Mia Girard, Occupational Therapist & Certified YogaKids Teacher
Mia Girard is an Occupational Therapist and certified YogaKids teacher at TLC, where she has been a dedicated member since August 1996. Originally from Massachusetts, Mia earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Southern California before moving to Colorado to pursue her Master’s of Science in Occupational Therapy at Colorado State University. She began her career at Poudre Valley Health Systems, and shortly after, she found herself balancing work there with her roles at TLC’s preschool and therapeutic services. Eventually, Mia chose to focus her career on the place where her heart was—TLC Learning Center.
Mia is passionate about using play, mindfulness, and self-regulation techniques to support children’s development, especially in areas like sensory processing. Over the years, she has completed numerous trainings, including in Sensory Processing Disorder, Applied Behavioral Analysis, Reflex Integration, The Alert Program for Self-Regulation, Handwriting without Tears, and the TEACCH conference. In 2010, Mia became a certified YogaKids teacher, integrating yoga into her work to promote peace, understanding, and health, values that compliment TLC’s mission of helping each child reach their highest potential. She teaches YogaKids classes within the preschool and after school.
Mia is married and a mother of two wonderful young adults. When not working, she can be found at home in Fort Collins or at their cabin in the mountains. She enjoys travelling, yoga, doing anything creative, and being outdoors relaxing, hiking, SUPing, or fly fishing with her family. Mia’s younger years were filled with a passion for learning, attending live music events, and traveling to remote corners of the world. She later built a cabin with her family, where they now spend most weekends. Mia’s life is a blend of adventure, family, and a dedication to nurturing others.
Christy Griffith, Occupational Therapist
Christy has had a long and dedicated career with TLC, starting in January 1994, and returning in 2006 until 2021, and again in August 2023. She holds a B.S. in Occupational Therapy and has received numerous certifications, including Registered OTR by NBCOT, Inc, and licenses through DORA in Colorado. She also has specialized certifications in NDT, Crossinology Brain Integration, and The Listening Program.
Christy’s passion for working with children grew from her early experiences of babysitting, teaching swimming lessons, and participating in Sunday School. Her first job as an OT in pediatrics helped her discover her love for the field, and over time, she became highly specialized in pediatric care.
Christy is passionate about sensory processing, primitive reflex integration, feeding challenges, fine motor skills, and energy work. She loves the creativity involved in her work, helping children learn new things, overcome challenges, and express themselves in new ways.
Outside of work, Christy enjoys hiking, reading, crafting, gardening, and conducting genealogy research. She was born and raised on a cattle ranch in Hyannis, Nebraska, and later graduated from the University of Kansas. Christy and her husband Bruce, a computer/aerospace engineer, have four grown children and four grandchildren.
Kathy Keith, Occupational Therapist
Kathy Keith has been with TLC since February 2004 as an Occupational Therapist. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy and has spent her entire career working in pediatrics. Kathy’s passion for working with children began early in her career when she started in Early Intervention in Texas. Although she gained experience working with a variety of ages and settings, she was always drawn back to working with younger children. Kathy finds it incredibly rewarding to see the powerful impact that can be made when working with both children and their families together.
Kathy is particularly passionate about sensory integration, regulation, social-emotional skills, and strategies to support eating and sleeping. She believes these areas are essential in helping children build a strong foundation for growth and development.
Outside of work, Kathy loves to travel, spend time with her family and friends, and enjoy activities that let her be outdoors. A fun fact about Kathy is that she is a grandmother to a spunky little boy and enjoys cooking and being creative.
Megan Hanna, Occupational Therapist
Megan joined TLC in October 2021 as an Occupational Therapist. She holds a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) degree and has always had a passion for working with children. Her journey into child development began with roles as a camp counselor and tutoring elementary students, where she discovered the joy of helping kids grow. Megan values the opportunity to work with children early in their development and build meaningful relationships with both the children and their families.
Megan is especially passionate about emotional regulation and enjoys supporting children in developing these important skills.
Outside of work, Megan enjoys hiking, gardening, and crafting. A fun fact about Megan-she grew up on a cattle ranch and is the 6th generation in her family to live there, adding a unique and rich history to her background.
Caity Burns, Speech-Language Pathologist
Caity joined TLC in January 2024 as a Speech-Language Pathologist. She holds a BA in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences from the University of Colorado and a MA in Hearing and Speech Sciences from the University of Maryland. Caity is also certified by ASHA. Her passion for working with children in an early childhood setting began during her time at TLC as a substitute and teacher’s aide while completing her undergraduate degree. Inspired by the amazing team at TLC, Caity pursued further education to become a speech-language pathologist.
Caity is particularly passionate about learning new neurodiversity-affirming practices and improving articulation skills for children.
Outside of work, Caity enjoys yoga, reading, and snowboarding. She loves traveling in her camper van with her family, embracing new adventures along the way.
Amy Thrasher, Speech-Language Pathologist
Amy Thrasher has been serving as a Speech-Language Pathologist at TLC since August 2019. Amy holds a BA in Psychology from Williams College and received her Master’s in Speech-Language Hearing Sciences from University of Colorado Boulder.
Amy’s passion for working with children began when she served as a counselor at a United Cerebral Palsy camp in New York as a teenager. As a graduate student at CU Boulder, she witnessed the transformative power of story, play and friendship as children thrived in an inclusive environment using the Storybook Journey approach to curriculum, studying with its creator, Sue McCord, in the Child Learning Center. After serving as a speech-therapist in an inclusive setting in Denver, Amy returned to CU Boulder where she served as clinical faculty for 16 years. There she developed programs for children with a range of needs, including programs to develop friendships among neurodiverse and neurotypical peers.
Amy lives in Eldorado Springs where she enjoys hiking and spending time at the creek with her husband and dog, as well as exploring her creative side through various arts and nature activities from rockhounding to embroidery to welding. Amy’s passion for creativity, play, story and learning deeply influences her work, making her an invaluable part of the TLC team.
Reilly Madden, Speech-Language Pathologist
Reilly joined TLC in July 2025 as a Speech-Language Pathologist, where she helps children develop their communication skills and build confidence in expressing themselves. She holds a BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders, a BS in Criminal Justice, and a MS in Speech-Language Pathology, all from Fort Hays State University.
Her passion for working with children in an early childhood setting was sparked by the desire to help them find their voices. She finds great joy in watching children discover the power of words and the connections that come from effective communication. Reilly is committed to cultivating a child’s love for language and empowering them to use it as a tool for self-expression.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors, whether it’s paddleboarding, snowboarding, or playing soccer. She also enjoys baking and reading. A fun fact about her: Reilly played collegiate soccer!
Jessica Fiegland, Physical Therapist
Jessica Fiegland is a Physical Therapist at TLC, where she has been part of the team since April 2008. With a Bachelor’s of Health Science in Physical Therapy, Jessica is deeply passionate about supporting gross motor development in children. She finds joy in watching children grow, reach their goals, and gain new skills. The dynamic and ever-changing nature of working with children keeps her engaged and motivated, as every day presents new opportunities for learning and progress.
Outside of work, Jessica enjoys spending quality time with her family and staying active. She loves running and horseback riding, and she lives on a small farm with her husband and two children, who are both TLC graduates. Their farm is home to a variety of animals, including horses, chickens, ducks, dogs, and cats, offering plenty of opportunities for family fun and adventure. Jessica’s dedication to both her profession and her family is evident in her passion for nurturing growth, whether physical or personal.
McKenzie Timmons, Physical Therapist
McKenzie Timmons joined TLC in July 2025 as a Physical Therapist. She holds a Doctorate in Physical Therapy and brings a deep passion for helping children grow and reach important developmental milestones. Her work focuses on supporting young children as they learn and master gross motor skills that help promote greater independence in their daily lives.
McKenzie is especially dedicated to working in early childhood settings, where she can build strong connections with children and families while supporting each child’s unique physical development.
Outside of her professional role, McKenzie enjoys hiking, skiing, playing pickleball, trying new restaurants, and spending time with her family. She shares her home with two dogs and a cat, and she grew up in a small town in Ohio.
Shari Karmen Occupational Therapist & Certified Lactation Counselor
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B.S. Occupational Therapy, Louisiana State University
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Occupational Therapist, Certified Lactation Counselor
Shari has been an occupational therapist for many years, having joined TLC in October, 1999. She loves working with families and children. She especially enjoys helping babies and children with growth, nutrition, and feeding issues and is passionate about working with medically fragile children dealing with multiple issues. Shari strives to make occupational therapy fun and meaningful for both kids and their families and states that the best part of her job is witnessing a child (and parent) reach those hard-earned developmental milestones.
In addition to working as an occupational therapist, Shari also serves as TLC’s Therapeutic Services Manager, which allows her to work closely with other therapists, families, members of TLC’s administrative team and other community agencies. Shari is a phenomenal advocate for TLC and children with special needs in our community.
After growing up in New Orleans, Shari worked as an OT in Arizona where she met her husband. She has two great kids and in her free time enjoys cooking, hanging out with friends, being active, and reading historical fiction. An avid collector of all things elephant, you can find her extensive collection on her desk, in her home, on her jewelry—just about everywhere!