Bethesda Elementary Speech Therapy

[Anonymous]

Hi - We're looking for feedback on speech therapy at Bethesda ES. Do you like the speech therapist? Do you supplement privately (we probably will). How many speech therapists are there?

[Anonymous]

The speech therapist, Kathleen Flaherty, has been there for years (treated my 20 year old niece!) and now sees my son, who is a rising third grader. She is the best speech therapist I have come across. My son has had speech therapy practically since his premature birth and no public or private therapist has been as good. Unfortunately, she cannot give private lessons to her students due to conflict of interest. We do not supplement privately. I only know of one speech therapist on staff.

I have also found that Bethesda Elementary responds satisfactorily to IEP needs and that the paraeducators, vice-principal, and psychologist are all actively involved and supportive of the special needs students. The principal is a very able administrator, but can be difficult to persuade. I'm still on the fence about how this school caters to gifted and talented students, though, and the classes my son has been in were all quite full - at least 27 children in each class. The school will build new classrooms this fall, I believe.