SUCCESSFUL DEAF LEADERS HONORED BY

HORACE MANN SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING

By D---- N---- student with Claudia Chaffee teacher

On Wednesday, May 30, 2001, Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing held its second annual celebration to honor local Successful Deaf Leaders who serve as role models for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. By 10 a.m. the Gold Room was filled with Horace Mann elementary, middle, and high school students, teachers, paraprofessionals, parents, family members, Boston Public Schools administrators, and Successful Deaf Leaders from this year and last year.

To prepare for this special day, students from the Horace Mann read about Successful Deaf Leaders from all over America; made up a questionnaire; selected, contacted, and interviewed local Successful Deaf Leaders; took their pictures; and wrote their stories. Everyone enjoyed the students’ PowerPoint presentation that documented their project activities and highlighted this year’s Successful Deaf Leaders—Nancy V. Becker, Edgar G. Herrera, Max Sallop, Tjoan Tan, and Barbara Jean “BJ” Wood.

After the presentation, the students gave each Leader a gift and unveiled the Leaders’ photographs and biographical sketches that will permanently hang on the “Wall of Fame” alongside last year’s Leaders—Lillian M. Garcia, Lamonte Grant, Marie Philip, Sue Philip, Julie Proud, and Heidi Reed. Students also unveiled a work in progress—the Successful Deaf Leaders link on the Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Home Page. By the fall of 2001, people from all over the world will be able to see the pictures and read the stories of our Successful Deaf Leaders!

This project, funded by IMPACT II, AT&T and the Massachusetts Department of Education, allowed students to learn so much from our local Successful Deaf Leaders who shared their successes, their challenges, and advised the students about what they should do if they want to become successful, themselves. One thing is certain—these Leaders have reinforced our belief that Deaf people can do anything!

Please contact the Principal, Patrice DiNatale, if you would like to visit the Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing “Wall of Fame.”

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