Your Child Couldn’t Be in Better Hands

Megan Morien, M.A., BCBA

Chief Clinical Officer

Megan Morien is an experienced Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with over two decades of dedicated work in the field of behavior analysis and education. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Family and Human Development from Arizona State University, followed by a master’s degree in clinical psychology with a specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Before settling in Chicago, Megan honed her skills by providing in-home ABA therapy in both Minnesota and Arizona. Her passion for education led her to spend two years teaching English in Gifu, Japan, broadening her cultural understanding and communication abilities.

Megan's expertise shines through her extensive tenure of over 10 years in school settings. As both a Behavior Analyst and administrator, she facilitated effective transitions for learners and families from preschool to public education settings. She supported diverse learners with inclusion support and ensured their success across various school environments. Known for her remarkable ability to empathetically partner with families and colleagues, Megan fosters consistency and skill development among learners and staff alike, yielding exceptional results in home, school, and therapeutic settings. She has also played a pivotal role in training teachers, paraprofessionals, and over 30 BCBA fieldwork students, all of whom successfully earned their BCBA certification.

Megan has been a part of our team since 2017 and currently holds a position as our Chief Clinical Officer, overseeing clinical services at CSTA. In this role, she manages clinical development and ensures excellence in our services. Megan's dedication to building strong relationships with families and children remains unwavering as she continues to provide invaluable support to our early learners within our classrooms and therapeutic services. Outside of CSTA Megan spends a great deal of time on the soccer field or sidelines cheering on her children, enjoys travel and reading. A fun fact is that Megan’s son attended preschool at CSTA for two years.

Aly Kenny, M.A., CCC-SLP

Executive Director of Clinical Services

In her role as the Director of Clinical Services at CST Academy, Aly brings a wealth of experience and a genuine passion for helping children thrive through comprehensive care, addressing not only their communication needs but also their broader developmental goals. With over a decade of dedicated service as a Speech and Language Pathologist, Aly's approach is grounded in empathy and a commitment to personalized care. Holding a Masters Degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from the University of Texas at Austin with a specialization in Bilingual and Multicultural assessment and intervention, Aly is fluent in Spanish and deeply values serving clients from diverse backgrounds. Aly also holds a certificate in Assistive Technology, specializing in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

Before joining CST Academy, Aly gained valuable experience in various settings, including the public school system and the Illinois Early Intervention Program. In 2021, she joined CST Academy as a Site Manager, where she oversaw one of the CSTA Academy clinics, focusing on improving child and family experiences, standardizing operations, and fostering collaboration among team members. Aly's dedication to creating inclusive and supportive environments has been instrumental in enhancing the quality of care provided by CST Academy. As Director of Clinical Services, Aly continues to prioritize individualized support and interdisciplinary cooperation to ensure that every client receives the best possible care tailored to their unique needs.

Amanda Timmerman, M.S., CCC-SLP

Senior Director of Clinical Operations

Amanda joined the CSTA family in 2019 as a speech-language pathologist (SLP) and has since grown into a seasoned leader as the Director of Multidisciplinary Services. With a strong emphasis on the impact of multidisciplinary collaboration, Amanda advocates for the continuous enhancement of providers working together to support and foster individualized growth for children across all developmental domains.

Amanda earned her Master’s degree in speech-language pathology from Marquette University. Amanda has served as a visiting lecturer and mentor for graduate students, offering invaluable guidance and support in their academic and professional pursuits. She is passionate about sharing her clinical expertise as the lead SLP with experience supervising multiple graduate students, and clinical fellows. She also provides ongoing mentorship, continuous professional development, and learning opportunities for the SLP team. Amanda has a clinical focus and specialization in feeding therapy and has earned her credentials in Early Intervention.

From her progression as a clinical fellow to her current role, Amanda has gained invaluable insights into adversities in pediatric care. She is committed to driving innovation and excellence in clinical services at CSTA, fostering strong and positive relationships between the operations team and therapists in order to provide compassionate care for learners. Amanda and her team prioritize creating a personable experience for each family, ensuring their needs and preferences are met from the start of their journey. Amanda's dedication to promoting collaboration among therapeutic disciplines and involvement of caregivers as part of each child's team exemplifies her commitment to achieving strong therapy outcomes. Her focus on impactful clinical interventions and fostering a collaborative environment reflects CSTA's dedication to providing the highest quality of services for children.

Madie Schickler, M.A., BCBA

Senior Director of ABA Services

Madie Schickler brings a rich background in special education and Applied Behavior Analysis to CSTA. Graduating summa cum laude from the University of Dayton, Madie's collegiate journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education and English, supplemented by a minor in Spanish. Her commitment to education and passion for working in underserved communities led her to become a corps member with Teach for America, where her exceptional teaching on the Southwest side of Chicago was recognized with a nomination for the Sue Lehmann Excellence in Teaching Award. Madie's educational journey continued with a Master’s degree in Special Education from National-Louis University and a graduate certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from Penn State University.

In 2017, Madie joined CSTA as a BCBA, where she merged her passion for education and ABA. Notably, in 2022, through training from the UC Davis MIND Institute, Madie became the sixth ESDM Certified Therapist in the state of Illinois, showcasing her passion for early intervention in autism therapy. In order to focus specifically on providing support to and curating partnerships with families of autistic children, Madie continued her education with the MIND Institute and completed their ESDM Parent Coaching Workshop in 2023.

Madie's extensive experience spans various therapeutic settings, significantly impacting autistic children and those with developmental delays as well as their caregivers. As the leader of the BCBA team at CSTA, Madie's expertise is instrumental in shaping effective and compassionate care for our earliest learners.

Sarah Ryan, M.S., BCBA

Senior Director of ABA Training and Development

Sarah Ryan is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with a diverse expertise in providing comprehensive services to individuals across various educational, recreational, and home environments. With a foundation in Therapeutic Recreation and Psychology from the University of Iowa, her commitment to enhancing the lives of others led her to work as an ABA therapist where she gained invaluable hands-on experience in implementing behavior analytic principles to facilitate positive behavior change.

Motivated by her desire to make a lasting impact in the field, Sarah received her Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Recognized for her dedication to the field and commitment to mentorship, Sarah was invited to serve as an adjunct professor at her alma mater, where she discovered her innate passion for training and empowering future generations of behavior analysts through evidence-based practices.

In 2019, Sarah joined CSTA as a BCBA where she made an immediate impact with her focus on supportive supervision, fieldwork standards, and respectful behavioral interventions. In her current role as the Director of ABA Training and Development, Sarah is steadfast in her commitment to fostering a culture of continuous learning and collaboration, while promoting safe and respectful behavior management strategies as a QBS Safety Care Trainer. Sarah takes great pride in developing skilled ABA therapists and mentoring aspiring BCBAs who practice compassionate care and effective supervision. She prioritizes ensuring that the next generation of professionals upholds the highest standards of practice. Her unwavering commitment to advancing the field and enriching the lives of those she serves makes her a respected leader and invaluable asset to our community.

Samantha Duff, OTD, OTR/L

Director of Site Development

Sam is a dedicated occupational therapist with a deep commitment to helping children thrive. At CST Academy, she has worn many hats, including Clinical Mentor and Clinic Director of the 2121 N Clybourn clinic. In her current role as Director of Site Development, Sam is focused on expanding access to top-notch care and making a positive impact on the communities that CST Academy serves.

Sam earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Iowa State University and her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Creighton University. Her career spans a range of pediatric settings, including hospitals, schools, and outpatient clinics across the country. Her professional journey includes experience in academia, helping to mentor future occupational therapists.

What drives Sam is her passion for supporting children through a strengths-based approach and by celebrating their unique abilities. She is a strong advocate for neurodiversity and embraces each child’s individual interests and valuable occupations. Sam collaborates with families to provide ongoing support beyond the clinic, providing them with tools and strategies that make a difference in their everyday lives.

As Director of Site Development, Sam combines her clinical knowledge and leadership skills to create innovative and inclusive therapeutic environments. Her goal is to ensure every child receives the services they need to succeed and to support families every step of the way.

Julie Meyer, MHS, CCC-SLP

Director of Early Childhood Education, Chicago Locations

Julie joined the CSTA team in 2020 and has supported our team, our learners and their families in various capacities over the years, including as a Speech-Language Pathologist, Clinical Mentor, Co-Founder of our Neurodiversity Committee and Lead Preschool Teacher at our Elston and Willow locations. Julie now serves as the Director of Early Childhood Education for our Chicago locations.

Prior to joining CSTA, Julie gained experience in a variety of pediatric settings, including elementary education and early intervention serving children from birth to age three. Additionally, Julie gained experience working with neurodiverse children at the Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Columbia, MO. Julie graduated Summa cum laude with her Master’s degree from the University of Missouri Columbia.

Julie is a neurodiverse-affirming clinician who specializes in supporting language development in autistic children. As an SLP, Julie is skilled in generating client-specific care plans and providing strengths-based care for gestalt language processors, analytic language processors and high-tech AAC users. Julie is committed to collaborating with her clients’ families and caregivers to establish a plan of care that is effective and meaningful for all those involved. Julie firmly believes that therapy is not intended to change an individual, but rather to provide the individual and their caregivers with access to tools that promote communication, and ultimately, autonomy.

Julie prioritizes implementation of neurodiverse-affirming practices both in her individual therapeutic sessions and inside our classrooms at CSTA. Julie's approach to therapeutic and academic instruction can be best described as child-led and strengths-based. She believes firmly that children learn best when their educators incorporate their strengths and interests. In her role as Director of Early Childhood Education, Julie provides comprehensive training and mentorship to all teachers and classroom staff to ensure all those who interact with our learners each day are well-versed in neurodiverse-affirming and strengths-based care. Julie is steadfast in her belief that the classroom should be a safe space for children to be their authentic selves as they learn and grow.

Lauren Rottinghaus, MS, CCC-SLP

Director of Early Childhood Education, Northshore Locations

As the Director of Early Childhood Education, Lauren’s approach is deeply rooted in child-centered care, focusing on each learner’s unique needs and strengths. Her journey began at CST Academy (CSTA) in 2015, where she was a classroom assistant in the inaugural class. This experience provided Lauren with invaluable insights into CSTA’s mission and a profound commitment to its growth.

Lauren earned her Master’s degree in speech-language pathology from St. Ambrose University. She then gained diverse experience in various pediatric settings, including early intervention, preschool, elementary, and secondary education. These roles honed her ability to customize classroom strategies and communication interventions to meet individual needs, reinforcing her dedication to inclusive and effective early education. After returning to CSTA in 2021, Lauren has been a vital part of the team, serving as a speech-language pathologist, clinical mentor, and lead preschool teacher at our 2121 Clybourn and North Shore locations. Her clinical work emphasizes neurodiverse-affirming care, both inside and outside the classroom.

In her current role as Director of Early Childhood Education, Lauren focuses on ongoing education and mentorship, championing strength-based approaches to enhance each learner's confidence and success. Her leadership reflects a commitment to nurturing each child's strengths and empowering classroom teachers to do the same through creativity and compassion.