When Sara Erling graduated with a B.S. in Psychology from Boise State University in 1998, her plans for continuing her education were firmly in place. She had taken the GRE and mapped out a clear path to graduate school. Newly married, she set aside one year to settle into married life and work “in the field” before continuing with school — and she had no idea she was about to receive the education of a lifetime without setting foot on another university campus.
A few months after graduating from BSU, Sara was referred for a job opening at the National Association for Child Development (NACD) in Ogden, Utah. “I was drawn in right away,” she says, “not only by the prospect of working with children with all kinds of different issues, but also because of the emphasis on parent involvement.” Having researched and written her senior thesis on the effectiveness of mentorship programs for children with special needs, Sara had seen firsthand what was possible — and what was missing — when parents weren’t part of the picture. At NACD, she found an organization built on exactly the opposite philosophy.
Sara began with NACD as a Program Teacher and parent support specialist. Her first year included intensive mentorship under NACD Founder Bob Doman, which she credits as one of the most formative experiences of her career. “I learned more from being mentored by Bob in that first year than I ever would have in a Master’s program. I continue to learn every year — from Bob, from my colleagues, from the parents and kids I work with.”
In three decades, Sara has grown into one of NACD’s most experienced Targeted Developmental Intervention (TDI™) Specialists. In this role, she conducts comprehensive developmental and educational assessments spanning sensory, motor, language, behavioral, academic, and cognitive domains — for individuals from infancy through adulthood. She designs individualized TDI™ programs, and she provides families with the training, tools, and strategies they need to implement effective at-home intervention. She has also trained new NACD staff and consultants in neurodevelopmental methods, assisted in developing IEP goals, and created new activities and tools to enhance client outcomes.
Alongside her clinical work, Sara has been an active educator beyond NACD’s walls. As a workshop instructor, she has presented at local, state, and national conferences on topics including child development, neurodevelopmental intervention, and educational strategies. Her speaking engagements include the NACD Shifting Gears Conference (Featured Workshop Speaker), the Utah Home Educators Conference, the Family Café Conference in Florida, the Autism One Conference in Chicago, the Washington Homeschoolers Organization, the Christian Homeschoolers of Idaho State Conference, the LDS Homeschoolers Association, and the Utah Christian Homeschoolers Conference, among others.
Sara has also brought her expertise directly into classrooms through in-service professional development for K–12 teachers in public and private school districts — including Carlsbad, NM; St. Johns Lutheran Academy, WI; Park City Academy, UT; Wasatch Peak Academy, UT; Spectrum Academy, UT; and Flint, MI.
One notable curriculum project from this work is Developing Short-Term and Working Memory in Students, a teacher in-service training that she created. It focuses on cognitive strategies and memory training to support academic outcomes in students.
Her written contributions include articles in the NACD Journal and work on various pilot studies with schools, including the NACD/Wasatch Peak Academy School Model Program.
Sara holds certifications as a Fast ForWord Provider and a Provider of The Listening Program, in addition to her certification in Neurodevelopmental Assessment and Programming through NACD. In 2020, she completed a Master’s degree in Education: Curriculum and Instruction from Weber State University.
Sara’s dedication to NACD is also a family affair. She and her husband have three children — Michael, Marc, and Elle — all of whom participated in NACD programs growing up. Now successful adults, they have contributed to the organization in their own right, helping create video content for NACD’s clients. It’s a fitting reflection of the philosophy Sara has championed her entire career: that families are the heart of the work.
In almost 30 years, her commitment to NACD and the families she serves is as strong as ever.
“I know I’m working for an organization that makes a difference.”
