LeadSpeak: School-Based SLP Podcast

Nathalie Lebrun & Judy Rich

Welcome to Season 3 of LeadSpeak: The School-Based SLP Leadership Podcast! This season, we're diving into Culture by Design: The Leadership Actions That Define Your Team. Culture isn’t something that happens by accident — it’s something leaders create, refine, and reinforce every day. Whether you're a department head, clinical supervisor, or a passionate team member, you have the power to influence your work environment in meaningful ways. Join co-hosts Nathalie Lebrun and Judy Rich as they explore how intentional leadership practices can transform teams, strengthen trust, and build environments where speech-language pathologists feel valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. Across each episode, you'll learn: ✅ How culture is built through everyday leadership actions — not left to chance ✅ Practical strategies to lead confidently, no matter your role ✅ Real-world examples from successful SLP teams and leaders ✅ How a thriving, people-centered culture fuels better student outcomes From creating people-centric systems, to embracing change, to elevating clinical excellence, Season 3 offers actionable insights to help you shape a stronger, healthier professional culture — starting today. Tune in and discover how leading with intention can change everything — for your team, for your students, and for yourself.

  1. When the Data Leads the Way: How SLPs Shape Instructional Practices & Legislation

    8월 21일

    When the Data Leads the Way: How SLPs Shape Instructional Practices & Legislation

    In this dynamic and heartfelt episode of LeadSpeak, we sit down with Rachel Powell—Director of Curriculum & Instruction, veteran SLP, data enthusiast, and award-winning leader—to explore how school-based speech-language pathologists can expand their reach far beyond the therapy room. Rachel shares her evolution from clinician to systems-level leader, all rooted in a deep love for literacy, a passion for diagnostic clarity, and a commitment to student success. You’ll hear how she uses her SLP skill set to influence reading outcomes, coach teachers, rewrite state policy, and build collaborative, data-informed teams that change lives. - From Data Collector to Data Coach Learn how Rachel transitioned from tracking student outcomes to coaching educators on using data to improve Tier 1 and Tier 2 instruction, highlighting SLPs’ value beyond IEPs. -SLPs Belong in Literacy Conversations Rachel pushes beyond the narrow dyslexia lens to advocate for SLP involvement in broader literacy initiatives, curriculum development, and language standards alignment. -Professional Development Starts With Inquiry She shares how she crafts adult learning experiences grounded in curiosity, background knowledge, and mutual respect, empowering educators instead of prescribing solutions. -The Power of Serendipity + Strategy From earning her PhD to leading multi-disciplinary teams, Rachel shows how staying open to opportunities and aligning them with your passions leads to lasting systems change. -Silos Don’t Serve Students Rachel makes a compelling case for breaking down professional silos—between general education and special education, between disciplines, and between policy and practice. -Change Takes Time—and Partners System-level advocacy (especially at the state or policy level) requires patience, persistence, and partnerships. Rachel walks through how she builds credibility and momentum. Whether you’re a veteran SLP, a team lead, or someone wondering how to elevate your leadership impact, Rachel’s story offers a blueprint for action: lean into mentorship, stay curious, connect your data to your purpose—and don’t wait for permission to make meaningful change.

    1시간 5분
  2. Operationalizing Your Values: Creating Systems to Lighten the Load (and Retain Your SLPs)

    7월 14일

    Operationalizing Your Values: Creating Systems to Lighten the Load (and Retain Your SLPs)

    In this episode, we sit down with Natalie Crow, the trailblazing current Coordinator in Richardson ISD, North Texas. Natalie shares her inspiring journey from feeling isolated and overwhelmed early in her career to building one of the most supportive and sustainable school-based SLP teams around. Listeners will learn how Natalie turned big ideas into concrete systems — from tailored appraisal tools and intentional goal-setting processes to professional learning communities (PLCs) designed specifically for SLPs. Her approach is rooted in the mantra "many hands make light work," and she shows how shared leadership and collaboration can transform both staff culture and student outcomes. You'll hear about how Natalie and her team operationalized their core values (literally spelling SHINE!) and used books like Dare to Lead and The Multiplier Effect to guide decision-making, grow leaders from within, and advocate powerfully for their team. Whether you're an experienced leader or stepping into leadership for the first time, this episode offers practical ideas for building trust, fostering a culture of growth, and creating systems that help people stay — and thrive. Key takeaways: - The power of operationalizing values — how aligning decisions and systems to shared values strengthens culture and supports consistency. - Why “many hands make light work” became a guiding philosophy to reduce burnout and create a place people want to stay. - The creation of a customized appraisal tool and portfolio approach that offers authentic, specific feedback rather than a “one size fits all” model. - How shifting from traditional top-down supervision to mentorship, coaching, and goal-setting grows both skills and confidence. - Strategies for creating effective Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) for SLP “singletons” to reduce isolation and foster authentic connection. - Lessons from Dare to Lead and The Multiplier Effect on leading with vulnerability, avoiding “accidental diminisher” tendencies, and inspiring shared ownership. - The importance of designing systems that lighten the load — for better student services and to help recruit and retain high-quality SLPs. - A culture of active contribution: empowering each team member to meaningfully shape resources and support district-wide impact. Natalie Crow is the Speech-Language Pathology Coordinator for Richardson ISD in Texas, where she leads a team of 4 exceptional lead SLPs and 81 ASHA-certified speech-language pathologists. With 14 years of service in the district, Natalie is passionate about cultivating a collaborative, supportive culture that prioritizes equitable workloads and professional growth—all with the goal of delivering excellence for students. She holds both her undergraduate and master’s degrees in communication sciences and disorders from Baylor University. Natalie’s leadership philosophy is rooted in transparency, kindness, gratitude, and the belief that empowered SLPs create lasting student impact. Outside of work, she’s a proud mom of three and has been happily married for 10 years to her incredibly supportive husband. X: @NCrowSLP @RISDSLPs https://www.lifespeakllc.org/leadspeak-podcast Do you have recommendations for Season 4 of LeadSpeak? Email us! nathalie.lebrun@lifespeakllc.org

    1시간 12분
  3. Not Just Semantics: How Language Shapes Your Leadership

    6월 12일

    Not Just Semantics: How Language Shapes Your Leadership

    What does it take to lead when you don’t have the title, the authority, or the last word? In this episode, Dr. Megan-Brette Hamilton—SLP, professor, qualitative researcher, and ASHA’s Chief Staff Officer for Multicultural Affairs—shares how real influence is built through trust, clarity, and connection. With experience spanning Brooklyn classrooms, university lecture halls, and national leadership circles, Megan-Brette shows us what it means to design culture from the inside out—through the words we choose, the relationships we build, and the systems we challenge. In this illuminating conversation, we explore: - Writing evaluations that allow families to see and understand their children, not just their test results - Building buy-in from students and staff—even when you don’t have direct authority - Aligning “thought bubbles” across multidisciplinary teams to create shared advocacy and action - Understanding the difference between purpose and goal—and how that distinction unlocks more strategic leadership - Using ethnographic interviewing with students, families, teachers, and your own team to uncover motivators, reduce assumptions, and foster trust - Conducting “desk visits” as a simple but powerful way to understand the complex humans on your team—so corrective feedback can be grounded in connection, not correction - Repairing dysfunctional teams by separating issues from individuals, zooming out to root causes, and re-centering shared values - Practicing interprofessional collaboration that ensures everyone—from SLPs to teachers to social workers—is delivering consistent messages, language, and expectations, making student generalization seamless and meaningful. Whether you're supporting students in therapy rooms, leading school-based teams, or shaping inclusive systems, Megan-Brette reminds us that culture isn’t handed down—it’s built. And it begins with how we listen, how we lead, and how we lift others along the way.

    1시간 7분
  4. A Framework for Navigating Challenging Conversations Using Compassionate Communication

    2024. 12. 17.

    A Framework for Navigating Challenging Conversations Using Compassionate Communication

    In this episode, Stephanie Michele Sweigart, Speech Language Pathologist and Teacher of Mindfulness Meditation introduces a transformative framework for navigating difficult conversations with clarity, curiosity, and compassion. Whether you’re delivering hard news to your team, managing up the chain of command, or addressing heightened emotions in the workplace, this episode is packed with actionable strategies to turn conflict into connection. Discover the power of the observation-feelings-needs-requests framework, a tool that helps you move beyond surface-level words and emotions to uncover the unmet needs driving the conversation. Stephanie emphasizes the importance of staying curious and treating tough discussions like a science—using active listening and empathy to understand the underlying message rather than reacting to the immediate tone or words. Learn how to: Deliver “bad” news while preserving trust and respect Transition from reactive "fire-fighting" mode to proactive, forward planning Regulate your nervous system through grounding practices and mindful pauses Tune into the speaker’s unmet needs and respond with thoughtful clarity Approach conversations with supervisors or teams with confidence and compassion By shifting your focus from what’s being said to why it’s being said, you’ll gain deeper insight into the conversation’s true heart. These strategies empower you to engage with empathy, minimize miscommunication, and foster stronger, more collaborative relationships in any setting.

    1시간 6분

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Welcome to Season 3 of LeadSpeak: The School-Based SLP Leadership Podcast! This season, we're diving into Culture by Design: The Leadership Actions That Define Your Team. Culture isn’t something that happens by accident — it’s something leaders create, refine, and reinforce every day. Whether you're a department head, clinical supervisor, or a passionate team member, you have the power to influence your work environment in meaningful ways. Join co-hosts Nathalie Lebrun and Judy Rich as they explore how intentional leadership practices can transform teams, strengthen trust, and build environments where speech-language pathologists feel valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. Across each episode, you'll learn: ✅ How culture is built through everyday leadership actions — not left to chance ✅ Practical strategies to lead confidently, no matter your role ✅ Real-world examples from successful SLP teams and leaders ✅ How a thriving, people-centered culture fuels better student outcomes From creating people-centric systems, to embracing change, to elevating clinical excellence, Season 3 offers actionable insights to help you shape a stronger, healthier professional culture — starting today. Tune in and discover how leading with intention can change everything — for your team, for your students, and for yourself.

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