Speech, Language & Dyslexia Specialists - Serving St. Louis families for over 25 Years

About Our Company

Serving St. Louis families for over 25 years

Speech, Language & Dyslexia Specialists

Speech Language Learning Systems areas of specialty include content-based speech-language intervention for students experiencing listening, reading, writing, and oral expression difficulties due to speech-language processing concerns, early childhood speech-language delays, articulation/phonological speech disorders, and social communication concerns. Individual and group services are available including Executive Function Coaching to assist students with organizational skills essential to school success. Dyslexia Therapy is also available. Summer enrichment services are offered through our SLLS Meridian Academy which targets instruction to enhance Vocabulary, Reading, Writing, and Social Communication Success.

Our Certifications & Awards

Our Founder

Dana E. Gooden-Schroeder, M.A. CCC-SLP

President and Owner

Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist

Dana E. Gooden-Schroeder, M.A. CCC-SLP, President and Owner of Speech Language Learning Systems, Inc. and co-founder of Language Pathways, Inc., received her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Communication Disorders from Truman State University, formerly Northeast Missouri State University. 

She has owned SLLS for over 25 years and has practiced in the St. Louis area since receiving her license in 1988. Prior to starting her private practice, she was employed by Special School District of St. Louis County (SSD) and Mercy Child Development Center.  During her tenure with SSD, she was recognized for implementing a “Language in the Classroom” pilot for students participating in inclusionary education. She has provided curriculum-based speech language therapy through a variety of programs including Class within a Class (CWC) team teaching models.  Her practice has included hospital/clinic and private practice settings focusing on work with Neonatal Intensive Care Follow-Up, parent-infant groups, early childhood, school-aged populations, and young adults. 

Dana is passionate about the role speech and language skills plays in the development of reading and writing proficiency.  As a result, over 20 years ago, she made sure SLLS offered therapeutic reading services for students with dyslexia.  SLLS proudly offers services from certified structured literacy/dyslexia specialists and all SLLS staff have been trained in intervention models to meet the needs of students experiencing literacy challenges.

In January 2009 Dana completed a Social Thinking® Clinical Training Program (formerly called Mentor Training) with Michelle Garcia Winner at her Social Thinking Center in San Jose, CA. to expand the quality of services SLLS provided to students with social communication needs.  She and an additional SLLS staff member, are two of the only three therapists in the St. Louis area to have completed such a training experience and two of only seven in the state of Missouri.   

Dana has been a presenter locally, as well as at the state and national levels in the areas of speech-language development of the infant through school-aged child, collaborative intervention models, curriculum-based language intervention, strategies for improving comprehension and oral/written expression, and organizational strategies for classroom success.

When Dana is not working, she enjoys time with her husband, family and friends, traveling, gardening, time by the water, live music, and the day-to-day adventures of her two rescue greyhounds. 

Our Team

Mary Beth Nilsen, MA, CCC-SLP, W.D.P.

Vice President and Director of Therapy Services

Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist

Wilson® Dyslexia Practitioner

Megan Reynolds, MA, CCC-SLP

Director of Social Communication Services & Professional Development

Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist

Sarah A. Schnettgoecke, MA, CCC-SLP

SLLS Supervisor

Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist

Lisa Cannon-Bearden, BSED, C.A.L.T., C-SLDS

Certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist

Certified Academic Language Therapist

Certified ALTA® Member

Keeley Wiedeman, MS, CCC-SLP

Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist

Rachel Moretti, MA, CCC-SLP

Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist

Kate Scherman, MA, CCC-SLP

Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist

PROMPT Trained

Jill E. Young, MA, CCC-SLP

New Hire Training and Special Projects Coordinator

Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist

Monica N. Elpers, MA CCC-SLP

Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist

Our Office Team

Karen McKenzie

Business Manager

Krystena Tharman

Office Manager

Danielle Azzara

Office Assistant

Mary Beth Nilsen, MA, CCC-SLP, W.D.P.

Vice President and Director of Therapy Services

Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist

Wilson® Dyslexia Practitioner

Mary Beth enjoys spending time with her three kids, husband, and dog. She gardens, reads, and dreams of spending time eating cherries and blueberries in northern Michigan.

Education

Awards

Credentials / Certifications

Specialized Training

Megan Reynolds, MA, CCC-SLP

Director of Social Communication Services & Professional Development

Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist

When not working, Megan enjoys spending time with her husband, two boys and dog. She also likes singing, quilting, swimming and biking.

Education

Awards

Credentials / Certifications

Specialized Training

Sarah A. Schnettgoecke, MA, CCC-SLP

SLLS Supervisor

Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist

 

When Sarah is not working she enjoys spending time with family and friends, being outdoors, exploring parks around St. Louis, traveling, reading, and cheering on the St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Blues!

 

Education

Awards

Credentials / Certifications

Specialized Training

Lisa Cannon-Bearden, BSED, C.A.L.T., C-SLDS

Certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist

Certified Academic Language Therapis

Certified ALTA® Member

When Lisa is not working, she enjoys spending time with family and her 3 dogs and 1 cat, traveling, reading and watching my granddaughter compete in gymnastics.

Education

Awards

Credentials / Certifications

Specialized Training

Keeley Wiedeman, MS, CCC-SLP

Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist

Outside of working for SLLS, Keeley enjoys spending time with her husband and three boys, art (pencil drawing), figure skating, reading and running.

 

 

Education

Awards

Credentials / Certifications

Specialized Training

Rachel Moretti, MA, CCC-SLP

Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist

Outside of working as an SLP, Rachel enjoys spending time with her family and friends, exploring the great parks, restaurants, and events in the St. Louis community, reading, and traveling.

Education

Awards

Credentials / Certifications

Specialized Training

Kate Scherman, MA, CCC-SLP

Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist

PROMPT Trained

Outside of working as an SLP, Kate enjoys trying new restaurants with her husband, spending time with her two girls, running with her energetic Texas Heeler, watching soccer and reading.

Education

Awards

Credentials / Certifications

Specialized Training

Jill E. Young, MA, CCC-SLP

New Hire Training and Special Projects Coordinator

Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist

When Jill is not working, she enjoys reading and watching movies, going to her four children’s sporting events, visiting family, and playing the piano.

Education

Awards

Credentials / Certifications

Specialized Training

Monica N. Elpers, MA CCC-SLP

Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist

Outside of the office, Monica is busy enjoying time with her husband and 4 children. She loves to spend her free time reading, running, and taking care of her plants.

 

 

Education

Awards

Credentials / Certifications

Specialized Training

Karen McKenzie

Business Manager

When Karen is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, church-related activities, traveling anywhere and everywhere, sporting events (Cardinals, Blues, Notre Dame, Murray State, Dayton), and reading.

Education

Work History

Awards

Krystena Tharman

Office Manager

In Krystena’s free time, she loves reading many varieties of books, exploring nature, traveling, solving puzzles, playing games, and spending time with her family.

 

 

Danielle Azzara

Office Assistant

Bio coming soon.