Born and raised in Pewaukee, Kerin Baumann attended the Pewaukee School District, graduating in 1995. She went on to pursue a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, aiming to become a pediatric speech-language pathologist. While still an undergraduate, she met her husband, and they married just before she began graduate school at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. They built their first home together in Pewaukee, where their journey truly began.
Kerin always felt her purpose in life was to work with children in some capacity. Once she found speech-language pathology, she knew working with children in the public school setting would be the right choice. She loves the diversity of the children she works with. Each day brings new opportunities and new challenges. She is creative at heart and loves spending time creating fun and engaging therapy sessions for the students that she serves. Kerin loves the connections she has with her students. Professionally, she is most passionate about the correlation between speech sound production skills and literacy development in children. If a child is not perceiving and producing a sound correctly, they could consequently demonstrate difficulties decoding the sound while learning to read or using the correct letter while learning to write.
Outside of school you will find Kerin organizing, crafting, playing with her dogs, working out at Burn Boot Camp Waukesha, and taking walks with her husband. Her greatest mentor was her father. She believes in working hard and doing her best for others every single day. Her father’s career was in public service in a different capacity, but both followed the same core values. Do what is right and best for those you serve, make positive connections with all of those around you, advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves, be your best and do your best for yourself so that you can be all of those other things for everyone else you encounter.
About Kerin Baumann
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
My husband, Dan, and I both grew up in Pewaukee. We got married 24 years ago and have three children, Marisa, Julia and Zach. Marisa and Julia are both in college and Zach will be a senior at Pewaukee High School this upcoming school year. We also have 2 dogs, Charlie and Bailey.
Q: Please tell us about your life and what you do (whether working in our community, a business owner, volunteer, etc.). How did you choose that path?
I have been a pediatric speech-language pathologist for 21 years. I have worked in the Hartland-Lakeside School District for 20 years and I currently provide speech and language therapy for children at Hartland North Elementary School. As a speech-language pathologist (SLP), I am fortunate to play a critical role in the development of the students I have the honor to work with. Being an SLP allows me to work with a diverse group of children. I have experience working with children with a variety of different needs in an all inclusive educational environment. It’s been a pleasure working with children with a wide array of disabilities including, but not limited to, autism spectrum disorder, Cohen Syndrome, Williams Syndrome, down syndrome, intellectual disabilities, emotional and behavioral disabilities, significant developmental delay, speech and language impairments, and other health impairments.
My role allows me to not only work with students, but also allows me to be a part of a multidisciplinary team including parents, regular education teachers, special education teachers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, other speech/language pathologists, school counselors, school psychologists, administrators, paraprofessionals, etc. I believe that all students can and want to learn. I believe that all students have interests, talents and abilities that are unique to them. Collaboration with families is critical because families are an integral part of learning success. It is my passion and my responsibility to always do what is best for students. I feel blessed to be a part of children’s very early development. I value forming meaningful connections with as many students as I can at Hartland North Elementary.
Q: What do you love most about what you do?
My favorite part of my job is watching a student have a breakthrough moment when they’ve worked so hard towards a goal and they finally achieve it. Seeing their pride and their excitement when something they’ve worked so hard towards finally “clicks” for them is indescribable. One other great thing about my role at Hartland North Elementary School is that we partner with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and I have the privilege of supervising graduate students in their Communication Sciences and Disorders Program annually. Each year, I typically am granted the opportunity to have a graduate student clinician. It’s a great way to give back to the speech and language community and it’s an amazing opportunity for me to stay current with the latest trends and research in my field while supporting and guiding the next generation of speech-language pathologists.
Q: What was the most difficult challenge in getting to where you are now or in your life?
I think balancing everything has been the most challenging. How to be a good wife, a good mother, a good daughter, a good SLP, and a good friend. It’s taken me a long time to realize that I also needed to take time for myself. By doing that, I can then be my best for everyone else.
Q: What is the most rewarding part?
I love seeing the confidence grow in my students as they learn new skills and achieve their goals. Helping students become effective communicators is life changing for them and I am so blessed to be a part of their journey.
Q: What are some of your future goals? Do you have anything exciting coming up that you would like to share?
This school year I am implementing a new program for our 4K eligible students who qualify for speech and language therapy with complex speech sound disorders, specifically phonology. Phonology is the sound system of a language and the rules that govern the sound combinations in that language. Children with complex speech sound disorders can be challenged not only with spoken language including both listening and speaking, but also written language including both reading and writing. This program will offer a classroom type setting for speech and language therapy rather than traditional individual or small group therapy. My principal and I are very excited to bring this program to our 4K students at Hartland North Elementary School.
Q: What advice would you give to someone interested in doing something similar to what you have done/are doing?
Do it! This job is amazing! When working with graduate student clinicians, I always tell them about the “marigold effect”. Many experienced gardeners follow a concept called companion planting: placing certain vegetables and plants near each other to improve growth for one or both plants. For example, rose growers plant garlic near their roses because it repels bugs and prevents fungal diseases.
Among companion plants, the marigold is one of the best. It protects a wide variety of plants from pests and harmful weeds. If you plant a marigold beside most any garden vegetable, that vegetable will grow big and strong and healthy, protected and encouraged by its marigold. Marigolds exist in every workplace. They are the people you want as your mentor, as your colleague, as your friend. They are encouraging, supporting and nurturing. If my graduate student clinicians can find at least one marigold in their work environment, they will grow and be better tomorrow than they were today. That’s always the goal!
Kerin Baumann & Our Community
Q: What is your favorite thing about our community, favorite thing to do, or something unique about our community that you love? (Feel free to share as much as you’d like!)
I love all that Lake Country has to offer! I’ve spent my entire life here. From the parks for the kids, to the coffee shops and paddle boarding for the adults. There is always something fun to do and somewhere amazing to go.
Q: Who is an interesting person you’ve met here in our community, and how have they inspired you?
I have met a lot of interesting people in this community but more importantly I’ve been inspired in some capacity by everyone I meet. At this time in my life, I am most inspired by the people that I get to work out for and with at Burn Boot Camp in Waukesha. The owners, Carey Tump and Karen Pederson have created the most supportive, encouraging, and welcoming environment. The trainers there are the best of the best. Their mission is to provide a safe space for their members where we can “come as you are”. They are always there to encourage us, to push us and to support us in everything we do both in and out of the gym.
Burn Boot Camp Waukesha’s owners, trainers and members are my inspiration in this community. They have taught me to believe in myself and my physical and mental health more than ever before. Some of my favorite encouraging statements we hear often are: “You are ENOUGH!”, “You can do hard things!”, “This is where you set your intentions for today”, “Don’t quit on yourself”, “The person next to you isn’t your competition, but your motivation.”, “This is when you show up for yourself, right now, when it’s hard!”. I’ve never been a part of a community quite like Burn Waukesha, it’s such a special place with the most inspirational people.
Q: Do you have a favorite coffee shop, cocktail shop, or restaurant?
My two favorite coffee shops are Inclusion Coffee Company and Birch and Banyan in Hartland. As for restaurants, there are so many great ones around. Being Pewaukee natives, my husband and I love to go down by the lakefront and enjoy the local restaurants down there while enjoying the beauty of Pewaukee Lake.
Q: What 3 words would you use to describe our community?
Family-oriented, inclusive, helpful.
For Fun
Q: What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
One of my favorite things in life is organization. I love bins, baskets, you name it! It drives my family crazy. I craft in my spare time. Making things for others with my Cricut is fun and I also enjoy crocheting. I am an active member at Burn Boot Camp Waukesha where I have grown to love the cardio days… never thought I’d say that! Maybe the most random thing about me is that if I was stranded on an island the one thing I would have to have with me is Burt’s Bees Lip Balm.
Q: What is your favorite book, TV show, movie, poem, or song? Why?
Oldies but goodies that I will re-watch over and over: Friends, Seinfeld and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation ????
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My husband, Dan. Dan is always trying to better himself. Always wanting to learn more, do more, be a better version of himself today than he was yesterday. He is always there for friends and family to lend a hand. He’s the kind of person to give you the shirt off of his back, just like his father. Dan has been my greatest support. He is my greatest inspiration.
Q: If you were a drink (can be a coffee drink, alcoholic, non-alcoholic, etc.), what would you be?
I would be a Dirty Dr. Pepper. A little sweet, a little tropical, a lot of spicy.
Q: If you could have lunch with anyone, who would it be with? Why?
My father. He passed away just days before Father’s Day this year only two weeks after his cancer diagnosis. I have so many things I wish I could ask him and things I would love to tell him that I never got the chance to.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
Oooh, this is tough, I have several! If you asked my children what is on my bucket list, they would tell you that I would love to ride along with a professional storm chaser and get close to tornadoes just to witness the amazing power within nature. Another bucket list would be to have the opportunity to travel to Europe, specifically London, Paris, the Almafi Coast, Sorrento, Positano, Rome, and Santorini.
Q: What makes you the happiest?
At this time in my life I’d say I have a tie of two things. 1. Traveling with my family. It’s been a few years since our last family vacation but it makes me the happiest when we are traveling and exploring new places together. 2. Working out at Burn Boot Camp Waukesha. This is my happy place. My place for ME where I get to support and encourage others and be supported and encouraged by others. This place fills my cup!
Q: Any general life advice you would like to share?
Life is meant to be lived! Always be the best version of yourself that you can be and treat others the way you want to be treated. Be kind to others and always practice gratitude. Try to find something good in any situation. Make sure you take care of yourself. By filling your own cup, you can then fill the cups of others.
Nice To Meet You:
I believe in positively impacting my clients and the community I live in, which is why I jumped at the chance to be an ambassador with “The Faces of Lake Country”. It’s a perfect blend of why I enjoy being a Realtor with Shorewest, Realtors, and everything I love about living in Lake Country.
I truly enjoy being a part of this community and helping others along the way. Prior to real estate, I was an Office Supervisor for the City of Waukesha Park & Recreation Department. During this time, I had the opportunity to work with many business owners and serve the general public. It was there that I realized that it really does take a village to make a community great and each and every one of us plays an important role.
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