Heather H. Little, MA CCC-SLP, is a Certified Speech-Language Pathologist who has been serving the St. Louis community since 1997. She has spent many years providing direct speech and language therapy to children ages one through high school with nine years as a public school Speech Pathologist in the Rockwood Special School District and eight years as a First Steps provider. Heather opened Speech-Language Communications, LLC in 2006 so she could work one-on-one with students and their families. She holds a BHS in Communication Disorders from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from Indiana University and is certified in the S.P.I.R.E. reading program. Heather holds a Missouri State License and Teaching Certificate as well as a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Heather is an expert in areas of articulation and language disorders, specializing in reading, reading comprehension and written expression, and she has a unique approach to correcting the /r/ sound that consistently generates success. Heather is passionate about providing a team approach to therapy including teachers, parents, and the student. She believes in improving the child’s self confidence and helping them with all aspects of learning.
When not working and being a mom, Heather enjoys exercising, reading, sports, and watching movies. Her favorite: “The King’s Speech” of course!
Colette Hunsucker Capesius MA CCC-SLP, is a Certified Speech-Language Pathologist who has been serving the St. Louis community since 1998. She has spent many years providing direct speech and language services to preschool children, elementary k-2, and providing intensive speech and language services to mild/severe children with autism and cognitive delays. Colette spent 10 years with Rockwood and Special School District as a public school Speech-Language Pathologist. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and Health Sciences from Benedictine College and a Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from Fontbonne College in St. Louis, Mo. Colette holds a Missouri State License as well as a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Colette joined Speech-Language Communications in 2019. Colette is passionate about seeing the rewards of such significant progress in each of her students. She believes in a collaborative approach that includes both articulation and language goals into her sessions, while focusing on functional outcomes. Colette especially enjoys working with preschool children.
When not working, Colette is involved in a book club, enjoys the outdoors, hiking, exercising, traveling, the theatre, going out to dinner, and the movies.
Jennifer R. Hill, M.A., CCC-SLP, is a Certified Speech-Language Pathologist who has been serving the St. Louis community since 2001. She has spent many years providing direct speech and language therapy to children ages one through high school in a variety of settings including private clinics, homes, daycares, and the public school setting. She has worked for Rockwood School District since 2004, and joined Speech-Language Communications in December 2018. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders and a Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology both from St. Louis University. Jenn holds a Missouri State License as well as a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Jenn specializes in the treatment of children on the Autism Spectrum, Childhood Apraxia of Speech, fluency, phonology and articulation, assistive technology, and expressive language delays. She loves working with young children and seeing the rapid progress they are able to make with their communication skills in just a short amount of time. Jenn believes in a collaborative team approach and enjoys working with teachers, parents, and other therapists to help facilitate growth in communication skills across settings.
Jenn is the mom of 3 kids and enjoys cooking, cardio- kickboxing, spending time with friends and family, and traveling in her spare time.
Christine W. Kraushaar, M.A., CCC-SLP, is a Certified Speech-Language Pathologist who joined the Speech-Language Communications team in 2019. Prior to joining the SLC team, Christine spent almost three years providing direct speech and language therapy to children ages 12 months to 18 years in a variety of settings in the Chicago area. While working in Chicago, Christine was also a credentialed Illinois Early Intervention Speech-Language Pathologist. She enjoyed working with children ages birth to three years of age in their homes while coaching their parents/guardians how to implement speech and language strategies throughout their daily routines. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Lake Forest College in 2012 and received a Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology from Saint Louis University in 2016. Christine holds a Missouri and Illinois State License as well as a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Christine enjoys working with children of all ages with a variety of needs. She loves watching her students’ confidence grow inside and outside of the classroom as they improve their speech and language skills. She strives to make each therapy session fun and engaging by implementing educational games and activities that pertain to the interests of each student.
Christine’s other interests include cooking, music, skiing, crafting/needlepointing, trying new restaurants, spending time with family and friends, and playing with her bernedoodle, Louis.
Kelly Marquitz, MA CCC-SLP, is a Speech Language Pathologist with 25 plus years experience, primarily working in an elementary school setting. She has also provided speech and language therapy to children in the preschool and home- based settings. Kelly holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders from Miami University (of Ohio) and a Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology from Indiana University. She has a Missouri State License and Teaching Certificate and a Certificate of Clinical Competence. Kelly has significant experience with phonological disorders, articulation disorders, expressive and receptive language impairments, and pragmatic language intervention. Kelly has extensive experience in language-based reading intervention and is trained in the S.P.I.R.E. reading program. Kelly believes students should be actively involved in their therapy through participating in goal setting, charting their progress, and self-monitoring.
When not working, Kelly enjoys watching her 3 children in their extra-curricular activities, reading, and exercising.
Julie K. McDonald, MS CCC-SLP, is a Certified Speech/Language Pathologist who has been working for Speech-Language Communications since 2009. She has been providing direct speech and language therapy to children ages one through middle school for many years and has worked as an early-childhood Speech-Language Pathologist in the Rockwood Special School District since 2009. Julie enjoys working one-on-one with students, their families, and often their educators. She holds a Bachelor of Health Science in Communication Disorders from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville. Julie holds a Missouri State License as well as a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Julie enjoys working with children of all ages, helping them gain confidence by improving their speech and language skills. She strives to make therapy sessions fun and engaging while also providing families with the skills to improve their child’s communication outside of therapy.
When she’s not working, Julie likes reading, cooking, and spending time with her husband and children.
Jennifer E. Rozier, M.A., CCC-SLP, is a Certified Speech-Language Pathologist who has been serving the St. Louis community since 2008. She enjoys providing direct speech and language therapy to children ages 3 through high school. Jennifer has been an early childhood Speech-Language Pathologist in the Rockwood School District since 2008 and a Speech Language-Pathologist for Speech-Language Communications since 2014. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders from Saint Louis University and a Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from Saint Louis University. Jennifer holds a Missouri State License as well as a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Jennifer specializes in areas of articulation and language disorders, reading comprehension, and written expression. She enjoys helping and working with children of all ages reach their potential and become confident communicators.
When not working, Jennifer enjoys running, spending time with family and friends, and taking her dog Dottie on long walks in the park.
Katherine L. Sweeney, MS CCC-SLP, is a Certified Speech-Language Pathologist who has been serving the Minneapolis, Chicago, and St. Louis communities since 1997. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Disorders from Truman State University and a Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Fontbonne University. She is certified in the S.P.I.R.E. reading program, holds a Missouri State License, and has a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Katherine has a special interest in serving children with articulation, phonological, apraxia, language, and fluency (stuttering) disorders. She’s provided services to individuals from toddlers to teenagers. She spent six years as a school Speech–Language Pathologist in the Chicago Public School District. In addition, she has worked in private practice for many years where she has had opportunities to serve clients with a wide range of abilities. Katherine joined Speech-Language Communications in 2018. Over the years she has teamed with professionals in settings such daycares, preschools, private schools, charter schools, Montessori programs, and group homes. She is known to be a passionate educator who believes teaming with other important members of her client’s life is vital to witness growth. She approaches teaching through a dynamic lens, targeting as many areas of need as possible with functional outcomes being the utmost importance.
In her spare time, Katherine enjoys playing tennis, gardening, reading, and traveling.
Melissa J. Travis, MS CCC-SLP, is a Certified Speech-Language Pathologist who has been serving communities in California and St. Louis since 1989. She has provided direct speech and language services in a variety of settings within the pediatric (Birth – 3), preschool, and school age (K-6) populations. She spent six years teaching a Special Education classroom grade 4-6 in the Elk Grove Unified School District in California. She then transitioned to a private practice with Jane Germ in Rancho Cordova. After moving to St. Louis, she spent five years as a First Steps provider and five years as a Speech Pathologist in the Rockwood Early Childhood Program. Melissa joined Speech-Language Communications in 2011. Melissa has treated disabilities and disorders that include apraxia, sound system disorders, language delay, autism, PDD/ASD, Asperger’s Syndrome, dysfluency and Down’s Syndrome. She holds a Bachelors and Masters of Science degree in Speech Pathology from the California State University at Sacramento, a Missouri State License, a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and a Clinical Rehabilitative Services Credential. She is trained in the S.P.I.R.E. reading program and provides instruction in reading comprehension and decoding. Her passion is helping children find a successful way to communicate and interact with those around them. She feels that collaboration with families, professionals and other team members is crucial to providing the best possible treatment outcomes for the child at home and school.
In her spare time she enjoys outdoor activities with her husband and two children, yoga, spinning and cooking.
Kristen Moore Valdez, MS CCC-SLP, is a Certified Speech-Language Pathologist who joined the Speech-Language Communications team in 2022. Prior to joining the SLC team, she was an officer in the U.S. Army for a few years, then served the children of central Florida as a Speech-Language Pathologist in the schools for two years, and then at Central Florida Speech & Hearing Center, a United Way agency, for 21 years before moving back to the St. Louis area to be close to family. She holds a Bachelors of Arts in English from Truman State University and a Masters of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Montevallo, as well as a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech and Hearing Association and a Missouri State License. She also plans to be trained in the S.P. I. R. E. reading program very soon. Her heart is in seeing children improve their communication in order to reduce their frustration in getting their point across, whether at school or at home with their families. She has treated children of all ages with apraxia, speech and phonological disorders, language delay and autism spectrum disorder.
Kristen has enjoyed spending time with her new husband renovating their respective homes, but is looking forward to now spending their free time traveling, being with family and welcoming the next Pembroke Welsh Corgi to their furr-ever home.
Maggie Wenberg, MA CCC-SLP, is a Certified Speech-Language Pathologist who joined the Speech-Language Communications team in 2021. She holds a Bachelors of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Saint Louis University in 2015 and Masters of Arts in Speech Pathology from Saint Louis University in 2017. She holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech and Hearing Association and a Missouri State License. After receiving her degree, she moved to Las Vegas to serve children in the community. She provided speech and language services to children of all ages (0-21) at a private practice clinic and in a pre-school, for three years. She really enjoys working with children of all ages and abilities. She believes each and every child brings unique skills and humor to therapy and strives to help every child reach their full potential, every session. After moving back home to St. Louis, she joined the Speech-Language Communications team! Since then she’s been trained in the S.P.I.R.E. reading program, helping children become confident readers.
When not working, Maggie enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, and drinking iced tea.
Maggie M. Stewart, MA CCC-SLP, is a certified Speech-Language Pathologist who joined the Speech-Language Communications team in 2016. She has been serving the St. Louis area since she obtained her Master of Arts in Speech Pathology from Saint Louis University in 2008. Prior to that, she received a Bachelor of Health Science in Communication Science and Disorders from the University of Missouri in Columbia in 2006. Maggie has experiences in both public and private schools with kindergarten to high school aged students with a variety of articulation and language disorders/difficulties. In addition, Maggie spent four years working with adults with neurogenic speech and language disorders in a rehabilitation hospital. She is particularly passionate about helping students learn strategies for increasing language skills. Maggie holds a Missouri state license, a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and is trained in the S.P.I.R.E. reading program.
When Maggie is not working as a SLP, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons. They like to enjoy all the fun activities that St. Louis has to offer and visit with friends and family.
"We love Jennifer! Jennifer is extremely bright and great at her job. Her infectious, bubbly personality makes everyone happy who is around her. My son never even knew he was working on speech because he was having such a great time with her. She was prompt, prepared and professional. I would highly recommend Jennifer to anyone who needs help with speech.”
Mother of 11-year-old student
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