About Us
Meet the Founder
Christy Papania-Jones is a lifelong resident of Lake Charles, Louisiana. She founded the St. Nicholas Center for Children in October 2008 and has held the position of Executive Director since. She graduated from McNeese State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education, a Master of Education degree in Guidance and Counseling, and an Education Specialist degree in Administration and Supervision.
She began her career at Immaculate Conception Cathedral School where she taught for one year before moving into the school counselor position for the next 17 years. During that time, she had a son, Bain, who was diagnosed with Autism. There were very limited resources and no true ABA therapy services in Lake Charles. By her son’s third birthday, she and her husband, Chris, had traveled the country seeking specialists to provide him with the best future possible. That’s when they decided to bring a pediatric therapy center to Southwest Louisiana in the form of a non-profit so they could help families like theirs.
Christy volunteers and serves in leadership roles with several groups including: United Way of SWLA Campaign Cabinet-Agency Chair, McNeese State University Alumni Association Board, and Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter’s Commission on Disability. Previously, she held positions with Immaculate Conception Cathedral School Advisory Council and the State Interagency Coordinating Council through appointment by the late former Governor Kathleen Blanco. Christy is also a member of the Rotary Club of SWLA, Catholic Daughters, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Children’s Church- coordinator and teacher, and the Junior League of Lake Charles-Sustainer.
She holds certifications in: elementary grades 1-8, lower elementary grades 1-4, kindergarten, nursery school, school counselor, supervisor of student teachers, parish/city supervisor of instruction, child search coordinator, and supervisors of child welfare & attendance. Christy’s career achievements are publicly recognized and honored through the following awards: Louisiana Elementary School Counselor of the Year (2000), Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation Angel Award (2010), Women’s Commission of SWLA Jack V. Doland Outstanding Citizen’s Award (2013), National Catholic Education Association Distinguished Graduate (St. Margaret Catholic School (2015)), United Way of SWLA Harper Clark Award (2018), Chamber SWLA Leading Ladies in Business (2022), Junior League of Lake Charles Sustainer of the Year (2024), McNeese State University Grand Marshal Homecoming (2024).
Christy and her husband, Chris, have two children: Bain (21) and Mary Agnes (7). Bain is successfully auditing courses at McNeese State University in the hopes of one day being one of the first students in the PRIME program.
Who We Are
We are a nonprofit therapy center that provides services to children age 8 months to 21 years old diagnosed with Autism and developmental delays and disorders in Southwest Louisiana and Southeast Texas. We pride ourselves on offering multiple therapeutic services under one roof so that we can meet the needs of the whole child as we work collaborative to create individualized goals and action plans.
What We Do
We offer early interventions with a wide range of services including Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy. Services are provided in a fun, loving environment by our talented and dedicated professionals.
Family Support
Our Approach
Progress
Our Outreach Program offers education opportunities and emotional support to all of those in the community so that we can grow together with compassion and confidence.
Our vision is to be the state model of an all inclusive therapeutic facility by providing the best pediatric therapy and affordable services to children and families facing the challenges of Autism, developmental delays, and neurological disorders.
From saying their first word to improving vocational skills, we are transforming the lives of children with Autism, delays, and disorders one milestone at a time.
Our Team Members
Board of Directors
Shayne Laughlin
President
William Rachal
Secretary
Marybeth Sonnier
Stephanie Helms
Julie Morris
Business Team
ROSALINDA BILLEAUDEAUX
TRANSPORTATION
transport@stnickcenter.org
DENISE DUKE
INSURANCE COORDINATOR
dduke@stnickcenter.org
DYNETTE HOFFPAUIR
BILLING OFFICE MANAGER
dhoffpauir@stnickcenter.org
CASSIE HUDSON
BUSINESS DIRECTOR
chudson@stnickcenter.org
DAWN REDD
ACCOUNTANT
dredd@stnickcenter.org
MELANIE MCMULLEN
BOOKKEEPER
mmcmullen@stnickcenter.org
CHRISTY PAPANIA-JONES
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
cjones@stnickcenter.org
CLAIRE RIDER
DONOR RELATIONS
crider@stnickcenter.org
DEBBIE PAPANIA
RECEPTIONIST
dpapania@stnickcenter.org
MELISSA PRIOLA
ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
mpriola@stnickcenter.org
JANICE MORGAN
SCHEDULING
jmorgan@stnickcenter.org
Clinical Team
ERIN BRADLEY
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
ebradley@stnickcenter.org
SARAH CHAMPAGNE
BCBA TRAINING COORDINATOR/
ASSESSMENTS
sparks@stnickcenter.org
CALVIN CRYER
BCBA QUALITY CONTROL
ccryer@stnickcenter.org
SARAH FRANCE
BCBA CASE MANAGER
sfrance@stnickcenter.org
KYLIE FREEHLING
BCBA CASE MANAGER
kfreehling@stnickcenter.org
LAURA HANCHEY
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
lhanchey@stnickcenter.org
ALEYA JOSEPH
BCBA CASE MANAGER
ajoseph@stnickcenter.org
MICHELLE KRAMER
THERAPY SUPERVISOR, SLP, CCC
mkramer@stnickcenter.org
BRANDI MALBREW
COTA
bmalbrew@stnickcenter.org
EMILY MCDONALD
COTA
emcdonald@stnickcenter.org
JONATHON MOREAU
BCBA CASE MANAGER
jmoreau@stnickcenter.org
JULIE SAVOIE
BCBA SUPERVISOR
jsavoie@stnickcenter.org
ELIZABETH SCOFIELD
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTASSISTANT
escofield@stnickcenter.org
MEGAN SHEFFIELD
BCaBA
msheffield@stnickcenter.org
GEORGE (ZACK) STORER
CLINICAL DIRECTOR
zstorer@stnickcenter.org
ALEXANDRIA VIOLA
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
aviola@stnickcenter.org
SARAH WHITE
BCBA CASE MANAGER
swhite@stnickcenter.org
LAURIE ZAUNBRACHER
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST – CFY
lzaunbracher@stnickcenter.org