Behavior Team

Robyn Ledebuhr is the Director of the Behavior Department and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with GoldStar Learning Options. Robyn began her behavior analysis career in 2005 at a growing company that focused on early intervention in Hermosa Beach, California. In 2010, she graduated from Pepperdine University with a Master’s degree in Education, with an emphasis in Psychology. In February of 2012, she passed her exam to  become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Robyn moved to Denver, Colorado in 2015. After starting at GoldStar in 2016, she quickly stepped up to the role of Director of the Behavior Department. As she supports GoldStar’s Behavior Consults, her goal is to facilitate the growth of the behavior program with the creation and implementation of sound behavioral intervention. Robyn has 3 beautiful children of her own. Watching them grow and take on challenges has only reaffirmed the importance of providing quality support and guidance to individuals with developmental delays and their families.

Erin Davis is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and the Behavior Program Manager at GoldStar Learning Options (GLO). Erin enjoys working with a team that shares the same passion of providing quality care and support to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Erin started in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in 2009 at the Marcus Autism Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Erin worked in the Severe Behavior Day Treatment Clinic for 3 years, where she was inspired to pursue a master’s degree and become a BCBA.  She moved to Colorado in 2015 after graduating from Georgia State University with a master’s in educational psychology and becoming an accredited BCBA. Erin provided in-home ABA services as a Clinical Supervisor from 2015-2017, and in 2017, worked as the Director of Behavioral Programming at a Denver-area special education school. Erin enjoys spending time with her family, snowboarding, hiking, and enjoying the beautiful Colorado outdoors.

Carlee Smith is a Lead Board Certified Behavior Analyst, working with kids and adults with intellectual and developmental differences. Carlee began working with adults in the severe behavior residential home in 2012, as a Direct Care Provider and the House Manger. In 2016, she found her passion working with children and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). By 2018, Carlee graduated from University of Northern Colorado with a master's in Special Education-Intervention Specialist and became an accredited Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She appreciates the hard work, dedication, and creativity that is required to work in this field. Carlee is passionate about creating individual plans for each student to enrich every aspect of their life, despite the barriers and challenges they may be faced with. Carlee believes that with the right team and supports in place, goals can be achieved and lives can be changed for the better. Her favorite thing to do when she isn't working involves anything with her family or decorating her home. Carlee's goal is to continue to learn and grow within the field and to never give up on her vision. She believes that if you put your mind to it, you can really make anything happen!

Emily Schechter is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who works with children and adults with disabilities.  Using strategies and techniques based in Applied Behavior Analysis to teach social skills and functional life skills with the goal of helping to foster independence, Emily is passionate about creating a greater quality of life for all individuals and their families.  Growing up with 3 family members who have developmental disabilities, Emily has been involved with various aspects of the disability community for more than 30 years.  Emily graduated in 2015 from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology with a Master of Science in Psychology concentrated in Applied Behavior Analysis; she also earned Master of Arts in Teaching Special Education in 2010 from Fontbonne University.  Emily loves spending time listening to live music, hanging out with her miniature dachshund Lucy, and exploring Colorado.  “There is no greater disability in society, than the ability to see a person as more,” Robert Hensel.

Devon Lotkowski is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who works with individuals who have developmental disabilities by teaching them skills that will aid in accessing their community and peers. As a former special education teacher, Devon believes in inclusion and strongly encourages teaching skills that generalize to all settings. She loves supporting families with the daily challenges they face so they can work toward leading a more socially significant lifestyle. Devon has worked in a variety of settings, all of which have provided her with diverse experiences and learning opportunities. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Special Education from West Chester University of Pennsylvania as well as a Master’s Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University. Devon loves to utilize these degrees by combining behavior analytic goals and academic based milestones. On her free time, she enjoys hiking with her two dogs and traveling home to visit family. Devon’s lifelong goal is to continue to learn and grow in the behavior therapy field so she can expand her knowledge and better serve individuals with a vast range of skills and behaviors. 

Carolyn Ruiz-Austin is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst at GoldStar Learning Options who provides quality care and support for children and adolescents with developmental disabilities and their families. Carolyn loves to bring fun into therapy for clients of all ages, emphasizing communication and emotional regulation in her sessions. She has been with GoldStar Learning Options for three years and is now receiving supervision to become a BCBA. Carolyn received her bachelor’s degree in Speech Language and Hearing Science from Metropolitan State University of Denver. After completing the Speech Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) program and working as an SLPA and an RBT, Carolyn developed a passion for incorporating speech and language therapy into ABA. She is now pursuing her master’s in Special Education with an emphasis in Applied Behavioral Analysis at Cairn University. Carolyn enjoys traveling in her free time and spending time with her husband and two dogs.

Sara Baak received her undergraduate degree in Applied Behavioral Analysis with an emphasis in Early Autism Intervention from the University of Kansas in 2017. In 2020 she graduated from the University of North Texas with a master’s degree in Behavior Analysis and passed the BCBA certification exam.  Sara has experience in a variety of application of behavior analysis, her primary research focused on the assessment and treatment of severe problem behavior in adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Sara strives to assist her clients in the acquisition of functional life skills and reduction of challenging behaviors. Sara has experience supporting individuals across the lifespan with skills including but not limited to providing ABA therapy, early autism intervention, behavior skills training, functional analysis, functional assessments, preference assessments as well designing and implementing function-based treatments.

Ana Rodriguez received her master’s degree in Behavior Analysis from the University of North Texas. She is a member of the Texas Association for Behavior Analysis (TxABA). Ana has experience in assessment and treatment evaluations of severe behavior disorders for adults with intellectual disabilities. She also has experience in the implementation and evaluation of early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) for young children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). She has also applied teaching sciences such as precision teaching and other techniques for the delivery of effective teaching instruction with college-level students. She’s upheld her strong desire to disseminate behavior analytic principles and improve the lives of people with any behavioral challenge through the systematic approach of applied behavior analysis (ABA). Ana loves to cook, watch animated movies, go swimming and sing karaoke with her family.

Brooklynne is currently a graduate student at the University of Colorado - Denver to obtain her masters in Special Education. As an Associate Behavior Consult, she provides quality care and behavior support for children, adolescents, and adults with developmental disabilities. After graduating from Monmouth College in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts is psychology, she found her passion in this field by first working as a summer camp counselor for the Heart of Illinois Special Recreation Association. She moved from Illinois to Colorado in 2016 to seek more opportunities for career growth and fell in love with all that this beautiful state has to offer. Brooklynne has been with GoldStar Learning Options for three years, working in a variety of roles in clinical, in-home, and community settings. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, going to concerts, hiking, camping, snowboarding, and taking her dog, Macy, on adventures.

Mariah Borga is a Registered Behavior Therapist  who works with children up to 18 years old. Mariah started working as a behavior therapist in 2019. She loves being able to help make a difference in each of her clients lives daily.  Mariah graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a degree in Sociology with an emphasis in family studies in 2015. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends outdoors and snuggling up with her cat to read a good book. She is excited to continue to grow in this field and with Goldstar.

Haley Rhine is one of our Lead Registered Behavior Technicians who works in the children and adult programs. Soon after graduating from Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies, she found her passion for working with children and adults with developmental disabilities once she started working here at GoldStar. Haley is extremely committed to help those with developmental disabilities and their families overcome daily challenges and live the most fulfilling life possible. This summer Haley will begin her graduate program at the University of Colorado- Denver to obtain her master’s in Special Education with a focus in ABA. In her free time, Haley enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling the world, and spending time with her dog.

Sam Sharpsteen is our newest Lead Registered Behavior Technician who works with children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her passion for helping those with these differences began during high school where she volunteered each day for the special education classroom. During her time at at GoldStar, Sam has enjoyed increasing her experience in helping each client succeed while growing her love for the field. She finds the ability and opportunity to help create impactful change for individuals and families rewarding like nothing else. She appreciates every challenge and success. In her free time, Sam loves to be outdoors, spend time with friends and family, play video games, and act for both theatre and voice productions.