You will come away with a clearer understanding of how to identify DLD, advocate for appropriate supports, and integrate this framework into your clinical decision-making to better serve students in your care.

Guests: Wendy Morgan, MS, CCC-SLP & Diane Ogiela, PHD, CCC-SLP

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Developmental Language Disorder, or DLD, affects far more students than many clinicians realize, yet it often goes unidentified or misunderstood in school settings. In this episode, we break down what DLD is, why the terminology matters, and how it impacts spoken language, literacy, and academic success across the school years and beyond.

Host Carolyn Dolby, MS, CCC-SLP, is joined by Diane Ogiela, PhD, CCC-SLP, and Wendy Morgan, MS, CCC-SLP for a practical, school-based look at how DLD fits within existing educational frameworks. Together, they unpack how this diagnostic label aligns with eligibility criteria, service delivery, and compliance requirements in real-world settings.

Show Notes:

How We Fail Children with Developmental Language Disorder

If you're feeling stretched thin by a growing caseload, this episode offers a clearer framework for understanding workload and practical ideas you can start using right away.

Guests: Janine Benner, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL, ASDCS & Abbie Keibler, MA, CCC-SLP

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From Caseload to Workload: Rethinking Service Delivery in Schools. Over the course of the conversation, they explore the difference between caseload- and workload-based service delivery and why a simple student count rarely reflects the full scope of what school SLPs actually do. From evaluations and documentation to collaboration and compliance, these responsibilities highlight the many that often go unseen in traditional caseload models.

About the Guests: Janine Benner is a speech-language pathologist with 33 years of experience, including 26 years in pediatric settings. She is a Board-Certified Specialist in Child Language, credentialed by the American Board of Child Language and Language Disorders (ABCLL), with a focus on autism and early intervention and a Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist (ASDCS).

Abbie Keibler is in her 19th year as a speech-language pathologist at Mississippi Bend AEA in Bettendorf, Iowa. She serves the preschool and elementary population. Abbie is the department lead for 57 SLPs and is the co-State Speech Lead for the Iowa AEA System. Abbie is an adjunct instructor at St Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, and has a special interest in comprehensive literacy for complex communicators and AAC.

Show Notes:

Speech Therapy PD On-Demand course referred to inside the episode

You’ll gain insight into the leadership mindset and practical strategies that help shift clinicians from feeling reactive to practicing with greater purpose and influence, while better supporting the students they serve.

Guest: Barbara Moore, EDD, CCC-SLP, BCS-SL

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In this episode of School of Speech, host Carolyn Dolby, MS, CCC-SLP, is joined by Dr. Barbara Moore, EdD, CCC-SLP, BCS-SL, to explore how school-based SLPs can intentionally strengthen their professional autonomy. Together, they examine the systemic pressures that shape school-based practice, the program-level decisions that influence how services are delivered, and practical ways clinicians can take a more active role in shaping their work.

About the Guest: Barbara Moore, EdD, CCC-SLP, BCS-SL, is the Owner and Clinical Director of Speech Pathology Associates in Irvine, California. She has practiced speech-language pathology for over 35 years. Dr. Moore earned her master’s degree from California State University, Los Angeles, and completed a clinical fellowship in cleft palate and craniofacial disorders at Duke University Medical Center.

Spend less time managing data and more time focusing on therapy with systematic tweaks and digital tools.

Guest: Michele Rothstein MA, CCC-SLP

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Host Carolyn Dolby, MS, CCC-SLP, is joined by Michele Rothstein, MA, CCC-SLP, on this episode of School of Speech to unpack how school-based SLPs can simplify data collection and IEP progress monitoring without sacrificing accuracy or compliance.This conversation clarifies the often-blurred line between therapy charting and true data collection probes, highlights common documentation pitfalls, and walks clinicians through streamlined systems that make data easier to collect, organize, and interpret. Michele shares practical ways to tighten workflows, reduce paperwork fatigue, and build routines that support consistent, meaningful progress monitoring.

About the Guest: Michele Rothstein is a school-based Speech Pathologist working full-time in an elementary school for students K-6 while running SLP Madness. She serves as a consultant and coach for school-based SLPs, helping them meet the ever-growing demands of their caseloads while meeting the needs of their students. Michele strives to provide high-quality treatment, grounded in the strong connections she has with her students and their families.

Move beyond "80% accuracy"—write therapy goals that show what kids can actually do with their words in everyday life.

Guest: Rebecca Moore, MS, CCC-SLP

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The phrase "beyond 80% accuracy" is one that many clinicians recognize and rely on when writing therapy goals. It is familiar, measurable, and widely accepted. But percentages alone do not always capture what truly matters in a child’s functional communication growth. In this episode of School of Speech, host Carolyn Dolby, MS, CCC-SLP, is joined by Rebecca Moore, MS, CCC-SLP, for a practical conversation about moving beyond default accuracy statements toward goals that are clearer, more meaningful, and more clinically useful.

About the Guest: Rebecca Moore is a speech-language pathologist with 16 years of clinical experience. She earned her undergraduate degree from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and her Master’s degree from Kansas State University. Over the course of her career, she has lived and worked in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Ohio, primarily serving pediatric populations. She currently resides in Ohio, where she practices in an outpatient pediatric clinic specializing in Childhood Apraxia of Speech and autism therapy, with a particular focus on children under six years of age.

Guests: Tim DeLuca, PHD, CCC-SLP/Nerissa Hall PHD, CCC-SLP/Julia Serra MS, CCC-SLP

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https://www.speechtherapypd.com/courses/research-practice-partnerships

In this episode of School of Speech, host Carolyn Dolby, MS, CCC-SLP, welcomes Tim DeLuca, PhD, CCC-SLP; Nerissa Hall, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-AAC; and Julia Serra, MS, CCC-SLP for a timely conversation about how research-practice partnerships can strengthen speech-language pathology and close the gap between evidence and everyday clinical decision-making. Together, they explore what research-practice partnerships are, why they matter, and how collaboration between clinicians and researchers can lead to more relevant research questions, stronger implementation of evidence-based practices, and better outcomes for students.

You will hear practical examples of existing research-practice partnership models, along with real-world insights into how these collaborations are formed, maintained, and sustained over time. The discussion highlights the mutual benefits for clinicians, researchers, and the broader speech-language pathology community, while offering clear guidance for SLPs who are interested in becoming involved in partnerships that align with their caseload priorities and service delivery needs.

This course provides a practical roadmap for engaging in meaningful collaboration that supports clinically relevant research and fosters the use of research-informed interventions in everyday practice.

About the Guests: Tim DeLuca, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an assistant professor in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and director of the Community Engaged Language and Literacy (CELL) Lab. His research examines best practices for improving language and literacy outcomes for children in schools, particularly those with developmental language disorder, dyslexia, and/or complex communication needs. His research is informed by over a decade of clinical practice as both a speech-language pathologist and reading specialist, continued mentorship and instruction of undergraduate and graduate students, and multiple clinician-researcher partnerships. His work focuses on harnessing implementation science and fostering interprofessional practice to enhance written and spoken language outcomes for children in schools. By bridging the gap between research and practice, the CELL Lab strives to unlock new strategies and tools that can significantly improve children's communication skills and overall quality of life.

Nerissa Hall, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-AAC, is a speech-language pathologist, AAC specialist, and co-Director of the Speech Language and Literacy Center with Tate Behavioral, where she works across disciplines—including behavior analysis, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and special education—to support students with complex access, learning, and communication needs. She is passionate about implementation and the interplay among learners, their communication partners, and their environments to maximize outcomes for learners and their partners. She collaborates with university partners, including UMass, agencies, and innovators, to bridge research and practice. Her work focuses on AAC intervention, assessment, consultation, and coaching, as well as tele-AAC, applied technology, and systems-level implementation of evidence-based practices. Dr. Hall is a national and international presenter and co-editor of foundational texts, with a strong emphasis on translating research into sustainable, real-world school practice.

Julia Serra, MA, CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist and supervising clinician at Tate Learning Center, where she works closely with SLPs, BCBAs, OTs, PTs, special educators, and related service providers to support students with complex communication, learning, and behavioral needs and their teams. Her work focuses on AAC, language, and literacy assessment, intervention, and consultation, and she is heavily invested in helping interdisciplinary teams apply evidence-based practices with fidelity, flexibility, and sustainability. Julia brings a grounded, clinician-informed perspective on what it takes to make research work in classrooms, programs, and systems.

Guest: Jacqueline Brown, ED.D., CCC-SLP

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https://www.speechtherapypd.com/courses/leveraging-supervision

In this episode of School of Speech, host Carolyn Dolby, MS, CCC-SLP, welcomes Jacqueline Brown, EdD, CCC-SLP, for a practical conversation about how special education law shapes speech-language pathology services in school settings and how supervision and evaluation can be leveraged for success.

This course examines how the goals of supervision and evaluation go beyond compliance and can be used to support effective service delivery, meaningful professional growth, and improved outcomes for students. Jacqueline breaks down how legal and administrative frameworks influence SLP roles, responsibilities, and expectations in schools.

Participants will learn practical strategies to advocate for continuing education, protected time, and appropriate resources, while positioning themselves as collaborative allies within multidisciplinary teams. The session also highlights how strong partnerships with supervisors and evaluators can support accountability, confidence, and long-term career sustainability.

About the Guest: Jacqueline (Turcios) Brown, EdD, CCC-SLP, is an Assistant Professor in the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program at the University of New Haven. She is a licensed speech-language pathologist with broad clinical experience across pediatric and adult populations, including work in public schools and at Yale New Haven Health in neurological and pediatric outpatient clinics, acute care, and rehabilitation. Dr. Brown earned her Doctor of Education from Southern Connecticut State University, where her research examined speech-language pathologists’ experiences with Connecticut’s educator evaluation system. She continues to expand this line of inquiry nationally, focusing on the professional experiences of school-based SLPs. Her work focuses on how clinicians can find fulfillment in their roles and sustain motivation throughout their careers.

Guest: Alisha B. Gandhi, MA, MS, CCC-SLP/TSSLD-BE

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https://www.speechtherapypd.com/courses/vocabulary-translanguaging-strategies

Speech-language pathologists play a critical role in supporting vocabulary development for multilingual learners, and that work goes far beyond teaching isolated words. In this School of Speech episode, host Carolyn Dolby, MS, CCC-SLP, is joined by Alisha B. Gandhi, MA, MS, CCC-SLP/TSSLD-BE, to explore how evidence-based vocabulary instruction can be strengthened through pedagogical translanguaging in classroom and therapy settings.

Alisha breaks down what translanguaging really looks like in practice and how it can be intentionally applied to vocabulary instruction for young multilingual learners. Rather than separating languages, this approach leverages a student’s full linguistic repertoire to support deeper understanding, stronger word learning, and meaningful language growth.

The conversation focuses on practical, collaborative strategies SLPs can use alongside classroom teachers to create explicit, robust vocabulary instruction that supports both language and academic success. Listeners will walk away with concrete ways to apply translanguaging principles within evidence-based intervention frameworks and better advocate for multilingual learners in educational settings.

About the Guest: Alisha B. Gandhi, MA, MS, CCC-SLP, is a Clinical Associate Professor and Director of the Bilingual Extension Track at New York University. She earned her MS degree in Speech and Language Pathology with a focus in Bilingual/Bicultural from Teachers College, Columbia University. She also holds an MA in Educational Leadership, Politics, and Advocacy and is currently a doctoral student in the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program at NYU. Alisha previously worked as a bilingual speech-language pathologist for the New York City Public Schools, NYS Early Intervention, and in the private sector, providing culturally and linguistically responsive diagnostic and therapeutic services for children and adolescents, including multilingual learners, with a wide variety of speech and language disorders and emotional, physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities.