Hi!
I’m Dr. Mary Beth Schmitt, founder and CEO of The (Re)Learning Curve.
I’m glad you are here!
What is The (Re)Learning Curve?
We are an organization that centers the well-being of all families. We know first-hand how challenging AND rewarding it is to be a parent. Our mission is to support families who are struggling with language, learning, and/or behavior challenges by reducing the friction while also increasing connection and joy. We do this in 3 main ways:
We share current evidence and developmentally-appropriate practices on what works best for kids.
We coach families to implement these strategies in their home.
We create community so no one has to walk this journey alone!
Dr. Mary Beth Schmitt
The Official Bio
Dr. Mary Beth Schmitt is a child development expert who has supported children with communication, learning, and behavioral needs and their families for nearly 30 years. Dr. Schmitt is a master educator, having taught undergraduate and graduate courses to thousands of students in top tier research institutions. Dr. Schmitt has secured over 5 million dollars of federal and foundation funding as a tenured associate professor to investigate how children with communication, learning, and behavior needs learn best. Her work is published in scientific journals, educational textbooks, and OpEds. Dr. Schmitt is an international speaker, editor, and consultant.
The Longer Story…
I discovered speech-language pathology the summer after my freshman year in college. I entered college as an English major, not really knowing where I fit in the professional world. I was a counselor at an Invention Camp in my neighborhood that summer and was mentored by a SLP! She explained her profession as a blend of science and art. Humanity, creativity, and research. And I was hooked - a perfect blend of how I perceived my skills and bonus that the end result was working with humans!
For 11 years, I worked with pediatric clients and their families, supporting their growth as independent communicators. I have never seen my role as "fixing" anything, but rather partnering with children and their families. What a joy! Of all my clinical jobs, my favorite was running a preschool program for children with language and behavior needs. We saw such amazing progress and those children and their families taught me so much, including how to have fun in life! Those preschoolers are somehow now in college and graduate school and are doing so well!
The preschool program was so effective that families wanted more. But I didn’t feel comfortable making cookie-cutter programs when we didn’t know what was so effective. The outcomes were undeniable, but why? So I made the surprising decision to go back to school and earn my PhD with a focus on clinically-relevant research (and ended up falling in love with the process)! I have secured nearly 5 million dollars in federal funding to conduct research in public schools and have published over 55 peer reviewed articles, book chapters, and editorials identifying what works for children with language, learning, and behavioral needs.
After beginning my research career, I took another big leap :-) and signed up to become a foster-to-adopt mom, which came with extensive parenting training rooted in development, trauma-informed care, and attachment theory. My kids have taught me more than I ever could have imagined about child development and what it means to live, love, and grow together as a family. What an amazing gift life can be!
It is out of the fullness of my lived personal and professional experiences that I consult with families on how best to support their children, navigate the inevitable challenges that come, and do so while nurturing connection, joy, and well-being! I’m glad you are here!