Sarah E. Dennis M.S. CCC-SLP
Fayetteville,AR
Summary
Nationally and State Board Certified Speech-Language Pathologist with a strong background in performing comprehensive diagnostic evaluations and developing specialized treatment plans based on evidence-based practices. Skilled in providing therapeutic interventions to school-age individuals with low-incidence populations, including pediatric brain injuries, feeding disorders, severe to profound communication needs Augmemantive and Alternative Communication needs, Autism spectrum disorders, speech sound disorders, and behavioral concerns. Particularly interested in traumatic and acquired brain injuries and feeding/swallowing disorders in the school-age population. Committed to mentoring and guiding new clinicians and students in the field, with over 11 years of experience in supervision and mentorship. Demonstrated leadership abilities as the leader of the district's feedings and swallowing team, founding member of the district's Low incidence team, district Brain injury consultant, and bilingual elementary evaluator for the district.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Speech Pathologist
Springdale School District
08.2016 - Current
- Serve as School-based Speech Pathologist (k-5th)
- District Bilingual Spanish Evaluator for Elementary students (1 year)
- Served as a Founding Team Leader and Consultant for Springdale School District's Feeding and Swallowing Team
- Founding Member of District Low Incidence team
- Consulting district students with acquired brain injuries
- Served as a building Level Guiding Coalition/leadership team member
- Served on Response to Intervention/MTSS Team
- Mentor to University student clinicians (full and part-time) yearly.
- Supervised SLP assistant (2023-2024)
- Created and implemented Individual Education Plans for students with disabilities in compliance with IDEA and state guidelines.
- Served students with behavioral and emotional disturbance needs in schools' Alternative Learning Environment classroom
- Served students in general education students with speech and language needs in inclusive general education and small group settings
- Experience treating Students with Profound Hearing Impairment, Autism, Down Syndrome, Severe Apraxia, Severe/Profound Phonological Processing disorders, Specific Learning disabilities, Traumatic Brain injury, and Pediatric Stroke, Pediatric Feeding Disorders, and Dyslexia, as well as AAC needs.
- Completed due process paperwork and compliance tasks and maintained timelines
- Created implemented staff, and family training for various disabilities to support family involvement, access to general education curriculum, social emotional counseling
- Documented medicaid compliant therapy notes and evaluations
Bilingual Speech Pathologist
Kids Spot Therapy Services
05.2012 - 08.2017
- Spanish Pediatric Speech and Language Pathologist
- Evaluated and delivered Evidenced-based therapeutic intervention for ages birth to school age
- Experienced evaluating and treating in areas of language delays, speech sound disorder, and social skills./pragmatic deficits, feeding and swallowing disorders, childhood apraxia of speech, Autism spectrum disorder, Downs Syndrome, and Cerebral Palsy as well as other genetic and developmental delays and disorders
- Served clients in home, clinic, and daycare settings
- Educated patients and family members about various topics such as communication strategies to support language development and to teach and support their children through their communication breakdowns
- Created and implemented Medicaid-compliant treatment plans intended to address speech and language issues in collaboration with other clinical professionals.
Speech Pathologist
Health South Rehabilitation Hospital, PRN
05.2012 - 06.2013
- Worked with adult/geriatric population, patients with dementia, aphasia, dysphagia, dysarthria, and CVA (stroke)
- Provided therapy in areas of cognition, feeding and swallowing, language, hearing, and social aspects as well as voice issues
- Monitored patients with feeding and/or swallowing difficulties
- Assisted in FEES swallow studies and assessed and evaluated cognition, communication, and dysphagia.
- Educated patients and family members about various topics such as communication techniques or strategies to cope with and avoid personal misunderstandings as well as safe feeding and swallowing precautions to Improve quality of life when returning home.
- Worked with education and medical personnel to develop strategies allowing better communication with individuals with speech and hearing impediments as well as feeding and cognitive impairments acquired by brain injury and or strokes
Education
Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS) - Brain Injury
Brain Injury Association of America
03-2024
ESOL Certification (finished in -
University of Arkansas
05.2022
Master’s Degree - Speech Language Pathology
University of Central Arkansas Graduate School
Conway, AR05.2012
B.S - Speech Pathology
University of Central Arkansas
Conway, AR05.2010
Skills
- Experienced in AAC implementation, teacher coaching, and Medicaid funding process for AAC Evaluations
- Advanced Knowledge in Best practices for Bilingual and Multilingual Speech and Language Evaluations
- Founding member of Districts Low Incidence Team (2025 to present)
- Founding Team Member and Leader of Districts Feeding and Swallowing Team, Consultant on Feeding and Swallowing Team for District (2023 to present)
- Leadership and Supervisory Experience of Speech Pathology Assistants, and Graduate level Students, and well as Clinical Fellow SLPs
- Member of School Based Response to Intervention Team/MTSS Team
- Member of School Based Behavior Support Team
- Previous Member of School Leadership team/Guiding Collation Team
- Experience in Developing Professional Development of Building Level, District level and Sate level presentations
- Skilled in Evaluation and treatment of Fluency, Language, Speech Sound Disorders, with an Emphasis in Bilingual and Multilingual Evaluations and Evidence Based Practice for Speech Sound Disorders, and complex medical needs such as Brain Injury and Feeding and swallowing disorders
- Experienced in Developing and Implementing Behavioral Intervention Plans (BIP) and Developing and Implementing Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBA)
- Proficient in IEP Goals and Due Process Paperwork
- Excellent at Student/Parent Caregiver Rapport-Building
- Trained in Crisis Prevention Management
Certification
- Current licensure from Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.
- ASHA Board Certified Clinical Competence in Speech Language Pathology
- Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS) through Brain injury Association of America
- K-12 Teacher License in Arkansas for Speech- Language Pathology
- ESOL k-12 Endorsement
- Hold current AR Medicaid Provider Number
- Current NPI number as a speech therapy provider
- Certified in PECS level 1
- Therapeutic Listening® Program Certificate – Vital Links.
- Beckman Oral Motor Assessment & Intervention Workshop Certificate - Beckman & Associates, Inc.
- Certified in Therapeutic Listening Program
- ADOS-trained and Certified
- Certificate in Science of Reading Awareness Track
- Trained in LAMP Word For Life
- Hold CEU Requirements for Clinical Instructors, Supervisors, and Clinical Fellowship Mentors
Affiliations
- ASHA member
- ArkSHA member
- Presenter at ArkSHA Summer School Conference 2022
- Team leader of District Feeding and swallowing Team
- Member of District Low Incidence Team
- ArkSHA Convention Committee Member 2024/25
Timeline
Speech Pathologist
Springdale School District
08.2016 - Current
Bilingual Speech Pathologist
Kids Spot Therapy Services
05.2012 - 08.2017
Speech Pathologist
Health South Rehabilitation Hospital, PRN
05.2012 - 06.2013
Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS) - Brain Injury
Brain Injury Association of America
ESOL Certification (finished in -
University of Arkansas
Master’s Degree - Speech Language Pathology
University of Central Arkansas Graduate School
B.S - Speech Pathology
University of Central Arkansas
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