Kathy completed her Master’s Degree in Speech Language Pathology from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and has been an SLP for over 15 years. She has previously served as an instructor at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in the Department of Communication Disorders and as an education specialist for Speech Language Pathology and Therapy Services at Education Service Center Region 13, in which she provided professional development and technical assistance for Speech Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists and Physical Therapists working in the public schools. She also worked on a statewide Autism Leadership project, which involved the development of web-based autism treatment and Evidence Based Practice resources. She has provided professional education for SLPs across the state on a variety of topics including best practices in service delivery, supporting children with significant communication impairments, and augmentative and alternative communication. She served on the editorial board for the journal EBP Briefs and as the Vice President for Research and Development for the Executive Board of the Texas Speech Language Hearing Association.
KIN: Why did you choose pediatrics?
Kathy: I’ve always been fascinated by how children develop so much, so quickly. It’s truly magical how much children can do by the time they are 3 years old! That fascination has influenced my desire to work with children who develop differently. I strive to provide the help they need as early as possible to ensure they have the best opportunity for a fulfilling life.
KIN: What is your passion?
Kathy: I feel passionately that all people should have an equitable opportunity to live their lives to the fullest. Therefore, I am passionate about the areas of our profession that support access to independence, such as helping a person communicate through AAC, or giving a child the language and literacy tools they need to learn in a regular classroom.
KIN: Tell us what you are currently working on that makes you EXCITED!
Kathy: I currently do a lot of work with classroom teachers (not therapists or special educators!) to understand how to teach children with language and learning disabilities in their classrooms and how to help children who learn differently thrive alongside their nondisabled peers. It’s been a journey to get to this place, but I feel like I can impact so many more lives than I could in the small group of children in a therapy setting. It’s exhilarating and rewarding because teachers are desperate for the support and so many children could ultimately benefit from a classroom environment that is truly accessible to ALL children.
KIN: What do you really want people to know about you?
Kathy: I am a learner. I love to learn new things that impact my work. I also love to take information that the brilliant people in our field – and adjacent fields like education, psychology, and neuroscience – are learning through cutting-edge research and to apply that research in the real world – the one with deadlines and caseloads and high work demands. There’s no time to be a therapist-researcher. I am honored to fulfill the researcher role and share my learning with those who need it to more effectively do their job. I also take my work very personally, as the parent of a child with autism. There is no practical boundary between home, healthcare, therapy, and the classroom for a caregiver of a child with a disability – so I want to be a change-agent to build a more holistic, collaborative system of care that contributes to independence and self-determination for families and children.
KIN: What made you want to teach for Knowledge Is Now?
Kathy: Knowledge Is Now’s philosophy of ” bridging the gap between academic research and practical application” aligns perfectly with my own philosophy for professional learning. I love that the focus of Knowledge Is Now is on quality continuing education, not just volumes and volumes of low quality options. And I really love the focus on collaboration. Collaboration within and between systems of care can reduce the burden on caregivers and ultimately result in better care for children.
KIN: What is one practical tip you would recommend to those in the field of pediatric therapy?
Kathy: Don’t put your professional self in a box. Explore outside of your comfort zone. Take risks and make mistakes. That’s how you will truly grow as a therapist, and the children you support will benefit from it.
Kathy will be leading a 2 hour webinar on April 11, 2025 on Narratives as a Natural Context for Pediatric Language Intervention – Part 1. Find more details here! Part 2 will take place on November 7, 2025.
Course Reviews from Narratives as a Natural Context for Pediatric Language Intervention- Part 1:
“I could have listened to her all day….her enthusiasm about the topic makes it & come to life & for me. I use narrative language a lot in the schools, but look forward to hearing even more about the HH setting in November.” KJ
“Enjoyed the presenter and the material. Presenter provided verbal examples related to various topics throughout.” CP
