Choosing the right care team for your child is one of the most important steps in your family’s Autism journey. At Midwest, our goal is to connect you with the highest-quality care teams. To do that, we recruit Master’s level Board Certified Behavior Analysts from all across the U.S. to lead our care teams. And, we work hard to keep our staff caseloads small so you can be sure that when you enroll at Midwest, you’re getting a care team who knows your family inside and out.
Shayna Landsberry is a Licensed Board Certified Behavior Analyst coming to us from Reno, NV! She graduated with her Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Nevada and went on to earn her Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis at Capella University. Prior to sitting for her board exams, Shayna worked as an RBT in Reno. Her areas of expertise include behavior shaping, differential reinforcement, and teaching verbal behavior.
After completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Iowa, Caitlin applied, on a whim, to an ABA therapy clinic where she discovered her passion for the field. Witnessing the growth of her clients and their families led her to a Master’s program at Ball State University where she graduated in 2021 with a degree in Applied Behavior Analysis. Caitlin has experience supporting children on the Autism Spectrum, ranging in age from 2 to 13 years old.
A graduate of the University of N. Texas, Michaela Smith was mentored by Doctors Richard Smith, Traci Cihon, and Joseph Dracobly in the application of behavior principles, administration of functional assessments, and the use of behavior analysis to increase community engagement. Her passion for those on the Autism Spectrum started early through a family connection. Michaela continues to examine complex social issues through a behavioral lens and celebrate client milestones.
Kiley is a passionate Behavior Analyst who has clinical experience in developing integrated curriculums for early learners. Her skill set allows her to engage easily with families, schools, and other service providers to curate comprehensive treatment plans that empower children.
Shawna Johnson received her Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Simmons University. In addition to her Board Certification in Behavior Analysis, she is also completing her Certification of Clinical Competency in Behavioral Feeding therapy and obtaining a second Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology. Shawna has been working with children in early intensive developmental and behavioral intervention for over 5 years. She says the best part of working with this age group is being able to be creative and goofy while watching them learn valuable life skills.
Caitlin Kotz is a Licensed Board Certified Behavior Analyst with 7+ years of experience. She graduated with her Bachelor’s in Psychology from Central College in Pella, Iowa, and went on to earn her Master’s of Education in Applied Behavior Analysis from Arizona State University. Caitlin started working as a behavior technician and knew she wanted to be part of the field to witness the incredible life-long impact ABA can have on individuals, families, and communities.
A graduate of Simmons University and the University of Aberdeen, Rowan has joined us as a hybrid BCBA working onsite, primarily at our West Des Moines office, and with several home-based clients. Rowan has ample experience building programs for school-aged children based on the Essential for Living curriculum, and supporting high-needs students who are unable to attend traditional schools due to behavior severity and limited functional communication skills.
Shane Olson, a graduate of the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and Trinity Christian College, began working in the Autism services field as a school-based paraprofessional at the Scottsdale Children’s Institute, in Scottsdale, AZ. Through this experience, he was introduced to the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis and went on to earn his board certification as a Behavior Analyst in 2017. Shane brings with him a wealth of experience in both center-based and home/community-based care.
Samantha is a passionate and dedicated BCBA joining our growing home-based program in Iowa! Driven by her interest in human behavior, she truly enjoys seeing how ABA therapy can help her clients grow in a variety of ways. Samantha has specialized training in Trauma Informed Care and a background working with foster care systems to help promote compassionate care for children with severe behavioral challenges.
Knowing at an early age that she wanted to work with children, Board Certified Behavior Analyst Kelsey Bartlett set out to pursue a career in ABA. She gained a background in psychology through her undergraduate program at Sacramento State University and went on to earn her MA in Special Education with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis from ASU. She enjoys working in a data-driven field that allows her to connect with clients while using her knowledge of human behavior to help kids reach developmental milestones.
Melanie received her Master’s of Education Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Arizona State University in 2018 and she has been working in the field ever since! Melanie has a passion for working with early intervention-age kids and is fascinated by how our environments impact our learning and behavior. She finds tremendous joy in watching her clients meet their milestones and watching their families cheer them on.
Danielle was drawn to the field of ABA by her love for working with children and their families. She graduated from ASU with an advanced degree in Family and Human Development and enjoys building meaningful connections with her clients. The field of behavior analysis allows for continuous learning and growth which are two of Danielle’s favorite things!
Jennifer entered the Autism services field in 2020 when she began working as a support staff member in an alternative placement school focusing on ABA therapy. She became fascinated with the field of behavior analysis and its many applications. 6 months later she enrolled in an ABA Master’s program at the Florida Institute of Technology. Shortly thereafter, she started working at an early intervention center. Jennifer is so proud to be a part of this field and has fallen in love with helping little learners build lifelong skills.
Tim Larson is a dedicated behavior analyst who enjoys celebrating all the accomplishments of his clients, big and small! He takes pride in knowing his chosen career helps improve the lives of children on the Spectrum as well as the lives of their families and loved ones. Tim has even used Roblox to generate tools that teach kiddos with Autism critical safety skills. During his supervision program, he was able to observe these tools in action and demonstrate increased learning in his clients.
