Real Talk: A Speech Therapy Teacher in Bolivar, MO
Leigha Morgan is a speech language pathologist at Bolivar Primary School in Bolivar, Missouri, and she starts every morning with coffee, mood lighting, a candle warmer, and paperwork before her students walk in. She has been in the Bolivar school district long enough to know exactly what makes the work feel worth it, and she is not shy about saying it: getting to make a difference every single day.
I had the chance to work with Leigha on brand photos for her summer program, Speech Club with Ms. Leigha, and honestly after spending time around her it is nearly impossible to not want to be a speech therapist. She is that passionate about what she does and that knowledgeable about how to do it well. Here is her take on teaching, connecting with kids, and what she wishes more parents knew about speech therapy. If you are thinking about what it looks like to build a career you actually love, her answers are worth reading. The lessons of your 20s post on Happyologie touches on a lot of the same themes she brings up here.
Meet Leigha Morgan, Speech Language Pathologist at Bolivar Primary School
What's your name and what do you teach?
My name is Leigha Morgan and I'm a speech language pathologist at Bolivar Primary School!
What does your morning look like before students walk in?
Must have coffee. Mood lights on, candle warmer on and on to planning and paperwork before I pick up my students!
What's your favorite thing about being a teacher?
Getting to connect with kids! I honestly feel I get to make a difference every single day.
What is your ideal teaching environment?
Love the mood lights on, cool breeze from the window and kinetic sand in hand!
What's your go-to drink or snack that gets you through the day?
Listen if I didn't mention Alanis I'd be lying. Love yogurt protein bars from Aldi!
What are you reading right now?
Currently reading up on Visual Phonics.
What's a book you'd hand every student if you could?
Oh my, I love Fancy Nancy books! They're so fun and make me laugh!
Are you a planner person, a sticky note person, a "it's all in my head" person?
Many stickies, written in paper planner, Google Calendar and iCalendar!
What's one routine that keeps you grounded during a busy stretch?
Oh gosh, not sure I'm great at this. I really feel that having a community of people in my work place is key. Having coworkers who offer support and help me prioritize is my saving grace.
What made you want to do this, and is that still the reason you stay?
Someone told me that if they had realized they could work with kids in settings other than as classroom teacher, they would have pursued that. I love getting to work in smaller groups and 1:1 with kids! I feel honored to help kids improve their communication daily.
What's your go-to hobby outside of teaching?
Home decorating! I'm really good at spending money on things that make my life better.
What do you wish students or parents knew about how to make the most of your class?
I love it when parents talk to their kids about speech therapy! When parents show interest in what we are doing there is really sweet carry over and connection.
What do you know now that you wish you could go back and tell yourself as a student?
Eventually, you won't have to take any more tests. Also, get the anxiety meds now! Ha! But seriously.
What are you genuinely happy about right now?
Omg, well I am currently loving my new curtains in my bedroom. Does that sound weird. I don't care.
Current song on repeat?
T Swift! Life of a Showgirl album!
Favorite way to reset after a long school day?
Custard run to 3Gs! Their chocolate is to die for!
Current fixation — drink, snack, show, anything?
3Gs chocolate custard, sort of. But also Marcello from SNL is hilarious right now. And I love Parks and Rec and Amy Poehler in general.
One thing you're looking forward to?
My next massage! This is your sign to also book a massage.
What Leigha's Story Says About Finding Work That Fits
okay the part of Leigha's answers that got me is the reason she got into speech therapy in the first place. Someone mentioned to her that you could work with kids outside of a traditional classroom, and that was it. That one offhand comment sent her toward a career she is genuinely lit up about. She did not have it all figured out ahead of time. She just stayed curious enough to ask questions and open enough to follow an unexpected direction.
That is worth sitting with if you are currently in school trying to figure out what you want to do. You do not need a perfect plan. You need enough exposure to different things that something eventually clicks. Leigha's advice to her younger self says it directly: start building connections and asking questions. You never know where a conversation will lead.
Her answer about community is also one of the best things in this interview. When asked what keeps her grounded during a busy stretch, she did not say a morning routine or a habit. She said her coworkers. The people around her who offer support and help her prioritize. That is easy to overlook when you are thinking about building a life that works, but it is one of the most real answers anyone has given here.
If you are thinking about what it looks like to build routines and habits that actually hold up, the Sunday reset guide on Happyologie is a good place to start.
What Is a Speech Language Pathologist and What Do They Do in Schools?
A speech language pathologist (SLP) works with kids on communication, which covers a lot more than most people realize. Speech sounds, language development, fluency, reading foundations, and social communication are all in the mix. In a school setting like Bolivar Primary, an SLP like Leigha works with students in small groups and one-on-one sessions to help them build the communication skills they need to learn and connect with others.
Leigha also runs Speech Club with Ms. Leigha, a summer program that extends that support beyond the school year. That kind of commitment to continuity makes a real difference for the kids she works with and for their families. Missouri has a strong and growing demand for speech language pathologists, especially in school settings, and educators like Leigha are a big part of why that work gets done well at the local level in communities like Bolivar, Missouri.
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