I decided to pursue a career in Speech and Language Pathology as a senior in high school and never looked back.  It was my love of working with children and my personal experience with Speech and Language Pathology that shaped my decision.  I attended speech therapy in 2nd grade and had fond memories of the experience.  As an adult, reflecting back on the times that I attended speech therapy, I realized that I only remembered playing and having fun...the learning was so well imbedded in the activities that I didn’t even realize it was happening.

I graduated Cum Laude from Cal State University of Fullerton with a Bachelors of Arts in Communicative Disorders in 2002.  After graduating, I immediately began the Masters Program at the University of Redlands.  I was awarded the John Hancock award and graduated Cum Laude with a MS in Communicative Disorders in 2004.  

I knew that I wanted to work with young children and started my career at Val Verde Unified school district; a public school district in Southern California.  I was given the opportunity to pilot a preschool program for communicatively handicapped children.  The first two years of my career were spent helping to create a preschool classroom that incorporated general education curriculum with an emphasis on language enrichment.  I spent the next 10 years working at various school sites with children ranging in age from 3-12.  I also supplemented my experience by working part time for Inland Regional Center’s early intervention program doing in-home therapy with children from birth to three years of age. 

I have a passion for early intervention and constantly try to stay informed regarding new and pertinent therapy approaches.  I am certified in two Hanen Programs, including: It Takes Two to Talk and More than Words.  Hanen is a well recognized organization that provides training for both parents and professionals on naturalistic, play based language interventions. They support early intervention for the treatment of language, literacy and social skills.

I also have completed the DIR Flootime training.  This therapeutic model focuses on helping children reach developmentally appropriate milestones while acknowledging a child and family's individual differences and focusing on the relationships that child has with others. 

I hold and maintain the Clinical Competence Credential awarded by ASHA (American Speech and Hearing Association) as well as an Idaho State License for Speech and Language Pathology.  I look forward to continuing to learn and grow professionally and participate in many continuing educational opportunities every year.