About Us
About Scho Behavior Academy
Scho Behavior Academy was created from a deep belief that behavior makes sense when we know how to look at it—and that too many caregivers, educators, and professionals are expected to manage behavior without ever being taught how to truly understand it.
Our work is rooted in applied behavior analysis (ABA), but brought to life through practical tools, collaborative coaching, and real-world systems that fit naturally into daily routines. We focus on helping people move beyond reacting to behavior and toward responding with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
At Scho Behavior Academy, we don’t just teach strategies. We help individuals and teams understand why behavior happens, how environments shape it, and what to do next—so meaningful change can actually be sustained.
Mission
Scho Behavior Academy provides consultation, coaching, and mentorship to caregivers, educators, professionals, and community leaders who support children and teams.
Our mission is to:
Make the science of applied behavior analysis (ABA) clear, accessible, and usable
Build behavior analytic skills that generalize across settings and roles
Empower individuals and systems to apply strategies that are proactive, ethical, and culturally responsive
Through education, collaboration, and coaching, we help people create environments where behavior is understood, skills are strengthened, and lasting change is possible.
Vision
At Scho Behavior Academy our vision is to create schools, organizations, teams, and communities where behavior is met with understanding rather than guesswork, and where evidence-based systems support both people and performance.
We envision:
Educators who feel confident and supported rather than burned out
Caregivers who feel empowered rather than overwhelmed
Organizations and teams that use behavior science to foster growth, inclusion, and long-term success
By grounding our work in applied behavior analysis and human-centered practice, Scho Behavior Academy strives to help build environments where individuals thrive—and systems work better for everyone
Meet the Founder & CEO
Sarah “Scho” McFarland, BCBA, COBA, IBA (she/her)
Sarah is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) in the state of Ohio with over 13 years of experience in the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA). Her work has spanned a variety of settings, including residential programs, hospitals and clinics, in-home services, community-based supports, and schools.
Throughout her career, Sarah has focused on supporting individuals and teams through complex and high-need situations. Her areas of expertise include reducing moderate to severe interfering behavior, implementing skill-based treatment, training caregivers and staff, collaborating with interdisciplinary service providers, and providing crisis support—including de-escalation, behavior management, and crisis response training.
In addition to her work in behavior analysis, Sarah brings more than 15 years of experience as a volleyball coach and trainer at the middle school, high school, and Junior Olympic/club levels—a journey that began during her collegiate volleyball career. Coaching has deeply shaped her approach to leadership, motivation, and team development, and continues to influence how she supports educators, caregivers, and professionals today.
Through these combined experiences, Sarah recognized her passion for coaching, teaching, and empowering others. She founded Scho Behavior Academy to make behavior science more accessible, practical, and relevant—helping people understand behavior and apply evidence-based strategies within everyday routines and real-world environments. Her goal is to support meaningful behavior change that is sustainable, ethical, and impactful, no matter how small the starting point.
As a biracial immigrant, Sarah is deeply committed to cultivating inclusive, authentic spaces in all of her work. She intentionally centers cultural humility, accountability, and collaborative communication within every consultative, coaching, and supervisory relationship—believing that meaningful growth happens best when people feel seen, respected, and supported.
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• Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)- May 2015
• Certified Ohio Behavior Analyst (COBA)- October 2015
• Certified Professional in PFA & SBT of Severe Problem Behavior: Level 5- November 2021
• International Behavior Analyst (IBA)- April 2022
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• Intervention Support Specialist - Monarch Boarding Academy (Bellefaire JCB)
• Special Education Educational Assistant - Beachwood City School District
• Behavior Specialist - Monarch School for Autism (Bellefaire JCB)
• Program Manager, Volleyball (TeamABA)
• Lead Case Supervisor and Marcus Crisis Prevention Program (MCPP) Trainer - Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Complex Behavior Program (Nationwide Children’s Hospital)
• Behavior Specialist and Handle With Care Trainer - Euclid School District (Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio)
• Network BCBA - Breakthrough Public Schools
• Owner- Scho Behavior Academy LLC
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• Black Applied Behavior Analysis (BABA)
• Association of Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA)
• Hiram College Alumni Executive Board
• Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
“When we lead with cultural humility and work together with accountability, growth becomes possible”
Sarah “Scho” McFarland
Why the name ‘Scho Behavior Academy’?
Scho is the owner’s nickname. The nickname started during her high school sports career, and stayed with her through her collegiate volleyball experience, coaching experience, and beyond.
Being an athlete and a sports coach have always been important identities for the owner, so she decided to bring an athletic vibe to her business, hence the academy, because many volleyball clubs are academies.