SSD’s Director of Special Education Linda Van Mouwerik received Honors of Appreciation from the Santa Clara County Speech-Language Hearing Association at its annual Spring Luncheon in May. She began a career in the business world and worked until the birth of her three sons. Once her children came along, she left her position as a Data Base Administrator to devote all of her time and energy to raising her young boys. She was first exposed to the world of Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) after each of her three sons was diagnosed with a communication delay. This encouraged her to research the field and to ultimately pursue a degree in Communication Disorders and Sciences at San Jose State University.
She has since worked in a private practice setting, skilled nursing facilities, the public schools, and has taught and supervised SLP students at San Jose State. She later earned her Masters Degree in Administrative Leadership and joined Sunnyvale School District as Coordinator of Special Education in 2012. In 2017, she was appointed Director of Special Education.
Article written by Assistant Superintendent of Student Services and Special Education Tasha Dean and Preschool Teacher and Speech and Language Therapist Marian Gericke.