Meet Our Team
Sharon McCarry
Executive Director and Coco’s Mom
Sharon McCarry is a passionate community advocate for families living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neuro-developmental disabilities. She is committed to making meaningful and significant change in policies and services to benefit families in disability communities.
In 2008, she founded La Fondation Place Coco, a Canadian charity that manages and operates the Little Red Playhouse (LRP). LRP is an integrated preschool, where neuro-diverse and neuro-typical young children learn side-by-side in a supportive educational setting.
McCarry is also an active volunteer. She is a member of the Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) Advisory Committee on the Disability Tax Credit, which advises the Minister of National Revenue and the CRA on how the Agency can improve the way it administers and interprets tax measures for Canadians with disabilities. She is also a member of the Steering Committee for CIUSSS de l'Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal contributing to their Strategic plan. She has been a proud member of the Advisory Committee for the Strongest Families Neurodevelopment Program with the Child Bright Pan Canadian Research network: Parents Empowering Neurodiverse Kids, which provides evidence-based parent coaching interventions for the last 3 years. Most recently, she was named the Director of Citizen Engagement for the Child Bright Network, a part of the Strategic Patient Oriented Research group, and sits on their Executive Committee and National Steering Committee funded by CIHR and 25 other funding partners.​
An accomplished business professional, McCarry has also worked with numerous Fortune 500 companies in marketing strategy and brand management. McCarry holds a BA from McGill University and lives in Montreal, Quebec, where she is a mother to two sons, one with autism.
Program Lead and Educator
Alison Bissonnette has over ten years of experience working with children between the ages of two and twelve in a variety of educational and recreational settings. When she came to the Little Red Playhouse for an internship position, she was happy to discover a unique organization that allowed her to blend her Bachelor’s degree in Kindergarten/Elementary Education from McGill University and her graduate certificate in Autism and Behavioural Science from Algonquin College in new and exciting ways. She has remained as part of this amazing team for over 8 years taking on a variety of positions including educator, ABA therapist, staff manager and program lead. She loves being able to explore innovative and diverse teaching methods to help each one of her students achieve their highest potential. Alison is the Program Lead for our ABA programming. She is the one to speak to regarding teaching methods and behaviour or therapy programs.
Alison Bissonnette
Coordinator
Morgan has a great deal of experience working with children and their families of all ages in this community and in greater Montreal. Having worked in day camps, schools and community centers, she has a wide range of skills. and has played her role as an Educator, Instructor Therapist, Social Skills Facilitator and more throughout her time at LRP. Morgan is excited about the great sense of community at the Little Red Playhouse and she is eager to further develop it through social skills, creative explorations and family support. Morgan has her BFA in Theatre for Community Development from Concordia University, and is passionate about applying diverse methods of engagement and learning in her work. Morgan is the one to talk to about payments, registration, extended services, tax receipts and forms, communications, etc.
Morgan PK
Allie Searle, RBT
Senior Therapist and Educator
Allie completed a DEC in Special Care Counseling at Vanier College and went on to obtain a graduate certificate in Autism and Behavioural Science from Algonquin College. She has completed her Registered Behaviour Technician (RBT) certification as well. Allie has experience working with children between the ages of 3 and 12 as an integration aide, instructor therapist and educator. She achieves an inclusive, nurturing, and exciting classroom setting and her goal is to create memorable moments with her students by encouraging communication, creativity, and personal development. She enjoys interacting with children and helping them reach their potential. Allie is passionate about encouraging children to be successful in all that they do and strives to create a fun and supportive environment to do so. As our Lead Therapist, Allie serves as a support person for our therapeutic team and programming as well as preparing materials for programming and therapy.
Kelly Wilson
BCBA Supervisor and Consultant
Kelly studied for the BCBA at Brock University in Ontario and received a certificate in ICI supervision from University of Laval in Quebec City. She has worked more than 27 years in the field of special needs with both adults and children with a variety of diagnosis and, over the last 18 years, specifically with ASD children and their families supervising ICI programs. Kelly enjoys exploring children’s interests and integrating their abilities to advance learning.
Koi Katigbak
Instructor Therapist & Social Skills Group Leader
Koi studied and researched at Concordia University in Studio Arts and Psychology where they grew invested in relationships between the arts, alternative education, and therapeutic methods. They have over 8 years of experience working with children and young adults and grew progressively more specialized over the course of their professional experience. Their varied experience includes lifeguard, swim instructor, daycare educator, barista, and most recently, integration aid at the YMCA Arts Summer Camp specializing in inclusive programming, teaching methods and design. They are invested on a deep level in community care and seek to provide spaces that foster support, agency and pride! Koi has been leading the social skills program here at LRP and can’t wait to continue sharing their love for learning and connection with the community!
Savanna Carpenter
Educator & Instructor Therapist
Savanna is a passionate and dedicated individual with a natural affinity for working with children. Recently graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and Social Anthropology from Dalhousie University, she combines her academic background with hands-on experience to make a meaningful impact on young lives. Over the years, Savanna has honed her skills through a variety of roles, including swim instructor, camp counselor, and program leader/coordinator at the YMCA. Her warm, kind nature and commitment to helping children reach their full potential enable her to build strong connections with both the children she works with and their families. Savanna’s enthusiasm and determination create a positive, supportive environment where children can thrive, feel confident, and grow into their best selves. Savanna has worked as an ABA Therapist, Music Program Lead here at LRP, and will be leading the Thoughtful Tots this summer!
Lilia Lotfinia
Instructor Therapist
Lilia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from McGill University, with minors in Behavioural Science and Philosophy. Passionate about supporting neurodiverse children, she has experience mentoring children and teenagers with ADHD and learning difficulties through volunteer work. She also has a background in theatre, having completed a Diplôme d'études Collégiales in Professional Theatre from Dawson College. Lilia enjoys blending creativity with evidence-based techniques to foster engagement and personal growth in young learners. She is excited to be part of the warm and inclusive community at the Little Red Playhouse, where she hopes to help each child thrive in a supportive and dynamic environment.
Nathalie Bazenjaneh
Playgroup Facilitator
Nathalie is deeply committed to helping and supporting kids and youth in need. She has graduated with a Bachelor in Specialization in Psychology from Concordia University in Montreal. Throughout her studies, she was a special needs camp counsellor where she provided a fun yet educational-rich environment, focusing on achieving improvements in her kids' emotional and social development in both one-on-one monitoring and small group intervention settings. She also currently teaches pre-k and grade 5 students Science programs such as little veterinarian and forensic science at Little Medical School.