At Safety-Care by QBS, our Master Trainers bring more than subject matter expertise to the training room. They bring lived experience, clinical insight, and a deep commitment to prevention-first practices.
In this Master Trainer Spotlight, we sat down with Doug Zangerle, BCBA and Master Trainer, to talk about his journey into behavior analysis, the power of pyramidal training, and why sustainability matters in crisis prevention.
Watch the full recorded interview below, and explore key highlights from our conversation.
Doug’s journey into ABA began long before graduate school.
At 15, he underwent brain surgery to remove a tumor. During recovery, he received physical and occupational therapy at a facility that also served an inpatient population. He later volunteered there, working with individuals similar to those he would support professionally years later.
That experience set the foundation for a career path. After graduating, Doug began working as a classroom assistant in an out-of-district placement school. It was there that he was first immersed in applied behavior analysis. “The ABA principles we used there all seemed to make sense and be really effective approaches,” he shared. Through that employer, he pursued coursework at Temple University and ultimately earned his master’s degree.
Doug was first trained in Safety-Care as a Specialist and later as a Trainer at his previous organization. He has been familiar with the curriculum for nearly a decade.
When the opportunity arose to join QBS as a Master Trainer, it felt like a natural next step. His long-standing experience with the curriculum gives him a unique perspective in the train-the-trainer model.
When asked to describe his teaching style, Doug emphasizes balance. He strives to remain professional while also being approachable. He is patient and flexible, recognizing that trainees come from a wide range of settings and bring varying levels of experience. “I’m really just trying to make sure that everybody feels like they’re supported in the ways that they need to be supported, to be effective trainers in their own right.”
In Safety-Care trainer training, participants may represent a range of settings and populations, from pre-K classrooms to residential facilities, alternative placement schools, outpatient services, rehabilitation programs, and more. Doug tailors his instruction by centering the needs of the individuals each organization serves. The language, strategies, and examples shift depending on the setting.
One topic Doug is particularly passionate about is pyramidal training.
Safety-Care’s train-the-trainer model reflects this approach. It allows organizations to build internal capacity by training key staff members who then disseminate the curriculum across their teams.
Doug views this as critical for sustainability. Many organizations face staffing limitations, time constraints, and budget considerations. Pyramidal training lowers the barrier to implementation. It enables organizations to deliver high-quality crisis prevention programming even within resource restrictions.
By empowering trainers to confidently spread knowledge within their teams, the impact extends far beyond a single training event.
Some of Doug’s most rewarding moments come from trainees who begin with skepticism.
He recalls instances where participants expressed doubt about the curriculum’s effectiveness or their ability to implement it. By the end of the course, those same individuals shared that they felt more confident and empowered, and for Doug, “That’s really rewarding to hear.”
For Doug, the ultimate goal is empowerment at every level. He wants trainers leaving his training feeling confident delivering the curriculum and equipped to make appropriate decisions so that the organizations they represent can provide effective and efficient services.
Doug especially values that Safety-Care emphasizes least-to-most restrictive approaches.
He notes that some similar training programs focus heavily on physical management procedures. In contrast, Safety-Care places greater emphasis on environmental supports and proactive strategies. “I do think that is a more respectful, effective way to provide services.”
By focusing on prevention and environmental adjustments first, organizations are better positioned to reduce risk and promote dignity.