Lorie S. Delk, M.Ed., CCC-SLP is Founder and President of Next Generation, as well as a practicing speech-language pathologist and mother of four. Lorie graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Education degree in Speech Pathology in 1986. She graduated from Georgia State University College of Education with a Masters Degree in Speech Pathology in 1988. She began her career as a staff speech therapist at Atlanta Area School for the Deaf.  In 1999 she incorporated a home-based pediatric private practice into Lorie S. Delk and Associates. In 2012 Lorie created Next Generation to provide Speech, Language and Reading services to families serving around the world.  She specializes in treatment of Language Disorders. She also provides reading therapy, is trained in Orton Gillingham and Lindamood-Bell reading programs, and is the co-developer of the Up-Words Reading® program.

Karen Allen, M.Ed., CCC-SLP is Clinical Director for Next Generation, as well as a practicing speech pathologist and mother of two. Karen graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Education degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 1991. She graduated from the University of Georgia College of Education with a Masters Degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 1992. Prior to joining Lorie S. Delk and Associates in 2001, Karen worked in private practice and with the Fulton County public school system. Karen specializes in treating communication difficulties for preschool children.

Jodi Lewis, M.Ed., CCC-SLP is a staff clinician with Next Generation and the mother of two. Jodi graduated from West Georgia College with a Bachelor of Education degree in Speech Pathology in 1987. She graduated from Georgia State University with a Masters Degree of Education in Speech Pathology in 1992. Prior to joining Lorie Delk and Associates in 2011, Jodi worked as a Speech-Language Pathologist in the Coweta County School System, the Gwinnett County School System and in Private Practice.

Elizabeth Slay, M.A., CCC-SLP is a staff clinician with Next Generation Therapy Services. Elizabeth graduated from The University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Disorders with a minor in Psychology in 2012. She graduated from The University of Memphis with a Master of Arts degree in Speech Pathology in 2014. Prior to joining Next Generation in 2018, Elizabeth worked as a Speech-Language Pathologist in various roles in hospitals, public school systems and private practice.   She and her husband, Danal, live in Peachtree Corners, GA.

Whitney June, M. Ed., is a Reading Specialist with Next Generation.  Whitney has been married for 32 years to her husband, Bill.  They are the parents of 2 grown children.   Whitney graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies and Pre-Speech Pathology in 1986.  She graduated from The University of Virginia in 1988 with a Master of Education in Speech Pathology.  With a growing interest in the reading development of young children, she completed the Initial Certification Program in Early Childhood Education at Mercer University in 2007.  Whitney has extensive intervention experience acquired through progressive roles in the fields of speech-language pathology and early childhood education. She has been a classroom teacher in kindergarten, first, and second grade in both public and private school settings.  She also has additional training in the Science of Reading and Orton-Gillingham, as well as standards-based assessment and grading.  Prior to joining Next Generation, Whitney was an Early Reading Specialist at Mt. Pisgah Christian School.

Sarah Steuterman, M.S., CCC-SLP is a staff clinician with Next Generation. Sarah graduated from the University of Georgia in 2013, with a Bachelor of Science in Education in Communications Sciences and Disorders and a minor in Human Development and Family Science. She graduated from Georgia State University with a Master of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 2015. Prior to joining Next Generation, Sarah worked as a speech-language pathologist in the public school system, providing services to early childhood and elementary-aged students. Sarah lives with her husband and two daughters in Norcross, GA. Sarah enjoys sewing, cooking, and hiking with her family.

Phala Echols is the Director of Family Care for Next Generation Therapy Services. Phala (pronounced fay-la) graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. In 1990, she moved to Bangkok and served as an administrative assistant for three years. After this assignment, Phala returned stateside where she attended Auburn University and received her Master’s degree in Secondary English Education in 1993. That same year, Phala began her teaching career in an 8th grade Language Arts classroom at Berry Middle School in Hoover, Alabama. In the three years she taught there, her love for students and teaching and education in general continued to grow. Next Phala made the move from Birmingham AL to Seoul, South Korea where she lived for 12 years and worked as an Educational Consultant with expat families living all over Asia.  A transition back to Thailand put her in a more central location for serving the expat students and their families that she continued to work with as the Lead Educational Consultant. After a total of 19 years in Asia, Phala relocated to Clinton, Mississippi where she works with international students at Mississippi College. Her nineteen years living overseas and working with expat families all over Asia has uniquely prepared her for the role of Director of Family Services with Next Generation Therapy Services. Phala has always been single and enjoys having guests in her home as well as cooking and baking from scratch.

Jill Turner is a reading specialist with Next Generation. She is a veteran classroom teacher of sixteen years, which included teaching kindergarten, second, third and fourth grades.  Jill served as a lower school director for nine years where she encouraged and supported teachers and school families.  She earned her Bachelor of Science degree through Indiana University and holds a teaching license in the state of Georgia qualifying her to teach grades kindergarten through eighth grade.  Jill was first trained in the Up-Words Reading Program to be implemented in her second-grade classroom. She loves the ability to share the love of reading with students and to watch them gain confidence in their reading fluency. Jill is married with four adult children and two granddaughters. She loves reading historical fiction, taking long walks along the lake and playing tennis.