For Sand Pine speech pathologist, barriers are simply challenges

WESLEY CHAPEL — Both in work and in her free time, Gina "Mighty" Miller's life is all about mountains.4 Months Ago6 Months Ago7 Months AgoAs a nationally certified speech-language pathologist at Sand Pine Elementary School, Miller helps students...

For Sand Pine speech pathologist, barriers are simply challenges

WESLEY CHAPEL — Both in work and in her free time, Gina "Mighty" Miller's life is all about mountains.

4 Months Ago

6 Months Ago

7 Months Ago

As a nationally certified speech-language pathologist at Sand Pine Elementary School, Miller helps students overcome the mountains that stand in the way of their academic progress.

"With some students, it's about helping them make it over a single barrier in their speech, articulation and language," said Miller, a former English teacher who has been a pathologist for 16 years. "For others, it's about making their language skills commensurate with their peers. I want to help them be good, productive members of society."

Michael Piazza, a 10-year-old fifth-grader, credits Miller with giving him the gift of speech.

"I couldn't speak; you couldn't understand me at all," said Michael, who now speaks with perfect clarity. "She's nice and encouraging."

Outside of work, Miller sets about conquering mountains of another kind. She has hiked more than 800 miles in 34 of the 50 states, eventually planning to hike the entire nation as part of a personal bucket list challenge. She has jumped from a cliff into Crater Lake in Oregon; almost reached the summit of Mount Saint Helens in Washington; climbed to the top of Mount Washington in New Hampshire; stood on the floor of Bryce Canyon in Utah, and has stood more than 13,000 feet in the air on Mount Charleston in Nevada.

First inspired to explore the outdoors by her parents, who still hike together at age 77, Miller is quick to name her favorite part of the hiking experience.

"Nature," she said. "It's all about nature, with no technology. The sights are breathtaking. The blues and the cobalt — the granite goes on for days. It's beautiful."

Stickers representing landmarks that include Yosemite National Park and the Appalachian Trail line the door and walls of Miller's office, and kids stop by to discuss her adventures.

"She tells me about all the places she goes," said Liliana Medina, a first-grader. "She's very nice; she likes kids a lot."

Aside from working with exceptional education students individually and in small groups, Miller reads stories to Sand Pine classes and interacts with students and their families on the car loop, sometimes dressing up as the Incredible Hulk and other characters as she directs traffic.

"We see her every day," says Bryn Miller, a 6-year-old kindergarten student. "She comes to our class and gives compliments."

"She's fun and funny," said Zoe Miller, Bryn's twin sister.

Indeed, some students consider Mighty Miller — a nickname they gave her to reflect all of her adventures — to be a character and a superheroine all her own.

"When we had Dress Up Day at school," said Maryn Kuhn, an 8-year-old third-grader who received guidance from Miller in the subjects of math and reading, "I dressed up as Mighty Miller. And now when I grow up, I want to do what she does."

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