About Us

Nancy Barcal M.A. CCC-SLP

Nancy K. Barcal is the director of Granite Bay Speech and has over 25 years experience treating individuals with speech, language and learning difficulties. Prior to arriving in California, she worked in schools and hospitals in Illinois, including The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. She established The Bay Area Speech Language and Learning Clinic in Fremont, California in 1983 and expanded services to Danville, California in 1985.  After moving to the Sacramento area she established Granite Bay Speech and currently offers evaluation, consultation and therapy for adults and children.

Experience/Qualifications:
• Licensed Speech Language Pathologist in California Since 1981
• Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) by The American Speech Language and Hearing Association
• Member of American Speech Language Hearing Association specialty divisions for Fluency and Voice
• Past Editor of The California Speech Language Pathologist in Private Practice (CALSPAPP) Newsletter
• Presented her research at The American Speech Language Hearing Association Conference
• Certified SpeechEasy® Provider
• Conference Presenter for Attention Deficit Disorders (CHADD), Tri-Cities Children Center, Agency for Infant Development, Fremont School District, Ohlone College, Mills College, California State University Hayward
• Provided Medical Staff Education for numerous Bay Area Hospitals and Home Health Agencies
• Guest presenter for KNBR radio and Fremont Cable TV
• Contributing Health columnist for Granite Bay View Magazine

Since 1981, Nancy has worked as a licensed Speech Language Pathologist in California.  She has experience as a therapist and home school educator treating language, communication and learning disabilities.

Nancy’s passion is helping individuals of all ages find their hidden learning potential in all areas of communication.

Kathy Clifton

Kathy Clifton has been a speech and language pathologist for over 17 years. A graduate of Marquette University, Kathy trained at the Department of Veteran’s Affairs Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She worked part-time in the long-term acute and acute rehabilitation environments for 14 years. She also has worked full-time in the public school system for 12 years.

Kathy has a special interest in helping people with severe speech and language disabilities and has extensive experience in the use of augmentative and alternative communication systems. Kathy has also enjoyed working with the 0-3 age group and provided parent training for improved language development.

Kathy holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech Language and Hearing Association, a California State License in Speech and   Language Pathology, a California Department of Education Clear Clinical Rehabilitative Services Credential with Special Day Class Authorization and an ELD/SDAIE AB2913 Teaching Certificate.

Nina Fucile MA-SLP

     Nina Fucile has 14 years of postgraduate experience working with communication and learning disorders. Nina has a special interest in providing orofacial myofunctional therapy, frequently referred to as “tongue thrust” therapy, a service that is not available in the public schools.
     She has provided speech and language therapy services in northern California’s public and private schools with students from preschool to high school age. She has worked with students who are faced with a variety of communication and learning challenges including disorders of speech, language, voice, fluency, and social skills. Nina works as a team member with parents and teachers as they determine the best educational setting and goals for each student.  Her experience as a speech language pathologist in the California school public system is an invaluable asset as she helps parents navigate the complex special educational process.   
     In addition to her expertise in the educational setting, Nina has over 11 years of experience working in adult rehabilitation. Nina’s expertise includes retraining communication skills and ensuring that individuals with neurogenic disorders are able to swallow and eat safely.  Nina’s ongoing interests include the treatment of strokes, Parkinson’s and dementia. She currently provides therapy in hospitals and skilled nursing homes in the Sacramento area. 
     Nina holds a Master of Arts degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology, a California State License in Speech Language Pathology from the medical board of quality assurance and a California teaching credential for rehabilitation of speech, language and hearing services in the schools.
     As a mother of two children Nina has a professional and personal view of child development; she appreciates both the challenges and the rewards of raising children. She seeks to support the families she serves by offering in home therapy sessions as an option. Nina is passionate about providing quality therapy to children and adults whose lives can be enhanced by the power of communication.

Cristin T. Herrera

Cristin T. Herrera is an associate of Granite Bay Speech.  She is a bilingual (Spanish) teacher with over 10 years of experience teaching in California’s public schools.  She has had specialized training in Reading and Language acquisition and has taught in English and Spanish Immersion programs in both the Greater Sacramento and Bay Areas.

Cristin holds a California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential with Crosscultural, Language and Academic Development (CLAD) Emphasis and has been recognized as a Highly Qualified Teacher under the No Child Left Behind Act.  Cristin participated for two years in the BTSA (Beginning Teacher Support Assessment) Consortium and completed her student teaching under the supervision of an Ohio State trained Literacy Coach.

Her experience and qualifications include:

• The completion of:

• California Reading and Literature Project (PreK-3) Professional Development Institute (40 hours)
• Words Their Way (Tiers 1 & 2) Training (24 hours)
• Intel Teach to the Future Professional Teacher Development Institute (40hours)
• Sacramento of Office of Education English Language Development Training (12 hours)

She has had additional training in:

• Balanced Literacy
• Success For All Reading
• Second Language Instruction

Cristin was formerly the Santa Clara County Board of Education Migrant Education Teacher Coordinator for the Whisman Elementary School District where she developed after school tutoring plans for migrant students and facilitated communication between teachers, students, families and instructional aides.

Cristin has also previously taught English as a Foreign Language at the High School and University level at La Universidad Latina de America in Morelia, Michoacan Mexico.