Colleen Matthews
Hillsboro,Oregon
Summary
Dynamic speech-language pathologist with extensive experience in both public schools and private practice, excelling in thoughtful evaluations and tailored therapy plans. Demonstrated expertise in fostering collaboration across teams while employing diverse assessment strategies to identify student strengths and needs, ultimately enhancing student outcomes. Adept at supporting educators to promote student success, while building positive relationships with students and colleagues. Committed to supporting culturally diverse learners. Personal and professional interest in literacy development.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Speech-Language Evaluation Specialist
Hillsboro School District
Hillsboro, Oregon
08.2020 - Current
- Evaluated children aged three to eighteen for special education service eligibility across multiple eligibility categories.
- Proposed and created the position of Evaluation Specialist, developing district-wide processes.
- Utilized diverse formal and informal assessment measures for thorough evaluations.
- Collaborated with district-wide special education teams to create comprehensive testing plans.
- Collected informal input from teachers to enhance assessment accuracy.
- Produced approximately 200 clear and comprehensive student evaluation reports annually, supporting 10-15 school-based colleagues each year.
- Collaborated with bilingual evaluation specialist on testing plans and joint reports.
- Initiated practice of incorporating student self-assessments in all evaluations for improved insights.
- Responsible for establishing priorities, setting schedule, and meeting deadlines with minimal supervision.
- Consulted with school-based speech-language pathologists and regional specialists on literacy and AAC assessments.
- Currently pursuing certification as a dyslexia interventionist to support students with co-existing diagnoses.
Owner/Speech-Language Pathologist
KidSpeak LLC
Kuna, ID
06.2014 - 07.2020
- Owner/therapist at private speech therapy clinic
- Provided screening, evaluation, and speech-language therapy to private pediatric clients with disabilities including speech impairment, receptive and expressive language impairments, apraxia, autism, and Down syndrome
- Developed and maintained strong, positive relationships with clients and parents
- Acted as office manager, managing all scheduling and billing functions
- Expanded caseload to add employees
Speech-Language Pathologist
Kuna School District
Kuna, Idaho
11.2009 - 07.2020
- Conducted speech and language assessments for students with disabilities from kindergarten to twelfth grade.
- Collaborated with occupational therapy to create joint intervention program (SpOT On) to address language and sensory needs in extended resource programs.
- Participated in eligibility determination for special education services and developed individualized therapy plans.
- Provided training and consultation for teachers on strategies to support speech and language needs within general education settings.
- Participated in multidisciplinary team discussions at elementary, middle, and high school levels.
- Supervised paraeducators to ensure effective support for students with speech and language challenges.
- Contributed to Idaho Department of Education peer review team focusing on specific learning disability eligibility.
- Created locally normed word-finding screener for elementary students to enhance assessment practices.
Education
Master of Science - Speech-Language Pathology
Idaho State University
Boise, Idaho08.2009
Bachelor of Arts - English
California State University, Stanislaus
Turlock, California01.1994
Skills
- Evaluation of language, articulation, and social communication
- Clear communication of results and their implications for instruction and student success
- Certification in assessment and intervention for culturally and linguistically diverse students
- Use of diverse assessment measures to include teacher input and highlight student voices
- Collaborate within and across teams
- Development of individualized therapy plans
- Creative and responsive therapy and service delivery models
- Analyse systems and processes and suggest practices to improve efficiency and equity
- Pursuing certification in dyslexia identification and intervention
Certification
- American Speech-Hearing-Language Association Certification of Clinical Competence, number 14045358, issued 2/4/2011
- Oregon Speech-Language Pathologist license number 16797, issued 6/15/2020
- Bilinguistics Certificate in Cultural and Linguistic Diversity, issued 6/9/2021
- Currently pursuing Certified Structured Literacy/Dyslexia Interventionist
Timeline
Speech-Language Evaluation Specialist
Hillsboro School District
08.2020 - Current
Owner/Speech-Language Pathologist
KidSpeak LLC
06.2014 - 07.2020
Speech-Language Pathologist
Kuna School District
11.2009 - 07.2020
Master of Science - Speech-Language Pathology
Idaho State University
Bachelor of Arts - English
California State University, Stanislaus