Kathy Thomas, M.S., CCC-SLP
Senior Program Director – Child Apraxia Treatment
Kathy serves as a Senior Program Director for Child Apraxia Treatment at the Once Upon a Time Foundation. Kathy joined the Foundation in 2015. Kathy is a certified speech-language pathologist with over 30 years of experience treating adults and children with complex communication needs. In her role at the Foundation, Kathy oversees all Child Apraxia Treatment programming.
Previously, she was a Senior Lecturer at the University of North Texas and Director of the UNT Speech and Hearing Clinic. Kathy’s interest in serving children with complex communication needs, including children with severe motor speech and language disorders, propelled her interest in working with the foundation to develop programs to support children with communication disorders and their families.
Kathy holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) from the American Speech Language Hearing Association and is licensed to practice speech-language pathology in Texas. Kathy graduated from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor’s in Education and a minor in Speech Pathology and Audiology. She holds a Master’s Degree in Speech Pathology with a minor in Aging Studies from the University of North Texas.
Bethany Harper
Senior Program Director / Director of Grant Operations
Bethany serves as a Senior Program Director and Director of Grant Operations for the Once Upon a Time Foundation. Bethany joined the Foundation in 2018 as an Associate Program Director. In her time at the Foundation, Bethany has worked as the Program Director for the Philanthropy Lab and coordinated our research efforts in Electronic Data & Mental Health and Child Apraxia of Speech. As Senior Program Director, Bethany oversees all programming and grant activity.
Bethany graduated magna cum laude from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Fellows and Public Relations.
Katie Cooke
Associate Program Director
Katie serves as an Associate Program Director of the Once Upon a Time Foundation. Katie joined the Foundation in October 2021. Katie’s areas of focus at the Foundation are the coordination of our Child Apraxia Treatment and Electronic Data & Mental Health Research grants, as well as the administration of our Child Apraxia Treatment online course, advanced workshops and online resources.
Katie graduated from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and minors in Arts Administration and Italian.
Carter Plaster
Associate Program Director
Carter serves as an Associate Program Director of the Once Upon a Time Foundation. Carter joined the Foundation in February 2021 as an Intern and joined as full time staff in June 2022. Carter’s areas of focus at the Foundation include supporting the administration of our Child Apraxia Treatment programming, The Philanthropy Lab, and general grants administration.
Carter graduated summa cum laude from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Arts in History and minors in Spanish and Geography.
