Teacher at Greenbrook School in Kendall Park makes difference in children’s lives
by Davy James, Staff Writer
It’s something so many take for granted, yet the ability to speak clearly is vital to almost everyone’s success in life.
For one local teacher, her ability to make a difference in the lives of others has taken her to the pinnacle of her profession in the state.
Natalie Glass, speech and language specialist at Greenbrook Elementary School, was recently elected by members to the state board of directors of the New Jersey Speech and Hearing Association.
”It’s truly an honor to be selected,” Ms. Glass said. “The work we do is so rewarding and gratifying to see the changes in the kids and see the differences.”
The position includes serving as a representative and advocate for all speech therapists in schools, hospitals and private practitioners, generating and monitoring budgets for speech-related resources, and making decisions on any questions presented by NJSHA members to the board, according to Ms. Glass.
”At 31, I’m the youngest person serving on the board, where the other members are mostly in their 50s,” Ms. Glass said. “Where I’ve gotten is not something everyone has done. To provide support at such a level is a great reward and the chance to work with some of the top professionals in the field is wonderful.”
The East Brunswick native, who has been with the district since 2005, is also the convention chairwoman for the NJSHA’s largest statewide annual speech convention, held each year in Atlantic City.
She said the field of speech therapy interested her when she was growing up.
”I had young cousins who were in speech therapy and I found it interesting all of the different areas of speech there were,” Ms. Glass said. “I really enjoy helping and working with people with different disabilities. It’s very rewarding to help little children and mold them to help them succeed.”
Beyond her work in school with disabilities such as stuttering or working with hearing impaired students, Ms. Glass also does early intervention work with children under the age of 3 through her private contracting work.
”I really enjoy working with families especially when you see a child go from being completely nonverbal to saying their first word,” Ms. Glass said. “I’ve worked in many different environments and hospital environments so I’ve been fortunate in the training I’ve received.”
Ms. Glass said her goals for her one-year term as a board member are to build a powerful network of available resources for speech language pathologists, outreach program, and to promote evidence-based research and best practices, to maximize quality of service.
She said the role she plays in school also helps to facilitate learning, especially in language and literature. Working hand in hand with the subject teachers allows the students’ underlying issues to be “decoded,” as she said the resources she provides help bridge the gap of understanding.
Ultimately, Ms. Glass said the work of speech pathologists helps lay the groundwork for future generations to achieve success in their chosen field.
”We have the power we have to make changes and make a difference in children’s lives,” Ms. Glass said. “We’re the ones who hold the key. They’re the ones who are going to be out there in the future in the business world creating our economy. Without therapy the children will not be able to function in that world. We hold a critical role in their language and cognitive development. What drives me is wanting to help others to be successful.”

