Dr. Ava Hughes-Booker
Founder & Executive Director, SASCI, Inc.
About Dr. Booker
Dr. Ava Hughes-Booker is a distinguished researcher, academician, and scholar-practitioner with extensive national experience in Special Education. The synthesis of her longitudinal research and field data served as the primary catalyst for establishing SASCI, Inc., an organization dedicated to advancing educational frameworks within Systems of Care.
As a former adjunct professor at The George Washington University, Dr. Booker serves on numerous prominent advisory boards across the Special Education sector. Her professional paradigm seamlessly integrates rigorous empirical methodology, uncompromising integrity, and foundational values to cultivate therapeutic milieus and tailored educational strategies for vulnerable youth. She possesses specialized expertise in addressing the complex, nuanced needs of at-risk individuals presenting with emotional and behavioral disorders.
Dr. Booker holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Special Education from Duquesne University (1976), a Master of Education in Special Education with a focus on Emotional Disturbance from American University (1980), and a Doctorate in Special Education Administration from The George Washington University (1994). For over two decades, she has been a tireless advocate for underserved, misunderstood, and historically marginalized populations across the Washington Metropolitan area.
About SASCI, Inc.
Established in June 2002 by Dr. Ava Hughes-Booker, SASCI, Inc. is a premier educational advocacy and consulting firm specializing in Special Education compliance and framework implementation under P.L. 101-476 (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act / IDEA).
SASCI provides high-impact counseling, professional development curricula, evidence-based research resources, and ongoing consultation to cultivate therapeutic environments. The organization partners with families, academic institutions (public, charter, and private), residential treatment facilities, healthcare entities, and care agencies to empower practitioners and optimize outcomes for challenged youth.
Mission & Core Objectives
- Empowerment through Education: Equipping families, educators, and clinicians with actionable insights and quality resources.
- Evidence-Based Design: Implementing research-backed educational programs that deliver sustained efficacy over time.
- Systemic Advocacy: Advocating for populations impacted by abuse, neglect, or systemic under-resourcing within specialized systems of care.