By Amy Hill, M.A., CCC-SLP

Years ago, when I completed my fellowship in speech-language pathology, I learned a valuable lesson that remains with me today. This is what I’d like to share with anyone pursuing a career as a speech-language pathologist (SLP) in a school setting. The lesson is simple: The mentor who supervises your clinical fellowship matters and can make or break not only your experience as a fellow but also your long-term career.

Why, exactly, does your mentor matter? For one thing, your fellowship is a chance to put into practice everything you’ve learned in graduate school. It’s an exciting but not easy part of your program, with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) setting the bar high with a rigorous set of requirements.

Your mentor will be with you through thick and thin, doing such things as:

• Conferring with you on clinical treatment strategies
• Evaluating your diagnostic and treatment records, correspondence, and treatment plans
• Monitoring your participation in case conferences
• Evaluating how you consult and interact with professional colleagues, employers, clients, and families

In addition, working as a school-based SLP comes with a unique set of challenges.

Your mentor should provide support in several key areas:

1. High-level support

A dedicated mentor offers personalized attention, helping you manage caseloads, schedules, and paperwork. Not every SLP assigned the role of mentor has time for it. In fact, plenty of mentors have full caseloads of their own to manage. But you deserve one-on-one support to learn the ropes, and a good mentor will make time for that.

2. Solid foundation

Your first year as an SLP will come with challenges, especially if you work in a school, where priorities can shift quickly. To prepare, you need a fellowship that lets you do more than put in your hours and a mentor who not only gives you top-notch support but also makes sure you get the broad foundation you need. That foundation should include everything from evaluation techniques to state and federal requirements. But most importantly, it’s the ability to adapt.

3. Work-life balance

Balancing work and personal life can be challenging but essential. A mentor should help you managing your time effectively, making sure you know when to step back and recharge.

4. Culture of learning

Look for mentors who are lifelong learners, encouraging you to develop problem-solving skills and critical thinking rather than just providing answers.

5. Long-term relationship

Ideally, your mentor will support your long-term success, fostering a professional comfortable relationship. This connection can last throughout your career.

For more than a decade, I’ve mentored one or two clinical fellows a year, and to this day, I keep in touch with each and every one of them. They know they can call, text, or email me with a question — or just to say hello.

As you weigh options for your clinical fellowship, remember that the right mentor can make all the difference. Look for programs that offer comprehensive support and growth opportunities.

Meet the Author

Amy Hill, M.A., CCC-SLP

Amy serves as Light Street’s Arizona executive director of clinical support. With more than 25 years of experience in the field of special education, Amy provides support, training, and mentorship to employees and clients throughout Arizona. She is trained in a variety of autism diagnostic and therapeutic skills — including the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, TEACCH Autism Program, Picture Exchange Communication System, Floor Time, applied behavior analysis (ABA), Pivotal Response Training, and certified in the Affect Based Learning Curriculum. In addition, she is trained in AT/AAC, apraxia, early intervention, and certified in the Hanen It Takes Two to Talk program.