Welcome
Speech, Language & Learning Center, Inc. was originally established in 1992 as Jefferson Speech and Language Center of St. Tammany. Since its inception, the business was exclusively located in the Mandeville area. We launched our Slidell Branch in 2017 to assist the growing needs of children in the eastern part of St. Tammany Parish. SLLC employs Masters leveled Speech-Language Pathologists who hold Louisiana Licenses and are nationally certified from the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association. We are philosophically committed to the patient’s total communication and learning needs through family involvement, coordination of school and professionals, counseling and referral for associated services where indicated.
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In treating the child, we emphasize earliest possible intervention, as the most critical age for speech and language development extends from birth to three years. The more sophisticated skills of reading, writing and math build on this already established system. Reading comprehension is a secondary language skill that has phonetic, grammar, semantic and memory components. If secondary learning (Reading, Writing, and Math) do not proceed satisfactorily, then the language system should be examined. Research and clinical experience overwhelmingly demonstrate that intervention and remediation at a young age contribute to a child reaching his/her full potential.
Our Team
Mandeville Office
Dawn V. Skinner, M.A., CCC-SLP
Director
Dawn has been working with children displaying various types of communication disorders for over 35 years. As a Louisiana State University graduate, she received a B. S. in Education in 1985 and a M.A. in Communication Disorders in 1987. She specializes in early intervention, language and developmental delays, and phonological disorders in children. She also enjoys helping school age children learn how to read using various approaches including "Lively Letters" (Nancy Allemian Telian, M.S., CCC/SLP and Penny Alemian Castagnozzi) and "Communicative Reading Strategies" (Janet Norris, Ph.D., CCC/SLP).
Freddy G. Tisdale, M.A., CCC-SLP
Freddy has over 25 years of experience working in a variety of settings: Ochsner Clinic of Baton Rouge, St. Tammany Parish School System, Early Steps of Louisiana, and private practice. She has been a valued member of our team for 20 years. Freddy received her degrees (B. A. in 1995 and M. A. in 1997) from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. She specializes in phonological disorders, early intervention, and language disorders. Freddy’s love for children and rapport with parents has been a priceless asset for SLLC!
Lauren S. Maestri, M.S., CCC-SLP
Lauren Maestri is a Pediatric Speech Language Pathologist with a variety of clinical experience. She graduated from Louisiana State University with a B.A. in Communication Disorders in 2012, and received her Master’s degree in 2014 from Southeastern Louisiana University. She has obtained clinical experience from the St. Tammany Parish School system, Neurological Rehabilitation Living Centers, and St. Tammany Hospital Outpatient Center. She is passionate about early intervention and school age articulation and language. Her caring personality, flexibility and creativity have assisted many children during their communicative rehabilitation. She has been a cherished member of our team for over 6 years.
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Gretchen S. Bourgeois, M.C.D., CCC-SLP
Gretchen is a Pediatric Speech Language Pathologist with experience in private practice, the St. Tammany Parish school system, as well as a rehabilitation hospital. She graduated with a B.A. in Communicative Disorders from The University of Mississippi in 2001. She then received her Master’s degree in 2003 from LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. Being a respected and valuable member of our team for over 5 years, she specializes in language and articulation disorders. Her compassionate and enthusiastic nature is a successful tool when helping children reach their communication goals!
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Kathryn D. Chetta MCD, CCC-SLP
Kathryn received her B.A. in Communication Disorders from Louisiana State University in 2015, and received her Master’s degree from LSU Health Science Center in 2017. She has obtained clinical experience from Skilled Nursing Facilities, St. Tammany Parish School System, Inpatient Rehab, and Long-Term Acute Care facilities. She is passionate about early intervention and school age articulation and language.
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Justine L. Chappetta, M.A., CCC-SLP
Justine studied Communication Sciences and Disorders, graduated with a B.S. in 2014 from Florida State University, and received her Masters in 2016 from LSU Baton Rouge. She has experience working for private practices, hospital outpatient clinics, and the St. Tammany Parish School System. Her clinical passions are for early intervention using multidisciplinary strategies and parent training. She specializes in early language and articulation/phonological processes.
Slidell Office
Sharon Chapman, M.Ed., L-SLP
Sharon has worked with children with speech language disorders for over 30 years. She received both her Bachelor of Arts and Masters degrees from Southeastern Louisiana University in both Elementary Education and Speech Pathology. In 2021, she retired from St. Tammany Parish school system where she worked as both a classroom teacher and Speech-Language Pathologist. She enjoys working with school-age children who have articulation and language delays. Sharon has good rapport with both her students and her parents.
Amy Le, M.S., CCC-SLP
Amy Le received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Communication Sciences and Disorder from Southeastern Louisiana University. She is fully licensed in Louisiana and has her Certificate of Clinical Competence from ASHA. She has experience working with children with different diagnoses in public schools and outpatient settings. Her passion is working with Early Intervention clients. She believes in creating communicative opportunities in order for children to facilitate meaningful experiences and interactions. She helps facilitate and collaborate with parents and caregivers to help create these opportunities within the child’s natural settings.
Megan A. Maurin, MA, CCC-SLP
Megan is a pediatric Speech Language Pathologist with experience in multi-disciplinary private practice and early intervention. She also received TOTS (Tethered Oral Tissue Specialty) Training in 2017 and has experience with motor and sensory feeding difficulties. She graduated from LSU in 2013 with a BA in Communication Disorders and received her Masters degree in 2015. Megan enjoys working with children and their families to reach their communication goals. She is passionate about early intervention and preschool language and articulation.