- Sanders Corner Elementary School
- Ms. Bender
Phone:
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
Wichita State University - BA - Communicative Disorders and Sciences - MA - Communicative Disorders and Sciences George Mason University - Graduate Certificate - Autism - 30+ hours of graduate coursework in Special Education
Mrs. Kim Bender
Hello -
2020-2012 will be my fourth year as the speech-language pathologist at Sanders Corner Elementary and my 18th year with LCPS. This year I will also be helping out at Arcola Elementary one day a week.
I began my career as a speech-language pathologist working with young students with autism Grafton School in Clarke County, Virgina. I then worked for Prince William County Public Schools for nine years before I made the move to Loudoun County Public Schools in 2003. In addition to my role as an SLP, I have also had the opportunity be a K-2 autism teacher for two years.
I received both my BA and MA degrees in Communication Disorders and Sciences from Wichita State University. I also earned a Graduate Certificate in Autism from George Mason University. In addition, I have completed 30+ hours of post-graduate coursework in Special Education at George Mason University.
As an SLP, I have experience with therapeutic interventions that include: The Entire World of R, Lindamood Phonemic Sequencing (LiPS), Visualizing and Verbalizing (Lindamood Bell), Social Thinking (M. Winner), Story Grammar Marker (SGM), and Zones of Regulation. For students with little or no verbal communication, who need alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) support, I am familiar with the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), as well as other strategies for implementing low, mid, and high tech AAC systems. These AAC systems use a combination of "core" and "fringe" vocabulary selected based on normal language development and each student's interests and needs (LAMP Words for Life, Minspeak, Unity, etc...) with the ultimate goal of promoting meaningful and functional communication.
My mission is to work to understand and support the unique communication and learning needs of my students and their families by providing direct services, consulting with staff, and/or coaching parents -- whether it be in person or virtually.
Despite these challenging times, I am looking forward to another rewarding year of supporting the learning needs of the students, families, and staff at Sanders Corner and Arcola in any way I can.