The practice of speech-language pathology within schools is shaped by numerous factors
including the needs of the children served, the requirements of the employer or job, the law as it
relates to such services and the individuals who need them, the culture of the school(s), and the
professionalism of the SLP who applies his/her skills in addressing these factors. Professionalism
defined is “the qualities or typical features of a profession or of professionals, especially
competence, skill, etc. (Pocket Oxford American Dictionary of Current English, 2003).”