Next Level Speech Therapy (NLST) didn’t start with a grand business plan or a desire to grow quickly. It started with a problem that many school-based speech-language pathologists and special education leaders know all too well: there simply weren’t enough qualified providers to meet student needs.
What followed was a slow, intentional build—one rooted in clinical experience, empathy for schools, and a deep respect for the SLPs doing the work.
From School-Based SLP to Founder
When Dayna Sanders, SLP and CEO of Next Level Speech Therapy, first began exploring the idea that would eventually become NLST, her life looked much like that of many school-based clinicians. She was working for a school district, splitting her time between buildings, and navigating early motherhood. Her oldest child was two and a half, and she was halfway through her second pregnancy.
The spark came during a routine workday conversation with a colleague. That coworker mentioned she was considering dabbling in teletherapy—something Dayna had never encountered before. Curious, Dayna began researching what teletherapy could look like in a school setting.
At the same time, conversations were happening at home. While many people don’t realize it, Dayna’s husband, Mike, played a key role in shaping the original concept. The initial vision wasn’t school-based contract staffing at all—it was a small private practice that incorporated teletherapy as a service model.
That vision shifted quickly when special education directors began reaching out.
The First Contract (and the Real Need)
One call, in particular, changed everything. A special education director friend in Eastern Washington needed coverage for a short-term leave—just three weeks—but couldn’t find anyone to step in.
“There is no one out there to cover this,” she shared.
Dayna suggested a solution that felt unconventional at the time: covering the leave remotely through teletherapy. Together, Dayna and Mike stayed up until midnight piecing together their first contract using online research. That late night marked the true beginning of Next Level Speech Therapy.
From there, things picked up organically. NLST was never intended to be teletherapy-only. From the start, the company supported in-person, hybrid, and virtual placements—adapting to what districts actually needed. When COVID accelerated the adoption of teletherapy, NLST was already prepared, grounded in years of thoughtful implementation rather than reactive growth.
Building the Business—Slowly and Intentionally
Next Level Speech Therapy officially took shape in April 2018, following a gradual build and careful legal setup. This season also coincided with significant personal challenges for Dayna, including severe postpartum struggles after the birth of her youngest child.
Rather than rushing growth, NLST was built step by step—with intention, boundaries, and long-term sustainability in mind.
As the company evolved, so did Dayna’s role.
Growing as a Leader
Transitioning from clinician to CEO required an entirely new skill set. Each stage of NLST’s growth demanded a different kind of leadership.
“As an SLP, I’m warm and empathetic. I don’t like conflict—I want people to be happy,” Dayna shares. “That has been a huge area of growth for me.”
Running a company meant learning to lean into difficult conversations, make hard decisions, and advocate clearly—for both providers and partner districts. To support that growth, Dayna sought out mentorship, conferences, and peer communities with other K–12 leaders and CEOs. She also returned to school to earn a business degree, recognizing that while experience shapes leadership, foundational business knowledge matters.
Redefining the SLP Contract Experience
When NLST entered the staffing space, SLP-owned and operated companies were rare. Dayna saw an opportunity to do things differently.
The vision was simple but powerful: create a staffing company for SLPs, run by SLPs.
Today, NLST remains intentionally clinician-led. With the exception of HR and accounting, the company is operated by professionals who understand school systems, caseload realities, and the emotional weight of the job—because they’ve lived it.
That clinician-first model translates into a more elevated experience:
- For SLPs: thoughtful placements, realistic expectations, and a company culture that values professional respect and sustainability.
- For schools: reliable partnerships, high-quality providers, and staffing solutions built on transparency and trust.
Looking Ahead: Growth With Purpose
When asked where she sees Next Level Speech Therapy in five years, Dayna’s answer isn’t about scale for the sake of scale.
The focus is on:
- Increasing high-quality SLP placements
- Remaining SLP-only
- Preserving a small-company feel while growing
- Staying lean internally
- Partnering only with districts that value collaboration
“We don’t want to grow at all costs,” Dayna explains. “We want to grow with the right partners—districts that want to work with us and clinicians who love working here.”
At its core, NLST’s mission remains unchanged: to take exceptional care of both providers and schools.
That’s what growing with intent looks like.
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