Marissa McGrath: Class of 2010

There was a significant emphasis placed on developing strong collaboration skills with peers through group projects and activities, which inherently encouraged camaraderie, rather than competition, among us. Cultivating positive colleague and educator-student relationships continues to be an important part of my career. Marissa McGrath

Beyond PTS

Marissa McGrath earned her bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Oregon in 2014 before obtaining her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Montana-Missoula in 2016. Following her graduate studies, she moved to Vermont to complete her clinical fellowship year at a public high school. With eight years of experience as a speech-language pathologist in public schools and nearly a year at a nonprofit learning center focused on social cognition and communication, Marissa has worked with individuals ranging from ages 3 to 64. Her expertise in supporting speech, language, and social communication differences has strengthened her commitment to fostering inclusivity and celebrating neurodiversity in her field.

Love for PTS

"Overall, with the individual schools in Phoenix-Talent School District being relatively small, student population wise, it provided a feeling of a close-knit community. There was a significant emphasis placed on developing strong collaboration skills with peers through group projects and activities, which inherently encouraged camaraderie, rather than competition, among us. Cultivating positive colleague and educator-student relationships continues to be an important part of my career. I encourage my students to be kind toward one another and appreciative of our differences in order to create a greater sense of community and belonging."