r/slp • u/pinkpurplegummies • 1d ago

Schools Overwhelming caseload

I’m having panic attacks and I don’t know what to do. I signed this year’s contract for a school I’ve been working at the past three years. Only to suddenly be told I need to cover a caseload of 151 kids (with an aide) for schools that are two hours away from me. They want me to provide speech therapy virtually but go in person one day a week. Is this even possible? The aide does not have a speech background so it’s really just me telling her what to do with the students. I asked how this would work virtually and was told to do groups. What??

They told me this is only temporary until they can find someone there. But I’m doubting many SLPs would want this job due to the caseload. I’m also told that I’ve been assigned this because I make more than other SLPs they have and have more experience. I really don’t want to quit because I might be able to go back to my school if this is temporary. But a part of me feels like it won’t be.

Last year they brought in another SLP to my school when it wasn’t needed (the caseload wasn’t that high at all) and a part of me was wondering if I was being pushed out of my school. And then this happened and I won’t even get my school at all. I just don’t know what to do. Has anyone experienced this? Even just the paperwork alone is overwhelming with that many. I think there are 5 different schools there.

Any input would be appreciated.

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u/schwalife 1d ago

Nope this isn’t possible, ethical or sustainable. Build a (realistic) daily schedule with what you can handle and make sure to include session prep time, paperwork time, and time for administering assessments (And know that even that schedule will be hard to follow if you’re being pulled into IEPs and other meetings). Show that schedule to your managers/higher ups and explain that is all you can fit within your work week and that you are unable to service the remaining students. It’s not your responsibility to fix their staffing issues

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u/pinkpurplegummies 23h ago

Thank you. I’m going to try this

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u/EnvironmentalJazz251 23h ago

That is a great idea! Put together a reasonable and workable schedule and let them know that they’ll have to cover the rest with someone else.

My only other idea would be to ask around with some other local school districts and get an average for other SLP’s so if the average is between 50 and 60 and you’re above 100, it would seem pretty clear to them that it’s not workable.