March 1 was Employee Appreciation Day! We are celebrating our team members all month long by sharing their stories. Meet Casey Tenney, a Speech Language Pathologist at The Learning Spectrum’s South campus who loves her job.
What is your favorite thing about working here?
My favorite part about working at The Learning Spectrum is the love that the staff has for the kids. I have worked in many facilities throughout my graduate career, and I can confidently say I have never witnessed a community like the one we have here!
What keeps you coming to work each day?
The kids are what keeps me coming to work each day. The kiddos here thrive off consistency, and most know exactly when their speech session is down to the minute. I strive to make sure I am here every day to make sure their routine is as consistent as possible.
How do you make an impact on students’ lives?
I believe I impact students’ lives by being someone to advocate for them and their needs. I also strive to have them leave the speech room with a bigger smile than they came in with. I love to hear that speech time is a reward for some of our kids, that lets me know I am doing something right!
Last year, we rolled out our BetterTogether guiding principles. Which one of our values resonates with you most personally and why?
The value that resonates with me most personally is “collaborative”. There truly is not a day that goes by where I am not talking to my kids’ teachers, ABA therapists, or occupational therapists to make sure we are all on the same page and collaborating to meet the students’ needs.
What does a “day in the life” look like for your role?
A “day in the life” for me tends to start with me arriving early to have time to drink my coffee and plan the day before the kids get here. Starting at 9 a.m., I see kids every 30 minutes until around 4-4:30 p.m. so it is nice to look over my schedule and make a small game plan for what I am going to work on with each kid. However, the funny part about my job is that about 80% of the time the kiddo is not at all interested in what I have planned, and we completely switch it up once the session time comes.
Can you talk a little bit about your career trajectory and what led you to where you are now?
Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved to help people and make them happy. I always thought that I wanted to become a nurse, so I started my college career as a nursing major. I soon realized that nursing didn’t feel right for me and after talking to friends and family, I stumbled upon the career of Speech Language Pathology. After switching my major, I knew I was in the right place when I enjoyed going to the library to study – it was crazy. I am so happy to be where I am now, and I am so lucky to love what I do!
What has been your proudest moment or accomplishment in your role?
My proudest moment in my role is seeing my kids progress and in turn seeing their loved ones so happy. I try my best to catch little snippets of my sessions to send to my kids’ parents and nothing makes me happier than when I get the email back saying that the short video made their day.
What is something about you that not many people know?
Something about me that not many people know is that I love to work out and run! It is a great form of stress relief for me!