Our Team

Family Resources Coordinator Supervisor, CHERISH Coordinator

Haley Johndrow

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

Julia Dorman

Raised in rural Northern California, Julia developed a commitment to community empowerment at an early age. She earned her bachelor’s degrees in history and liberal studies at Sonoma State University and cultivated an interest in the history of healthcare and health movements. A strong proponent of the idea that one’s zip code should not determine their health outcomes, Julia is dedicated to improving health factors by working with families and children starting at the earliest stage in their lives – birth! Julia is especially honored to assist families in the child welfare system through the CHERISH program and takes great pride in helping promote positive relationships among all people involved in a child’s life. Julia enjoys reading, cooking, being outdoors, traveling, and exploring new places with her partner, Grant, and their incredibly vocal cat, Kevin.

Kylie Hall

Family Resources Coordinator Supervisor, Classroom Coordinator

Kylie Hall

After high school, Kylie attended Linfield College with the goal of becoming a nurse. During the summers when she was home from school, Kylie worked at Camp Prov, a day camp for children with special needs and their siblings. While working at the camp, Kylie realized she was passionate about working with children with challenges and decided to make a career change. She transferred to Colorado State University and earned a BS in Human Development and Family Studies with a concentration in Early Childhood Professions. Kylie worked as a registered behavior technician at the Providence Boyden Family Autism Center and found a love for supporting children with autism and their families. Kylie also has experience working as an assistant teacher in an ECEAP preschool where she supported children’s social and behavioral needs. Outside of work, Kylie enjoys fitness, attending baseball games, baking, being in the sun, and spending time with friends and family.

Shelby Hanson

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.

Charissa Matthias

Family Resources Coordinator, Bridge Coordinator

Charissa Matthias

Charissa has always called the greater Seattle area home! Over the course of her career, she has developed her passion to support individuals and families in many ways. After receiving her master’s in counseling, Charissa worked as a mental health therapist and a school counselor for many years. Combining her love of helping others and her love of young children, she is excited to be a resource for Wonderland families. Outside of work, Charissa loves spending time with her husband, daughter, friends, and extended family. She enjoys family outings and throwing parties!

Marsha Monroe

Marsha Monroe

Marsha is a born and raised Washingtonian! She has been passionate about working with children and parents and has seven years of experience in Early Childhood Education. She has been working as a preschool teacher and as a family educator for immigrant and refugee parents in South Seattle. Outside of work, Marsha loves international travel, and she tries to explore two new countries every year.

Emily Snure

Family Resources Coordinator, Intake Coordinator

Emily Snure

Emily grew up in Des Moines, Washington, and has always loved living in the Pacific Northwest. After graduating from Washington State University, she took a year to explore and work in Australia. Emily has always had a passion for working with families, and she wanted to continue working on that path after returning to Seattle. She loves traveling, camping, and spending time with her friends and family.

Rebecca West

Rebecca West

After graduating from Central Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Sociology, Becca followed her passion for working with children and joined the Wonderland team. Outside of work, she enjoys volunteering with local community groups, fishing with her husband, working on their newly purchased house, and going to the beach near their home on Whidbey Island.

Susanna Wong

Family Resources Coordinator Supervisor, CHERISH Coordinator

Susanna Wong

Born and raised in Shanghai, China, Susanna graduated from Hua Zhong University of Science and Technology with a BA in Finance and worked many years in marketing until she became a full-time mom. It was then that she discovered her love and passion for working with young children, when she volunteered at her son’s preschools and Cub Scout unit. Susanna went back to school and earned her Human Development BA and Early Childhood Education certificate at Washington State University. In her spare time, Susanna likes spending time with her family, traveling, discovering new restaurants, hiking, and going to Zumba class with her friends.

Sarah Zanders

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.

Early-Intervention Therapists and Educators

Christine Babcock, OTR/L

Christine Babcock

Christine studied early childhood and family studies and has a master’s in occupational therapy from the University of Washington. She first fell in love with occupational therapy as a volunteer at an early-intervention center in 7th grade. She is excited to join the Wonderland team and to work one-on-one with children while also supporting their caregivers. Christine grew up in Southern California but has called the Pacific Northwest her home for the last 12 years. When Christine is not working, she enjoys running, backpacking, baking, and spending time with friends and family.

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.

Kristi Brueck,
PT, DPT

Physical Therapist

Kristi Brueck

Kristi joins the Wonderland team with 16 years of experience as a physical therapist across the lifespan and in a variety of settings. She is a native Seattleite and attended Seattle Pacific University before moving to Montana for graduate school. Kristi is excited to take her career into the field of early intervention. She is passionate about education and the coaching model that Wonderland uses for empowering families to actively participate in their child’s progress. She loves the challenge of finding innovative ways to help children reach their full potential. Outside of work, she stays busy with her husband and three kids, volunteering at schools, coaching soccer, gardening, cooking, and traveling.

Sarah Burt,
CF-SLP

Sarah Burt

Sarah grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has lived in the Seattle area for the past four years. Her passion for working with children and helping people is what led her to her career as a speech-language pathologist. She enjoys helping children communicate with their families and the world around them. Sarah completed her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Nova Southeastern University. She is excited to be a part of the Wonderland team and to be able to support children and their families throughout their journeys. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, camping, and spending time with friends and family.

Rebecca Chao,
CF-SLP

Rebecca Chao

Growing up, Rebecca always had an interest in working with people and was fascinated by the intricacies of communication. Through an introductory course during her freshman year, Rebecca discovered a passion for speech-language pathology. She completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Washington. Rebecca is excited to be part of the Wonderland team and to work with children and families from diverse backgrounds. In her free time, Rebecca enjoys spending time with friends and family, hiking, baking cookies, and exploring Seattle area coffee shops.

Hannah Currie, OTR/L

CHERISH Speech-Language Pathologist

Hannah Currie

Hannah’s passion for working with infants and toddlers stems from the thrill of watching children develop their own personalities and gain developmental skills. She is dedicated to helping families grow together by delighting in the little things that reveal how their child is learning and growing. She grew up in the Pacific Northwest and enjoys preserving fresh local produce, as well as hiking, gardening, cooking, and sewing. Hannah is now very busy raising a toddler with another little one on the way.

Hannah DeJong, M.A., CCC-SLP

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.

Maria G., MOTR/L

Speech-Language Pathologist, Equity Ambassador

Maria G.

Maria came to Occupational Therapy as a second career after working in the arts and non-profit community development. She has worked with many different groups to build capacity through creative solutions. She came to OT with an interest in working one-on-one with families, adults and children to collaboratively and creatively build solutions to better the daily lives of those facing barriers. With particular interest in mental health, she splits her time between inpatient behavioral health practice and working with families in early intervention. Outside of work, Maria loves to travel, cook, garden, hike, and make all sorts of things.

Kalayla Hough, M.S., CCC-SLP

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, MAT

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

Speech-Language Pathologist, Therapy Supervisor

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.

Kris Marion, M.S., CCC-SLP

Kris Marion

Kris finds great reward in helping caregivers and children learn to communicate more successfully with one another. She is grateful for the opportunity to know, teach, learn from, and collaborate with Wonderland families, and has facilitated years of parent education classes using The Hanen Program curriculum. Kris has worked with children and families in many settings (home, public school, clinic-based, and private-practice sectors) and has almost 20 years of experience and training in a wide variety of communication disorders. Kris is one of Wonderland’s early intervention team therapy supervisors and is a mentor for clinical fellows at Wonderland through ASHA’s Clinical Fellowship program. She also participates in Wonderland’s Equity Change team to support positive change in the areas of workplace diversity, cultural understanding, and equity practices. She stays busy raising her three school-aged children, enjoying hot yoga, and pursuing various hobbies such as writing, crafts, and gardening.

Rachel Newton,
M.S., OTR/L

Rachel Newton

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.

Jill Petrowski,
CF-SLP

Jill Petrowski

A Pacific Northwest native, Jill completed a Master’s degree in Medical Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Washington. She was first inspired to join the field of speech-language pathology after becoming fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) through an immersive language program during high school. As an SLP, Jill has a passion for supporting children in their communication and feeding development by partnering with and empowering their families. She believes that the opportunity to work with children in their home environments is a privilege, and allows children to learn and grow within their own space. Outside of work, Jill enjoys creating art, singing in a local choir, and spending time with her cat.

Holly Schroepfer, M.S., OTR/L

Speech-Language Pathologist, CHERISH Lead, Therapy Supervisor

Holly Schroepfer

Holly grew up in a small town in Southwest Minnesota and knew she wanted to become an occupational therapist since her senior year of high school. She has always had a passion for working with children and supporting them as they develop and grow. Holly completed her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy degree in sunny Arizona and recently moved to the beautiful state of Washington. She is excited to be part of this multidisciplinary team as she is passionate about helping children and their families reach their maximal potential in daily life activities. When Holly is not working, she enjoys traveling, hiking, shopping, practicing yoga, camping, visiting wineries, watching movies, completing puzzles, and spending time with her fiancé, friends, and family.

Kristen Shaw, M.S., CCC-SLP

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.

Natasha Utevsky

Mental Health Counselor

Natasha Utevsky

Natasha was born and raised in Seattle but has lived in Portland and Spokane as well. She is happy to be back home near her family and lifelong friends. With a graduate degree in social work and an undergraduate degree in psychology, Natasha’s focus is on using best practices to connect with and improve outcomes for children and families. Natasha believes that positive early childhood experiences lay the foundation for happy and healthy adolescence and adulthood. She is also passionate about food, friends, camping, live music, and a good book, especially science fiction.

Shannon Walker, M.S., CCC-SLP

Occupational Therapist, Therapy Supervisor

Shannon Walker

Shannon has been working as a Speech-Language Pathologist since 2001. She spent several years in public school districts in California and Texas with students in pre-K through 8th grade, including teaching in a speech-language special education classroom for 4-year-olds. Additionally, she has worked with children from birth through 18 years of age in private practice and in Seattle area hospitals through their outpatient pediatric therapy departments. She previously provided early-intervention speech and language therapy services in natural learning environments and is excited to be working with this wonderful age group again. She is passionate about helping families and caregivers strengthen their communication with one another. Outside of work, Shannon loves to read (mostly from the Seattle Public Library system), cook vegetables, and spend time with her family.

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

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.

Hope RISING Clinic

Lina Chavez-Penner, M.A., LMHCA

Child and Family Therapist

Lina Chavez-Penner

Informed by her life experience and education in multicultural and social justice competencies, Lina prioritizes the relationship at the center of treatment. She developed a passion for providing trauma-informed mental health access to people of color, those who identify as gender diverse, the LGBTQ+ community, transracially adopted children, and children with neurodiversity. Lina’s ultimate goal is to help empower families to foster resilient attachment relationships that will prepare children for their future. When not working with amazing families at Hope RISING Clinic, Lina enjoys playing Dungeons & Dragons, camping with her partner and their dog, and sharing meals with her friends.

Shawna Hale

Family Support Specialist

Shawna Hale

Shawna has been an occupational therapist for 12 years. She is a member of the Department of Occupational Therapy Program Advisory Board at the University of Washington, a courtesy faculty member at the UW Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, and a clinical fieldwork instructor for students completing their Master of Occupational Therapy degrees. She has a passion for the occupational therapy process, which includes getting to know each and every person and developing strategies to help them achieve their goals. Shawna is a Bothell native and is excited to serve this fantastic community through Hope RISING Clinic. She enjoys spending time with her family, exploring new places, and immersing herself in nature, painting, art, and dance.

Tiara Huffaker

Tiara Huffaker

Tiara graduated from Linfield University in McMinnville, Oregon, with a B.S. in psychology. She played two years of college volleyball and studied abroad in Oslo, Norway. During her studies abroad, Tiara completed an internship in early childhood development and child abuse prevention. Before coming to Wonderland, she worked for an organization serving low-income families on TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families). Tiara loves to travel, coach/play volleyball, and spending time with friends and family. Some of her favorite places she has traveled to are Costa Rica, Spain, and Greece.

Alexandra Lundy, M.S., CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist,
Clinic Manager

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.

Gabrielle Maya Nonast,
MSW, LSWAIC

Family Support Supervisor

Gabrielle Maya Nonast

Gabrielle loves the work that supports families, strengthens their bonds, and connects us all in our common challenges. She believes our “village” is less well-defined than in generations past. As a parent of a child with special needs and as a child of aging parents, she has appreciated the moments where people come together in shared understanding and/or support of one another. She is passionate about working with families to connect with the supports they need to do the difficult, yet beautiful work of caregiving. She grew up in Northern California and has lived along the stretch of land from Southern California to the Seattle area. She enjoys adventuring with her kids, hiking and running in the woods near her home, reading and watching movies, and singing frequently, but poorly.

Sophie Reynolds, M.S., OTR/L

Intake & FASD Clinic Coordinator

Sophie Reynolds

Sophie is a Bothell native who has always had a passion and desire to work with children. Prior to graduate school, Sophie volunteered for two years in a Head Start classroom, providing support to children with prenatal substance exposure, trauma, and adverse life experiences. She became interested in becoming an occupational therapist after working as a floortime therapist for children with autism spectrum disorder. Sophie is a registered behavior therapist and has experience with aquatic therapy, early intervention, sensory regulation, and feeding interventions. As an occupational therapist, she uses a holistic approach in helping children and their families reach their fullest potential. She finds enjoyment in fashion and outside walks, cooking for family and friends, and spending time with her dogs.

Amy Sencenbaugh

Receptionist

Amy Sencenbaugh

Amy grew up in Lake Tapps, Washington. She developed a close relationship with her grandparents when she was little and later cared for them as they aged. Amy earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Western Washington University. She found that working with people became her passion, and she developed an appetite for helping others, especially if it included working with their pets. She enjoys taking the extra time to listen and has built long-lasting relationships with clients, friends, and family. She is recently engaged and spends most of her time doting on her precious dachshunds, Sully and Quincy.

Solé Weber

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. Solé has worked in many administrative roles, including an office administrator position with Wonderland for the last two years. She looks forward to taking the skills she has gained over the years and applying them to her new position on the Boundless Team. The opportunity to support children and families impacted by prenatal substance exposure speaks to her heart. Growing up, she has experienced the impacts of drug addiction and prenatal substance exposure in her family. Solé believes these experiences will help her support other families in her new role. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, kickboxing, yoga, gardening, reading great books, and most of all, spending time with her family and friends – including her nine-year-old husky Jenna.

Andrea Whipple, M.S., CCC-SLP

Medical Billing Specialist

Andrea Whipple

Andrea began her studies in education for the deaf and then broadened to speech-language pathology after observing others in the field and realizing that was the career for her. She has a passion for helping children communicate and connect with their family and the world around them. She has worked with children in both school and early-intervention in-home settings. Andrea grew up on a small farm in Spokane, WA and has lived in the Seattle area for the past 6 years. Outside of working with children, she enjoys exploring the Pacific Northwest by hiking, camping, and cycling with her husband and friends.

Melissa Wright

Melissa Wright

Originally from a small town outside of Portland, Melissa has always had a desire to work with children. It was her heart for children that lead her to an internship in childhood development in the big city. With a drive to help and bring joy to those around her, she is quick to lend a hand, or through her humor and quick wit, bring laughter and joy to people going through difficult seasons. After having her son, Melissa took the opportunity to go back to school for her CBCS (Certified Billing and Coding Specialist) education that would allow her to further help those around her.

Katherine Zintel, M.S., OTR/L