Hello!
I'm Leslie Hanagan, the founder of Optima Therapies. With over 25 years of experience in the fields of education and speech and language, I specialize in addressing the speech, language, and literacy needs of private clients and school districts. Nationally certified by the American Speech and Hearing Association, I hold a Certificate of Clinical Competence and am an ASHA ACE recipient for continuing education.
My journey began at California State University in Sacramento, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, a Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential, and a Cross-Cultural Language and Academic Development Credential (grades K-12). I've worn various hats in education, serving as a classroom teacher, provider of gifted education classes, reading interventionist, mentor teacher, and professional development trainer.
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My commitment to literacy extends to specialized training in various literacy models, such as the Orton-Gillingham Approach, Speech to Print and IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing). Additionally, I hold a Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of the Pacific. Throughout my career, I've worked in public schools, private practice, early intervention programs, and telepractice. I've also taken on roles as a Clinical Lead and Mentor SLP, guiding fellow professionals and students alike.
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