In 2017, we became the speech and language teachers in room 117. We all had different ideas, came from various backgrounds, with diverse experiences, but all had the same goal in mind: to create therapy materials and resources to make our lives easier, as well as help our students to succeed.
We work with high school students with varying expressive, receptive, and pragmatic difficulties that impact their learning. We continue to work on creative ways to teach our students strategies that they can generalize into the classroom that will allow them to successfully access the curriculum. We focus on topics that are interesting and engaging for our students to keep them motivated and inspired.
We created our Teachers Pay Teachers store because we felt there was not enough materials for the older students. We wanted to share what works for us with others in the speech and language community! Everything we post has been helpful and beneficial to us and our students. Our hope is that you take what we share and make it your own.
Feel free to contact us, we love meeting and collaborating with other SLPs! Follow us on Teachers Pay Teachers, Facebook, and Instagram!
Stephanie
I am a New York-based SLP who holds a BA in Hearing and Speech Sciences from the University of Maryland College Park and a MA in Speech Language Pathology from Long Island University Post.
I began my work experience, like many others in NYC, working for an agency which sent me, quite literally, all over the city. I was in 3 different schools, in 2 different boroughs, working with students ages 2-15, and completely on my own. Although terrifying, tiring, and *quite* chaotic, the knowledge I gained during my Clinical Fellowship year was invaluable. The following year, I began working for the NYC Department of Education, splitting my time between two of the largest high schools in NYC.
Luckily for me, my new job placed me in the same room as Risa and Michelle, two amazing and incredibly welcoming SLPs. Together they made me feel confident in my ability to handle whatever high school students threw at me. I feel fortunate to have met such warm co-workers who easily turned into friends.
My experience in the high schools has been eye-opening, challenging, invigorating, terrifying, and at times, hilarious. I truly believe that once you work in a high school, you’ll never want to work anywhere else.
Some fun facts about me:
- I work with adults at an inpatient head injury rehabilitation center over the summer and during school holidays.
- My two (and only) hidden talents are whistling and puzzles.
- I recently started doing CrossFit and am obsessed.
- I love to cook and secretly want to become a food blogger.
- My favorite TV show is Friends, I could watch it every day for the rest of my life.
Risa
I have lived in New York all of my life but decided to go to Towson University in Maryland for my undergraduate degree in Communication disorders. While I was in Towson, I started dating my husband. We knew we wanted to eventually live on Long Island so I decided to get my Master’s Degree in Speech and Language Pathology at Adelphi University.
My first few jobs were for different New York City based agencies. They provided me with a wide variety of experience with different age groups; Birth through High School. After some time I realized that I did not enjoy traveling throughout the day and wanted to work in one school where I could collaborate with coworkers. When I applied for the position in the High School, I was nervous because I always envisioned working with preschoolers and a side note I am only 5 feet tall, so the odds are most of my students would be taller than me.
I have been working in my current High School since 2013. I have never complained or wanted a different school. My husband hears me say all the time how lucky I am to work at my school, especially because there is ample parking. I love collaborating with Michelle and Stephanie our favorite days are when we introduce a new packet!
A few fun facts about me:
- My favorite movie is Dirty Dancing and I know all the lines
- I am a Mom to two energetic, fun, loving, and caring boys
- I am too scared to watch any type of scary movie
- September through February I spend my Sundays watching Football
- I just asked my 4 year old for a fun fact about me and he said, “that she laughs at me” that pretty much sums up my life right now!
Michelle
I’ve been an SLP for almost 10 years! I graduated Adelphi University with a BA in Communication Sciences and Disorders in January 2008 (I graduated a semester early) and an MS in Speech-Language Pathology in January 2010.
I began my journey working for agencies; having the flexibility to work in homes, schools and daycare centers. A majority of my kids were preschoolers. I created my own materials, creating books and velcro visuals that were interactive and engaging. The kids loved them and I secretly loved making them (I still use them with my son today).
In 2014, I began my career working for the NYC Department of Education as a Teacher of Speech Improvement in a High School. I don’t complain about my one hour commute because the end result is my second home where my coworkers have become family. I’ve incorporated my preschool creativity and upgraded it to the high school level. I look forward to creating new and innovative ways to help our students learn and succeed!
Some fun facts about me:
- I was a kickboxing instructor.
- I am Italian, but everyone thinks I’m Irish because I have red hair.
- I married my high school sweetheart.
- I am an early bird, definitely not a night owl.
- My first job was at a balloon store and I continue to use my skills for parties today.
- I was in a sorority, Delta Gamma.
“I began working with preschool children who were smaller than me to now working with high school students who are bigger than me.”