Speech and Language Therapy

Hi! I’m Sara Hamilton, a speech-language pathologist with Speak Life. I earned both my undergraduate and master’s degrees from Auburn University and have spent the past 11 years working in schools. I’m passionate about helping every child find their voice, and I feel grateful to work with children through both my school position and private practice. I live in Pensacola, Florida, with my three wonderful children: Grace, 7; Olivia, 3; and Oliver, 8 months. My faith in God is an important part of my life. When I’m not working or spending time with my family, I enjoy true crime, crafting, hammocking, and being out on the water. I look forward to supporting your child’s communication journey!

Hi! I’m a Speech-Language Pathologist with 4.5 years of experience, including 2.5 years providing virtual therapy. I love helping people find their voice, build confidence, and feel heard! When I’m not working, you can usually find me spending time with my family, soaking up the outdoors, or riding around in our side-by-side. I’m happiest when I’m making memories with the people I love and enjoying a little adventure along the way!

Hi! My name is Heather Smith. For the past 27 years, I’ve had the privilege of working as a Speech-Language Pathologist—23 of which have been in the school system. My journey in speech pathology has also taken me through rehabs, nursing homes, home health, private practice, and early intervention, giving me a deep and varied passion for the field. At home, I’m blessed with a wonderful family: my husband, Billy, and our three beautiful daughters. When I’m not working, you can usually find me spending time with family, getting lost in a good book, traveling, playing pickleball or volleyball, or gathering with friends for a game of Mahjong.

I became a speech-language pathologist over 25 years ago, beginning my career at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, where I worked with medically fragile children on speech, language, feeding, and augmentative communication. Since that time I have worked in various settings: home health, clinics, private practice and virtually within the school setting. I am passionate about supporting families of children with communication needs, working as a team to help each child reach their full communicative potential. As a homeschool mom to three boys—with my youngest currently finishing up high school—I took time off to focus on raising my family. Faith and family are central to my life and are my driving force. I have since returned to the field with a new perspective as both a seasoned mom and SLP. We moved from Florida to Alabama in 2024, and absolutely love it here in the northeast corner of the state! In my free time, I enjoy gardening, tending to my chickens, Pilates, and hiking with my family and two dogs.

As a member of our team, Samantha brings extensive experience and specialized expertise in articulation, language development, social communication (pragmatics), and literacy. She is passionate about helping individuals build the communication and literacy skills they need to thrive across academic, social, and everyday settings. Samantha earned her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Montevallo in 2011 and has since worked with students across a wide range of educational needs, abilities, and age levels, from preschool through high school and beyond. Her experience includes both in-person and virtual service delivery, spanning nearly all grade levels before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2015, Samantha had the unique opportunity to help open a special education school in Doha, Qatar. Upon returning to the United States, she joined her alma mater as an instructor and clinical supervisor, teaching and mentoring graduate students in their clinical training. During this time, she earned a second master’s degree in Developmental Psychology and completed advanced Orton-Gillingham training through the Institute for Multisensory Education (IMSE). Samantha later began supervising experienced educators pursuing advanced Orton-Gillingham certification through the Center for Effective Reading Intervention. She continues to incorporate structured literacy approaches into her language intervention sessions when appropriate, supporting the development of strong foundational language and literacy skills.

After 25 rewarding years as a Speech-Language Pathologist in the school system, I retired June 1, 2026, and I am continuing to stay involved in the areas I love most. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working with individuals across the lifespan, from preschoolers to older adults. My experience includes working in the school system, skilled nursing facilities, and private practice. One of the greatest passions of my career has been working with children and adults with intellectual disabilities. I am grateful for the opportunity to have helped individuals find their voices, build confidence, and communicate more effectively throughout their lives. I hold ASHA certification and ABESPA licensure. Outside of my professional life, I enjoy running, reading, boating, and, most of all, spending time with family and friends. My faith is also an important part of my life. I am a member of my church drama team and serve as a nursery worker. I have been married to my husband, Patrick Widgeon, for 26 years. We are blessed with two sons. Our oldest, AJ, is a firefighter and small business land management owner; he is married to Ella, a first-grade teacher. Our youngest, Greyson, is a junior at Auburn University, where he is majoring in Finance. Retirement has given me the opportunity to slow down, enjoy the people I love, and continue fulfilling a career that is a relatively new experience for me. I am especially grateful to begin this new chapter with Speak-Life Speech Therapy part-time and continue doing the work I love.