Growing up in Northern California, Katelynn Knapp always enjoyed helping others and hoped to find a rewarding career to nurture her passion. In college, research and shadowing opportunities in several fields of study allowed her to really appreciate speech therapy. 

After earning a degree in Science and Disorders from Biola University (La Mirada, CA), she decided to pursue speech-language pathology as a career and move to the beautiful state of Oregon. 

Katelynn discovered Care Options for Kids (formerly The Hello Foundation) during an online job search. She knew after the initial interview that Care Options for Kids and its focus on family was the perfect fit for her.

“Care Options for Kids is a unique place to work because you can have work-life balance and serve students in a different state. It is special for me to work in the state where I was born and raised, and begin my own family in Oregon,” adds Knapp.

Beginning a New Chapter

Katelynn currently serves as a hybrid Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant (SLPA) at Gerber Elementary in Northern California. A typical day for Katelynn includes reviewing evaluations or documents; working with students on their current goals; meetings with her SLP and staff; and writing caseload progress reports.

The one thing she loves most about her job is the versatility of her role and that no student is the same. All of her students are special and capable of vast improvement with hard work and determination.

“I have the privilege of working at a school where resources for students are easily obtained and school is a place where they can be themselves. I am grateful to be a part of this school and a resource for students to feel safe, comfortable and seen,” adds Knapp. 

Katelynn’s proudest accomplishment has been the courage and faith to start a life on her own in Oregon. In just a few short years, she has launched a successful career as an SLPA, met her future husband, and established her work and church family.

“Without the encouragement and support to move to a different state, I would not have made such an incredible decision and learned so much about myself and my independence,” adds Knapp.

In her spare time, Katelynn enjoys floral arranging for weddings, making earrings and exploring the beautiful outdoors in Oregon. She and her husband got married in October, and enjoyed the first-ever trip to Hawaii for their honeymoon.

Katelynn’s biggest inspiration is her mom. She has shown her the importance of prioritizing family and working hard for a living. 

“My mom is always providing guidance through any season of life and I feel so lucky to be close with both of my parents who provide such love and wisdom,” adds Knapp.

Katelynn’s Three Tips for New SLPAs

1. Be open to learning more. With this job, your education is important, but your willingness to learn more and to not doubt your capabilities is crucial.
   
   
2. Communication. Whether it is with your SLP, staff or students, make sure you keep everyone in the loop and prioritize being able to serve your students well.
   
   
3. Never stray away from asking questions. There is no wrong question and it is important to ask instead of assuming. Your team is there to help support, help you grow and improve in areas that make you a better SLPA.

Join Our Team

Care Options for Kids partners with school districts to provide seamless support for students, integrating into the school setting to deliver speech and occupational therapy and enhancing their social, emotional, and behavioral growth so they can better access the curriculum.

At Care Options for Kids, we are committed to making a difference for our people through empowerment and encouragement to be there for themselves and their own families. We provide the choices and opportunities our people need to enhance their lives and grow their careers so they can provide better care for others. We believe in making a difference in every way, every day.

We hire speech-language pathologists, speech-language pathology assistants, school psychologists, and occupational therapists. Our community of professionals fosters growth for one another and for the kids we serve. Join our team today!