Kate Lundgren graduated from San Jose State University and has been a registered Occupational Therapist since 1989. She received a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Pepperdine University in 1992. Kate specialized in the treatment for neurological disorders and traumas for the first 10 years of her career and completed her Neuro Developmental Treatment (NDT) certification in 1995.

After moving to Dallas in 1997 from Southern California, Kate and her husband, Joe, were informed through diagnostic testing, like many of our clients, that their two sons were on the “Autism Spectrum”. The diagnosis drove a change in Kate’s career and treatment focus in Occupational Therapy to the treatment of pediatric disorders, more specifically, Autism and Sensory Integration Dysfunction. Kate completed her Sensory Integration and Praxis Testing (SIPT) Certification (http://portal.wpspublish.com) in April of 2008 and completed her Advanced CranioSacral Therapy Technique (http:// upledger.com) in August 2014.

Recently, she decided to take her wealth of skills and knowledge and open up a unique clinic focused on the “Cutting Edge” treatment of children with “special needs.” Instead of just “treating” the client, the goal of Cutting Edge Pediatric Therapy (CEPT) is to partner with families to prepare the client for a safe and abundant future.

Kate’s model for Cutting Edge Pediatric Therapy has been so successful, she has had the opportunity of expanding and establishing “Cutting Edge” model in different locations.

Since 2004, Kate has had the unique privilege of teaching as an adjunct professor for the School of Occupational Therapy at Texas Women’s University training students in the area of pediatrics. At TWU, she was provided the opportunity of developing the first special interest course for Autism Spectrum Disorders. Kate continues to speak publicly and share her passion for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

Most recently, Kate was invited to speak internationally in southern China regarding training for Sensory Integration treatment in conjunction with ASDS.

Some of the relevant training that Kate has completed but not limited to is Handwriting without Tears, ABT’s TLP/InTime, Level 1 Mentorship at the SPD Foundation, Reflex Integration Testing, Astronaut Protocol, Keyboarding Without Tears and Interactive Metronome with emphasis in pediatrics.

Kate, as of February 2019, is a TOTA (Texas Occupational Therapy Association) CE Reviewer for practice area in Occupational Therapy Assistants.

Kate’s Certifications and Specialties include Handwriting without Tears, Size Matters (handwriting), First Strokes Handwriting, The Listening Program, InTime, Level Mentor at STAR, Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration (MNRI), Astronaut Training Protocol, Keyboarding without Tears, Interactive Metronome (emphasis in pediatrics), Kineseo Taping 1 & 2, Craniosacral Therapy Advanced Certification, Neuro-developmental Treatment (NDT), Sensory Integration and Praxis Certification, Vision Therapy Training, Autism Specialist Training, Clinical Instructor, TPOT, and DIR/Floor Time.

Kelly started with Cutting Edge in March 2021 as a Front Office Coordinator. Shortly after, she changed her degree plan from Information Technology to Applied Behavior Analysis. Set to graduate with her Bachelors in ABA this Fall, she will continue to pursue her Masters in ABA in order to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Kelly hopes to keep assisting families in getting the services they need. She loves to talk to the kids about Pokémon and dinosaurs, and cannot wait to see where her adventure at Cutting Edge continues to lead her!

Sydney is a certified and licensed speech-language pathologist who has worked in both public schools and outpatient therapy clinics since 2010. Sydney has experience evaluating and working with children, teenagers, and young adults with a variety of communication disorders. In 2008, Sydney received her Bachelor’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from the University of North Texas, also minoring in Development and Family Studies. In 2010, Sydney completed her Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Texas Christian University. Sydney has held her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association since 2011. She is also an actively involved member and volunteer with the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Skilled and educated in Gestalt Language Processing and the Natural Language Acquisition (NLA) Framework, Sydney is listed as an NLA Trained Clinician through the Meaningful Speech website. Sydney also has advanced clinical training in the Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC) approach for treatment of childhood apraxia of speech and is listed in the Apraxia Kids SLP Directory. In addition, Sydney has completed introductory courses related to the SCERTS model, DIR Floortime, and Language Acquisition through Motor Planning (LAMP). She has experience working with various AAC systems and has training in AAC parent coaching.

Sydney has completed training in the Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding and is certified in the VitalStim Specialty Program, a neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) modality for resolving dysphagia and oral motor disorders related to feeding and swallowing. She has completed additional feeding coursework related to Responsive Feeding Therapy.

Sydney greatly values collaboration between therapy providers and with caregivers. In addition, she strives to take a child-led approach to therapy, prioritizing connection and relationship-building at the heart of each therapy session.

Sydney’s Certifications and Specialties include Gestalt Language Processing/Natural Language Acquisition, Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding, Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (ages 1 and up), Social Cognition, DIR/Floor Time, Talk Tools Level 1, Pediatric Feeding, and Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC).

Natalie is a 2018 graduate of Abilene Christian University with her B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders and her M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology. Speech therapy was introduced to Natalie at a young age when her older brother received early childhood intervention and school speech therapy services. Later, when she was 14 years old, Natalie observed the speech pathologist at the elementary school where her mom taught, and she decided that speech therapy was the path for her. Throughout graduate school, Natalie’s interest in helping people with neurodevelopmental disorders grew. She gained experience working with children and adults in clinics, early childhood intervention, outpatient rehab, and schools. Natalie joined the Cutting Edge family in 2018 for her Clinical Fellowship Year, in which she earned her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association. She has been trained in the Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) therapeutic approach to feeding for picky eaters and in the Language Acquisition Through Motor Planning (LAMP) therapeutic approach for individuals with limited verbal abilities. She is also a member of the Texas Speech and Hearing Association (TSHA). Natalie loves getting to know her patients and their families every day, collaborating with other professions, and helping each child learn how to communicate meaningfully.

Natalie’s Certifications and Specialties include Sequential Oral Sensory Feeding Therapy, DIR/Floor Time, and Language Acquisition Through Motor Planning (LAMP) Words for Life,

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.

Robert is a graduate of the University of Texas at Dallas with a Bachelors in Healthcare Studies. Currently, he is a therapy tech, but wishes to eventually go back to school for Physical Therapy. He has a personal training certification, is QBS safety certified, and is an RBT.

Linda began working at our office in March of 2016. She graduated in 2013 from the University of Texas at Dallas with a Bachelor’s degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology. Upon graduating she spent two years helping children with a variety of neurological disorders including ADHD, Autism, Asperger’s, Dyslexia, and processing disorders. Linda loves being in an environment that helps children and their families and is looking forward to a long career doing so.

Stephanie King received her bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis on APE and Disability Sport from Texas Woman’s University in August 2020. Stephanie completed an internship at the Cooper Aerobics Center in 2019. Since July 2020 Stephanie has worked as an RBT and has fallen in love with the profession! Stephanie has plans to begin a master’s program in ABA next year.

Grant Putnam works as an RBT at Cutting Edge Pediatric Therapy. He graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelors in Criminal Justice. Since his graduation, he has worked many different jobs and volunteered with various organizations in an effort to find a place where he can help people. Cutting Edge Pediatric Therapy provides this opportunity.

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.

Kenzie has been with Cutting Edge since November of 2020, starting as a Front Office Coordinator before moving into the role of Office Manager in 2021. Kenzie graduated from UTD with a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology, and is currently working toward her Master’s degree in Counseling at TWU. She has a passion for working with diverse groups of people and lending a helping hand wherever is needed. Her favorite thing about Cutting Edge is getting to watch the patients grow and achieve their goals!

Ainsley is a junior at Oklahoma State University, majoring in Psychology. She has had her RBT license since September 2022. She loves working with children and hopes she will continue to do so in the future! She has lived in Texas her whole life and has a cat named Ricky Bobby!

Ashaunti is from Carrollton, Texas. She is the oldest and the only girl out of 4 children. Ashaunti graduated from Hebron High School. Ashaunti has been an RBT since 2022. Ashaunti plans on going back to school and becoming a BCBA.

Maggie Mondragon is an energetic Intake Coordinator with experience in customer service since 2015.

She has been professionally teaching Taekwondo to children since 2014 and has won leadership awards as well as Employee of the year at Mount Pleasant Martial Arts (2017-2018), and as Front Desk Operations for Callejo Elementary (2019-2021). She is continuing her education at Dallas Community College. Maggie Is currently residing in North Dallas.

Abigail has been at Cutting Edge since January 2023 as a Front Desk Coordinator. She is working on getting her undergraduate degree and wants to pursue a career in Child Psychology. Abigail has a passion for helping young adults and adolescents and raising awareness for mental health. She enjoys creating a fun and inviting environment for the people around her and can’t wait to see what the future has in store for her at Cutting Edge!

Candace is a married mother of one who originally hails from Tampa, Florida. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of South Florida before moving to Texas in 2018. Candace enjoys spending quality time with her family, including her two fur babies, a beagle named Cookie, and a husky named Rocko. She cherishes her time with loved ones and is passionate about creating meaningful memories with them. In her free time, Candace enjoys live music, gardening, exploring new hobbies, and engaging in outdoor activities. She is a driven individual who values personal growth and is always seeking new opportunities to challenge herself and serve her community.

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.

Samantha Heironimus has been a Registered Behavior Technician since March of 2022. Her career goal is to become a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst. Samantha has 2 dogs and a sphynx cat named Athena. Sam likes to spend her free time playing with her son or reading books.

Jakiyah has been working in customer service since 2018. She is originally from Georgia and moved to Texas after Highschool in 2021 to pursue a background in early childhood education. She enjoys working with children of all ages and is often warm and bubbly when she interacts with anyone. Her favorite motto is ‘Every day is a second chance’ and she’s excited to be a part of such a great team!

Elizabeth Pritchett has been a Registered Behavior Technician since May of 2022. She has previously worked in management roles. She also has several years of experience working in preschool environments. She has a bubbly, outgoing personality, and she strives to create positive, strong relationships with her peers, clients, and clients’ families. During her free time, Elizabeth enjoys reading and watching true crime shows. Elizabeth is excited to be part of the CEPT team!

Matilyn has been a registered behavior technician since October of 2021. She has experience from in home therapy as well as clinical therapy, gaining the knowledge and skills to provide exceptional services. Matilyn is currently attending Collin Community College to purse a degree in counseling psychology. She is an adventurous, nurturing, and loving character. Matilyn enjoys hiking with her dog to keep her safe, spending time with family and friends, and is dedicated to helping others. She strives to make an impact in lives of those that she encounters daily. She is often described as funny, caring, and patient and looks most forward to helping people with their emotional, social, work, school, and physical health concerns across the lifespan.

Samantha Godsey has been an RBT since 2022 and enjoys working with children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Samantha is a United States Army Veteran. Samantha has such a passion for helping others no matter the circumstance. She has two dachshunds who she absolutely adores. Samantha is engaged to be married June of 2023.

Michelle was born in Dallas, Texas but grew up in Richardson, and graduated from Richardson High School.  Michelle has worked in physical therapy medical billing for 20 years. She has twin boys and loves spending time with her family and her dog.  She is excited for this opportunity with Cutting Edge.

Emily Lopez has been a Registered Behavior Technician since 2020 and is excited to be part of the Cutting Edge Team. She is currently a student and plans to pursue a career in Speech Pathology and Applied Behavior Analysis. She has a passion for neurodivergence and helping others reach their full potential. She is an advocate for autism acceptance and loves to share her knowledge and personal experiences with ASD.

MariAnn received her Masters degree in Counseling from Syracuse University in 1997. She is a Nationally Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) specializing in developmental disability services as well as a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Texas. MariAnn has special training in Autism Spectrum Disorders using cognitive behavioral methods (CBT). She has also recently obtained her licensure as an LPC-Supervisor (LPC-S). Additionally, she is an ADHD Certified Clinical Services Provider (ADHD-CCSP). She has worked in schools in instructional support as well as a special services counselor, learning specialist and Director of a special education program. She has worked in therapy centers as a counselor, parent trainer, employee trainer, and was involved in the development of special programs for the Autism community. MariAnn has authored and presented the 5 Sense Thinking Series of workshops on topics such as Experiencing Autism, Depression, ADHD and more. MariAnn has been trained to work in both individual and group sessions and is open to serving the child, parent and/or sibling for support services. MariAnn is married with 3 adult sons, one of whom is significantly impacted by Autism. She loves spending time with her family and watching funny movies and psychological thrillers!

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!

Jennah graduated from Texas Woman’s University with a Bachelors in Psychology in 2012 and with her Master of Occupational Therapy degree in 2015. She always felt drawn to the pediatric population and began her journey in pediatrics as a fieldwork student at Cutting Edge where she greatly cherished helping children to achieve functional gains.

Following graduation, she returned to Cutting Edge to continue down this path. Over the years she has assisted with program development, leadership opportunities, and has sought out multiple continuing education opportunities to strengthen her skillset and to provide a high level of care for her clients.

Jennah enjoys being able to target client goals with a play based functional approach. She loves to utilize her creative skills to make sessions memorable and motivating for the clients that she sees. She appreciates being able to collaborate with clients, family members, and other professionals on the treatment team.

Jennah’s Certifications and Specialties include Neuro-Developmental Treatment Introductory Coursework, The Listening Program, InTime Provider Course, Interactive Metronome, Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration (MNRI), Level 1 Sensory SPD Foundation Mentorship, Fine Motor and Handwriting related to First Strokes Program, Handwriting Without Tears, Astronaut Training Protocol, Kinesio Taping 1-4, Essentials of Praxis Intervention for Children with Autism, Size Matters Handwriting Program, Zones of Regulation, DIRFloortime Introductory Coursework, and additional training in vision.

Amanda is a 2013 graduate of the Kaplan College Physical Therapist Assistant program. Amanda received physical therapy treatment when she was in high school which led her to begin volunteering at a local physical therapy clinic. It was during her volunteer hours that Amanda found her passion for physical therapy as a treatment modality. While in a pediatric clinical rotation, Amanda became driven to make a career out of helping children. After receiving her license, Amanda began working with a pediatric home health company in May 2014. While she enjoyed her time in home health, Amanda is excited to continue her passion of pediatric Physical Therapy with the Cutting Edge Pediatric Therapy team.

Amanda’s Certifications and Specialties include Aquatic Therapy.

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!

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.

Crystal Anderson graduated from Purdue University Global with a Master’s Degree in Psychology and ABA. She has been a Registered Behavior Technician since 2019. Crystal Anderson plans to continue her education in hopes of becoming a BCBA.

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.

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.

Nooreen Khalid is an Occupational Therapist. She graduated with her bachelor’s in psychology from Austin College in Sherman in 2017 and recently graduated with her Masters in Occupational therapy from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in 2019. Nooreen has always had a passion for working with the pediatric population and has had various experience from volunteering to completing her fieldwork at various outpatient pediatric clinics.  Nooreen is looking forward to working with the children and families and to be apart of the Cutting Edge team!

Nooreen’s Certifications and Specialties include Interactive Metronome (IM).

Katie graduated from Baylor University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She then attended the University of Texas at Dallas where she received her Master of Science in Communication Disorders. Katie was introduced to speech therapy when her younger brother was diagnosed with Autism, and she has had an interest in working with children and teens with communication disorders ever since. During graduate school, Katie gained experience working with the pediatric population in preschool programs, public schools, and private clinics. Through those experiences she was able to provide therapy for articulation and language disorders, social/pragmatic disorders, augmentative and alternative communication, and sensory based feeding disorders. Katie is joining the Cutting Edge team for her Clinical Fellowship Year. She looks forward to getting to work as a team with her clients, families, and other professionals to help her clients be the best communicators they can be.

Zohaib graduated from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, then proceeded to complete his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky. Zohaib and his fellow colleagues presented literature at the American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting in San Antonio, 2022. It has been a goal of his to serve in the community while facilitating growth and the development of others. His area of interest resides in Neurology and he is fortunate to be part of the team here at Cutting Edge Pediatric Therapy.

Jaspreet received her diploma from Imagine International in 2022. She enjoys working with children and hopes to continue doing so in the future! She has resided in Texas her entire life and has worked in a variety of occupations and helped with a variety of organizations before settling into her position at Cutting Edge Pediatric Therapy.

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!

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.

Kara received both her Bachelor of Science in Child Development (2019) and Master of Occupational Therapy (2021) from Texas Woman’s University. Kara’s mother is an elementary teacher, which inspired her to pursue pediatrics early on. Kara has various experiences working with the pediatric population, from working at achievement centers to completing her fieldwork placements. She completed her Level II fieldwork in a pediatric outpatient clinic in Central Texas, where she worked directly with children of various ages to foster independence in everyday tasks. In addition, Kara was able to facilitate aquatic therapy sessions with various clients. During her time at this clinic, she developed a multi-disciplinary aquatic therapy activity set to address various skills. Serving children and their families is Kara’s passion and she is excited to become a part of the Cutting Edge community!

Rachel graduated from Harding University with her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She moved to Dallas in 2019 and graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with her Masters of Science in Communication Disorders in 2021. Rachel has experience working in public schools as well as graduate experience working with children and adults of all ages. She has a passion for making therapy sessions both fun and functional for her clients and is excited to be a part of the Cutting Edge team!

Grace McFarling, M.S., CCC-SLP graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders in 2014. In 2016, she graduated from the University of North Texas with a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. Grace has been trained in Level 1 of the PECS program and has been a Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist in the state of Texas since 2016. She specializes in working with individuals with Autism, Developmental Delays, and AAC devices.

Sterling has been with Cutting Edge since 2023 and is a student at Collin College in which she is studying to obtain her associates degree. She has lived in Texas most of her life. Sterling enjoys spending time with her family during her free time and taking her dog Bella to the dog park on the weekends. She loves to be able to see individuals’ growth and loves the thought of being able to help people grow and can’t wait to see what Cutting Edge has held for her in the future.

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!

Faith Hawkins received her Master of Science in Speech-Language-Pathology from Baylor University in 2022. She began her career as a Speech Pathologist by joining the Cutting Edge team in 2022 as a Clinical Fellow and now holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Faith has always enjoyed working with children and loves building rapport with her clients. Faith has experience in multiple settings evaluating and treating both pediatric and adult populations. Specifically, she has experience providing treatment to individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), expressive/receptive language disorders, speech sound disorders, feeding disorders, and stuttering disorders.

She enjoys working in a collaborative setting and work with Occupational and Physical therapy 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.

Faith also holds certifications in QBS Safety Care and the SOS Approach to Feeding.

Keely Howard has been with Cutting Edge since July of 2020 as the ABA Program Manager and is now working towards her dream of becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) under the supervision of MariAnn Gattelaro, Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor, LPC-S & Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, CRC.

Keely graduated from Ouachita Baptist University in 2015 with her Bachelor’s in Psychology and received her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Texas A&M University-Commerce in 2017. She spent her practicum and internship hours in her master’s program at Hunt Regional Medical Center, providing individual and group treatment to adults in the inpatient unit. She also interned for a year at the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center counseling children and teens who suffered abuse and their families. She has experience using an array of different theories and methods, such as, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT) and Solution-Focused Therapy. Having over 6 years of experience in the ABA field working with the population we serve here at Cutting Edge; she is excited Cutting Edge has provided the opportunity to put both her passions for counseling and the special needs population together!

During her free time, Keely enjoys playing with her daughter, going to the movies, and trying new coffee shops and restaurants!

Melissa has been with Cutting Edge since 2019 and is a student at Collin County Community College where she is studying to obtain an associate degree of science in nursing. She initially began her journey with Cutting Edge as a front office coordinator, where she gained tremendous knowledge. After a year, she was then given the opportunity to work in the client care services department. Melissa has worked with front desk scheduling and medical billing since 2016. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and exploring new adventures.

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.

I started working with children in 1999 for Child Protective Services in my hometown of Amarillo, Tx.  I left the great state to see where life was going to take me. I ended up back in Texas and started working in for an Environmental Analysis company. After ten years working as an Administrative Assistant, it was time to make change and go back to working around kids. I love helping new families navigate the process of ABA at Cutting Edge.  I am excited to be a part of a great team here at Cutting Edge.