Administrative Team
Mary Kirchoff
Executive Director
Mary Kirchoff
Mary’s career supporting those in need began on the grade school playground, where she regularly challenged and deflated bullies. Thirty years of toiling for The Man helped her develop a broad range of eclectic skills, from editing and publishing, to marketing, and business management at for-profit companies such as Hasbro, Wizards of the Coast, 38 Studios, and TOR Books/St. Martin’s Press. She stepped away briefly mid-career to raise two boys who are now men and author twelve novels, as well as study and practice extensively as a certified integrative life and executive coach. She is thrilled to be using the full breadth of skills she’s acquired over her career in her daily work at Wonderland. In recent years she’s turned her sights on golf, a fickle game.
Michelle Stiller Bradley
Program Director
Michelle Stiller Bradley
Michelle has lived in and traveled to many places around the world, including: Malaysia, Guatemala, Israel, Thailand, and Costa Rica, and hopes to experience many more. Born in Berkeley, California, she has found her forever home here in Seattle. She has been a “helper” since very early on and has vivid memories of helping her mom, a physical therapist, every Friday at the senior center where she worked. At age 15, one of Michelle’s closest friends was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, and she had the honor to being part of his journey for the next nine years before he lost his battle to the disease. He inspired Michelle with his grace and joy, despite the challenges faced, which reinforced her passion for helping others. These life experiences, among others, led to getting a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and a Master of Arts in Counseling. She’s worked in the social service field for over 20 years as a therapist, case manager, investigator, child interviewer, victim advocate, preschool teacher, and non-profit manager, while raising two lovely girls she’s proud to call her daughters.
Jenna Buzzard
Therapy Manager
Jenna Buzzard
Jenna is a proud product of the Midwest, which comes out in her connections with others and commitment to her work. Education and working with people with developmental disabilities have been two recurring themes throughout her life experiences. In 1998 Jenna joined a lifetime friend on a spur-of-the-moment trip to Seattle, which led to a move two months later. Flash forward 10 years and Jenna was walking across a stage accepting her Masters in Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Washington. Jenna has additional training in promoting social emotional development, visual impairments in young children, and screening for Autism. In her spare time, Jenna finds joy in spontaneous experiences with her “partner in crime” (son), working in the yard, and spending time together as a family.
Ann Jacobus
Director of Community Investment
Ann Jacobus
A New England transplant and lobster roll connoisseur (which she misses very much!), Ann moved to Seattle sight unseen in 1992 (back when Seattle was affordable, smaller, and grungier). She is longtime do-gooder having worked for a variety of local non-profits including Food Lifeline and Cornish College of the Arts. When not working, Ann can be found in a yoga studio, hiking or hanging out with her family in Shoreline, or in her garden. She dreams of living in Baja Sur for part of the year and snorkeling with sea turtles. Ann has a BA in psychology from Central Connecticut State University.
Courtney Teno
Business Manager
Courtney Teno
Courtney originally hails from the faraway land of Portland, OR. With a heart for children and a desire to learn she trekked all the way to Seattle for college and never left after graduation. Courtney has worked with children as an educator in various capacities: preschool teacher, nanny and as an educator at the Seattle Children’s Museum. It was as a nanny that she met her husband (family uncle) and her charges soon became her nieces. Throughout her career Courtney has also become proficient in bookkeeping and HR practices and is using these skills in her position as Wonderland’s business manager. In her free time Courtney enjoys spending time with her husband and their two chocolate labs, Bear and Andi. In spring/summer months you’ll often find her fishing or touring Washington wine country.
Charlie Ainslie
Community Outreach Coordinator
Charlie Ainslie
Born and raised in Edmonds, Charlie fell in love with non-profit marketing and development while attending the University of San Francisco. Charlie earned a Master’s of Art in New Arts Journalism from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Since then she has held a number of communications positions, including at Gage Academy of Art, where she served as director of sales and marketing. Her PR and outreach efforts have supported nonprofits like Planned Parenthood, Seattle International Film Festival, Seattle Theatre Group, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and the Seattle Mariners. Charlie loves photography, traveling, art, and spending time with her husband and son.
Hannah Hathaway
Marketing & Events Coordinator
Hannah Hathaway
Hannah’s heart is truly in non-profit work. After earning a Bachelor’s in Political Science from Western Washington University, she relocated to the Bay Area where she worked on a political campaign and then for an environmental/political organization. Realizing she wasn’t cut out for a life in politics, Hannah decided to go back to school. In 2011 she graduated from Tulane University with a Master’s of Science in International Development. Since then, she has spent a summer interning in rural Italy, run a successful farmers market, and worked on food access issues.
Hannah spent her childhood in Alaska, where long days of roaming wild and free inspired her love of the outdoors. When not in the office, you can find her gardening, cooking, canning, foraging, fishing, hunting, or tending to a beehive with her husband on their little farm.
Sarah Hoff
Program Assistant
Sarah Hoff
Sarah has been interested in early intervention since her brother received EI services as a client in Bellingham 18 years ago. After studying psychology at Washington State University, she moved to the Seattle area to pursue her passion for working with individuals with disabilities, first working as an ABA therapist for children with autism, then settling into work at Wonderland as a Family Resources Coordinator
As Sarah serves families at Wonderland, she continues her work with children with autism as she also earns her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling. Sarah is enjoying the journey of work and school, and in her spare time she cooks, bakes, and gardens.
Kristi Johnson
Medical Billing Specialist
Kristi Johnson
Kristi hales from the Pacific Northwest and is happy to be raising a family here with her husband Clayton. As a parent of a child on the autism spectrum, she is proud to assist families with financial concerns so that children with special needs can be supported in reaching their full potential. Drawn to technical fields, she has been working with nonprofits in medical billing for ten years. She enjoys coding JavaScript and Python and doing web development in her spare time.
Solé Weber
Office Administrator
Solé Weber
A native Seattleite, Solé has always had a passion for working with children and families. She spent a great deal of time in her youth babysitting and caring for her mammoth-sized extended family, as well as families in her neighborhood. She attended Bellevue College with plans of becoming a pediatric nurse but decided to explore different avenues. During this time of exploration she held a front desk position with a popular hotel chain and discovered an interest in providing administrative support. Solé is excited to combine her passion for helping children with her administrative skills on the Wonderland team. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, yoga, gardening, local music, a great read and, most of all, spending time with her seven-year old Siberian husky, Jenna.
Amy Whiteside
Office Assistant
Amy Whiteside
Amy grew up on beautiful Green Mountain above the hills of Bremerton in Kitsap County. While in high school she enjoyed working with young children at a blended developmental preschool. Her interests includes cultural studies, geography, and music (she played the clarinet and loves the 1000+ songs on her Ipod). Amy recently earned her associate degree from Bellevue College with the goal of working in the clerical field. Volunteering for Wonderland’s Auction and JVH Memorial Golf Tournament led to a part-time job doing clerical work. She is so thankful for the opportunity to grow in her chosen field and learn new skills.
Amy loves walking and training dogs with her mother and her “diva” cat. She also enjoys qigong, making photo collages, and visiting family and friends on Whidbey Island and Indianola.
Family Resources Coordinators
Andrew Appelwick
Family Resources Coordinator
Andrew Appelwick
Andrew loves to call the Pacific Northwest home. Andrew worked with school-aged youth (5-12 years old) and launched a middle school program at the Associated Recreation Council (ARC) in Seattle. There he became a co-lead for the equity team as he has a sincere appreciation for engaging in conversations for change. Andrew stepped away from youth and program development for the past year to look into another passion of his, event management and production. In his spare time, Andrew loves being on the go and not having dull moments in life. He is a proud UW Football season ticket holder and Seattle Mariners fan. He is also the marketing and registration chair for the Seattle St. Patrick’s Day Dash. He grew up in Lake City and slowly inched north, currently living in Lynnwood where he hopes to stay for a while.
Haley Baker
Family Resources Coordinator
Haley Baker
Born and raised in western Washington, Haley’s passion for helping people with developmental disabilities was broadened in academic and experiential ways. A Western Washington University Human Services graduate, she has worked in early learning centers and volunteered for the Special Olympics. Haley’s interests include exploring the outdoors from coastal beaches to hiking trails in the foothills of the Cascades. She is a Seattle sports fan and avidly attends Seahawks and Sounders games whenever possible. Haley also enjoys cooking, baking, reading, and spending time with her family and dogs.
Julia Dorman
CHERISH Family Resources Coordinator
Julia Dorman
Julia’s robust sense of community and eagerness to help others grew out of her small town upbringing in Northern California. Yearning to explore, she moved to the Bay Area to study history, where she first began working with adults and teenagers with special needs and delays. Julia has assisted families with children of various abilities to recognize and work toward their full potential in both the Bahamas and India. Now on her current adventure in Seattle, Julia enjoys hiking, learning new languages, and trying unfamiliar foods.
Shelby Hanson
Family Resources Coordinator
Shelby Hanson
From fundraising with the Seattle chapter of the March of Dimes to a long stint in the pediatric therapy department at Swedish First Hill, Shelby has always had a heart for advocating for kids with special needs. In her spare time, she cheers on her own two kids and especially enjoys driving around the state watching them play and her husband Jay coach soccer and basketball. She also enjoys volunteering with children’s ministries at her church, making her nieces and nephews laugh, and cuddling her elderly Schnauzer, Effi. Shelby has a bachelor’s degree in psychology/sociology from Western Washington University and is happy to be serving families in the communities near her beloved hometown of Edmonds.
Mandy Schlegel
Family Support Manager & Lead Family Resources Coordinator
Mandy Schlegel
A native Washingtonian, Mandy began her career working with the elderly as a medical aid for five memorable years. After she and her husband had their own daughter she developed a deep interest in childhood development and became drawn to work with children and families. She jumped at the chance to join the Wonderland team and truly loves coming to work every day to provide support to Wonderland’s caregivers and children. Mandy also brings a decade of customer-service experience in the hospitality and property management industries. She enjoys getting outside as much as possible, where her family snowboards, camps, hikes, rock climbs, and most of all, surfs. Yes, surfing in our local frigid waters!
Katie Wachholz
Family Resources & Intake Coordinator
Katie Wachholz
A Puget Sound native, Katie’s love of working with children started at a young age when she babysat children in her Shoreline neighborhood. Katie began her career at Wonderland as an intern during her senior year as an undergraduate, which happily led to a position as the funding and outreach coordinator at the agency. Her passion for and experience working with children and families as a nanny and preschool teacher inspired the addition of Family Resources Coordinator to her title. In her free time Katie enjoys taking her Husky, Kahlua, to the dog park and chipping away at her goal of visiting all 50 states (only 11 to go)! Katie recently graduated from UW-Bothell with a degree in Sociology and Human Rights.
Sarah Zanders
Family Resources Coordinator
Sarah Zanders
A Puget Sound native, Sarah’s love for working with children started at a young age as a babysitter and nanny in her hometown of Sammamish, Washington. In high school she participated in the Running Start program at Bellevue College and worked at the preschool on campus. Sarah went on to get her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Washington State University and taught 1st grade in Lacey, Washington and preschool in Bellevue, Washington. Sarah later earned her Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Argosy University. She has worked with children and families for over 20 years in many different capacities, from early childhood education to trauma-focused counseling and social work. Sarah has spent the past six years dedicated to working with children, adolescents, and families who are systems involved. Sarah lives in Bothell with her husband, two daughters, and two dogs. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, camping, painting, baking, reading, and spending time with her family.
Therapists and Educators
Theresa Bettale
Special Educator
Theresa Bettale
A lifelong Washington and Oregon stater, Theresa’s response to the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” was, “A grandma, a clown, then a mom.” As a SpEd teacher she would say she was part grandma/part clown because she borrowed kids for a few hours then returned them to their parents, and it required some clowning around to teach preschoolers. She completed her original career list when she became a mom to two children!
After her son qualified for services from Wonderland, Theresa realized early intervention would be a great career fit because she adores babies and toddlers, as well as working as a team member with families and other therapists. She is continually astounded by how all the domains of development weave together and influence the others.
Carolyn Coghlan, DPT
Physical Therapist
Carolyn Coghlan
Raised in the Pacific Northwest, Carolyn left briefly to earn her Doctorate of Physical Therapy. During her graduate coursework she developed a passion for helping families from diverse cultural backgrounds promote health and wellness in their local communities. Carolyn loves using her creativity, especially when it involves developing fun, innovative ideas with families to encourage their children in their natural environments. She is inspired by the stunning landscape which is our backyard and is honored to help families and children engage in the beauty around them.
Lindsey Cross, M.A., CF-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Lindsey Cross
Lindsey grew up in Louisiana and Colorado, so she often jokes that the mix of accents led her to a career as a speech-language pathologist. Achieving her Master’s in Communication Sciences and Disorders, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Theological Studies from Saint Louis University, primed Lindsey’s clinical skills in holistic, evidence-based patient care. In her time there, she developed a passion for children and the intriguing, complex puzzle that is human development. She believes that SLPs hold a responsibility to develop an adept hand in all settings through which a child builds connection. Her dream is to develop a program for parents and their children to learn the communicative characteristics of silence. Outside of work, she enjoys winding down with a good book, sketching, exploring the Pacific Northwest, and yoga.
Hannah Currie, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Hannah Currie
Hannah’s passion for working with infants and toddlers stems from the pleasure she experiences watching them develop their own personalities and gain developmental skills. She is excited to be dedicated to helping families grow together by delighting in the little things that reveal their child is learning. She was raised in the Pacific Northwest and enjoys preserving fresh local produce, as well as hiking, gardening, cooking, and sewing.
Hannah DeJong, M.A., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Hannah DeJong
Growing up in Iowa, Hannah first became interested in working with children and their families by working as a respite and camp counselor for children with disabilities. She studied speech pathology and Spanish at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and enjoyed spending a semester in Spain learning a new language. After earning her Master’s degree in speech pathology from the University of Iowa, she worked in a pediatric clinic and in the school setting before moving to Seattle with her husband. Hannah likes to spend time outdoors and explore new places to hike in Washington. She also enjoys cooking, reading good books, and gardening.
Kalayla Hough, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Kalayla Hough
Kalayla has always been drawn to the “helping” professions. She began working with children with disabilities while a first grader, when she would go to the Special Education room and spend time playing games and interacting with kids. During graduate school, she worked as a behavior technician with children with autism and volunteered as a peer in an adult autism program. As an SLP, Kalayla is passionate about being able to help anyone and everyone communicate and interact with their environment. Her focus as a therapist is understanding the hopes and dreams each family has for their child and supporting them in their journey. Kalayla has lived all over the country, including Wyoming, Massachusetts, Nebraska, and Washington. Her favorite summer pastimes include hiking and spending time on the water. During the fall she spends her weekends watching football. Winter finds her out in the snow trying new activities.
Devon Lawrence
Special Educator
Devon Lawrence
Growing up in Maryland, Devon first became interested in working with children with special needs through her volunteer work with a 4-H Therapeutic Riding Program. She moved to Charlottesville where she stayed for both her undergraduate and graduate schooling. Devon earned her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Special Education and spent a year gaining experience in early-intervention services and preschool special education. She moved to Seattle with her husband and worked for her first five years teaching a special education preschool classroom. In her spare time, Devon enjoys visiting family and friends, reading books, watching movies, baking, and rowing.
Yuling Liu, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Yuling Liu
A former teacher in China and the U.S., Yuling has always known that she wanted a career that enables her to help people. She decided to pursue an occupational therapy degree from the University of Washington because it combines all her interest in teaching, early-childhood development, and medicine. Yuling is excited to be part of this dynamic team with a passion for supporting children and families from diverse cultural background to reach their greatest potential in their daily life. When Yuling is not working, she is busy raising her toddler twin daughters. She enjoys cooking, travelling and exploring outdoor activities. She speaks English and Mandarin Chinese.
Alexandra Lundy, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Alexandra Lundy
Alex first became interested in speech-language pathology, while working as a behavior technician for children with autism. She found joy in discovering how to enter a child’s world and to teach communication. She pursued a Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Oregon. After graduating, she worked in center-based early-intervention programs, pediatric clinics, and a school setting. She enjoys adventuring in the mountains and on the water with her very active pup.
Kris Marion,
M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Kris Marion
A native of Florida, Kris finds great reward in seeing positive changes occur in families. She loves supporting caregivers and children in their daily lives to help them communicate more fully with one another. She is grateful for the opportunity to know, teach, learn from, and collaborate with Wonderland families and has found her niche in co-facilitating parent education classes using The Hanen Program curriculum. Kris brought almost 15 years of speech pathology experience to the field of early intervention to Wonderland after working in both public school and private-practice sectors. She stays busy raising a toddler and school-aged twins, practicing photography, enjoying her backyard garden, planning new adventures, and exploring hobbies involving the arts (dancing, writing, music).
Julie Nagel,
LICSW, MHP
Infant Mental Health Specialist
Julie Nagel
Julie’s interest in early intervention goes back to her days growing up in Michigan, where she first taught special education. She came to Washington via Madison, Wisconsin where she attended grad school in mental health. Julie first worked with Wonderland 11 years ago when she came to train staff in a project called “Promoting First Relationships,” which focuses on meeting the social and emotional needs of infants and toddlers, after which she happily accepted an offer to join the team. Julie concurrently continues her training work at the University of Washington. As much of her free time as possible is spent in the great outdoors exploring nature and the world, traveling by foot, kayak, and bike. Indoors she loves cooking, reading, reading, more reading, and movies.
Rachel Newton,
M.S., OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
<b>Rachel Newton</b>
Rachel believes wholeheartedly in families and the power of home-based early-invention services. Raised on the East Coast, she earned her Master’s in Occupational Therapy there but has called Seattle home for the last ten years. She enjoys the culture of the Pacific Northwest and all the activities it offers, from skiing to mountain climbing, although recently has been sticking close to home, enjoying the little things with her husband and baby daughter.
Miki Robinson,
M.S., OT/L
Occupational Therapist
Miki Robinson
Miki brings many years of experience working with infants and children. Her background includes developmental assessment and treatment of infants born prematurely as part of a hospital-based NICU follow-up program, working with children on the autism spectrum, and specialized training in sensory processing and feeding challenges. She enjoys developing a collaborative connection with families and incorporating therapeutic strategies that best fit with and enhance their daily routines. Personal interests include reading, yoga, gardening, art, and critters of all sorts.
Kristen Shaw,
M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
CHERISH Lead
Kristen Shaw
Kristen studied English, Linguistics, and Speech Science, and has a Master’s in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Washington. She loves language in all its forms (she once competed in a crossword puzzle competition), and has spent most of her life working and volunteering for, or just enjoying, language causes. She has worked at a publishing house, translated Middle English poetry, taught English to adults, and helped run a reading program for teenagers. She became interested in Speech Language Pathology after reading the book The Diving Bell and The Butterfly, a memoir about finding new ways of communication after a stroke. She lives in Seattle with her husband and son and still reads Middle English for fun.
Andrea Steinmetz
Special Educator
CHERISH
Andrea Steinmetz
Born and raised in eastern Washington, Andrea’s internship at a preschool prompted her to realize the joy she receives from working with young children and families. She attended the University of Idaho and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Development and Education and is passionate about supporting individualization and development in natural environments through play. Andrea enjoys traveling, fishing, trying new restaurants, and is attempting to become a better cook. She also enjoys spending time with her family in Eastern Washington.
Hannah Valentine, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
Hannah Valentine
Hannah grew up in colorful Colorado and discovered her love for speech and language development while studying at University of Colorado in Boulder. She decided to get her master’s degree from University of Washington, so she and her blonde labradoodle packed up and moved to the Pacific Northwest. Her passion for working with young children flourished during her graduate studies and she conducted language development research at a preschool. Hannah loves how the early intervention model supports children in their natural environment and empowers caregivers. When not working with kids, Hannah can usually be found walking her dog, completing a puzzle, dancing with friends, or shopping at trendy gift boutiques in downtown Seattle.
Lily Wisner
Special Educator
Lily Wisner
Raised in various states and countries, Lily is thrilled to serve and support families in the Seattle area. She earned a dual Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education and Elementary Literacy, with minors in Early Childhood Education and History at New Mexico State University in 2017. She believes in the power of enriching and strengthening family bonds through early intervention. In her free time, you may find Lily hiking, reading, traveling or geocaching. She especially loves stickers, finding secret gardens, and snuggling with her husband, Jacob.
Jane Witmer,
M.S., OT/L
Occupational Therapist
Jane Witmer
Jane originally became an occupational therapist with an early-intervention focus to combine her interests in science and art, but she was surprised to discover how much pleasure she also finds in meeting and getting to know Wonderland’s children and their families. Jane is passionate about nurturing strengths and building on positive assets. She has found this particularly challenging recently as she nudges her two sons toward adulthood. Jane and her family peacefully coexist with one dog and two cats in a much-loved and remodeled home. She finds solace in outdoor activities like biking, hiking, camping, and gardening.