Natalee Miller always enjoyed working with children, but wasn’t sure how she could best help them. After volunteering in a speech pathology program at an elementary school in her hometown of Maysville, the high school senior said she realized that helping children challenged by speech impediments was what she wanted to do with her life.
“It’s very rewarding, especially with what I do, and it’s good to see the progress they are making,” Natalee said.
Natalee was a junior at Mason County High School when she began working with her mentor, Mary Magee, a speech-language pathologist at Straub Elementary School.
“Miss Natalee is a superstar and such a hard worker,” Mary said, adding that Natalee has a good relationship with all the children.
When Natalee goes to Straub Elementary, she is responsible for picking up and dropping off the students, but she also sits in on the classes and watches the techniques Mary uses to help the children. Natalee can’t participate in teaching students yet, but she does give them constant encouragement.
Speech pathology may be her passion, but that doesn’t prevent Natalee from finding time for many other interests. She is a member of her school’s executive board for Family, Career and Community Leaders of America and also began work in March 2025 at Café Cream & MyLo’s, a casual restaurant that offers ice cream and other food.
“If I weren’t busy, I would just sit around all day,” she said with a laugh.
Natalee also is very close to her family. She is one of three siblings, including a younger sister and brother. Natalee describes her sister, Claire, as one of her best friends.
The busy teenager was planning to attend the University of Kentucky in Lexington for her speech pathology degree. While she wasn’t sure she would end up pursuing her career in her hometown, Natalee said she didn’t want to move too far from her family.
“I love the close connection that I am able to have with those around me,” she said.
