Switching School Sites as an SLPA: Embracing Change
- alykomerch
- Jun 23
- 3 min read
Posted on June 23rd, 2025
When you’ve poured your heart into a school site—building deep relationships with your students, collaborating with a supportive team, and settling into your rhythm—the thought of being reassigned can feel like the rug is being pulled out from under you.
That was my experience this year. After working at the same school for 2.5 years, I was reassigned due to changes in the caseload and other sites having higher needs. I didn’t see it coming. And when I found out, I cried—hard. The idea of leaving the students I had watched grow, the team that felt like family, and the comfort of familiarity hit me like a wave I wasn’t ready for.
But what I’ve learned since then is this: growth often comes wrapped in uncertainty.
Letting Go and Saying Goodbye
Change is hard—especially when it’s not your choice. But even in the pain of transition, I knew I had to show up for my students. I told them, “This isn’t goodbye. Our paths will cross again.” I meant it. Just because we part ways physically doesn’t mean the connection ends.
To cope, I leaned into a belief I’ve held for a long time: Everything happens for a reason. Even if I don’t understand it yet, I trust that this change has a purpose. There’s a lesson waiting for me on the other side—something I wouldn’t learn if I stayed exactly where I was.
A New Beginning
As I prepare to start at my new site, I’m stepping into the unknown with hope.
I’ve heard that the SPED team at this new school is close-knit and highly collaborative. They’re outgoing and energetic—a different dynamic from what I’m used to as someone who’s naturally more introverted. And while that difference once made me nervous, I now see it as an opportunity.
Maybe this is my chance to grow in new ways: to come out of my shell, build new kinds of connections, and learn that being true to who I am is more than enough.
Lessons Learned Through Change
If you’re also facing a school site change or career transition, here’s what I want you to know:
It’s okay to feel all the feelings. Change isn’t always smooth, and emotions don’t make you unprofessional—they make you human.
Lean into your support system. Your team, friends, and even your students can be the lifelines that remind you why you do this work.
Trust the process. Growth comes through discomfort. And every new beginning is a chance to evolve both personally and professionally.
Keep showing up. Your compassion, your care, and your courage are what make you irreplaceable—not your location.
Final Thoughts
Switching school sites wasn’t in my plans, but now I can see it as part of a bigger story. It’s a chance to continue becoming the best version of myself—both as a person and as an SLPA. Who knows what lessons, friendships, and moments of joy are waiting for me next year?
To anyone else facing a similar change: you’re not alone. Trust that something good is on the other side of your discomfort. It’s not goodbye—it’s see you later.
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About the Author
Hi! I’m Kim, and I’ve been a licensed Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) for nearly a decade. I have a B.S. in Speech-Language Pathology and have worked in elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools, providing services to students in general education and special day classes. I created this blog to share my experiences and help other SLPAs navigate their school-based speech therapy journey.
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