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Terri Newton, M.S., Ed., BCBA

Executive Director

Terri Newton M.S. Ed., BCBA, Founder/CEO of Childhood Autism Services, has spent her entire career working with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. It is her passion to support the Autism community and their needs by employing evidence-based practices and support services. CAS has been providing services to children and their families in the greater Omaha area since August 2011.

“All children have a unique way of learning.  It is my passion to help them discover and achieve their individual outcomes for success.”   - Terri Newton, 2011

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Administrative Staff

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Tina Persinger

Human Resources & Funder Relations

It is both my pleasure and privilege to serve as the Office Manager for CAS.  I have been with the company since our debut in August 2011.  In January 2018 I began working full time at the Papillion office, giving me more of an opportunity to work directly with client families regarding services and insurance.  In my personal time I get to enjoy my children and grandchildren alongside my husband.  We love to walk, travel, attend local concerts/events and kayak.

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Mary Clarke 

Billing & Claims 

I came onboard with CAS in April 2022 and have over 10 years billing experience in various medical specialties as well as certification in medical coding and auditing. I have a bachelor’s degree in international studies and Spanish from University of Nebraska at Omaha and an associate degree in Health Information Management. What intrigued me about CAS is their dedication to the development of kids and their support of their families. In my spare time I enjoy traveling, cooking, gardening, and spending time with my husband and three sons. 

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McKayla Auck

Waitlist Management & Event Planner

I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Education and Special Education in 2011, and went on to teach Special Education for 8 years leading up to my work at CAS. I joined the CAS team in 2020 as an RBT. I love the company and the passion everyone here has to help kids diagnosed with autism and their families. After my maternity leave in 2021, I switched roles to  administrative, waitlist management, and event planning. I really enjoy putting together events for our clients and their families. Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my two very busy toddlers, my husband and our dogs. As a family we enjoy traveling as much as we can.

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Clinical Staff

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Torri Smith Tejral, BCBA, LIMHP

Director of Clinical Services 

I have a passion for working with children on the Autism Spectrum and advocating for evidenced based practice.  I am a Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner as well as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.  Over the course of my career, I have provided outpatient mental health services, intensive home based therapy services and center based therapy for children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. My husband Chris and I live in La Vista with our 3 children.

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Jessica Fletcher, M.S., BCBA

Behavior Technician Training Director 

I am the Training Director and also a Program Supervisor.  I am passionate about teaching both children and adults.  Growth is exciting, and that is why I feel honored to be a part of the CAS team.  I am married and am a mom of three.  We love creating family time to enjoy the outdoors.

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Alexandra Goodman, M.S., BCBA

Clinic Director/Clinical Supervisor

I received my bachelors in 2013 from Creighton University and began my journey in applied behavior analysis as an RBT, which I worked while going through my Master's degree. I have provided services in both Nebraska and Florida in schools, home, and center settings for children with autism spectrum disorder and other intellectual disabilities. Outside of work I enjoy being active, traveling, and spending time with my dog, friends, and family.

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Timothy Sabutis, MS, BCBA 

Clinic Director/Clinical Supervisor

I received my bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Health and Human Performance from Bellevue University (BU) in 2011. I continued at BU for my graduate program to receive my master’s degree in Clinical Counseling in 2013. I went on to complete my coursework at Florida Institute of Technology and received my BCBA certificate in February 2016. Over the course of my career, I have provided outpatient behavioral health services, intensive home-based therapy services, school-based services, and center-based services for children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis. I enjoy working as a team with the families I serve and have a passion for working towards socially significant behaviors that have long lasting effects in the lives of the clients I serve. My wife Janet and I live in Bellevue, NE. with our two children (Jordyn and Tessa) and two cats (Christian and Zoey).  

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Elizabeth M. Bullington, BCBA, LMHP

Clinical Supervisor

I have been with CAS since 2012, I am a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner.  I began my journey in Behavior Analysis as an undergraduate student at Midland Lutheran College where I received my bachelor degree in psychology and minor in Applied Behavior Analysis. I have continued my interest in behavior and specifically in helping children diagnosed with Autism through my internship at UNMC, and graduated from UNO with my Masters Degree in Psychology. Through my studies one quote from Ivan Pavlov has always stuck with me, "Be passionate in your work and in your search for the truth."

 

Laura Needelman, BCBA, LMHP

Clinical Supervisor

I have been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst since 2011 and a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner since 2015. I received my bachelor’s in elementary education from Creighton University and my master’s degree from The University of Southern Mississippi. I have worked as a behavior technician in a hospital-based setting, developed and was clinical coordinator for an outpatient clinic for children with autism, provided outpatient mental health services, and supervised home-based therapy and school-based therapy. My husband and I live in Omaha with our 5 children who keep us very busy.

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Lanisa Marts, MS, BCBA

Clinical Supervisor

I received my bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in Sociology of Families and Spanish in 2013. Since 2013 I have been working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis at Munroe-Meyer Institute in Early Intervention and have since moved to the RBT position at CAS from 2016-2022. I graduated with my Master’s Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis in Autism May 2022 and am now a BCBA! I enjoy working with children with autism and think very highly of giving our clients the best quality of life possible. In my free time I enjoy traveling, painting/drawing, music, trying new foods, and spending time with family and friends.

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Courtney Petersen, BCaBA

Clinical Supervisor

I received my Bachelors in Psychology at The University of Nebraska at Lincoln in August 2008. I went on to complete my coursework at Florida Institute of Technology and received my BCaBA certificate in August of 2016. I worked part time for Lutheran Family Services and part time as a Registered Behavior Technician for Childhood Autism Services while completing my course work. Once I graduated in August of 2016 I began working as a Clinical Supervisor. I love to spend time with my family and friends, being outside, traveling, and have a passion for working with children.

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Tina Puhalla, BCaBA

Clinical Supervisor

I received my bachelor's in Psychology and Rehabilitation Science from Arkansas Tech University.  I went on to teach and direct preschool for 15 years before beginning my career at CAS. I began working as an RBT at CAS in 2019. I completed my BCaBA course work at Florida Institute of Technology in 2021 and began working as a BCaBA at CAS in 2022. My husband Joseph and I live in Papillion and have 2 children.  In my spare time I enjoy camping, traveling, and spending time with my family and friends. 

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