Jed Schwalm, M.Ed., BCBA
Executive Director, Founder

Jed Schwalm, M.Ed., BCBA, received his BA in Contemplative Psychology from Naropa University and his M.Ed. in Counseling from Colorado State University–during which time he worked towards his certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

Since 1999, Jed has worked with a wide range of populations, including senior citizens with dementia, adolescents and adults with major forms of mental illness, individuals with autism and related disabilities, and students with academic and behavioral deficits. Jed has worked with teams in schools, psychiatric facilities, community-based agencies, and family homes to help teams achieve valued outcomes. In 2013, after recognizing the need in Maine for accessible, evidence-based services for individuals with special needs, Jed founded Atlantic Behavior Services to fulfill his passion in helping all populations live meaningful lives.

Following four years of consulting in Maine schools, and seeing the need for both highly skilled and deeply compassionate day treatment programs for at-risk youth, Jed opened Atlantic Academy, a Special Purpose Private School, in midcoast Maine.

Jed’s current interests are grounded in mindfulness and values-driven approaches for treatment and well-being that are at once individualized, meaningful, and effective. Jed is equally passionate about developing professional cultures that promote healthy and thriving individuals. Originally a native to the mountain West, Jed currently lives in Midcoast Maine with his family where he can be found chasing his kids around town, searching for good food with his lovely spouse, Licia, and ambling about on mountain trails and sidewalks alike.

Mark Geren, M.S., BCBA, LABA
Clinical Director/ C.O.O. 

Mark Geren received his bachelor’s degree at the University of Florida and his master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis from Northeastern University. He is a Licensed Behavior Analyst in Massachusetts and has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst® since 2001. Mark has lived in Maine since 2002 and served as a Behavior Analyst in public schools throughout Maine during that time. 

Mark joined Atlantic Academy in August of 2019. Prior to joining Atlantic Academy, he was a Master Trainer and Director of Consultation at an internationally recognized organization specializing in behavioral training and consultation for 10 years. While there, he co-authored and trained a widely recognized crisis management curriculum, as well as other training packages.

For over 36 years, Mr. Geren has effectively treated people from a variety of populations, including those living with brain-injury, psychiatric diagnoses, developmentally disabilities, and ASD. He served as clinical chief for two brain injury rehabilitation facilities, and head of clinical training in other organizations. He has published articles in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, the Journal of Experimental Analysis of Human Behavior, and co-authored a chapter in a book on high risk challenging behaviors.

Mark served in the US Army Reserves and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his service in Iraq (2007-08) as a Civil Affairs Tactical Team Leader and as a Brigade Combat Team Civil Military Operations Officer. He has also served as an Army Medical Service Corps officer. 

Personal interests include the study of diet, metabolism, and exercise and their relationship to chronic illness. He enjoys the analysis of popular media, watching movies, cycling, hiking, and connecting with family, friends and neighbors.

Erin Donovan, MBA
Business Manager

Erin Donovan is the business manager at Atlantic Academy. Her professional experience lay in the realm of experiential and non-traditional youth marketing in New York City though her years in Maine have sent her into the fields of bookkeeping, accounting, and office management. Erin enjoys her work behind-the-scenes at Atlantic Academy namely because of the inspiring people she works with and the ability to see children transformed by the caring and capable hands of the staff she works to serve. Erin and her husband are raising four children who keep them cheering at the sidelines of soccer fields and basketball courts all over the state.

Tom Sigler

Social Worker

   Tom Sigler joined our Atlantic team as our full-time social worker in August of 2021. Tom's first introduction to Atlantic Academy was during the school's inaugural year, in 2017, when he worked part-time as a BHP, while also working on his degree. An avid hiker, fisherman, and nature lover, Tom is getting started with his second professional career as a social worker, preceded by years of mastering the chef and restaurant life. Not only does Tom bring his diverse background to enrich our students' life (i.e., introducing them to fishing and the outdoors), he also carries a passion for helping our most needy kids and families find the resources they need to be successful and live a life free of suffering.