Meet Our Team

Acorn Children’s Therapy was started in 2021 when Jill and Aley acted on a long-term dream to open their own clinic. They wanted to build a community to offer multidisciplinary care to families, while educating and nurturing a team of therapists.

Acorn Founders

Jill Solomon

MS, CCC-SLP | NLA-Trained

Jill received her undergraduate degree in speech and language sciences from Indiana University in Bloomington. She received a master’s in communication disorders from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and is certified in Natural Language Acquisition (gestalt and analytical). Jill has worked in the Saint Louis area since 2000. She has had the opportunity to work with children from birth through high school and also into adulthood. Jill has had over 20 years of experience with autism spectrum disorders and pragmatic language. Other areas of expertise include:

  • Sound system disorders

  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

  • Expressive and receptive language

  • Apraxia

  • Dysfluency

  • Voice disorders

  • Helping toddlers reach verbal milestones

Her favorite part of therapy is watching the growth of the client and experiencing this joy with the family.

Jill Solomon
Aley Babb-Keeble

Aley Babb-Keeble

MS, OTR/L

Aley received her undergraduate degree in biochemistry, cell and molecular biology at Drake University in Des Moines. She received her Master of Science degree in occupational therapy from Washington University in St Louis. Aley has experience working in public schools, private practice, home health, and early intervention (First Steps). She has had the opportunity to work with children from birth to early adulthood and loves helping families transition to new phases of life. Aley’s areas of expertise include:

  • Sensory integration

  • Handwriting

  • Feeding

  • Pediatric pelvic health/toilet training

  • Emotional regulation and interoception

She is SOS and Beckman Oral Motor certified and is a provider of Integrated Listening Systems, The Listening Program, and Handwriting Without Tears.

Occupational Therapists

Olivia Burnett

OTD, OTR/L

Olivia received her undergraduate degree in health sciences from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2023. She completed her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy in 2025 also at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Olivia has experience working in both school and pediatric inpatient settings with children of all ages. She loves connecting with children and bringing creativity into each session to make therapy fun and meaningful. Her areas of expertise include:

  • Fine motor development

  • Emotional regulation

  • Sensory processing

  • Handwriting

Olivia Moede
Kelsey Dutton

Kelsey Dutton

COTA/L

Kelsey is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant and graduate of St. Charles Community College. She previously worked in an early childhood special education center, where she discovered her passion for helping children learn and grow through play. She supports child-led, sensory-rich sessions, and she believes every step forward—big or small—is worth celebrating. Kelsey is passionate about helping children build the confidence and skills they need to succeed in their everyday lives. Her areas of expertise include:

  • Sensory processing

  • Handwriting

  • Developmental delay

  • Emotional regulation

  • Fine motor development

Vita Fitzpatrick

OTA

Vita is a St. Louis native who received her occupational therapy assistant degree from St. Louis Community College. Inspired by her younger sister’s therapy journey, she changed paths from pursuing a degree in wildlife biology to enter the occupational therapy field instead. Vita has worked with kids for more than 5 years in daycare, home, and therapy settings, with her favorite being outpatient therapy. Her areas of expertise include:

  • Developmental delay

  • Emotional regulation

  • Fine motor development

  • Sensory processing

  • Handwriting

Paige Francis

Paige Francis

OTD, OTR/L

Paige received her undergraduate degree in exercise science, child advocacy studies, and medical humanities from the University of Arkansas. She received her Doctorate of Occupational Therapy from Washington University in St. Louis and has advanced training in Masgutova Neurosensory Reflex Integration (MNRI). With experience supporting pediatric clients and their caregivers both locally and internationally, Paige works closely with each child’s support team to promote engagement in meaningful activities and ensure skills transfer across settings. She values the holistic approach of occupational therapy for its effectiveness in addressing each child’s unique needs while building on their strengths. Her areas of expertise include:

  • Sensory processing

  • Emotional regulation

  • Feeding

  • Fine motor development

  • Masgutova Neurosensory Reflex Integration (MNRI)

Jake Govro

OTD/LP

Jake received his Bachelor of Science in psychology with a minor in biomedical science from Missouri State University. He completed his Doctorate in Occupational Therapy at Midwestern University, during which he researched the effect of physical activity on improving the well-being of adults with intellectual disabilities. Jake has over three years of experience working with kids and young adults with disabilities, including working at a nature preschool, and 38 weeks of fieldwork at Acorn during graduate school. He loves having the opportunity to support kids to reach their greatest potential and live their best lives. His areas of expertise include:

  • Emotional regulation

  • Fine motor development

  • Sensory processing

  • Fine motor

  • Low vision

Jake Govro
Haley Limper

Haley Limper

OTR/L

Haley received her undergraduate degree in health services from the University of Southern Indiana, where she also played college volleyball. She then went on to receive her master’s degree in occupational therapy from Indiana State University. Haley has worked in pediatric settings since she graduated, and she has experience with both outpatient and early intervention (First Steps) services. She enjoys working with children and helping them achieve their therapy goals. Her areas of expertise include:

  • Developmental delay

  • Emotional regulation

  • Fine motor development

  • Sensory processing

  • Sensory-based feeding

Lauren Poeppe

MS, OTD

Lauren received her masters in occupational therapy from the University of Missouri-Columbia, with additional training in advanced therapeutic techniques—including Astronaut Training, MNRI (Masgutova Neurosensory Reflex Integration), and Improving Parents as Communication Teachers (Project ImPACT). Lauren has completed the Level 1 Intensive Mentorship at the STAR Institute for sensory processing disorder and has extensive experience working with children who have sensory processing disorder or who are on the autism spectrum. Additionally, she has experience as a member of a multidisciplinary team diagnosing autism spectrum disorder. After 13 years of experience as an occupational therapist, Lauren particularly enjoys providing vision therapy, increasing fine motor skills for improved handwriting legibility, and helping children overcome sensory challenges. Areas of expertise include:

  • Autism spectrum disorder

  • Sensory processing disorder

  • Vision therapy

  • Fine motor skills

  • Masgutova Neurosensory Reflex Integration

Lauren Poeppe

Speech Language Pathologists

Macy Hill

Macy Hill

MS, CCC-SLP | NLA Certified

Macy received both her Bachelor of Health Science and her Master of Health Science in speech, language, and hearing sciences from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She has experience in early childhood special education, as well as in pediatric and adult acute care hospital, skilled nursing, and inpatient rehabilitation settings. Macy’s favorite part about being a speech-language pathologist is following the child’s lead during play and watching them excel in speech and language development skills while providing support to caregivers for the carryover of skills. Her areas of expertise include:

  • Speech sound disorders

  • Early language intervention

  • Expressive and receptive language

  • Executive function

Marisa Julius

MA, CCC-SLP | NLA-Trained

Marisa Julius is a speech-language pathologist that has worked in the St. Louis area since 2019. She is a Missouri native and earned two bachelor’s degrees from Truman State University in communication disorders and German studies. She received her master’s degree in communication sciences and disorders from Saint Louis University. Marisa has experience working in school and clinical settings with children with complex communication needs. Her favorite part of the job is experiencing the joy of children connecting with their loved ones through language. In her free time, you can find her cooking, reading, hiking, or showing everyone unsolicited pictures of her dog. Areas of expertise include:

  • Augmentative and alternative communication

  • Expressive and receptive language

  • Speech sound system disorders

  • Apraxia

  • Dysfluency

Jamie Mufson

Jamie Mufson

MA, CCC-SLP

Jamie attended the University of Kansas where she received her undergraduate degree in Speech-Language-Hearing: Sciences & Disorders. She received her master’s degree in communication sciences and disorders from Saint Louis University. She has experience working in middle and high school settings, but enjoys working with younger kids now. When she is not working, Jamie enjoys painting banners and playing Mahjong. Areas of expertise include:

  • Speech sound system disorders

  • Expressive and receptive language

  • Apraxia

  • Dysfluency

  • Sound system disorders

Anita Lin

MS, CCC-SLP

Anita received her master’s degree in speech-language pathology from Fontbonne University in St. Louis in 2017. Prior to becoming a speech-language pathologist, she was a freelance violinist and operated her own music studio. As a speech-language pathologist, Anita is passionate about working with children from birth through school age. She is dedicated to helping children express themselves and connect with the world. Anita enjoys the dynamic environment of the pediatric outpatient clinic, where she can combine fun activities with functional goals. Anita is fluent in both English and Mandarin Chinese. Areas of expertise include:

  • Early speech and language development

  • Speech sound system disorders

  • Expressive and receptive language disorders

  • Autism spectrum disorder

Anita Lin

Kerri McFarland

MS, CCC-SLP | NLA Certified

Kerri received her undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders from Southeast Missouri State and her master’s degree in speech-language pathology (SLP) from Fontbonne University. Kerri has experience in both school and private settings with children of all ages. She is passionate about working with kids using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and developing language, and she enjoys watching kids grow and use their language at home with their friends and family. Kerri’s areas of expertise include:

  • Speech sound disorders

  • Augmentative and alternative communication

Caroline Moede

SPCF

Caroline received her undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders from Concordia University Wisconsin. She received her master’s degree in speech-language pathology from Fontbonne University. She has experience working with children in schools and private settings. Caroline’s favorite part about being a speech-language pathologist is getting to watch children increase their communication skills and meet new milestones. Her areas of expertise include:

  • Early language intervention

  • Expressive and receptive language

  • Speech sound disorders

Caroline Moede

Mary Larkin Rumbarger

MS, CCC-SLP

Mary received her undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders and her master’s degree in speech-language pathology (SLP) from the University of Mississippi. She has worked for private practices and children’s hospitals with populations from newborn to adults. Mary has extensive training in swallowing diagnostics and school implementations of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). She loves working with children and supporting their families through therapy and beyond. Mary’s areas of expertise include:

  • Early language articulation

  • Executive function

  • Expressive and receptive language

  • Autism spectrum disorder

Physical Therapists

Andrea Schnelker

DPT, PT

Andrea received her undergraduate degree in health sciences from University of Missouri-Columbia in 2014. She received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Rockhurst University in 2018. Andrea has experience treating pediatric patients from birth to 21 and has spent her entire career working in various pediatric settings. She is certified to treat clients with various levels of gross motor delay using Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI) Level A. Her areas of expertise include:

  • Infant and toddler development

  • Neurological and genetic disorders

  • Toe-walking

  • Torticollis

  • Many other diagnoses indicating the need for physical therapy

Administrative Team

Ashley Cheatham

Ashley Cheatham

Front Desk

When she isn’t out playing with her puppy or hiking, you will find Ashley behind the front desk making sure all of your needs are being met! She has worked in patient care for over 7 years and enjoys working with kids of all ages. Along with her positive attitude, Ashley strives to adapt and learn in any situation she is put in!

Sara Schlansker

Sarah is a medical billing and coding specialist. She graduated with a Bachelors of Science in healthcare informatics and has worked in the healthcare industry for 24 years doing quality control and coding. Sara is in the process of completing her neuromovement certification.

Kaitlyn

Kaitlyn

Kaitlyn has a birthday this week! She graduated from Ladue High School. Go Rams! Kaitlyn loves music, hip-hop dancing, gymnastics, and performing.

Above + Beyond

Aley and Jill went above and beyond helping us learn strategies to incorporate at home, helped us seek outside resources when needed, and at any time of day are always up for answering questions/concerns. We are forever grateful for the time they took with our son and our entire family.

They have truly made a difference!