Nicole received her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from the University of South Dakota in 2018. With a passion for pediatrics, Nicole has worked in outpatient pediatrics specializing in feeding, the Early Start Denver Model for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, and in sensory processing. She also worked within the school setting to provide services within the preschool classroom as well as in the elementary and middle schools. Nicole has completed continuing education in primitive reflex integration, strategies for picky eaters and problem feeders, parent-child interaction therapy, sensory integration, interoceptive awareness, and attachment theory.

Katherine graduated from the Occupational Therapy Assistant program at Lake Area Technical Institute May of 2020 and received her AAS in OTA. Katherine has four years of experience working and serving the pediatric population, including children with Autism, ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder, ODD, OCD, and feeding. Katherine has completed continuing education courses on trauma and its effects on developing children, sleep disturbance and disorders, working memory, feeding, toileting, and reflex integration.

Kenna received her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from the University of South Dakota in 2019. Kenna worked as a generalist with patients across the lifespan for nearly 4 years before transitioning to FUNctional Kids last year. Through her past experience in home health, Kenna developed a passion for working with people in their natural environments in order to provide more meaningful & authentic care. Kenna has experience working with children in the school and clinic settings and the focus of her doctoral capstone experience was to explore the role of OT in adaptive gymnastics. Kenna has always had a strong pull to work with the pediatric population and has been a great addition to our team!

Kimberly received her Masters of Occupational Therapy from College of Saint Mary in Omaha, NE in 2021. She has 3 years of experience working within the pediatric population working with a variety of diagnoses such as autism, ADHD, sensory processing disorder, developmental delay, and feeding difficulties. Kimberly has a passion and love for working within the pediatric population, allowing children to live a fulfilling and meaningful life by maximizing capabilities.

Shauna received her Master of Occupational Therapy degree from the College of Saint Mary in Omaha, NE in 2010. Shauna has nearly 14 years of experience working with the pediatric population with a variety of diagnoses and within a variety of settings. She has worked with babies, children, and adolescents in preschools, elementary, middle and high schools, outpatient rehab, inpatient rehab, and birth to three services. In addition to working directly with pediatric clients, Shauna has also provided numerous professional development and learning opportunities for others by presenting to school staff and caregivers working with children on topics including sensory processing, regulation, behavioral strategies, fine motor skills and handwriting. She also served as a member of a multidisciplinary autism evaluation team, working with a team of psychologists, speech therapists, and specialized teachers to diagnose children with Autism. Through her years of clinical experience and continuing education, Shauna has developed a passion for using a holistic approach to therapy and supporting and educating caregivers along with the children she works with. She is looking forward to helping children and families succeed in our community!

Laura received her Master of Occupational Therapy degree from the University of South Dakota. She has been providing occupational therapy in a variety of settings for over 17 years. Starting out, Laura worked in birth to three, school-based services, rural nursing homes and rural hospital rehabilitation (inpatient, outpatient and home health). Over time, she developed a passion for working with the pediatric population especially children and their families affected by sensory processing challenges. Laura has completed continuing education in ADHD & Calming the Overactive Brain, Sensory Impairments Across the Lifespan, primitive reflex integration, visual processing therapy, Autism Meltdowns in Children and many other courses throughout the years. She is excited to bring her experience and knowledge to the FUNctional Kids team!

Sara Bernard serves as the Administrative Coordinator at Functional Kids Pediatric Therapy, where she plays a pivotal role in ensuring seamless operations and exceptional client experiences. With a passion for organization and a dedication to supporting the mission of enhancing lives through occupational therapy, she brings many years of experience in working with kids who have many complex issues.Sara is committed to providing exceptional support to both clients and colleagues alike. She believes in the transformative power of occupational therapy and is dedicated to facilitating access to these life- changing services through efficient and compassionate administrative practices. When not at the office, Sara enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Hallie received her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from the University of South Dakota in 2024. She has experience working with individuals across the lifespan including children and youth to improve their overall health and well-being while gaining independence in self-care and emotional regulation skills. She completed her capstone experience in a pediatric mental health setting where she focused on administering occupation-based interventions and carrying out community integration activities to individuals with psychiatric, emotional, and behavioral concerns to support independence and reduce environmental barriers. Hallie is excited to bring her enthusiasm and knowledge to the Functional Kids team!

Taylor earned her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from the University of South Dakota with a specialization tract for pediatrics in 2023. She has experience serving within the pediatric population working with a variety of diagnoses such as sensory processing disorder, autism, ADHD, down syndrome, and developmental delay. She chose to pursue a career in working with children because she is inspired by their authentic nature, innate curiosity, and eagerness to learn and grow! She strives to provide the highest quality of care for children and their families by using client- and family-centered approaches to therapy through effective and fun treatment strategies. Taylor has completed specialized training in sensory processing challenges through the Star Institute in Sensory Processing, DIRFloortime® training, and Trust-Based Relational Intervention® Caregiver training as well as received informal training in early intervention coaching strategies and techniques for serving children from birth to 3 years old with developmental delays and disabilities and their families. Through her professional experiences and continuing education, Taylor has developed a passion for helping children and their families to progress on their therapeutic journeys and help children become their most confident and joyful selves!