Before graduating from Austin Community College as a Physical Therapist Assistant, Angie spent a number of years as a children’s portrait photographer.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Motion Picture Production from Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara, CA, and after years in the film and photo industry realized her real passion was helping children, which led her to become a PTA for kids.  Angie, her husband, their dog, and three cats live in Round Rock.  Angie loves being a homeowner as gardening and home improvement are two of her passions.  She is also an avid reader, loves animals, plays piano, enjoys camping, and of course continues an enthusiasm for photography and film.

Judy is from League City, Texas. Believe it or not, she decided she wanted to be a Physical Therapist as a 2nd grader! She grew up in Girl Scouts, dance, swimming and water polo and absolutely loves working with children! Once she graduated from high school, she went on to earn a Bachelor's of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Texas at Austin, and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. She also works at R.O.C.K., the Ride On Center for Kids in Georgetown, TX where she combines her love for children and horses! Her favorite parts of therapy include helping children to achieve whatever movement their heart desires – on the ground, in the pool, or even on a horse.

Doris graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in December 1999 with a Masters Degree in Physical Therapy. She lived in Hawaii for 3 years where she worked in the areas of acute care, rehab, skilled nursing, and outpatient therapy with her primary focus in geriatrics. She moved to Clarksville, TN and lived there 2 years where she worked in outpatient orthopedics and pediatrics. Following her husband's military career, she moved to Little Rock, Arkansas where she continued working as a pediatric physical therapist for 6 1/2 years at Easter Seals Arkansas and as the Physical Therapy Department Head for 4 years. She received her Neurodevelopmental Treatment Certification in Pediatrics in 2008 which specializes in the evaluation and treatment of children with cerebral palsy and movement disorders. In September 2011, she moved to Temple, Texas and joined Kidz Therapeze. In addition to her career in pediatrics, she has been married for almost 12 years to her wonderful husband, Alex and they have a handsome 2 year old boy, Wyatt.

I have been working with children all of my life. However I began my journey as an occupational therapist in 2007. I enjoy every minute of what I do. There is nothing better than when a child starts to get the hang of something or master’s it and then I get to watch their face as they get to share the great news with their parents. It brings tears to my eyes every time. I obtained my master’s degree from The College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota. My special interests in pediatrics include feeding and sensory integration treatment. I have been certified as an S.O.S. Feeding Approach provider as well as a Therapeutic Listening trained provider. I have been in Killeen since September 2009 and I have loved every moment of my being at Kidz.   

I am Amanda Pennington MOT, OTR but I go by the nickname Amy. I have earned a Bachelor of Science degree of psychology from University of Houston and a Masters of Occupational Therapy degree from Texan Woman's University. As a practicing OT, I have worked with various populations and have had the opportunity to learn about many unique injuries and illnesses. I joined the KidZ TherapEZE team June of 2010 and am delighted to be here. The majority of my continuing education has been focused on techniques for working with children with sensory issues, including therapeutic listening. I also am a proponent for animal assisted therapy and my Golden Retriever, Nala, is currently in training for therapeutic and service work for children with autism.

If there is a furry face four legged “therapist” in the clinic, you can bet Occupational Therapist, Tammy Renaud, is also nearby. Tammy is our Program Director for our newly established Animal Assisted Therapy program. With 12 years of experience incorporating animals into the healing process, she brings to KidzTherapeze a fresh and exciting idea, as well as a motivating therapeutic “tool” to use with our clients. Our goal is to have working therapy dogs and other small animals that can be incorporated into treatment with the children we see. From motor groups to motivating speech and language development, animals can often motivate children to participate in otherwise challenging tasks. Tammy is also an instructor and evaluator for the Pet Partners Program through Delta Society, an internationally recognized leader in AAT. In her “spare time” Tammy provides consultation and educational outreach to other individuals and organizations interested in doing similar work. This work includes traveling to Barcelona, Spain; Lisbon, Porgtugal; Guayaquil, Ecuador; and Santiago, Chile where she has provided lectures for Fundacion Bocalan (http://www.bocalan.es/fundacion.html) and their AAT certification program. For more information on Tammy and her AAT program, please go to www.jumpstarttherapies.org.

Animal Assisted Therapy and OT are not the only forms of rehabilitation Tammy has practiced. After completing her degree in OT, Tammy took a short career detour to follow a dream of her own…to rescue, rehabilitate, and release sick and injured dolphins and small whales as State Coordinator for the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network. During several of the rehabilitations, Tammy utilized her knowledge of treatment techniques for humans on the dolphins, often seeing wonderful results. Combining this love with her love of working with children, Tammy also worked with a dolphin assisted therapy program in Clearwater, FL as part of her Master’s degree internship program.

Tammy is also currently working with Texas Hearing and Service Dogs as a foster trainer and consulting OT to facilitate matching recipients with service dogs. Seen here is Tammy with her foster service dog in training, Onyx, who visited KidzTherapeze several times.

We’re excited to see what other tools Tammy has in her bag!!

Hi, my name is Joselyne, but everyone calls me Josie. I am a bilingual occupational therapist who has been working at Kidz Therapeze since January 2008. I have been married to my husband Eliezer since 2003 and we now have two children (one on the way) and two dogs. My weekends usually consist of hanging out with my family at the park, going to sporting events, and just having a good time outdoors.

My father was in the Army so I was born in Manhattan, Kansas, but raised here in Killeen, TX. I attended C.E. Ellison High School and graduated in 2001.  I now have an Associate of Science in Kinesiology from Central Texas College, a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences and a Master’s of Occupational Therapy from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. While in graduate school I obtained my license in massage therapy and also worked as an occupational therapist aide in acute care and the burn unit. I recently completed certification for perform Beckman oral motor treatment techniques. I have always loved being around kiddos.  Ever since I can remember, my mother has run her own home day care business, and I think that’s where my love for kids comes from.

Susan Provost-Danner joined KidZ in January 2009. I work with children because they have so much to teach us and they are always willing to learn. I started my career as an Army OT in Germany, providing therapy to students in the school system. I have also worked in home health, early childhood intervention and orthopedic hand injuries. I received my Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from Creighton University in Omaha Nebraska, a Masters in Early Childhood Education from Boston University in Frankfurt, Germany and a Doctor of Occupational Therapy from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in Provo, Utah.

I enjoy being outdoors, gardening, swimming, and hiking. I also quilt, read, and spend time with my husband, two daughters, and our ball-fetching dog.

In 1998, I decided to pursue a degree in Occupational Therapy at the University of Puget Sound in Washington State.  I saw the profession as an opportunity to dedicate myself to improving the quality of life for disabled children and their families.  Throughout my career I have worked in the public school system, an acute care hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, and pediatric clinics.  My heart has always led me back to pediatrics.  I began working at Kidz Therapeze in March of 2009.  I have found that the supportive staff and well equipped clinic make it easy to enjoy my work.  The diversity of the children I serve and their families makes my job interesting, challenging and rewarding.  I consider it a tremendous blessing to be able to do what I do.  My husband and two children are the joy of my life.  We are very involved in our church where my husband serves on the elder board and I am a vocalist on the worship team.  I recently joined a jazz band called Cactus Groove and am looking forward to performing in various venues in and around Central Texas.  I also love to cook - and eat!

Jenna is an Occupational Therapist who has been with Kidz Therapeze since May 2010. Jenna received her Bachelor of Science in Health Care Sciences and Masters of Occupational Therapy from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in 2010. In March of 2012, Jenna will be an NDT certified therapist. Jenna has always had a passion for working with children, wants to help all children become as independent as possible, and is loving her time here at Kidz!

Jenna also has the pleasure of supervising two COTAs that you'll also see around our clinic, George Becerra and Darius Cox. She believes that therapy is most successful with a team collaboration and believes that families should be part of that team as well!

Darius Cox is a COTA who is a new member of the Kidz Therapeze team. Darius received his OTA training at the U.S Army Medical Department Center & School, Fort Sam Houston, TX in 1999. In 2000 he earned National Certification of Occupational Theray Assistants. Darius retired from the U.S Army in 2012 after 20 years of service as a combat medic. From 1999 -2007 he served as the NonComissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of three Occupational Therapy clinics, Fort Knox KY, Landstuhl Germany and Fort Riley KS where his focus was physical disabilities. His last five years of service he was a platoon sergeant and team chief in a Combat Stress Control unit where his focus changed to the mental health aspect of O.T where he taught life skills classes and suicide prevention. Darius proudly served in harms way completing two tours in Iraq and one tour in Afghanistan.

Darius enjoys being a member of such a productive team here at Kidz Therapeze. All though he has a deep passion for helping people of all ages he is truly excited to work with children because he is considered a "big kid" himself.

In his leisure time Darius likes to laugh, joke, play and spend time with his family. He is married to Crystal Cox and is the proud father of four kids. Darius loves to participate in fitness/physical training activities anything from walking his dog to MMA. He also enjoys riding his motorcycle. Last but not least he is a huge New York Giants fan.

Robin Abbott graduated with a BS in occupational therapy in 1997. She has worked in adult acute care, and came to pediatric OT in 2005. She is currently working on her Master’s degree, her research focusing on autistic children and the use of Therapeutic Listening. She lives with her husband Chris, an Army Lieutenant Colonel, and their two kids, Simon and Ellie (ages 6 and 9) in Belton. They are planning to start a small family farm on their 10 acres and have begun with two horses, Dolly and Reuben.

Jennifer moved to Texas in February 2007 from South Florida. Jennifer's background with children began in the field of education. After receiving a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Florida State, she taught elementary school for 4 years. Upon leaving the classroom, Jennifer received a master's degree in Communication Disorders from Nova Southeastern University in Ft Lauderdale, Florida. She has extensive experience working with kids of all ages and welcomes the opportunity to make speech therapy fun and creative, while also incorporating academics. Annie, Jennifer's dog, works part time assisting Jennifer at KidZ TherapEZE as a certified therapy pet. Annie enjoys eating bubbles, competing in shuttle runs with the kids, and giving kisses. The kids simply light up in her presence.

Jennifer and her husband, Craig, moved to Texas to improve their quality of life. They take pleasure in Austin's live music seen, exploring the many parks with Maya and Annie, swimming, biking, reading, and doing yoga, as well as enjoying many of the local events and festivals that make Austin famous. Jennifer lives in Round Rock with Craig and her daughter Maya, Annie (the dog) and 2 cats (Canon and Dixie).

My name is Stacy Russell. I graduated from Baylor University in
2009 with a Bachelor of Arts, and earned my Master of Science degree
in Communication Sciences and Disorders in December, 2010 from Baylor
as well. During my graduate course work I had clinical rotations that
include hospital, school system, NICU/PICU, adult neuro group, and
Baylor's literacy-based Camp Success.

I joined Kidz Therapeze in January 2011 and feel so blessed to be
working at this clinic and to begin my career here. I live in
Gatesville with my husband and enjoy spending time with him and
family.

Kristin has been with Kidz Therapeze since August 2002.  She received her Master's degree from the University of Florida in 1995, and has provided speech therapy services to adults and children with a variety of impairments, in a number of settings since that time. Her particular interests are working with children who are cochlear implant recipients, and children who have diagnoses including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, verbal apraxia/dyspraxia, and feeding/swallowing difficulties.

Kristin is an authorized provider of "The Listening Program" for sensory integrative issues, and has been trained in "The Beckman Assessment and Intervention Protocol" for many years.  She also has training in Auditory - Verbal Therapy, and the "Picture Exchange Communication System".

Kristin is married to husband, Derrick, who is retired from 21 years of service in the Armed Forces. Together they have 2 sons (one who has just entered the Army) and a daughter. When not working, Kristin loves to travel and spend time outdoors gardening, biking, etc, with her family.

God is first in her life, and she believes that with faith nothing is impossible!

Lori is a Speech-Language Pathologist from Valley, Alabama who moved to Texas and joined our staff in June 2006. Lori received her Bachelor of Science degree at the Mississippi University for Women in 2003 and then received her Master's degree at the University of Alabama in 2004-ROLL TIDE! Lori has had experience with pediatrics and adults in different settings such as schools, skilled nursing facilities, home health, and private practice. She has special interests in Autism, pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders, and fluency disorders.

Lori enjoys reading, cooking and spending time with her husband Bill who is a firefighter at Fort Hood. Bill and Lori also enjoy spoiling their new 16 pound cat named Biscuit.

Lisa received her Master's degree in Speech Pathology from the University of Colorado in 1983. She has worked with children in a variety of settings, including schools and pediatric rehab clinics. Her specialties include Autism Spectrum Disorders and Early Childhood Language Development. She joined the KidZ TherapEZE staff in March, 2006.

In her spare time Lisa enjoys being with her family and their three cats while gardening, fishing, or just being outside.

Julie is a speech language pathologist who joined Kidz Therapeze in July of 2009. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Speech Language Pathology from Texas Christian University in 2003 and a Master's Degree in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Kansas in 2005. She has experience providing speech and language services to both children and adults in a variety of settings including schools, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and outpatient clinics. Julie lives in Austin and enjoys exploring the city, reading, traveling, and spending time with family, friends, and her dog, Magnum.

I graduated from Baylor University with a Master in Communication Sciences and Disorders in May of 2002.  I have eight years of pediatric experience working in private practice, acute care, the neonatal intensive care unit, and in the school setting.   I am a part time therapist at Kidz Therapeze and a full time wife and mother to my husband Jonathan and two year old little girl Kate.  I feel so blessed to be able to make a difference in the lives of children while at work.  Seeing each child make progress towards each of their goals is so rewarding!

Hi, my name is Ashlee and I am a Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant working under the supervision of Lorie Malone, MS, CCC/SLP. I graduated from Texas A&M University-Kingsville with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders in August 2010. I began working at Kidz Therapeze in October 2010. Working with children and helping them reach their goals is a very rewarding experience! I feel very blessed for the opportunity to begin my career as a Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant at Kidz Therapeze.

I married my wonderful husband Marshall in December 2010. He is the love of my life and we are very excited about starting our new lives together. God and family are priorities in our lives. When I’m not working with children at Kidz Therapeze, you can find us spending quality time together with our families, going to the movies, shopping , and trying any new restaurant we might happen to find!

My name is Jacqueline Heikell. I am a trlingual Speech Language Pathologist Assistant and I work under Lori Mallone a Certified Speech Language Pathologist. I have worked here at kidz therapeze since July 2010. I am fluent in Spanish and American Sign Language. You might see me in the community at times as a freelance interpreter for the deaf. I became an interpreter in 2001 and used those skills to put myself through school to obtain my B.S in Psychology. I then received my Masters degree in Deaf Education from Texas Women's University in 2008. It was then I became licensed as a Speech Therapist Assistant.. Before coming to KIDZ, I worked for a local school district for three years as a Speech Therapist Assistant. I have experience with deaf and hard of hearing individuals, bilingual therapy, Autism, stuttering, and other communication disorders.

When I am not working I am taking care of my three children and my husband of 15 years. I enjoy movies, spending time with my family and the occasional "quiet time" moment.

I am pleased to work with children and have very much enjoyed my time working at KIDZ Therapeze.I love seeing children progress and reach their communication goals!

Raechel earned her bachelor’s degree in Communications Sciences and Disorders from the University of Texas in Austin in the spring of 2007.  She continued her education by earning a master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology from Stephen F. Austin State University in the spring of 2009. Raechel began her career at Kidz as a student during the summer of 2008.  After graduation, she gladly returned to the clinic as a full-time speech therapists and is excited to continue to grow as a therapists.  Raechel is a native to the Central Texas area and currently resides in Belton, TX with her husband Jordan. Jordan is finishing up his master’s degree at UMHB where he is also employed as a football coach. Through her marriage to Jordan, Raechel was also blessed with a 7 year-old step-son, Jaiden.  In her free time, Raechel enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends, cooking, and playing with her dog Sugar.   

Katy received her Master's degree in Communication Disorders in 1996 from the University of Houston. She also received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Sam Houston State University in 1991. She loves working with children and feels blessed to work in such a positive, supportive work environment. She lives in Austin with her husband Kevin, and her 3 children. (And 2 dachshunds!) In her spare time, Katy enjoys spending time with family and friends, boating on Lake Travis, and being a Girl Scout Leader.

Tally is a speech language pathologist who joined Kidz Therapeze in June 2011. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Communications at the University of Oklahoma, where she was also a student-athlete on the women's soccer team -- Boomer Sooner!! She completed her Master of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Texas Woman's University. She has experience with both pediatrics and adults in a variety of settings, including schools, home health, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and outpatient clinics. Tally feels extremely lucky to have found a job working with such amazing therapists, children, and families at Kidz Therapeze. Tally is originally from Dallas, TX; where she was born and raised. She currently lives in Killeen with her two teacup poodles, Carmen and
Jadi, who could very well be her children with the way they are spoiled.

Katie joined our staff in July 2006. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and Speech from Marshall University and a Master of Science Degree in Communication Disorders from Texas Tech University. She has been married for 42 years, has two grown sons, and two grandchildren. As a military spouse, for 32 years, Katie experienced 12 military moves. She has personal experience with the stress and difficulty that children face with military relocations and deployment of a parent. As a Speech and Language Pathologist, Katie has worked with adults and children in various settings including hospitals, outpatient clinics, long term care facilities and school environments. She also has experience with children through teaching Sunday school, raising two sons, and enjoying her grandchildren. Katie loves working with children. She strives to individualize therapy and make it functional for each child on her caseload. Each child is treated as she would have wanted her own children treated. She has now retired, but continues to be involved at Kidz Therapeze.

My name is Shelley, and I am the loudest, proudest member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Class of 2009. Upon graduation from Texas A&M, I went on to receive my Masters degree in communication disorders from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2010. During my studies, I quickly discovered my passion to work with children, and took a job with Round Rock ISD. When presented with the opportunity to work at Kidz Therapeze in the summer of 2011, I quickly accepted and have recently completed my clinical fellowship year.

In my free time, you can find me hanging out with my husband, whom I married in August of 2009, and our dog, Jack Jack. God has blessed us in so many ways, and we strive daily to make a difference in others’ lives. Together, we enjoy spending time with family, doing projects around the house, and cheering for the Aggies- Gig ‘Em!

Megan joined the Kidz Therapeze team in August of 2011 after graduating with a master of science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Adelphi University in New York. Megan received a bachelor of arts degree in Psychology, specializing in developmental psychology and cognitive neuroscience, from New York University in 2006. She experienced working with kids on the autism spectrum as well as those using augmentative and alternative communication.

In her free time, Megan enjoys spending time with her husband and son, cooking, and watching the New York Yankees and the Giants!

Hi, my name is Chief. I was adopted by Tammy Renaud from Golden Beginnings Golden Retriever Rescue (www.gbgrr.org). I am a 6 year old Golden Retriever/Saluki mix. My mom tells me I am a therapy dog, and that I help kids with special needs. I just like to think of myself as "the boss". I LOVE MY JOB!! The best part of my day is hearing the kids say "Chief is here!" or getting treats from the kids. Playing with kids is what makes me the happiest. I love to greet them and give them kisses. But I also like snuggle and play time with them. Mom keeps telling me I have the easy life…I think it's more like the BEST LIFE!!