Phone: 910-897-8353 ext. 501

Email: averdegaal@harnett.k12.nc.us

Degrees and Certifications:

Bachelor of Arts in Communication Disorders from North Carolina State University in 1996.
Masters of Science in Communication Disorders and Sciences from Western Carolina University in 1998.

Speech Language Pathologist (SLP)

Prior to starting my employment in Harnett County, I completed my clinical fellowship year (CFY) in long term care facilities in Clinton, Smithfield, Fayetteville, and Lumberton NC. I provided feeding/swallowing therapy, language therapy, and cognitive therapy. The American Speech and Hearing Association's (ASHA's) Certificate of Clinical Competence for Speech-Language Pathologists (CCC-SLP) demonstrates that I have completed a rigorous training program in communication disorders. I also have a NC Board of Examiners license. I have worked for Harnett County Schools for 24 years. When I started in 1999, I worked at Shawtown and later Lillington-Shawtown Elementary till June 2008. I transferred to Coats Elementary in August 2008. I really enjoy working with the students at Coats Elementary and I look forward to seeing them achieve their speech/language goals. Since I have a background in feeding/swallowing, I am a member of Harnett County's Unique Mealtime Needs(UMN) program.

I was born in Leiden, The Netherlands and immigrated to America in 1977. I became a United States citizen in 2000. I speak fluent Dutch. I became interested in a career in speech-language pathology since my grandfather had laryngeal cancer which required a laryngotomy. I cannot recall his speaking voice, but through voice therapy provided by an SLP, my grandfather learned how use the muscles in his throat to produce esophageal speech.