Mary J. O’Connell has worked in the Gwinnett County Public Schools for the past thirteen years teaching children with Autism.  She has experience working with children in all levels of Autism.  She holds a Masters Degree from Georgia State and is a Highly Qualified Certified teacher in the state of Georgia.  For five years, she supervised the Extended School Year program for students with Autism.  Presently, she teaches at Pharr Elementary School in Snellville.  She has a private consultant business for parents of children with Autism and other disabilities.

Mary and her business partner, Nan Britt own Social Skills Program Consultants, LLC which manages Saturday Social Skills Groups at Cobblestone in North Fulton and Spectrum Camps and Clubs in Gwinnett.  Together they have expanded their programs to include Social Skills groups, summer camps, and overnight respite for children with Autism and their siblings.  Their vision is to expand into other counties within Georgia and provide more activities for children with Autism.