an old church, can accommodate up to 100 students, and offers both a modified and standard curriculum.

“There are different levels of autism,” said Ellers. “We try to give them a more typical school experience, and if they need something more hands-on, they may get referred to a more clinical setting.”

Each classroom has a posted schedule, so students are aware of the structure of the school day, and the school has a staff of about 50, all of whom are licensed teachers or registered behavior technicians using Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) techniques.

“We want to meet them first to see if they’re the right fit,” said Ellers, of anyone who is interested in attending the school.

Ellers loves Dunnellon and is happy that she crossed that bridge into town many years ago. The closeness and friendliness of the community which reminded Ellers of her hometown had proven that “People here are not opposed to growing the local community,” said Ellers. From community members just stopping by to check in on them, to having members of the community judge classroom door decorating contests, to the restaurant and store owners learning the students’ name when they visit on field trips, Ellers knows that the Dunnellon community is a special part of what makes it all work.

“We are here for a reason,” said Ellers. “God figures it out.”

Practical Behavior Solutions is located at 11808 N. Ohio St. Contact them at 352-462-7021 or visit their website, https://practicalbehaviorsolutions.net/