Staff – Mansfield

Mahlon became a certified occupational therapy assistant in 2015, graduating from Navarro College with Cum Laude honors, where he received his Associate of Applied Science degree in Occupational therapy. In 2021 Mahlon completed his Masters program bridging from an assistant to a Certified Occupational Therapist. He has worked in a skilled nursing facility and a sensory-based pediatric outpatient clinic. Mahlon is certified in Interactive Metronome and is in the process of completing his certification in Handwriting Without Tears. His many years of experience as an  occupational therapy assistant gives him a unique perspective and level of excellence going into his time with us as an Occupational Therapist.

Mahlon’s Certifications and Specialties include Masgutova NeuroSensory Reflex Integration, Handwriting Without Tears, CranioSacral Therapy, Sensory Integration, Interactive Metronome and The Listening Program.

Alvaro graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University in 2017 where he obtained his bachelors degree in Kinesiology and Human Performance with an emphasis in biomechanics. He later attended Abilene Christian University for his masters in Occupational Therapy (OT). A whole new world awoke for him as he quickly learned how big the realm of therapy is. He is ecstatic to have the opportunity to be at Cutting Edge Pediatric Therapy and to meet his kids to empower them to be all they can be!

Alvaro has been involved in mentoring since high school utilizing his skills to assist others in making sense of a variety of subjects such as math, science, chemistry, and anatomy. His biggest accomplishments come when others achieve their goals, not only by completing tasks, but by understanding how they can replicate the results in order to succeed. As he was progressing through grad school, he continued to develop his passion in pediatrics and learned that what he was already doing previously as a mentor could be applied to OT. Now, his goal is to obtain certifications to better understand how to help his patients best to be as independent as possible!

When Alvaro is not treating in the clinic, he enjoys working out, being outdoors, doing activities with friends such as axe throwing/escape rooms/bowling, traveling to different destinations, and new music (so hit him up with great music)!

McKenzie graduated from Texas A&M University in 2018 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Kinesiology. She then graduated from Parker University in 2020 with an Associate’s of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant. She completed her Level II fieldwork rotation at Cutting Edge in 2020. Throughout her clinical experience, McKenzie has gained knowledge with a variety of diagnoses including Autism, Downs Syndrome, and multiple other syndromes and diagnoses. She has always had a passion for pediatrics after working with students in the special education program at her middle school. McKenzie enjoys learning how to better serve her patients by taking continuing education courses in her free time. When she is not at CEPT, McKenzie enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors.

McKenzie’s Certifications and Specialties include Safety Care.

Katie Paxton has been working with children as a certified occupational therapy assistant since 2017 in a collaborative pediatric outpatient and in-home settings. Occupational therapy has been a part of Katie’s life ever since she, herself, went to OT for dyslexia as a young girl. You could say that she has always known that this was the profession she wanted to be apart of.

Katie attended the University of Arkansas, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2013. From there, she managed therapy technicians at an outpatient sports medicine clinic while studying to become a certified occupational therapy assistant. Shortly after becoming licensed, Katie started working at a collaborative outpatient clinic in the Austin area where she was able to continue learning about feeding difficulties in the pediatric population. She was mentored by several highly trained OT practitioners who continued to teach and develop her love for making a positive impact with that segment of children in need.

Katie enjoys watching her patients and families grow and develop lifelong skills that once seemed difficult.

Katie lived in Austin for 4 years and just moved back to the Mansfield area with her husband, Kolby their son, Karter and their beagle, Griffey Dale. She loves outdoor activities, running, yoga and tending to her plants. This fall, you can find her calling the Hogs on Saturday.

Shalee graduated from Navarro college’s Occupational Therapy Assistant program in 2022 with an Associate degree in applied science. As a student, she completed her level 2 fieldwork rotation at Cutting Edge. Shalee loves working with pediatrics and partnering with families to provide tools for success in their child’s daily life.

Shalee is a long-term resident of Mansfield where she lives with her Husband, Son, Golden/Pyrenees, and a leopard gecko. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, photography, art, and music.

Stephanie graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and minors in Neuroscience and Business. After graduating, she worked as a registered behavioral therapist (RBT) for one year while completing post-baccalaureate classes at the University of North Texas to transition into the field of Speech-Language Pathology. She then began graduate school at the University of North Texas and completed her final practicum placement at Cutting Edge! Stephanie earned her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology in 2021 and also holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Stephanie has worked with pediatrics and adults of all ages in a variety of settings and has experience evaluating and treating language, articulation, phonology, fluency, feeding, and social communication disorders. Stephanie has experience providing speech therapy to children diagnosed with various syndromes, developmental disorders, and Autism Spectrum Disorder in which she enjoys incorporating behavior principles and sensory rich environments to help her patients succeed and thrive in all environments. Stephanie is trained and educated in Gestalt Language Processing and the Natural Language Acquisition (NLA) Framework; she is listed as an NLA Trained Clinician through the Meaningful Speech website. Stephanie also has advanced clinical training in the PROMPT approach for treatment of childhood apraxia of speech. She has experience working with various AAC systems.

Her favorite part about being an SLP is seeing her patients reach their full potential and building relationships with her patients and their families throughout the course of therapy. Stephanie’s approach to therapy is child-led in order to develop strong trusting relationships between herself and her patients.

Stephanie’s Certifications and Specialties include Certified Autism Specialist (CAS), Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets (PROMPTS), Gestalt Language Processing/Natural Language Acquisition, Safety Care (Specialist and Trainer), and Language Acquisition Through Motor Planning (LAMP) Words for Life.

Karen is a daughter, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother. In her spare time loves to travel and spend time with her family and do artwork of different kinds. She received her Bachelor of Science in Speech Pathology, and her Master of Science in Communication Disorders from the University of Texas at Dallas, and has held Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) since 1999. Karen has worked in the school setting, in pediatric home health where she provided speech, language, and feeding therapy for children in their homes, and truly believes that she has found her niche in the clinical setting at Cutting Edge. Karen has a passion for helping children reach their highest potential, and loves partnering with parents to help them achieve. She has maintained certification in VitalStim as a provider for pediatric and adult treatment since 2005, and has an extensive background in feeding and swallowing. Karen has also completed training for the Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) approach to feeding and is using it with children with feeding aversions and difficulties. She is also trained in the use of PECS and LAMP Words for Life, and has experience with a variety of dynamic communication devices. Karen maintains membership in ASHA as well as the Texas Speech-Language Hearing Association.

Karen’s Certifications and Specialties include VitalStim – Pediatrics and Adults, Beckman Oral Motor, Language Acquisition through Motor Planning for Life, Picture Exchange Communication System, and Sequential Oral Sensory.

Wendy Sharp 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.  She has held her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language- Hearing Association (ASHA) since 2004. 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. She has experience providing therapy with a focus on language, social skills, articulation, fluency, and a variety of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (from low-tech to high tech). 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 in 2019. Wendy is excited to be a part of the Cutting Edge team and looks forward to helping your child achieve their goals!

Anna (“Annie”) graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders and a minor in Psychology from Harding University in 2020. After a crazy summer of Covid-19, Annie started her graduate school journey at the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center and earned her Master’s of Science in Speech-Language Pathology in May 2022! She is currently is her Clinical Fellowship (CF) year and is extremely excited to get to know all her new kiddos!

Annie has a wide variety of experiences in pediatrics and adults in multiple settings. She loves working with kids, but has a passion for the entire lifespan! She has experience in working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), expressive and receptive language disorders, children with AAC devices and speech sound disorders. She loves being there for her patients and their families, helping them become the best they can be!

She is looking forward to expanding her knowledge in infant and pediatric feeding, becoming a Certified Autism Specialist, and becoming a Certified Brain Injury Specialist over the next few years as she grows as a clinician and obtains her clinical competencies!

Faith Hawkins received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders and her Master of Science in Speech Pathology from Baylor University. She began her career as a Speech Pathologist by joining the Cutting Edge team in 2022 to complete her Clinical Fellowship year. She was thrilled to be offered the position, make the move to Mansfield, and work with others who share the same passion for helping others. Faith has always enjoyed working with children and loves building rapport with her clients. Faith has experience in the public school system and clinic setting with a wide variety of clients. Specifically, she has therapy experience with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), expressive/receptive language disorders, speech sound disorders, and stuttering disorders.

Faith is excited to be working in a collaborative setting and work with OT and PT to maximize the child’s treatment experience. She is delighted to work with children and have a positive impact on them and their families’ lives.

Carolyn is a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University and is excited to be treating at Cutting Edge. She has experience with both children and adults, from the school setting to the hospital. Outside of treating, she enjoys running, traveling, and trying new restaurants.

Beth Ward has been in clinical practice in Pediatric Physical Therapy since graduating from Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois in 1970.  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.  In 2013 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.  She has a particular interest in Cranio-sacral Therapy and has taken many other courses over the years in such areas as Yoga for the Special Needs Child and Neurobiological Approaches to treatment.  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.

Beth’s Certifications and Specialties include Craniosacral Therapy, MFR, Toe Walking, Yoga for Special Need, Joint & Soft Tissue Mobilization, Dynamic AFO Casting, and Measure for Orthotics.

Lezi graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science. While at UTA she discovered her passion for pediatrics as she volunteered at a motor skill intervention program for children with movement and coordination difficulties. Lezi received the degree of Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of North Texas Health Science Center in 2021. Her favorite part of being a PT is being able to encourage children to learn new skills that carry over into their everyday activities. She enjoys collaborating with other therapists to provide patients with the best possible care and is excited to be a part of the Cutting Edge team!

Mycah graduated from Navarro College’s Physical Therapy Assistant program in 2021 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 and safety care training. She is also the Mansfield representative Ambassador of Fun!

Asha Mathew is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) in the state of Texas Since 2020. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology with a Minor in Child and Family Development in 2015. She has been working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) since 2016 and during that time earned her Master’s in Education in ABA at Arizona State University in 2018. Before becoming a BCBA, she worked as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) giving direct therapy to clients. She has also been a Lead Therapist, overseen programs, created Behavior Skills Training, and assisted with behavior reduction plans. Asha is passionate about making a difference and improving the quality of life of others.

Heather Boydstun has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst since 2021. She graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Educational Studies, as well as her Master’s Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis. Before becoming a BCBA she was a Registered Behavior Technician in the clinical setting, working with children who have Autism and other disorders. Heather is passionate about assisting and empowering families to live fulfilled lives, no matter the circumstances.

Heather’s Certifications and Specialties include Safety Care.

Vanessa Mendoza has been in the field of ABA since 2016. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Child Learning Development from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2015, she went straight into the field of Applied Behavior Analysis. She received her master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Arizona State University in 2020 and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2021. As a bilingual children’s advocate, Vanessa has a passion to assist families from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds. She has experience working with children with autism and other developmental delays, parent training, and providing therapy in multiple settings such as clinic, home, and community. She is excited to grow and foster her passion in advocating early intervention services for the lives of children, their families, and their community.

Alyssa is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She earned her Bachelor Degree in Speech Language Pathology and Child Learning Development in 2015. Alyssa has worked in the field of ABA since 2017. She earned her Master’s degree in Applied Behavioral Analysis in 2021. She started in the field of ABA in 2017 as a Registered Behavioral Technician (RBT). Alyssa is passionate about working with individuals with Autism and other intellectual disabilities. She wants to make a difference in the lives of all families and become an advocate for the special needs community.

Alyssa’s Certifications and Specialties include Safety Care.

Nicole is a native Texan! She has grew up in Arlington & lived in DFW all her life. She is a graduate of UTA with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management. Nicole has worked with adults & children the last fourteen years, including both the mental health & medical sides. She started working with children while she was at home health organization, but finds the setting of outpatient facility more rewarding. To see the growth of a child up close reminds her as to why she choose this career path.

When not at work Nicole like to spend time with her family & friends. When the opportunity arises they like to take small trips, anything from the big city lights to the quiet country! She likes to cook, but enjoys baking the most. Nicole also enjoys crafting & DIY projects, however, sometimes it doesn’t always turn out as expected but likes the challenge.

She has really enjoyed the last few year at CEPT & cannot wait to see what the future holds. Nicole has been at the Mansfield location & has seen the growth it has had since they opened their doors. She has met many wonderful families & hopes that she has made a difference in their lives.

Paola has been with Cutting Edge since September 2019. She has worn many hats with Cutting Edge starting as an Office Coordinator to a Client Care Services Coordinator to a Senior Office Coordinator and has now taken on the role as an Office Manager. Paola is also currently pursuing her bachelor’s in healthcare management and is expected to graduate in 2024. Although she is a part of our administrative team, Paola loves interacting with patients and building relationships with our families. If she has not already, Paola is looking forward to meeting your family!

Zita is proud to have been born and raised in New Orleans. After moving to the DFW, she began gaining medical office experience while working towards her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology, which she earned in 2018. Through her studies, she gained experience in an internship doing research on pediatric motor development. As a result, along with several volunteer experiences, Zita has found a passion for serving the pediatric community and working in the therapy world. She recently graduated with a Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree in 2022 and is preparing to become a licensed therapist as she continues to serve the families of Cutting Edge in an administrative role. Zita looks forward to working with your family!

Jackie Kelley was born in Oklahoma but has been raised in Texas for the majority of her life. Not long after graduating high school she enrolled and graduated from the College of Health Care Professions where she studied to become a radiologic technologist. While working as an x-ray tech she learned she had a greater passion for the admissions side of the medical field and have since been growing and acquiring knowledge to be the best office coordinator she can be. Outside of work she is a mother to two beautiful babies and loves getting to watch them grow and flourish every day.

Sierra Ramirez is a spouse to an Army veteran and a mom to 3 boys and 5 dogs. Sierra has been working as medical front office professional since 2019. During her free time, she volunteers with her sons’ Boy Scout troop and helps with PTA functions with her sons’ school.

Emily received her Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from the University of Texas at Arlington. She plans to go back to school to become a physical therapy assistant (PTA). She has a great passion for children and has coached competitive gymnastics for six years. In her free time, she loves to take her dachshund on walks at the park!