NAPLIC® - Key Persons
Anna has worked as a Speech and Language Therapist for over 25 years, for most of her career with school aged children with DLD.
She was Head of Therapy at a special school for over 13 years and has recently re-trained as a Registered Intermediary, now working with vulnerable adults and children within the criminal justice system. Anna is the current editor of the NAPLIC Matters newsletter.
Carolyn Gelenter initially trained as an Early Childhood teacher (0-8 years) and has taught across the primary age range.She works as an advisory teacher for SLCN for Westminster LA, where together with the local NHS SaLT service, she developed a range of collaborative working models over the past 15 years.
Carolyn is also a licensee for ICAN.
Cheryl started her teaching career as a secondary music specialist. The experience of teaching lower set GCSE groups, in particular, sparked an interest in understanding why some children and young people find it harder to learn than others.
After many years of teaching across all key stages, and further study, she joined the centrally-based, Surrey County Council Learning and Language Support specialist teaching team in 2005.
Job Titles:
- Honorary President
- Professor of Developmental Disorders of Language
Courtenay Norbury is a Professor of Developmental Disorders of Language and Communication at University College London. She is a qualified speech-language therapist, did her PhD in Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford, is a founding member of RADLD and was formerly Chair of Governors at a local primary school.
Her research focuses on language disorders across a range of different clinical conditions. She led the Surrey Communication and Language in Education Study (SCALES), a population study of language disorder from school entry to the end of primary school. She has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and a co-authored a popular textbook: Language Disorders from Infancy to Adolescence.
Derek Burgon has worked as a Speech and Language Therapist since 1986 having qualified from the then Birmingham Polytechnic. He has worked in children's community services and special schools alongside teachers and support assistants.
His current post is to work with teaching staff and parents to support children in mainstream schools with speech, language and communication needs associated with moderate learning difficulties.
Job Titles:
- Emma Jordan Vice - Chair
- Specialist
Emma Jordan is a specialist speech and language therapist, working for over twenty years in the NHS. Emma is joint Service Manager for Worcestershire Children's Speech and Language Therapy Service and continues her clinical practice primarily supporting children and young people in mainstream schools.
Emma has a history of working in close collaboration with education colleagues. She worked in partnership with Sue Hayden, specialist teacher, co-writing the Language for Learning training courses, materials and Language for Learning books.
Emma has been part of NAPLIC's voluntary committee for more than ten years and is currently Vice Chair.
John has been a member of NAPLIC since its inception (1985), longstanding committee member and was the Chair from 2003 to 2013.
John's Career in the field of SEN/SLCN/DLD since 1978 which has included being a TA, teacher, headteacher, I CAN professional advisor, school improvement partner, registered intermediary, University of Birmingham distance learning tutor and SEN consultant.
John's current roles include Chair of the Communication Consortium, specialist tribunal member re SEN and Disability and secondary school governor.
Mandy has worked as a speech and language therapist for over 24 years.
The majority of her career has been spent working in specialist settings for children and young people with Developmental Language Disorder, initially as a class based speech and language therapist and more latterly as Head of Therapy, a role she currently holds. She particularly enjoys working in partnership with teaching colleagues to support children inside the classroom.
Mandy lives and works in Surrey.
Mary Jo Spearey was born and grew up in Derry in Northern Ireland in troubled times. She began her teaching career over 34 years ago including working as an Advisory Teacher. Throughout her career she has always been extremely interested in Speech, Language and Communication.
In 2009 she took up the post of Head of Service of ComIT, Communication Intervention Team - a school-based service that serves the five local Education Authorities of South East Wales. Currently, ComIT is one of three teams that makes up SenCom - Sensory and Communication Service.
Sarah Clarke began her career in education as a primary school teacher in rural Warwickshire. She soon qualified as a SENCO, completing the NASENCO award at the University of Worcester. After working as a SENCO in Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Devon, Sarah took the role as an advisory teacher for SLCN and autism.
She has completed the PG Dip. LACIC at the University of Sheffield and is also an ELKLAN tutor.
Sarah Earl originally trained for teaching KS2 in Psychology and Education with London University. During her years in teaching KS1-3 (in specialist facilities and mainstream) in Sussex she has increased her focus on SEN, particularly SLCN, Dyslexia and Dycalculia. She now works on a freelance basis training teachers and carrying out exam access assessments.
Sarah joined the committee three years ago. She regularly represents NAPLIC on the Communication Trust's Communication Consortium and contributes the reviews of recent government publications and other articles relating to current issues to the newsletters.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Emma Jordan Vice - Chair
Stephen Parsons has worked as a Speech and Language Therapist for 35 years. He trained in Australia but has spent most of his career in England and specifically in Hackney in London. He now lives in Norfolk and works as a researcher, trainer and author. He is particularly interested in how whole class practice can include children with developmental language disorder.
Stephen is active on Twitter via @WordAware
Trish Hicken has worked for Lincolnshire County Council for many years initially as a primary classroom teacher before specialising as a SENCO and then SLCN leading a speech and language unit.
She has worked collaboratively with Speech and Language Therapists for 18 years and has been employed as a Specialist Language Teacher with the ECLIPS team since 2007, working with those aged 4-24.
Trish is active on Twitter and Facebook and has particular interests in Developmental Language Disorder, Vocabulary and the links between SLCN and the Juvenile Justice System.
Victoria was first introduced to the fabulousness of NAPLIC by her teacher work friend and colleague who was involved in the organisation. Victoria has always been really impressed by the quality of information NAPLIC offers, accessed through the amazing conferences, webinars, newsletters and website. NAPLIC's focus on DLD and specifically promoting and sharing current research and collaborative practice between children, young people, parents and practitioners is unique.
Victoria is particularly passionate about the organisation's ethos around inclusivity, and the great sharing and learning we can do together, from and with each other.
Victoria has worked as a Speech and Language Therapist for many years within West Yorkshire and the North West and for a range of different organisations including the NHS and The Communication Trust. She is currently working as an independent Speech and Language Therapist working in a mainstream school and also work as a Lecturer Practitioner at the University of Huddersfield.
Victoria says she feels ‘privileged to be a member of the NAPLIC committee and embrace the exciting new experiences and challenge that this brings'!