Maria Andrea, Speech-Language Pathologist for the Pierz School District.

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My name is Maria Andrea and I am a Speech-Language Pathologist for the Pierz School District. I am originally from Brainerd where I graduated from high school in 2009. At that time, I considered a career path in the mathematics, teaching, or engineering fields and had never heard of “speech-language pathology.” Following a job shadow experience of a school-based SLP, I decided to change course and major in speech-language hearing sciences. I was anxious and excited for a career helping individuals of all ages with communication and swallowing disorders and the flexibility to practice in either a medical or educational setting. I received my Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders in 2012 and Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology in 2014 from Minnesota State University Moorhead. I moved to Pierz in 2014 when I married my husband, Josh, and began the first few years of my career as an SLP working in the Brainerd and Little Falls School Districts. I am now a full-time SLP for the Pierz School District, a highly rewarding job which has allowed me the balance of maintaining my SLP career with family life (we welcomed a baby boy in May!) I currently service Pierz students in the elementary and high school settings. I look forward to continuing my work as an SLP and raising our son as a Pierz Pioneer! ​