Friday Feature: Marcie Dixon, Columbus SLP

While in junior high, Marcie Dixon, the speech-language pathologist at Columbus Elementary, visited her grandmother who had a stroke and was hospitalized. During that visit, she encountered a speech-language pathologist for the first time and developed a keen interest in learning more about the field. 

“I vividly recall having difficulty understanding my grandmother’s speech due to significant right-sided hemiparesis. The speech-language pathologist at the hospital came to work with her, preforming various speech, memory, and swallowing exercises.” 

Dixon said she asked many questions, and the speech-language pathologist thoroughly explained the effects of her grandmothers’ stroke and her role in rehabilitating speech, cognition, and swallowing.  

“From that moment on, I was intrigued to learn more about the field and the pathway to pursue a career in speech-language pathology.” 

This is Dixon’s 13th year working in the profession and her fourth working at Columbus. The previous three years she split her time providing services at Woodland and Columbus. The EHS alum returned to Edwardsville after living in Chicago to be closer to family and loved ones.  

Throughout her career, Dixon has worked in several different settings including early intervention, private practice, K- 12 schools, hospitals, and acute inpatient rehabilitation.   

“Each setting offered unique experiences, but I prefer the school setting overall. The most rewarding aspects of being a school-based speech-language pathologist are working with children that have various communication needs and abilities, helping establish the foundational skills necessary for effective speech and language, fostering positive relationships with my students and their families, providing on-going support and encouragement, working with collaborative teams, and witnessing the growth in my students over the years with communication and language skills that are beneficial academically, socially, and throughout their lives.” 

This summer, Dixon will return to Chicago to attend the high school graduation of a former student she worked with six years ago.  

“I am honored to be invited, and it is moments like this that solidify the positive and lasting impact I can have in the lives of my students.”