During my junior/senior year of high school, I had to decide on a career path. I really had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, except I knew that I wanted to help people. I considered becoming a nurse but quickly realized that if I can barely sit through getting my own blood drawn, I definitely couldn't be the one doing it. My mom saw an ad in the local newspaper listing the top 10 jobs, with speech pathology being one of them. I had never heard of this career before, but with much encouragement from my mom, I decided to set up a time to shadow an SLP at our local elementary school. I spent the whole day following her around, participating in group sessions, and observing her day-to-day activities. Aside from noticing how stylish her heels were, I also saw how happy she was being an SLP, how much the kids loved her, and how she carried herself. All of it resonated with me. I left that day with tears in my eyes, saying, "This is what I want to pursue."
What do you like about being school-based therapists?
First and foremost, I love my students, especially the little ones in grades K-2. I enjoy how being a school-based therapist allows me to be creative, while I assess their challenges and areas for improvement, I primarily focus on their strengths and tailor my therapy to build on them. Nothing makes me happier than seeing a child's confidence grow when they hit their speech and language targets, improve their articulation, or when I can simply be a safe space for a child having a hard time. I have a nurturing, silly, and open personality, and I love that I can express that with my students. Additionally, I cherish the connections I’ve formed with their parents and the collaborative relationships I have with the staff. It truly fills my soul to be able to easily pop next door to brainstorm with the special education team on how to best support a child's progress across multiple areas. It feels wonderful to say that I genuinely enjoy going to work because I feel a sense of purpose.
I have been a contractor for Kelly Pediatric Therapy since 2019 and have worked across multiple locations, with my current placement lasting four years and counting. I LOVE the flexibility that comes with working for them. As a first-time mom, with my baby girl due in July, their understanding and willingness to work with me to find coverage until I can return means the world. It’s this flexibility that will help me be the best mom and wife—the two most important things in my life. Whenever I've had concerns or needed additional support, the coordinators and staff at Kelly have always been there for me. I feel so blessed to have formed friendships with my wonderful director and the other Kelly Pediatric Therapy team members, many of whom share a therapy room with me.
More and more school districts are seeing the benefit of using a company to hire their school-based therapists. At Kelly Pediatric Therapy we work with occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, psychologists, mental health professionals, and other clinicians to help you find the right school-based placements.
If you're looking to move forward in your professional career in a way that supports growth, balance, and impact—consider working with us as a school-based therapist.
When you work with Kelly Pediatric Therapy, you’ll enjoy competitive pay, compensation for documentation, access to mentorship, free professional development, and work-free nights, weekends, and holidays.
Learn more about joining our team.