Speech Language Pathologist
HONORING CAREERS IN EDUCATION
Learn more about Judith Anthony!
Where did you grow up?
I was born in Boston and lived in that area until I was in 2nd grade. For the rest of my childhood, I lived in Ardmore, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia.
What high school did you attend?
I graduated from Lower Merion Senior High School in Ardmore, PA
Where did you attend college?
I attended Meredith College in Raleigh, NC for two years; University of Massachusetts, Boston to finish my undergraduate degree (double major of Philosophy and Spanish); and then both undergraduate and graduate courses at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, to earn a Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology.
Additional education or training
I attended The Atelier full time for three years for training in drawing and painting in the Classical Realist tradition, following which I was the artist in residence for a year at Banfill Locke Center for the Arts, culminating in a one-woman exhibit, along with several years of teaching adults and children oil painting and anatomical figure drawing at various art centers and community education programs in the Twin Cities area.
What does a Speech Language Pathologist do?
A Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) works to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders in children and adults. In the school setting, the SLP helps students with articulation, stuttering, social communication and functional communication, along with expressive and receptive language comprehension. The SLP also does a lot of paperwork, managing IEPs, planning and conducting therapy and progress monitoring all of the students on his or her caseload.
How many years have you been doing this job?
Twelve years: one year working with families with children Birth-3 years old in Mounds view School District and eleven years at the Rockford School District with mostly middle and high school students.
How many years have you been an employee at Rockford Area Schools?
Eleven years
Family
I am blessed with a loving and supportive family and three married daughters; one son, all but one who live nearby in the Twin Cities.
What do you look most forward to everyday at Rockford?
I most look forward every day to meeting with my students in person, working on their speech and language issues, and developing positive relationships with them. I also look forward to collaborating with my colleagues. I will miss the friendships with my colleagues the most.
What is one of your most memorable moments as a teacher?
One of the most memorable moments was when I received a handmade card from a student who was just dismissed from Speech, having remediated her articulation of /r/. She thanked me for helping her and then brightly exclaimed, “Now I can say my own name!” (It had some /r/ sounds in it)
What are your plans when you retire?
I plan to apply to the University of Minnesota’s Master Gardener certification program, followed by Master Naturalist and Permaculture Design certification. I anticipate volunteering in parks and neighborhoods, helping to create community green spaces, promote growing one’s own food, and utilizing urban space for greenery, such as rooftop gardening and beekeeping. Additionally, I will get back to painting and drawing, maybe teaching some community education classes in painting; reading books; quilting and sewing; and a little travel—British Isles, especially.
Retirement Date
Spring, 2021
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