Back to School with School of Speech: A Virtual Conference for School-Based SLPs Because August Is Coming for All of Us
Let me paint you a little word picture of how School of Speech began, though honestly, “born” might be the better word. What started as a six-episode mini-series (because I very confidently told myself I would keep it small and manageable) quickly grew to nine episodes… then fifteen… and now here we are at the end of Season 4. I still occasionally pause and wonder how something I thought would be “just a few conversations” has become my favorite part of the week. What began as a simple idea has turned into ongoing conversations with school-based SLPs doing incredibly complex, creative, and often exhausting work every single day and in the process, it’s become something much bigger than I ever planned. I’ve learned just as much from guests and listeners as I hope they’ve taken away from me.
As a school-based clinician myself, I know what it feels like to add “one more thing” to an already full day. So I never take lightly that listeners, and this School of Speech community, are choosing to spend their time here in the middle of real life: after work, after school demands, after everything else. And yet somehow, Wednesdays have become a steady anchor for me too largely because of the familiar names, thoughtful conversations, and the sense that this podcast has grown into something grounding and meaningful for all of us.
As summer approaches and that familiar feeling of a much-needed break starts to peek in, I find myself reflecting on what it means to actually step away for a bit. Which brings me to a very important confession about this upcoming July. So yes, you would think I’d be the perfect candidate for my annual July hiatus. But you would be wrong. I’m just too excited. Excited about the momentum of this community. Excited about the conversations still to come. And honestly, excited to take School of Speech in a new direction. That something new is… drum roll please…
The Back to School with School of Speech: A Virtual Conference! Woo Hoo!
This conference has been carefully curated for school-based SLPs who are craving practical tools, actionable strategies, and a community to help them navigate the constant change of our profession. So friends, colleagues, and my School of Speech community mark your calendars for July 18–19 and join me for this incredible ASHA CEU opportunity presented by Speech Therapy PD. Across these two days, I’m bringing together clinicians and presenters who don’t just talk about the work, they live it. We’ll focus on what actually matters as you head into a new school year: streamlining systems, writing efficient and meaningful goals, implementing practical interventions, navigating dismissals with confidence, managing caseload realities, and creating therapy that feels purposeful instead of purely reactive.
And here’s what I’m especially excited about: Many of the presenters are voices you already know from School of Speech—guests whose episodes have sparked shifts in practice, stretched our thinking, and created those unforgettable “aha” moments that change how we see our work. Getting to host this conference feels like a natural extension of what this podcast has become: thoughtful conversations, practical strategies, and a space where school-based SLPs feel supported, understood, and a little more grounded in their work. Because this community deserves professional development that feels relevant, energizing, and deeply connected to the real work happening in schools every single day. I want attendees to walk into fall feeling a little more prepared, a little more supported, and a lot less like they’re figuring it out alone (even though, let’s be honest, there’s always a little bit of that too).
So save the date: July 18–19, 2026.
We’ll bring the content, the community, and the collective energy to help you start the school year strong.
