Jean Taylor

Jean Taylor, PT, DPT graduated from the University of Kansas with her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Physical Therapy.  She continued her education earning her clinical Doctorate of Physical Therapy at the University of Colorado in Denver.  She has over fifteen years of experience as a pediatric physical therapist serving children and their families through Early Intervention and the public schools in Denver and Chicago. 

Jean owns and operates Red Wagon Therapy, provides pediatric physical therapy services and is part of the inclusion team at Fisher Early Learning Center. She loves to spend time in the great outdoors skiing, sailing, golfing, and gardening.

Gina Monheit

Gina is a Developmental Interventionist (DI) and the Chief of Staff at Red Wagon Therapy and has been working as a teacher, coach, and therapist in early childhood since 2013. She holds a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Denver and a professional teaching license from the Colorado Department of Education. Before going into education, Gina received her Bachelor's of Science degree in Psychology. Since becoming an Early Childhood Special Educator, Gina has worked in various settings and with diverse populations. Regardless of the setting or population, Gina continually provides partnership and education to families and caregivers in order to support their youngest learners. Gina currently works in both school-based and early intervention settings and has a high level of expertise working with children with: challenging behaviors, sensory differences, autism spectrum disorder, developmental delay, speech and language delays, and more. She has been trained in using the coaching model across preschool and in-home settings. She was also trained in using the Early Start Denver Model at the Child Development Institute in Sydney, Australia. Gina and her husband moved back to Denver from Sydney in 2022 and have been enjoying all that Colorado has to offer. Outside of work, Gina enjoys: traveling, singing, cycling, kayaking, scuba diving, and climbing.

Jessica Newsome

Jessica Newsome, Ed.D., is a passionate educator and leader with extensive experience in educational leadership, special education, and inclusive education. Throughout her career, she has served in a variety of roles, including Special Education Teacher, Dean, Assistant Principal, Director of Learning Support Systems, Early Childhood Special Educator, and Academic Coordinator in higher education.

Jessica earned her Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership with an Emphasis in Christian Ministry, reflecting her longstanding commitment to both education and ministry. She is passionate about creating inclusive environments, advocating for individuals with diverse learning needs, and supporting students and families across different stages of their educational journeys. Jessica continues to use her background in education, leadership, ministry, and service to positively impact the individuals, families, and communities she serves.

Mela Carter

Mela Carter, ECSE, specializes in early intervention, working closely with children and families navigating developmental challenges. With a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master’s in Early Childhood Special Education, Mela’s approach is centered around helping families better understand their children’s unique needs. Her play-based methods encourage emotional, cognitive, and physical growth while creating space for joy and connection. Mela’s passion for this work led her to author a book on the subject, further empowering families to foster healthy development and communication. In addition to her work in early childhood, Mela has a somatic bodywork and dance therapy practice. As a mom of three amazing kids and a Great Dane, she stays active by enjoying nature, running, biking, and dancing.

Melanie rufien

Hello! Melanie is a Colorado native and has been married for almost four years and has a precious daughter born in March 2026. She graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2017, with a degree in Speech Language Hearing Sciences. After receiving her Master’s Degree, for the past 6 years she was an ECSE for Mapleton Public Schools. She has been the lead classroom teacher and provider during her time at Mapleton and has loved it. She is excited to be trying something new and serving this community. When she is not teaching, Melanie is the owner and director of PerformAbility,  a 501(c)3) non-profit, providing dance, spirit and theater classes, programs and opportunities for children and adults of all ages and varying abilities. Through their love of movement and performance they show the world that everyBODY is capable. She. cannot wait to work with you!

sarah lovato bleau

Sarah Lovato Bleau is a dedicated Early Childhood Special Education teacher who has spent the past 29 years serving students and families within Denver Public Schools. Throughout her career, she has been committed to creating inclusive, developmentally appropriate learning environments that support the needs of all exceptional learners. She has successfully facilitated full inclusion programs designed to ensure every child has access to meaningful educational experiences.

Sarah brings extensive experience working with families of infants and toddlers, collaborating closely with them to design and implement individualized developmental goals that can be integrated into each child’s daily routine. Her work emphasizes a holistic approach, supporting both the child and family to promote long-term growth and success. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Development from the University of Colorado and her Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instructional Design from Colorado Christian University.

A Colorado native, Sarah enjoys spending time with her extended family and her two daughters. Outside of her professional life, she loves listening to live music and camping. She feels deeply grateful to have spent her career pursuing her passion for working with young children with exceptional needs.

Laurel Cardenas

Laurel Cardenas, ECSE, graduated from DU’s Early Childhood Special Education master’s program in 2022. She is currently a teacher at Fletcher Miller School in their integrated preschool classroom, serving both typically developing children and those with significant support needs. She loves early childhood in general but especially enjoys working with kids ages 3-5. Laurel works behind the scenes at RWT, supporting with billing and scheduling.

She lives in Denver with her spouse, baby, and dogs. She enjoys getting outside, making art, cooking, and watching hockey.

Laura Herrera

Laura Herrera, M.A., CCC-SLP, is a bilingual (English-Spanish) SLP dedicated to supporting young children and their families through compassionate, play-based therapy. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin and her Master’s in Communication Disorders from Texas State University. Laura began her career in school-based settings and later transitioned to early intervention services, where she discovered a passion for working closely with families in their everyday environments. She has extensive experience supporting children with complex diagnoses, those who are deaf or hard of hearing, and individuals who use augmentative-alternative communication (AAC) systems. Laura also has specialized experience in pediatric feeding therapy. Grounded in a routine- and play-based approach, Laura believes in empowering caregivers and making therapy both meaningful and fun for children. She values connection, communication, and collaboration in every session.

Outside of work, Laura enjoys spending time with family and friends—and her beloved dog, Archie. She can often be found hiking local trails, reading a good book, or experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.

Megan Johnson

Megan Johnson, MS, CCC-SLP graduated from East Carolina University with her masters degree in speech-language pathology. She started her career as a speech-language technician for Utah school districts. Megan’s love for working with toddlers and preschoolers began when she was placed in a special education preschool during her time as a speech-language technician. In graduate school, she was placed in outpatient pediatrics, where she enjoyed working with toddlers to support their communication skills. Megan was also introduced to Natural Language Acquisition in graduate school, where her passion for supporting individuals on the Autism Spectrum through their language development began. Megan has continued to foster that passion and is currently working towards certification as a Natural Language Acquisition specialist. Megan currently splits her time between Red Wagon and home health, where she is enjoying serving families in Denver and Aurora communities.

Megan and her partner enjoy spending their time paddle boarding with their dog, Josie. She enjoys spending her free time completing puzzles, going to yoga classes, and traveling.

Kayla hunley

Kayla Hunley, MOT, OTR/L, IMH-E, is a trauma-informed occupational therapist dedicated to supporting children and their families through compassionate, relationship-centered care. Kayla graduated from Colorado Mesa University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Exercise Science and earned her Master’s of Occupational Therapy from Emory & Henry College. She is Infant Mental Health Endorsed and has extensive training in infant mental health, caregiver attachment and bonding, and trauma-informed care. Her experience as a former foster parent has further deepened her understanding of the importance of connection, regulation, and secure relationships in a child’s development. Kayla believes in partnering closely with caregivers using play-based, child-led, and neuro-affirming interventions to support children. She believes growth is often found in the small but meaningful “inchstones” along the way.  

As a Colorado native, Kayla feels most at home among mountain views, sunshine, and fresh air. Outside of work, Kayla can be found trying new recipes, curled up with a good book and a cup of tea, or hiking with her husband and two dogs.