Speech Therapy

Kids Therapy Spot Speech Therapy Team

 

Starkville Kids Therapy Spot Speech Therapy Team

Columbus Kids Therapy Spot Speech Therapy Team

 

MELISSA DAVIS, M.S., CCC-SLP

SPEECH THERAPY DEPARTMENT OWNER

Melissa is one of the owners of Kids Therapy Spot. She is the owner of the Speech Therapy Department (Speech Therapy for Kids, LLC) and oversees this portion of the clinic. She is an SLP at the Kids Therapy Spot Starkville clinic and Starkville Pediatric Extended Care. Melissa received her Bachelor of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Middle Tennessee State University in May of 2000. She then moved to Mississippi and obtained her Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Mississippi University for Women in May of 2002. Since this time, she has been treating children between the ages of birth-15 with a variety of complex disorders in both the home and clinic setting. Over the years, Melissa discovered her passion for treating children with feeding difficulties/disorders. She has obtained a large amount of continuing education in this area so she now primarily focuses on treating children with this need. Melissa currently lives in Starkville with her husband, Adam, and their two children.

LEAH ABRAMS, M.S., CCC-SLP
SPEECH THERAPY DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR – STARKVILLE CLINIC

Leah Abrams joined the team at Kids Therapy Spot in January 2012 and was promoted to Speech Therapy Director in 2016. She is an SLP at the Kids Therapy Spot Starkville clinic. Leah received her Bachelor of Science in 1996 and her Master of Science in 1999 from Mississippi University for Women. She has worked in a variety of settings since graduation, but her passion has been working with the pediatric population with special interests in treating children with expressive language delays, phonological disorders, and childhood apraxia of speech. Leah is originally from Brooksville, MS and currently lives in Starkville with her husband, Jud, and their three children.

JASMINE MANASCO, M.S., CCC-SLP

SPEECH THERAPY DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR – COLUMBUS CLINIC

Jasmine joined the Kids Therapy Spot team in November 2018 and was promoted to Speech Therapy Director of the Columbus clinic in 2021. She is an SLP at the Kids Therapy Spot Columbus clinic and Pediatrust location in Columbus, MS. Jasmine received her Bachelor of Science degree in Health Sciences from Misericordia University in 2015 and her Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Misericordia University in 2017. Jasmine has special interests in treating children with feeding disorders and the utilization of AAC devices. She currently lives in Columbus, MS with her husband.

SUSIE UTZ, M.S., CCC-SLP

SENIOR SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST

Susie joined the team at Kids Therapy Spot in July 2014. She is an SLP at the Kids Therapy Spot Starkville clinic and Starkville Pediatric Extended Care. Susie received her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees at the University of Southern Mississippi. Susie has been an SLP since 2002 and has worked in a variety of settings providing speech therapy services to children with speech/language delays, along with autism and dyslexia. Susie served as the supervisor and co-developer of the LEAP program, an after-school initiative designed for students ages 5-10 with challenges in reading, spelling and written language. Susie currently lives in Starkville with her two boys.

LESLEY NORRIS, M.S., CCC-SLP

Lesley joined the Kids Therapy Spot team in February 2017. She is the primary SLP at the Meridian Pediatric Extended Care location in Meridian, MS. Lesley received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences from The University of Southern Mississippi in 2006. She received a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from The University of Southern Mississippi in 2007. Lesley currently lives in Meridian, MS with her two children.

 

ERIN SMITH, M.A., CCC-SLP

Erin joined the Kids Therapy Spot team in August 2018. She is an SLP at the Kids Therapy Spot Starkville clinic, Starkville private schools and Starkville Pediatric Extended Care. Erin received a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Mississippi State University in 2008 and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences from Delta State University in 2012. She received a Master of Arts degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Louisiana Tech University in 2015. She currently lives in Starkville with her husband and their two sons.

HAYLIE GONZALEZ, M.S., CCC-SLP

Haylie joined the Kids Therapy Spot team in August 2021. She is an SLP at the Kids Therapy Spot Starkville clinic. Haylie received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Speech Language Pathology, and Minor in Psychology at the University of Science and Art of Oklahoma in 2018. She then proceeded to become a Speech Language Pathologist Assistant while working towards her Masters degree. Haylie received her Master of Science Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of St. Augustine in 2020. Haylee has special interests in treating pediatrics with feeding disorders. She currently lives in Starkville, MS with her husband.

ALYKA WILLIAMS, M.S., CCC-SLP

Alyka joined the Kids Therapy Spot team in August 2021. She is an SLP at the Kids Therapy Spot Columbus clinic. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Minor in English from Mississippi University for Women in 2017. Alyka received her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Mississippi University for Women in 2020. Her special interests include treating pediatrics with expressive language disorders and autism spectrum disorder. Alyka lives in Columbus, MS with her husband and two children. 

RACHEL TRUESDALE, M.S., CCC-SLP

Rachel joined the Kids Therapy Spot team in November 2021. She is an SLP at the Kids Therapy Spot Columbus clinic and Pediatrust location in Columbus, MS. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Paralegal Studies from Mississippi University for Women in 2012. Rachel received her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Alabama A & M University in 2016. Rachel lives in Columbus, MS with her husband and two children. 

BROOKLYN SPARNECHT, M.S., CCC-SLP

Brooklyn joined the Kids Therapy Spot team in January 2022. She is an SLP at both of the Kids Therapy Spot clinics in Starkville and Columbus. Brooklyn received a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Mississippi University for Women in 2017. She went on to receive her Master of Science degree in Communicative Disorders from Jackson State University in 2019. Following graduation, Brooklyn worked with the Mississippi Child Health Development Project through University of Mississippi Medical Center. Through this project, Brooklyn received intensive interdisciplinary training at the CAY clinic in Jackson, MS with a focus on the evaluation and treatment of developmental and behavioral disorders in children ages birth to 5. She currently lives in Louisville, MS with her husband and daughter. 

MARLEE BRANDON, M.S., CCC-SLP

Marlee joined the Kids Therapy Spot team in June 2022. She is an SLP at both of the Kids Therapy Spot clinics in Starkville and Columbus. Marlee received a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Southern Mississippi in May of 2019. She went on to receive her Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Southern Mississippi in May of 2021. 

SARAH MORGAN LEWIS, M.S., CCC-SLP

Sarah Morgan joined the Kids Therapy Spot team in May 2022. She is an SLP at both of the Kids Therapy Spot clinics in Starkville and Columbus. Sarah Morgan received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and Minor in Business degree from Mississippi University for Women in 2016. She went on to receive her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Mississippi University for Women in May of 2022. 

ELIZABETH DYRHAUG, M.S., CF-SLP

Ellie joined the Kids Therapy Spot team in June 2022. She is a PRN SLP at both of the Kids Therapy Spot clinics in Starkville and Columbus and treats one day a week at the Starkville clinic. Ellie received a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Appalachian State University in May 2020. She went on to receive her Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from East Tennessee State University in May 2022.