REWIND - Leading the Way: School-based SLPs as the Agents of Change with Laura Mansfield

******Originally Aired: August 204 *****

Guest: Laura Mansfield, Ed.D, CCC-SLP

Earn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode with Speech Therapy PD:https://www.speechtherapypd.com/courses/leading-the-way-school-based-slps-as-the-agents-of-change

In this episode, Dr. Mansfield delves into the pivotal role of school-based Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) as leaders and agents of change within educational settings. We explore the importance of understanding federal and state laws, fostering leadership qualities, improving communication strategies with peers, and ensuring that SLP services are appropriately individualized and impactful. The episode is rich with insights on being effective and joyful school-based SLPs, providing frameworks for embedding therapy within educational models, and advocating for necessary changes. This episode is a valuable resource for SLPs looking to enhance their practice and leadership skills in school settings.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

00:44 Guest Introduction: Dr. Laura Mansfield

01:14 Housekeeping and Disclosures

02:39 Dr. Laura Mansfield's Background and Journey

04:18 Engaging with the Audience

06:36 SLP Roles and Responsibilities

08:15 Understanding the Educational Model

13:50 Service Provision and Scheduling

18:51 Collaboration and Classroom Integration

27:45 Leadership and Advocacy in Schools

30:02 Understanding the Educational System

30:35 SLPs as Leaders in Various Settings

31:19 Empowering SLPs Through Effective Communication

32:19 Navigating Challenges with Administrators

35:53 Surveying and Understanding Staff Needs

36:56 Clarifying Roles and Goals

38:01 Addressing Caseload and Service Delivery

52:26 Dynamic Assessment and RTI Model

57:54 Final Thoughts and Resources

About the Guest:

After completing a Bachelor's in Health Care Administration, Laura realized her true passion was serving children with disabilities. She returned to school and received her Master's in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) in 2001. After working 12 years as an SLP in public, private, and clinical settings, she moved into special education administration. Laura worked as a SPED Administrator for a private out-of-district school serving students with moderate to severe disabilities for three years and held various administrative roles in the public school setting for seven years. She completed a dissertation on mobile technology as Augmentative and Alternative Communication on her journey to achieving a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership. Reflecting on her goals, passions, and career path during the COVID-19 pandemic caused her to take a step back to her roots in SLP. She currently works as an SLP in an elementary school for students in grades 1-5. She is passionate about leveraging her administrative, legal, and leadership experiences to empower SLPs across various settings to recognize themselves as the leaders they are in their current roles. She believes that SLPs have the power to change cultures and influence teams and wants to equip them to do just that.

Mentioned in this episode:

Register for the 2026 Autism Conference