Janet McLellan, Ph.D.

, CCC-SLP
1893 Golf Course Rd., Bayside, CA 95524, (707) 296-9055
mclellanjanet@hotmail.com

I am currently a speech language pathologist at the Humboldt County Office of Education.

Language and literacy have been my passion throughout my professional life. As an
undergraduate in Psychology at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, I studied the
neurological basis of reading and learned about child development, cognition, behavior and
language. I went on to study Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of
Montana. There I learned how to support students with speech and language difficulties in their
educational programs. My particular interest was students with language learning disorders, who
had difficulty with all modes of language including reading, writing, speaking and listening.
I returned to school for my Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina in special education and
literacy. I wanted to know more about how students with severe speech and physical
impairments learn to read. I had observed these students struggling with literacy and wanted to
be better able to help them. I took classes in reading development, language and literacy, reading
and writing instruction, and content area literacy. I came to understand how diverse students
could learn literacy skills using evidence-based practices and assistive technology, through
working closely with collogues at the Center for Literacy Studies and the Frank Porter Graham
Center. Other studies I was involved with at UNC included: story book interactions between
mothers and their preschool children; story book interactions between mothers and students with
disabilities; and the implementation of reader response groups in the fifth grade. I managed a
grant designed to assist students with and without disabilities with the transition into
kindergarten. For this project, I served as liaison with library media specialists, literacy
professors from UNC and teachers to build the schools library collection and provide training
for parents and teachers, organize meetings, manage the budget, and coordinate professional
development opportunities.
After leaving UNC, I continued to pursue my interests in literacy, language and education. I
presented seminars and training workshops on topics related to language and literacy at state,
national and international conferences. I taught these topics at the University of Hawaii and
Western Washington University. At the University of Hawaii, I served as the director of the
Scottish Rite Childrens Center, which served preschool students with speech and language
impairments. I supervised student clinicians, managed the budget and ensured compliance with
state and federal regulations.
As a speech language pathologist and augmentative and alternative communication specialist, I
mentored teachers, so they could modify curriculum and support students with disabilities. I
provided demonstration lessons within classrooms in multiple locations throughout the county. I
trained teachers and speech language pathologists in assistive technology. I incorporated the
common core standards in my trainings, presentations and lessons. I also built and maintained an
equipment lending library for Folsom Cordova School Unified District and developed district
policy with regard to assistive technology. I supervised and trained speech language pathology
and instructional assistants. I recently completed a preliminary administrative services credential
at Humboldt State University. My varied experiences have provided me with an understanding of

literacy, a belief that all students can learn, and a desire to improve literacy instruction in
schools. My goal is to become an educational leader and create safe environments where all
students can learn.