Staff – Mansfield

Gabe attended Mountain View College acquiring an Associates in A.S. He then transferred to Texas A&M – Commerce finishing his undergraduate degree with Cum Laude honors obtaining a B.S. in Kinesiology. Gabe attended Abilene Christian University receiving a M.S. in Occupational Therapy. His favorite part of being an OT is working with patients and completing their meaningful goals that aid to improve their livelihood and wellbeing. Along with working out and listening to music, Gabe enjoys spending his time performing community service with his fraternity brothers.

Lindsay graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies, and graduated from Texas Woman’s University with her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy. Lindsay developed a passion for working in pediatrics occupational therapy when her twin nephews were born premature and faced developmental challenges. She witnessed first-hand how occupational therapy impacts the growth and independence of children on the spectrum. This experience continues to drive her passion of providing high-quality and intentional care to all of her patients. In addition, she has experience working with a parent coaching model. Which has aided her in providing detailed home exercise programs and essential family education. Her approach to treatment is child led to foster strong relationship, that encourages progress through the mix of play and evidence-based treatment.. She is passionate about pursuing certifications in several specialized treatments, including Ayer’s Sensory Integration.

Tara is an occupational therapist from the DFW area. She went to the University of Oklahoma where she received her bachelor’s degree in psychology. She then went on to get her doctorate in occupational therapy from Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA. While Tara was introduced to a variety of settings during her education, pediatrics was always her favorite.

When she isn’t working, she loves exercising and spending time with friends and family. Tara is so excited to be apart of the Cutting Edge Mansfield Team!

Karagan graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, with a concentration in Dance Science and a minor in Psychology. She then earned her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Texas Woman’s University. Karagan first discovered her passion for pediatrics while working as a dance teacher, where she loved helping children build confidence, develop new skills, and express themselves through movement. She was inspired to pursue occupational therapy after witnessing the positive impact it had on her grandmother’s quality of life during a hospital stay. Seeing firsthand how meaningful, personalized care could help someone regain independence solidified her desire to become an occupational therapist. Karagan’s favorite part of working in pediatrics is building meaningful relationships with each child and creating individualized treatment sessions that help them reach their goals while having fun. She enjoys incorporating creativity through art, painting, movement, and hands-on activities to make therapy engaging and meaningful. Karagan is passionate about helping children build confidence, gain independence, and celebrate every milestone alongside their families!

McKenzie graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. She then graduated from Parker University with an Associate of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant. She completed her Level II fieldwork rotation as a student at the Allen location of Cutting Edge. McKenzie uses a child-led, neurodiversity-affirming approach to honor each child’s individual strengths and needs. Her favorite part about being a COTA is building relationships with her patients and families, making progress toward therapy goals even more meaningful.

Her passion for pediatrics began after working with students in her middle school’s special education program. When she is not at CEPT, McKenzie enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors.

Shalee earned her Associate of Applied Science degree in Occupational Therapy Assisting from Navarro College. During her academic journey, she completed her Level II fieldwork at Cutting Edge, where she developed a deeper interest in pediatric care. Shalee is passionate about the connection between mental health and daily functioning and is dedicated to supporting children and their families with tools that promote success in everyday life.

A long-time resident of Mansfield, Shalee lives with her husband, son, Great Pyrenees, and leopard gecko. In her free time, she enjoys reading, photography, art, music, and making memories with her family.

Wendy received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Disorders from Abilene Christian University, a Master of Science in Special Education from Texas A&M University-Commerce, and a Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology from Tennessee State University. Wendy has always had a passion for helping children reach their full potential and has been able to do that through her work as a Speech Language Pathologist in the public school system as well as pediatric in-home therapy. Wendy loves to travel and was fortunate to combine her love of travel and her career while working as a travel SLP over the last several years. As a travel therapist, she was able to work/live in a variety of states including Tennessee, Maryland, California, and even Alaska before returning back to where it all began in Texas. Wendy is excited to be a part of the Cutting Edge team and looks forward to helping your child achieve their goals!

Courtney graduated from Faulkner University with a Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders and Sciences and went on to earn her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology.
She loves connecting with her patients and finding creative ways to help them make progress toward their goals. She believes therapy is all about teamwork and enjoys working closely with families to ensure every child has the support they need to succeed. She takes joy in celebrating the little victories and helping children grow into their full potential.

Chloe graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) with a Bachelors of Sciences in Communication Science and Disorders. She went on to continue her education at SFA and graduated with her Masters of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. She is excited to join Cutting Edge as a Clinical Fellow and begin her journey as a Speech-Language Pathologist. Chloe has experience working with both children and adults in a variety of settings. She is looking forward to continuing to learn more throughout her career and growing as an individual and therapist. Chloe values creating relationships with her patients and their families to ensure they are meeting their goals and growing in their communication! She is excited to be starting her career with Cutting Edge!

Maggie graduated from Hardin-Simmons with her Bachelor of Behavioral Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders, then graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. She is excited to join Cutting Edge as a Clinical Fellow and begin her journey as a Speech-Language Pathologist. Maggie has experience working with both children and adults in a variety of settings, targeting both receptive and expressive language, articulation, social communication, and fluency. She loves working with her patients and seeing their progress evolve over time. Maggie believes therapy should be both fun and functional, and is looking forward to helping patients achieve their goals. She is excited to begin growing alongside both patients and families at Cutting Edge!

Chloe graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Sciences in Communication Science and Disorders. She became a “double bear” and continued her education at Baylor, graduating with her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology.  She is passionate about creating intentional relationships with her clients and their families to ensure a positive and effective therapy environment.

Claire graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University, where she earned both her Bachelor and Masters of Science degrees in Speech-Language Pathology. She is excited to join Cutting Edge Therapy as a Clinical Fellow Speech-Language Pathologist and grow in her career! She has experience with both the pediatric and adult population and values building relationships with both her clients and their families. She is passionate about helping each individual reach their fullest potential and loves celebrating each clients progress, no matter how big or small. She strives to create an encouraging environment where clients feel comfortable and motivated to learn because she believes that learning happens best when clients feel supported, have fun, and enjoy coming to therapy! In her free time, Claire enjoys drawing and painting, being active, spending time with friends and family, and exploring new places around Texas after moving from Louisiana!

Beth has been in clinical practice in Pediatric Physical Therapy since graduating from Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. She worked in Home Health and in an Easter Seal out-patient clinic program in Chicago before her family relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada. In Las Vegas she was the Owner/Manager of 3 Pediatric clinics that offered Speech, Occupational and Physical therapy to the families of children with a wide variety of special needs. She moved to Texas to be closer to family and continues her work in Pediatric Physical Therapy.
Beth considers herself to be a life-time learner and has taken the opportunity to develop clinical skills in diverse areas.  Some of the most important learning along the way has come from the children and their families with whom she has been privileged to serve.

Mycah graduated from Navarro College’s Physical Therapy Assistant program with an Associate degree in Applied Science. She has a passion for Physical Therapy rooted in personal experience from a sports injury at a young age. Mycah has experience working with children in various settings and has always taken an interest in helping them reach their full potential. Her favorite part of her job is seeing personal growth in our kids, creating a fun/safe environment for all, and collaborating with the occupational and speech therapy teams to maximize the best care possible. Mycah has continued her education to primary reflex integration, safety care training, and aquatics training. She is also the Mansfield representative Ambassador of Fun and Aquatics Specialist.

Brent received his M. A. in Counseling from Dallas Baptist University and is licensed in the state of Texas as a Professional Counselor. Brent is also a registered play therapist and an active member of the Association for Play Therapy. Brent has a desire to meet children and their parent(s) or families where they are in life. While play therapy cannot change life’s circumstances, it can provide a child the opportunity to express themselves in their own language, which is PLAY!

Kala graduated from Lamar University with a Master of Education in Counseling and Development, with a focus in Marriage and Family Therapy. While pursuing her graduate degree, Kala worked as a Lead Registered Behavior Technician (LRBT), where she provided ABA services to children and adolescents with autism. Since obtaining her associate license, Kala has provided therapy to children, adolescents, adults, and families with diverse clinical presentations, including mood, anxiety, trauma-related, eating, neurodevelopmental, and behavioral disorders. Kala has a particular interest in working with children and adolescents and is passionate about creating a safe, supportive environment where young clients feel comfortable expressing themselves. She is especially interested in incorporating play therapy techniques to help children communicate, process emotions, and develop healthy coping skills. Kala utilizes a client-centered approach, meeting each client where they are and tailoring therapy to their unique needs, experiences, and goals.

Alexandra graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy from Biola University. She completed her clinical hours in special education, early childhood, foster care, adult developmental disabilities, and dementia/Alzheimer’s geriatrics. Her passion is for bringing joy and independence to children’s lives through realizing their fullest potential and quality of life. She also enjoys interdisciplinary collaboration in order to holistically approach treatment. Originally a classically trained pianist and accompanist, she enjoys jazz and fingerstyle guitar, as well as songwriting when she has time.

Emily works as a Registered Behavior Technician, a role she is truly passionate about. She feels grateful to be part of each individual’s growth journey and finds happiness in the small and big milestones alike. Seeing how therapy improves not only the client’s life but also brings hope and progress to their family is what makes her work so rewarding.

Sydnee has always been passionate about changing lives and found the perfect fit in ABA therapy, and having a sister on the spectrum made it even more personal. She has worked in childcare centers, as a pre-k teacher, and as a nanny before being introduced to ABA. Sydnee loves to focus on functional communication and has seen the drastic impact that makes on families lives. Outside of her work profession, she likes to spend time with family and friends or with a good book.

Lori is a Registered Behavior Technician with a strong background in the medical field and a dedicated focus on supporting children with Autism and ADHD. Her professional journey began in early childhood care, where working closely with children with disabilities inspired her to pursue a career centered on teaching meaningful life skills. She has completed clinical pediatric training previously as an NRCMA which led to her training as an RBT. She enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, swimming, as well as creating art through floral design, pottery, and painting.

Trinity is a Registered Behavior Technician who enjoys working closely with children and families to support growth, learning, and confidence. She focuses on creating a safe, positive, and engaging environment while implementing behavior plans and collecting meaningful data. Trinity values building genuine connections with her clients and believes patience and encouragement go a long way.

Her passion for this field is personal, as her younger brother is also on the autism spectrum, which has deepened her understanding and empathy. She enjoys collaborating with families and team members to help each child reach their goals. Outside of work, Trinity likes journaling, staying active, spending time with loved ones, and focusing on personal growth.

Jared has been working with kids for several years and is currently planning on pursing his Masters Degree in Special Education – Applied Behavior Analysis. He plans on being a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and hopes to change the world for kids with Autism. He moved from California to Texas and has enjoyed every second on his new journey. He enjoys going to baseball games and loves listening to or creating music when he gets the chance.

Todi is a Registered Behavior Technician who is passionate about supporting children and families through ABA therapy. She has two younger brothers and loves to be creative and make music with them during everyone’s free time. She spent most of her younger years in athletics ranging from basketball to martial arts, where she earned her 1st degree black belt. She recently moved to Texas and her favorite part of ABA is making such strong bonds with clients, parents and seeing kids progress.

Izar attended the University of North Texas, working towards a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing before transitioning into the field of ABA therapy as a camp counselor for the Bridges to Success program that served teens transitioning into the workforce and/or tertiary education. With her newfound passion for working with individuals living with autism, she went on to become a Life Coach for 29 Acres, a supported living facility for adults living with intellectual disabilities, as well as a Registered Behavioral Technician (RBT) for BlueSprig Pediatrics. Her work has evolved to focus on providing prescribed treatment to individuals with autism, that supports their growth in social, communicative, and functional life skills. Izar is dedicated to providing a safe, supportive, and fun environment where each and every client is given the opportunity to grow and thrive.

Cassie is a Registered Behavior Technician dedicated to supporting children and families through compassionate, individualized care. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Social Work and has always been passionate about helping children find their voice and build confidence in their everyday lives.

Cassie enjoys creating meaningful connections with her clients and celebrating each milestone and success alongside them. Her approach focuses on patience, encouragement, and making learning a positive experience for every child she works with. She is dedicated to helping children grow socially, emotionally, and behaviorally while supporting families throughout the process. Outside of work, Cassie enjoys spending quiet time at home with her cat and getting lost in a good book.

Qiana began her career as a caregiver for individuals living with dementia before becoming a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT). Through these experiences, she discovered a passion for supporting individuals who need assistance and helping make their daily lives a little easier. Qiana is dedicated to providing compassionate, individualized care while fostering meaningful connections with those she serves.
In her free time, she enjoys reading, coloring, and spending quality time with her family.

Roni has been a Registered Behavior Technician since 2024 and enjoys making a positive difference in the lives of others. She is passionate about helping her clients develop new skills, build confidence, and become more independent. Roni strives to create a fun, supportive, and welcoming environment for every client. She especially enjoys building meaningful connections and celebrating each client’s accomplishments, big or small. Outside of work, Roni enjoys self-care, spending time with family and friends, and trying new things. She looks forward to continuing her growth in the healthcare field and making a lasting impact on those she serves.

Sadie attended St. Mary’s University to get her Bachelors in Psychology and is currently attending Florida Institute of Technology pursuing a Masters degree in Behavior Analysis. She has been an RBT since 2024 and has fallen in love with the job ever since. Getting to work hands on with individuals with autism and other disabilities has quickly become a lifelong passion for her. Outside of work, Sadie enjoys collecting vinyls and trinkets of all kinds, hanging out with her cat Maxine, and winding down with some trash reality TV.

Jacqueline, who goes by Jackie, brings several years of pediatric therapy experience from her time working in home health pediatric therapy. In that role, she supported families through the intake and referral process. She also worked closely with parents to coordinate scheduling and helped match each child with the clinician who best supported their needs.

She is currently pursuing a degree in HR Management at Southern New Hampshire University. When she is not working or studying, she enjoys staying active at the gym, playing in a co-ed adult volleyball league, and spending time with her husband, her German Shepherd, and her two cats. She is excited to be joining the CEPT team and looks forward to getting to know the amazing staff and kiddos.

Destiny is a warm and welcoming professional known for her kind spirit, positive energy, and calm presence. She enjoys building genuine connections and believes that a friendly smile and thoughtful communication go a long way. Destiny values consistency, care, and creating spaces where people feel comfortable and supported. Outside of work, she loves spending time with her daughter, being creative, and enjoying life’s little moments. She is passionate about contributing to environments that feel inviting, uplifting, and family-centered.

Paola has been with Cutting Edge for several years and has worn many hats, starting as an Office Coordinator and progressing through roles such as Client Care Services Coordinator, Senior Office Coordinator, Office Manager, and now Senior Administrative Assistant. She is also pursuing her bachelor’s in healthcare management. Although she is part of the administrative team, Paola loves interacting with patients and building relationships with families. If she hasn’t already, Paola looks forward to meeting your family!

Vanelda recently graduated from Baylor University with her Bachelors in Kinesiology. She is excited to be expand her knowledge while meeting new people and creating meaningful connections. Vanelda hopes to one day use these skills to become a physical therapist. When she is not working, Vanelda loves to do crafts and listen to music.

Cristina is an enthusiastic and caring individual who has been working in a physical therapy clinic setting for several years. She has always had a passion for helping others in any way that she can. Whether answering questions, scheduling appointments, she is eager to help. She is a mom of two and loves working with children. Currently enrolled at TCC and plans to go back to school to pursue a degree relating to the medical field.

Yvette is a dedicated and reliable professional who takes pride in creating positive experiences for those she works with. She is known for her friendly personality, strong work ethic, and ability to connect with people from all walks of life. Yvette thrives in team environments and is always willing to step in and help wherever needed to keep things running smoothly. She values clear communication, attention to detail, and bringing a positive energy into every space she’s in.
Outside of work, Yvette enjoys spending time with her family and coaching cheer, where she channels her creativity and leadership into building confidence in others.
She is passionate about making an impact and bringing her best to everything she does.

Selina is a passionate and dedicated person who truly loves working with children. She believes every child deserves to feel safe, loved, respected, and encouraged to be themselves. She brings a warm and welcoming personality into every space she enters. Selina enjoys building great connection with children, families, and coworkers. Outside of work Selina is a mother to 3 children who like to play sports, during my weekends I’m outdoors in the fields being a soccer mom, volleyball mom and a football mom. I enjoy going out for runs and going to the gym. I love to cook outside and have family time.

Tracy is a 61 year old woman that loves her children and grandchildren. She also likes to do crafts in her spare time. She has one cat, Libby.