De Facto Leaders

Narrative Intervention: Beyond "Cute" Stories and Lesson Plans (with Jane Gebers)

24 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When you’re teaching storytelling with students, do your lessons feel kind of…random?I used to feel like this a lot when I was a school SLP, so if...

What's the point of teaching storytelling? (with Jane Gebers)

17 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why are we so obsessed with “storytelling”?In education, we talk about it when we’re working on language and reading comprehension. It’s also...

Not seeing generalization? You might be the bottleneck.

10 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If your therapy techniques only work when you’re in the room, that’s a problem.Many therapists unintentionally “gatekeep” their expertise and ...

Part 3: What’s the Point of a Language Evaluation? Breaking Down Diagnostic Accuracy, Standards, and Scores (with Destiny Johnson and Tiffany Shahoumian-Ruiz)

03 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Where did arbitrary cut scores for norm-referenced language assessments come from, and why do they feel “safer” than relying on clinical judgement...

Part 2: What’s the Point of a Language Evaluation? Breaking Down Diagnostic Accuracy, Standards, and Scores (with Destiny Johnson and Tiffany Shahoumian-Ruiz)

25 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When we choose evaluation tools for language, are we clear on WHY we’re assessing? Most people think of diagnosis, but that’s not the only reason...

Part 1: What’s the Point of a Language Evaluation? Breaking Down Diagnostic Accuracy, Standards, and Scores (with Destiny Johnson and Tiffany Shahoumian-Ruiz)

19 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Language assessments shape who gets services, how goals are written, and how progress is measured, but there are many misconceptions about how to foll...

Educational Eligibility, Clinical Diagnosis, and the “Just Be Like Finland” Argument (with Dr. Chrishawn Finister)

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Every few years, conversations about education in the U.S. circle back to the same refrain: Why can’t we be more like Finland?In this episode, I sit...

What words should I target in language therapy?

05 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Most of us know that it’s important to work on vocabulary in language and literacy intervention.But how do we know what words to pick? Should we be ...

A Case for Talking about the “Summer Slide” in the Fall (featuring David Schipper)

29 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Every time I look into research on the summer slide, I get more confused. It’s no wonder professionals and families are scrambling every May as they...

What “Biologically Secondary” Means for Literacy Instruction (featuring Dr. Pamela Snow)

22 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The idea that exposing kids to enriching literacy and play-based experiences will effectively teach them to read and write sounds nice on paper.Unfort...

The Relationship Between Language Skills and Discipline Referrals (featuring Dr. Shameka Stewart)

15 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When schools respond to “behavior problems” in students, the focus is often on the symptom, not the cause. Failing to look beyond the surface beh...

Building the Literacy Skills Needed for Technology and Life (featuring Tom Parton)

08 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

“We don’t need to work on decoding because students have access to assistive technology and accommodations.”“We don’t work on word-decoding ...

Engaging Families and the Role of Tech in Addressing Book Deserts (featuring Cassandra Williams)

01 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I reflect on my conversation with my colleague Cassandra Williams as we discuss book and resource deserts, as well as how to engage w...

Navigating Language Therapy as the Only SLP in the District

24 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ever feel overwhelmed being the only SLP in your district without a network of fellow clinicians for support? You're not alone; many in similar situat...

Case Study: Shouldn’t I have language therapy figured out by now?

17 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ever feel like you should have language therapy figured out by now, but you're still struggling? Even experienced clinicians can feel that way.In this...

Balancing Language, Academic Content Areas, and Executive Functioning (featuring Jill Fahy)

10 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What if choosing between language and executive functioning for your students wasn't an "either/or" decision? And how can we effectively balance acade...

Finding a Place for AI in Therapy and Product Development (with Natalie Yona)

03 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of De Facto Leaders, I’m joined by speech-language therapist Natalie Yona from Cognishine to explore one of the most nuanced convers...

Part 5: Five Skills to Create Your Executive Functioning Intervention Framework

27 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

One of my favorite “hooks” or titles to use when I’m talking about executive functioning centers around the idea that executive functioning inte...

Part 4: Five Skills to Create Your Executive Functioning Intervention Framework

20 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Every time I give a session on executive functioning, I have clinicians and teachers ask me the same thing:“How can I motivate students who don’t ...

Part 3: Five Skills to Create Your Executive Functioning Intervention Framework

13 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Students with executive functioning challenges often intend to complete tasks or meet expectations—but struggle to execute consistently. The reason...

Part 2: Five Skills to Create Your Executive Functioning Intervention Framework

06 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I’m often asked if I can create an “executive functioning lesson plan” that a clinician could do within a 20-minute therapy session with a stude...

Part 1: Five Skills to Create Your Executive Functioning Intervention Framework

30 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Executive function is often defined as “having good time management skills”. While this isn’t completely off-base, it’s a vast oversimplificat...

Building Data Culture & Trust in Education (with Jessica Lane)

23 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I sit down with Jessica Lane, founder of Data-Informed Impact, to unpack the critical role of data in K-12 education—and how to use...

Orthographic Mapping & Effective Spelling Instruction (with Dr. Molly Ness)

16 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we’re joined by literacy expert Dr. Molly Ness, author of Making Words Stick, to unpack the science behind orthographic mapping and...

How to Create a Research-Based Executive Functioning Implementation Plan for Your School Team

09 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ever feel like your school is trying all the “right” strategies—social skills groups, planners, behavior charts—but students still struggle wi...

Executive functioning assessment, late ADHD diagnosis, and proactive support (with Dr. A. Jordan Wright)

02 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this eye-opening episode, I sit down with Dr. A. Jordan Wright, psychologist who brings both professional insight and lived experience to the conve...

From Plateau to Progress: Language Therapy Case Studies (with Connie Hurley-Pronley)

25 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I  interview Connie, a student from the Language Therapy Advance Foundations program. She shares her practical experiences and resul...

Clinical Leadership Series Part 3: Asset Stacking: Building Your Path to Systemic Impact

18 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Many clinicians, educators, and school leaders know they should be working collaboratively, but don’t know how to find time to do it. If you have a ...

Clinical Leadership Series Part 2: Scaling Your Expertise Beyond the Therapy Room

11 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this second episode in the 3-part clinical leadership series, I explore the 'lesson planning trap'—a common situation where clinicians focus so m...

Clinical Leadership Series Part 1: Claiming Your Seat at the Table

04 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we address the common experience of being overlooked in crucial conversations about the students we serve. Whether you're a clinician...

Embracing Cross-Pollination, High-Quality Tutoring, and Agile Leadership for Student Success (with Dr. Kate Anderson Foley)

28 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we dive deep with educational consultant and innovator Dr. Kate Anderson Foley, who challenges conventional wisdom about student supp...

The School Leader's Guide to Executive Functioning Support

21 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I’m excited to announce the release of my new compression course, “The School Leader’s Guide to Executive Functioning Support.”...

Executive Functioning Summer Camp (with Eric Smith)

14 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I sit down with Eric Smith from GrowNOW ADHD, to explore innovative approaches to social skills and executive functioning through the...

A Speech Pathologist's Journey Through Brain Surgery and Recovery (with Ana Hernandez)

07 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Ana Hernandez, a speech pathologist who found herself on the other side of the therapy room after undergoing...

SEEing to Lead: Collaborating for Better Literacy (with Karen Dudek-Brannan)

30 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, I’m sharing an interview I did with another host on the BE podcast network because I think it’s something you’ll really enjoy. The ep...

Re-Release: ADHD and the Appeal to Nature Fallacy

23 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In light of the mass amount of misinformation about ADHD, particularly regarding medication, I thought it was time to do a re-release of this past epi...

The Art of Decluttering and Habit Stacking for Clinicians (with Marisha Mets)

16 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I remember the first time I “Marie Kondoed” my therapy room and got rid of materials that were published before I was born. There were shelves of...

Goals and Accommodations for Executive Functioning

09 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we dive into the often-overlooked art of writing clear, measurable goals for executive functioning. Unlike other academic or functio...

FAQs: Task-based goals vs. strategy goals, scaffolding for semantics and syntax, and going from decontextualized to contextualized

02 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This session is a Q & A I did in the Language Therapy Advance Foundations member’s group relating to how to support students through semantic st...

Making professional development and programming goals meaningful (with John Mihalyo)

26 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Having someone observe your therapy room or classroom can feel awkward; whether it’s your boss doing your evaluation, or whether it’s a special se...

Failure to launch, screen addiction, and preparing kids for life after high school (with Michael McLeod)

19 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Many young adults enter their post-high school years without the executive functioning skills needed to thrive. This is often because the people supp...

FAQs: What if my district is still promoting three-cueing?

12 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For episode 206 of De Facto Leaders, I share a Q & A session where I discuss Reading Recovery and cueing strategies for decoding, and I make some ...

Using the essential 5 to build vocabulary and syntax in secondary school (with Amy Baugh)

05 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today I’m sharing an interview I did with Amy Baugh, a member of Language Therapy Advance Foundations. Amy Baugh is an experienced SLP, a life-long...

Using digital resources to improve team collaboration and combat therapist burnout (with Dr. Karen Rose)

26 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Finding the right amount of therapy materials is a struggle for many clinicians. It’s hard to find the balance between having enough options, withou...

Frontloading, explicit instruction, and providing the “right” amount of support

19 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I’m answering FAQs from the School of Clinical Leadership members about supporting students’ executive functioning.I answer the f...

Public perception of education, positive role models, and keeping good leaders in schools (featuring Dan Kelley, Dr. Joseph Williams, and Danny Bauer)

12 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A good school leader knows how to protect their staff from initiatives and fires they may need to put out on a regular basis. In many cases if you’r...

Swallowing and feeding intervention in the schools (with Carolyn Dolby)

05 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Many people classify swallowing and feeding intervention as a “medical” service that shouldn’t be addressed in the schools.  This is a very bla...

Supporting underrepresented families with “Families and Educators Together” Teams (with Ari Gerzon-Kessler)

29 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Helping families feel involved in their child’s school experience is a challenge; and underrepresented populations may often feel like their voices ...

How to run a high-value, no-drama PTO (with Christina Hidek)

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Finding the resources and funding for learning tools and enriching events is a consistent challenge for many districts. The PTO is often a largely un...

Empowering educators to support mental health at the Tier 1 level (with Dr. Hayley Watson)

15 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Teachers and school leaders often feel like they have to be “everything to everyone”. Not only are educators expected to deliver high-quality ins...

Scaffolding, fading prompts, and the importance of parent and teacher coaching (with Rebecca Robbins)

08 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

“Scaffolding” has become a buzzword when it comes to helping kids become more independent with academic and functional tasks, but it's only useful...

FAQs: Language therapy goals and "observable behaviors" vs "strategy goals".

01 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For episode 196 of De Facto Leaders, I share a Q & A session where I talk through how to write language therapy goals that are both trackable and ...

FAQs: Language evaluations, data, doctoral programs and expanding clinical career options.

25 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For episode 195 of De Facto Leaders, I share a Q & A session where I talk through ways to navigate evaluations; including considering a test's psy...

Salary and caseload negotiations and expanding your career opportunities (with Rachel Archambault)

18 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Many therapists feel as though they have limited upward mobility in their careers. Graduate programs understandably focus on direct clinical practice...

Using Distance Learning to Increase Access and Opportunity (with Seth Fleischauer)

11 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Most people agree that the “online learning” that happened during COVID was a challenge for many students; especially those with disabilities.Howe...

Building confidence, positive self-talk, and strategic planning skills for writing (with Dr. Nelly Kaakaty)

04 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The writing process comes with internal resistance, even for strong writers.Most people who say they enjoy writing don’t enjoy the entire process; p...

High-impact tutoring and branding your academic coaching services (with David Schipper)

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

High-impact tutoring has a wide body of evidence to support its efficacy, but how do you know what is and isn’t “high-impact”?Is it better to br...

A behind-the-scenes look at EdTech startups and curriculum companies (with Ross Romano)

20 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Many of my colleagues working in the public sector are skeptical of companies selling products to school districts. I’ve felt some of this skeptici...

Reframing the purpose of social narratives, video modeling, and social skills lesson plans

13 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Many people treat social skills groups as if they’re the complete package, when in fact they’re just one part of a bigger service plan. When we “...

Scaffolding syntax and semantics for non-readers and redefining life skills

06 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Syntactic use is considered an “academic” skill that’s useful for reading comprehension and writing, but the impact of sentence comprehension go...

Dynamic Assessment: Evaluations are a process, not a test (with Destiny Johnson)

30 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I regularly hear from therapists who ask me questions about how to evaluate language in a way that gives detailed, meaningful, and accurate informatio...

Supporting multilingual students and taking part in state and national advocacy work (with Puja Goel and Prabhu Eswaran)

23 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Language evaluations are challenging enough; but when we’re evaluating multilingual and bilingual students, they become even more complex. When cli...

Is it a behavior issue or a language and literacy issue?

16 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this interview, I revisit conversations surrounding the school-to-confinement pipeline, giving students’ the language skills to understand their ...

Defining educational technology and considering homework equity issues

09 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this interview, I revisit conversations surrounding the use of the term “dyslexia” in the schools, the use of technology, and equitable access ...

Morphology hierarchies, etymology, and reframing the “joy” of reading.

02 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How much do we need to know about morphology and etymology to effectively help students? Is etymology an essential component to spelling and reading i...

Leveraging read-alouds to build language and getting started with advocacy work (with Dr. Molly Ness)

25 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Many skeptics of the science of reading are concerned that structured approaches will bore kids and make it less likely they’ll enjoy reading. Thes...

Developmental language disorder: Impacts on literacy and life beyond school (with Dr. Karla McGregor)

20 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Students who meet the criteria for developmental language disorder (DLD) are often categorized as “speech only” in the school systems. In many ca...

The relationship of literacy and language skills and involvement with the justice system (with Dr. Shameka Stewart)

18 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There is a disproportionate number of individuals with communication disorders and reading disabilities involved with the justice system for both chil...

Increasing book equity and fostering a love of reading (with Susan Brady)

13 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How can school leaders make informed decisions about reading curriculum when they know the home environments among their student body vary widely?I do...

Are we allowed to say “dyslexia” in the schools? (with Tom Parton)

11 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In 2015, the Office of Special Education Programs published a letter stating that school teams were “not prohibited” from using the term “dyslex...

Debunking reading myths and defining literacy buzzwords (with Anna Geiger)

06 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There are many “science of reading” terms being used right now (including the “science of reading” itself).Yet debates about how to help kids ...

Building the language skills for reading, writing, and spelling (with Dr. Jan Wasowicz)

04 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The “science of reading” is trending; but in order for professionals to engage in effective instruction, they need to understand that literacy als...

Re-release: The impact of texting on literacy and the skills needed for effective word-reading

28 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I’m revisiting an older episode in honor of a special event that I'm doing in the month of September, 2024.I'm so excited to partic...

Creating a culture of collaboration on your school team (with Kurtis Hewson)

21 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I’m a huge supporter of professionals taking ownership of their careers; regardless of the systemic issues at play.But having said that, I ALSO like...

School leadership and middle management (with Chris Dodge and Dr. Chris Jones)

14 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A while back, I heard someone refer to school administrators and other public sector leaders as “middle managers”, and it really hit home for me. ...

Increasing attendance with student engagement and connectedness (with Jen Perry)

07 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How can districts reverse chronic absenteeism and gain a deeper understanding of why students don’t come to school? Can we measure how “connected...

Social-emotional learning for adults (featuring Crissy Mombela, Lisa Navarra, and Dr. Theresa Melito-Conners)

31 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Most discussions around social-emotional learning are about helping kids stay regulated, healthy, and adjusted, but we can’t forget about the adults...

Making intentional decisions and leaning on the expertise of your team (with Dr. Jen Schwanke)

24 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As a school leader, when is it best to make “top-down” decisions, and when should you make it a collaborative process?How can you tell which stake...

How to support executive functioning with environmental scaffolding (self-talk, time-perception, planning)

17 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today, I wanted to share some FAQs that people ask about how to teach executive functioning. Some of those common questions are:How do you teach self...

What do administrators need from school therapists and teachers? (featuring Eric Makelky, Jalita Johnson, and Jethro Jones)

10 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Almost every school leader that I know has said they didn’t realize what they were getting themselves into when they started their first administrat...

A framework for executive functioning intervention: Three shifts for school teams

03 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As a professional field, we’re getting stuck in old ways of thinking when it comes to designing services for students experiencing executive dysfunc...

The role of syntax in supporting language processing and executive functioning

26 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Language and executive functioning have a bidirectional relationship (Baron & Arbel, 2022; Larson, et al., 2019). This means that building languag...

Turning litigious situations in to reading reform initiatives (with Mary Saghafi and Shannon Betts)

19 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Teacher preparation programs should equip reading teachers with the knowledge they need to provide explicit intervention for students who have dyslexi...

The content + strategy + retrieval trifecta for language and executive functioning (with Katy Wyatt)

12 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is it functional to work on parts of speech?Is sentence diagramming useful? How do we improve word-retrieval in kids with developmental disabilities, ...

Experiential learning and cultivating a passion for the outdoors (with Greg Morrissey)

05 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Preparing young people for adulthood is all about providing them with the right blend of experiences; both in and outside of school. Building literacy...

The summer slide: Real phenomenon or invented by tutoring companies? (with David Schipper)

29 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

My heart sinks when I see how polarizing topics in education have become, as well as the tendency for people to have “all or nothing” thinking.I’...

Why aren’t they participating? Rethinking family engagement in special education (with Dr. Kristin Vogel-Campbell)

22 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Helping families feel involved in their children’s education goes beyond checking the boxes to make sure you’re following legal guidelines.That’...

BONUS: The Authority: Executive Functions for Every Classroom with Mitch Weathers

15 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

About The Authority Podcast:Hosted by leadership coach, storytelling strategist, and edtech advisor Ross Romano, The Authority provides education lead...

Turning disagreements in to alliances in K-12 education (with Dr. Barb Flowers)

08 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There’s a lot of "us vs. them" thinking happening relating to what’s going on in the school systems.Parents feeling like teachers don't want to ac...

Comorbidities and Differential Diagnosis (ADHD, DLD, Dyslexia)

01 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When kids need support with language, reading/writing, and executive functioning, they often have multiple diagnoses.This makes both treatment plannin...

Literacy and background knowledge: Essential skills for life (with Dr. Pamela Snow)

24 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The most effective reading instructional practices aren’t always the ones that gain traction.It’s the ones with the most successful marketing camp...

Unpacking the early literacy debate and building a foundation in PreK (with Jane Gebers)

17 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The literacy space has become increasingly polarizing since the reading wars began.There are a number of debates and questions that continue, includin...

Using AI to write IEP goals and manage service plans (with Sean Klamm)

10 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

No one working in special ed has ever said, “I chose this career so I could do paperwork all evening and weekend.”Yet many realize after getting i...

Becoming a literacy leader and advocating for the right to read (with Brianna Guild)

03 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Related service providers are often considered subject matter experts. Our role is to support other members of multidisciplinary teams like teachers, ...

Therapy session structure, narrative language, and commentary on gestalt language processing

27 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I share a special Q & A session I did with the members of Language Therapy Advance Foundations; my program that provides service ...

Debriefing, de-escalation, and relationship repair (with Crissy Mombela)

20 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors don’t have to define us. This is an important thing to remember for adults dealing with professional burnout ...

The cost of caring: Compassion fatigue in education and healthcare (with Crissy Mombela)

13 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

People working in school or medical settings are in a position to be caring for others in their professional lives; which makes it difficult to leave ...

Does your SYSTEM support your policy and your curriculum? (with Jalita Johnson)

06 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If we try to make schools in the US more like schools in other countries, will that result in more effective practices? Why do policies work in some d...

BONUS: SEEing to Lead: Seeing the whole staircase (with Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan)

28 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, I’m sharing an interview I did with another host on the BE podcast network because I think it’s something you’ll really enjoy. The ep...

Am I influencing or trying to control? Reframing advocacy and clinical leadership (with Candice Noss)

21 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There’s a difference between influence and control. Whether we’re making suggestions to a coworker, asking a supervisor for support, setting expe...