Pediatric Speech Therapy, PLLC
Rachael Harrelson, MS CCC-SLP
~Helping children communicate in a safe, nurturing, and fun environment.
312 E. Renfro St.
Suite 107
Burleson, TX 76028
B & G Professional Building
*Spanish interpreters can be provided when requested.
Rachael Harrelson, MS CCC-SLP, Vet. USN
Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist
rachael@southernstarspeech.com
Owner, Supervisor, Clinical Therapy Provider
Rachael Harrelson, M.S., CCC-SLP, Vet. USN is the owner, clinical director, and supervising therapist of Southern Star Pediatric Speech Therapy, which she started on August 1, 2020. She is a believer in Christ and has strong Christian values. She is a Texas State licensed and nationally certified Speech-Language Pathologist. Southern Star was always a goal to start, and when the pandemic hit, she realized it was now or never. The clinic started in a small 10x10 office at a local insurance agency, and grew to what it is today. Prior to starting her practice, Rachael worked in various settings including in-patient rehabilitation, acute care hospitals, home health, and public schools.
Rachael received a Bachelor’s Degree with a minor in Psychology at Baylor University, and a Master’s Degree in Communication Science and Disorders also from, Baylor University. She maintains certification in Speech-Language Pathology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is licensed in Texas and Washington. Rachael is also a highly decorated veteran of the United States Navy, where she served 8-years as a Hospital Corpsman in the medical field.
Rachael has had extensive experience assessing and treating clients with autism, articulation, phonological and fluency disorders and receptive/expressive language impairments. She also has extensive experience in literacy, as literacy skills go hand-in-hand with language development. Rachael is proficient in American Sign Language and enjoys using ASL in various therapy settings.
Rachael enjoys spending time with her three kids, three dogs, and a cat. She especially loves training her dog Baylor to talk using push buttons. She is obsessed with Baylor University football and the Texas Rangers baseball team, and she can't stand the Houston Astros baseball team. Outdoor activities such as golfing, camping, and swimming are some of her favorite things to do with her family. She loves to paint, draw, and read up on new medical findings and discoveries. Her guilty obsession is binge-watching reality TV and live police chases.
As a parent of a child with Autism & ADHD, Rachael understands and believes in a team approach to therapy and therefore encourages collaboration with parents, teachers and other therapists, when applicable, to provide the most encouraging and successful environment for her clients. Her practice is based on providing the highest quality of service to her clients and their families while working to achieve their speech and language goals.
Cory Currier USN, Ret.
Insurance and Scheduling Coordinator
Executive Assistant
Cory is a highly experienced Administrative Professional and Clinic Support Specialist at Southern Star Pediatric Speech. He joined the team in October 2025, where he manages all essential administrative functions and provides direct, executive-level support to the Clinic Director/Owner.
Cory's professional foundation was forged over a distinguished 30-year career as an administrative professional in the U.S. Navy, from which he retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 4 in 2022. During his service, he developed exceptional organizational and leadership skills, serving as the personal administrative executive to several Admirals and Generals, and leading administrative departments across various commands. His deep expertise in executive support, operational management, and organizational leadership ensures the clinic runs smoothly and efficiently.
A native of Vermont who was raised in Houston, Cory remains a passionate Houston sports fan. He is known to be in a grumpy mood when his teams lose. When not ensuring the smooth flow of the clinic, he cherishes time spent with family, including his three grown children and five grandchildren. His hobbies include watching movies, playing board games, and working outside.
Catherine Schaaf M.S. CCC-SLP
Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist
catherine@southernstarspeech.com
Clinical Therapy Provider
Catherine has been working as a Speech-Language Pathologist since 2021 and currently holds her Texas state licensure and a certificate of clinical competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She graduated from Texas State University with a B.S., Communication Sciences and Disorders, and from Texas Tech University with a M.S., Speech Language Pathology.
Catherine has experience working with adults with speech, language, cognitive and swallowing disorders in short-term rehabilitation settings, and has additional experience working with children in the public school system to address a variety of skills such as articulation, expressive/receptive language, pragmatic language, fluency, and use of augmentative and alternative communication.
Catherine is passionate about supporting clients in finding their voice to improve overall life participation and promote self-empowered communication. Through her experience in working with clients across the lifespan, Catherine most values collaborative teamwork with families and related service professionals. She believes that working together as a unified team is most essential to successfully improving communication skills and promoting confidence in communication within a client’s daily environment.
In her free time, Catherine enjoys walking on the Fort Worth Trinity trail, baking, spending time with friends and family, traveling, reading her monthly book club book, and relaxing at home watching The Office (for the millionth time). She also enjoys cheering on her favorite team, the Houston Astros!
Hannah Valente, M.S. CCC-SLP
Licensed Speech Language Pathologist
hannah@southernstarspeech.com
Clinical Therapy Provider
Hello! My name is Hannah Valente and I am so excited to be joining the team as a Speech-Language Pathologist. I graduated with my undergraduate degree from Louisiana Tech University in 2020 and completed my Masters in Communication Disorders from LSU Health Sciences Center at Shreveport in 2022. I currently hold my Texas Licensure and Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Since becoming an SLP, I have worked in many settings including the public school system and home health. I have experience working with a variety of communication disorders, including articulation and phonological disorders, receptive and expressive language delays, fluency disorders, and feeding difficulties. I have a passion for pediatric therapy and truly love helping children grow their communication skills while building meaningful connections with families along the way.
Outside of work, I enjoy growing in my Christian faith, spending time with my family, and traveling. While at home I love watching reality TV, reading, and spending time with my husband, our two golden retrievers, and our cat Milo.
Hayven Drinnon B.S. SLPA
Licensed Speech Therapist Assistant
hayven@southernstarspeech.com
Clinical Therapy Provider Assistant
Hayven recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Abilene Christian University. She is excited to begin her career as a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant and continue growing her skills while supporting children and their families.
During her academic training, Hayven completed a clinical externship at an elementary school, where she gained hands-on experience working with pediatric clients. She has supported children with articulation and phonological disorders, fluency, expressive and receptive language needs, and the use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Through these experiences, Hayven developed a strong appreciation for individualized, engaging, and evidence-based intervention.
Hayven is passionate about working with children to help them find their voice, build confidence, and communicate effectively in their everyday lives. She values collaboration with families, educators, and other professionals to ensure each child receives the support they need to thrive and live life to the fullest.
Outside of work, Hayven enjoys spending time with her family, especially her two younger siblings and her two dogs. She loves reading books, watching movies, and making meaningful memories while trying new things with the people closest to her.
Paige Edmonson, MA-SLPA
Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant
Clinical Therapy Provider Assistant
Paige is a Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant with a strong background in child development, communication disorders, and applied behavior analysis. She has spent her career working with children and families across a variety of settings (home health, behavioral clinics, and multi-discipline clinics). She has a passion for supporting children with complex and combined language and behavioral difficulties, and supporting them in developing language and functional skills.
Paige earned a Bachelor's degree in Integrative Studies from the University of North Texas in 2015, with a focus on Child Development, Communication Disorders, and English. The combination of these different focuses provided her with a strong foundation and helped her to better understand the many factors that influence how children learn and interact with the world around them.
She continued her education, later receiving Master’s degrees in 2021 and 2025 with a focus on Applied behavior analysis and psychology, which help her to support her patients' various needs and have a greater understanding of reinforcement and motivation to gain the best outcomes. With an educational background that bridges speech and language with child development and behavior analysis. Paige takes a well-rounded approach to working with children. She believes every child is unique and that meaningful progress happens when children feel supported, understood, and encouraged. She truly values building positive relationships with the children and families she works with and strives to make learning both engaging and functional. Outside of work, Paige enjoys spending time with her daughter, traveling, and getting lost in a good book. She especially enjoys creating memories with her daughter and experiencing new places and foods together.