Meet Our Dedicated Staff
Therapy Staff
Jodie Heath, MS OTR/L
Jodie is the owner and executive director of Swing for the Stars Pediatric Therapy Center. Jodie received her Undergraduate and Masters Degrees from the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine. She is certified to administer the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT) and has completed continuing education in sensory integration theory, treatment of non-integrated primitive reflexes and primary movement patterns, The Alert Program, treating children with autism spectrum disorders, development and implementation of music and movement groups, screening and intervention procedures for children with eye movement disorders, behavior management techniques, executive function disorders, and feeding/eating treatment strategies. Jodie is trained in Handwriting Without Tears, Rhythmic Movment Training for integration of retained primary reflexes, as well as the SOS Approach to Feeding. She is certified to administer the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT), is certified in Therapeutic Listening and in Integrated Listening Systems at the practitioner level. Jodie has also done some work in the area of the use of sensory-based intervention and strategies with children with a history of early trauma, neglect or institutionalization, and is trained in Bal-A-Vis-X.
Becca Lawrence, MS OTR/L
Becca attended the University of Buffalo where she received both her Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Science and Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy. She has experience working with a wide variety of populations including children and teens with a history of trauma, individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, and many other diagnoses. Becca has focused on helping children of all ages improve functionality in different areas including fine and gross motor skills, self- regulation, and sensory processing. She enjoys collaborating with her team members and the child’s family to work towards achieving their goals.
Haley Henderson MS, CCC-SLP
Haley received her bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in Special Education from the University of New Hampshire in 2016. She then pursued a master’s degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from New York University and graduated in December of 2020. Haley has experience working with a wide range of ages and diagnoses across a variety of clinical settings. Within the pediatric population, she has worked with children to target articulation/phonology, expressive and receptive language, voice, and pragmatics. She has implemented high and low technology communication devices and has experience with social skill programs. Haley has provided client and family-centered care by working closely with families/caregivers to establish goals and provide home programming for generalization of skills outside of therapy.
Jennifer Jester, MOT, OTR/L
Jennifer graduated from the State University of New York at Geneseo with her Bachelor's degree in Special Education, and Bay Path University in Massachusetts with her Master's degree in Occupational Therapy. Jennifer has experience working with children of all ages in a variety of practice settings. She recently worked in a private school for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, mental health disorders, and history of trauma. She enjoys working with children, their families, and other providers for a collaborative approach in treatment to help children achieve their goals.
Katelin Murphy, OTR/L
Katelin is a staff Occupational Therapist at Swing for the Stars Pediatric Therapy Center. Katelin received her Bachelors of Health Science, and Masters of Occupational Therapy from Utica College in Utica New York. Katelin has previous experience in a private school setting for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders and challenging behaviors. Katelin has been trained in the Handwriting Without Tears programs. Katelin enjoys working with children and their families to help them function across their day.
Kayla Roach, PT, DPT
Kayla is a staff Physical Therapist at Swing for the Stars. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science in 2021 and her Doctorate degree in 2023 from Husson University. She is experienced in treating a variety of pediatric conditions ranging from neurological dysfunction and developmental delay, to orthopedic sports injuries. Kayla is committed to providing optimal rehabilitation to children of all ages by facilitating a holistic approach through collaboration with families and the therapy team. In her free time she enjoys coaching competitive and recreational figure skating.
Lauren Herold, MA, CF-SLP
Lauren graduated from Kent State University with her bachelor's degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology with minors in Autism Spectrum Disorders and Disability Studies and Community Inclusion. Lauren continued her education at Kent State earning her Master of Arts in Speech Language Pathology. Lauren has experience working with children of all ages in a variety of different settings. She has targeted various aspects of speech and language such as articulation, expressive language, receptive language, pragmatics, and augmentative and alternative communication. Lauren values a family-centered approach in therapy to best support the child and their family.
Maya Strod, MS, CF-SLP
Maya is a staff Speech Language Pathology Clinical Fellow at Swing for the Stars Pediatric Therapy Center. Maya received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology from MGH Institute of Health Professions. Maya has experience treating a wide range of communication needs, including articulation, receptive and expressive language, social aspects of communication (pragmatics), cognition, fluency (e.g. stuttering), and voice disorders. Maya enjoys working with children of all ages and has previous experience in a private preschool, public school, outpatient rehabilitation hospital and private practice. She has implemented high and low technology communication devices using multisensory and total communication approaches. Maya enjoys collaborating with other rehabilitation professionals and utilizes family-centered care to support children and caregivers.
Rachel Rhodes, DPT
Rachel is a staff physical therapist at Swing for the Stars. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Movement Science from the University of Vermont in 2016 and her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Franklin Pierce University in 2021. Rachel has experience working with orthopedic, neurological, developmental, and genetic diagnoses in children of all ages. She enjoys working with children and their families to promote wellness and achieve the highest possible quality of life through client and family/caregiver-centered care.
Taylor Cahill, MS OTR/L
Taylor is a staff occupational therapist at Swing for the Stars Pediatric Therapy Center. She received her Master’s Degree in occupational therapy from the University of New England in 2018. Taylor has experience working in a variety of school settings including integrated preschools, kindergarten- 12th grade, and specialized programs for students with diverse needs. Additionally, Taylor participated in the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program where she completed 300 hours of advanced training working with children and their families with best-practice interdisciplinary and family-centered approaches. Taylor enjoys advocating and collaborating with families and interdisciplinary teams to facilitate children’s growth towards functional goals.
Tiffany Strazze, MS, CCC-SLP
Tiffany Strazze received her Bachelor’s Degree in Teaching for the Speech and Hearing Handicapped at Ithaca College and her Masters in Communication Disorders at the University of New Hampshire. She has experience working with children of all ages and with varying disabilities. Tiffany has experience working in the public school setting, private schools that specialize in specific areas including non-verbal and language based learning disabilities, and with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. She has experience working with PECS, basic sign language, social skill programs, working with children with social anxiety disorders, high and low technology communication devices, and is certified in Integrated Listening Systems at the practitioner level. Tiffany is certified to be a LiPS instructor and has had training in Sarah Johnson-Rosenfeld’s Oral Motor Therapy. She has also been trained in the SOS Approach to Feeding program.
Office Staff
Melissa Meyerhoefer
Melissa is the Office Administrator at Swing for the Stars. Melissa was born in California, raised in Pennsylvania, and moved to New Hampshire after graduating high school. Melissa is married with 2 daughters, 2 cats, and 2 dogs. Most recently she was a computer teacher for a K-4 Elementary School. In her free time she loves to travel, especially to the beach, and spend time with her family. Her future goals are to travel cross country and visit all 50 states!
Kayla Melanson-Smith
Kayla is the Patient Services Representative here at Swing for the Stars. Kayla graduated from Salem State University in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Community Education and a minor in Psychology. She and her other half moved to New Hampshire in the Fall of 2021 with their three tubby cats. In her spare time she loves to read, browse antique shops, or go for weekend adventure drives with her spouse. In the future she would like to combine her two passions: animals and working with kids, by opening an animal rescue and education center.
Join Our Team
Are you a pediatric therapist who enjoys working in a setting that focuses on providing exceptional therapy services in a playful, welcoming, team oriented environment? Consider joining our team!
