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Writer's pictureAmy Miller

Meet Johnna Spotts


Johnna Spotts, speech therapist, and family

Johnna Spotts got her passion for early childhood education from her mom, who is the director of the Jerusalem Child Care and Learning Center in Schuylkill Haven, PA. Years of working there over the summers instilled a love of helping children, particular between the ages of 2 and 5.


Knowing she wanted to do something with kids, Johnna discovered speech therapy in high school. As she learned more about it, something just clicked. She completed a bachelor’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and a master’s degree in Communication Science and Disorders, both from East Stroudsburg University. Afterwards she accepted a speech and language therapist position at the Minersville School District, where she still works full time, assisting students in Kindergarten through 6th grade with all levels of need.


Johnna learned about Happy Hearts through word of mouth, and joined the team as a part-time speech therapist in 2019. While her work at the school is rewarding, it can often be hectic as she balances serving 60+ kids. She enjoys early intervention because it involves more individualized attention and much less paperwork. “At Happy Hearts I’m able to focus on one child at a time for an hour a week,” she explains. “And I get to be a part of the family for the time I’m with them.” She recognizes that it's a privilege to be invited into people’s homes and appreciates the trust they have in her and the knowledge she’s gained over her professional career.


With each family she works with she learns more ways to build relationships with both children and their parents. Johnna enjoys helping whole families move past the frustrations they all experience when they’re having trouble communicating with each other, particularly with expressive language delays. Early intervention is based on a coaching model, which can be hard for some caregivers to grasp. “It’s really us coaching the parents. As soon as I can get parents to understand that it’s not what I’m doing, it’s what they’re doing, that’s when we click.” She loves seeing how happy parents are when they realize that they really can embed the strategies she gives them into their daily routines and these little tweaks will make things better for them and their children. Basically: they can do this, and it works!


Johnna has also really enjoyed having Jess Tofany, founder of Happy Hearts, as a boss, calling her professional, direct, and organized. “I’ve learned a lot from her. Whether it’s positive or constructive, I can take her advice very seriously and to heart.”


When she’s not working, Johnna is busy being a mom to her toddler. Getting outside is important to her whole family, including her two dogs. She loves exploring new places, camping, and just being outside. She and her husband also enjoy game nights, spending time with friends, and watching Netflix or hanging out after a busy day.


For any parents just starting early intervention, Johnna advises, “Trust the process of us being a team.” Although she grew up with an extroverted mother who was naturally good at interacting with children and getting the most out of them, she’s since learned that not everyone has had that same experience. “Parenting isn’t natural for everybody. Some parents need to be taught what to do and there’s no shame in that. It’s okay to let your guard down and work together to make things more comfortable.”


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