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COURTNEY OVERTON
University of Maryland, College Park
Dr. Courtney Overton serves as director of the LEAP Preschool at the University of Maryland, College Park, where she leads by creating a culture of trust, collaboration and growth. At both the LEAP Preschool and Speech of Cake, Overton invests in mentorship and provides professional development opportunities that ensure every team member feels valued and empowered. By fostering open communication across her teams, she creates environments where staff members stay innovative and engaged in their work with children and families.
Rising costs and workforce shortages in Maryland’s education and health care sectors have presented significant challenges for early childhood programs and clinical services. Rather than viewing these as obstacles, Overton has responded by innovating across multiple fronts. She has diversified funding streams to create more stable financial foundations, expanded training programs for future clinicians to address workforce needs and strengthened community partnerships to broaden support networks. These strategic initiatives ensure children and families continue receiving high-quality services even amid challenging conditions. By staying flexible in her approach, her organizations remain resilient and forward-looking, adapting to meet evolving community needs.
Overton’s commitment to serving the community stems from her deeply held belief that equitable access to education transforms lives. She serves with the Maryland Initiative for Literacy and Equity, Research Equity and Access in Communication and Hearing, DiverCity SLP and the Speech of Cake Foundation. Through these roles, Overton mentors students entering the field, advocates for underrepresented families seeking services and builds pathways for future leaders in speech-language pathology.
“Lift as you climb,” said Overton, sharing a quote she lives by. She believes true leadership is not only about personal achievement but about creating opportunities for others to rise alongside you, a philosophy evident in her mentorship work and commitment to developing the next generation of educators and clinicians.
Honoree profiles were written using an artificial intelligence program and supported by information provided by the honorees and other resources. Each profile was reviewed, fact-checked and edited for accuracy by The Daily Record’s editorial staff.
