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After reading the recent "Vision and Values" series by several national leaders in school speech-language pathology over the past several issues of The ASHA Leader, I was pleasantly reminded that change can be a difficult endeavor for anyone but that really good outcomes can happen when SLPs are strong enough to advocate for change. Nickola Wolf Nelson (2007) said it brilliantly when she indicated that "sometimes the right road is not the easy road." I couldn't agree more. Change is never easy and it is never without continued deep reflection on how to better our efforts in our work with children to help them to be successful in life.
Several years ago I took some risks and began integrating early literacy skills into my speech and language therapy with K-2 children. Today I am part of a strong leadership team in our building who developed the concept of literacy teaming. Literacy teaming incorporates the best concepts of literacy coaching and professional learning communities and integrates them into a collaborative approach to teaching literacy. Get involved in your building leadership teams and your teacher assistant teams, share your powerful knowledge about language with others, and most importantly, consult and learn from your reading staff. Be strong, dive in and learn, take risks, be flexible, and use common sense. It will rejuvenate your soul and light a passion so strong that you will be amazed at what you can do.
Sue Lease
Verona, Wisconsin
leases@verona.k12.wi.us
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