Behavior Support Program Director
Michelle Duke is the Behavior Support Program Director for New Opportunities & Ways and brings over 20 years of experience supporting children, adults, and families through evidence-based, person-centered services. Michelle was the first Behavior Specialist to join NOW alongside Founder Theresa Lopez, and together they built the program from the ground up. She has been an integral part of NOW since its founding and played a key role in shaping the agency’s Behavior Support services.
Michelle has more than 14 years of specialized experience providing Behavior Support within Kentucky’s Supports for Community Living (SCL) and Michelle P. Waiver (MPW) programs. She continues to maintain an active caseload, allowing her to stay closely connected to the individuals and families she serves.
She began her career in early childhood and family services, spending nearly a decade as a Lead Preschool Teacher at Western Kentucky University’s Child Care Center/Head Start. During this time, she collaborated closely with families, early intervention providers, and special education teams to develop individualized supports, conduct home visits, supervise staff, and monitor developmental progress.
Michelle later served as an Intensive Intervention Specialist, providing crisis support to families at risk of out-of-home placement. In this role, she delivered parenting education, behavioral health interventions, conflict resolution training, and advocated for families in court and multidisciplinary team settings.
She went on to serve as a Component Coordinator for Head Start and Early Head Start programs, coordinating health and mental health services, completing family needs assessments, and collaborating with psychologists to develop behavior plans. Michelle then transitioned into waiver-based services, where she has spent over a decade conducting Functional Behavior Assessments, developing Positive Behavior Support Plans, training staff and caregivers, and supporting individuals with complex behavioral needs across home and community settings.
As Program Director, Michelle oversees and mentors behavior specialists, ensures compliance with Kentucky Medicaid waiver regulations, stays current on best practices, and collaborates closely with families and interdisciplinary teams. She is deeply committed to advocacy, dignity, and meaningful community inclusion for individuals with disabilities.
Outside of her professional role, Michelle is a devoted wife, mother, and proud Mimi. She values family time, travel, and creating meaningful memories, and she brings that same compassion, patience, and dedication into the work she does with the individuals and families she serves.
Education:
• Associate’s Degree – Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education
• Bachelor’s Degree – Child Studies (Minor: Family Studies)
• Master’s Degree – Special Education
