ELSSP-HI NEWSLETTER
Fall 2018
North Carolina Early Learning Sensory Support Program for Children With Hearing Impairments
NC Department of Public Instruction
Office of Early Learning
Website
RUTH ANNE EVERETT, Director
Each child will be honored, respected, and empowered to achieve success in school and life.
How to Make a Referral
Contact Mandy Hice, BS, ITFS
Social Worker II and Intake Coordinator
828-448-9353
mandy.hice@esdb.dpi.nc.gov
Table of Contents
Cute Corner
2018 Opening Convocation
Community of Practice
Assessment Committee Update
Staff Development and Save the Dates
Resources and Opportunities for Families
Miles for Wellness
Director's Spotlight
Cute Corner
Ryan
Chris Czajkowski, Teacher
Grace
Grace getting help from her mom.
Neena Malosky, teacher
Keyota
Uncle Troy explaining to Keyota about the red car.
Meg Locklear, teacher
Maddox
Maddox with his teacher, Cindy.
Teacher, Cindy Tedder
Noah
Noah and mom.
Teacher, Meg Locklear
Avery
Playdate with Avery and friends at the Smart Resource Center.
Parents can borrow toys/books for only $15 a year.
Teacher, Jenni Campagna
FUN Day
Charlotte HITCH-UP's Sunday FUN Day at Discovery Place Kids,
Huntersville, Aug. 26, 2018
FUN Day
FUN Day at Discovery Place Kids, Huntersville, Aug. 26, 2018
Over 100 in attendance.
FUN Day
FUN Day at Discovery Place Kids, Huntersville, Aug. 26, 2018
Good time was had by all!
Early Learning Sensory Support Program Opening Convocation 2018
On August 14 and 15, the North Carolina Early Learning Sensory Support Program staff came together for our fourth annual opening convocation in Raleigh. The convocation was held at the Holiday Inn Raleigh Crabtree. Our goal was to learn, collaborate, support each other and have a good time. Day one began with lively keynote speaker, Keisha Spivey. Her presentation, “Not by Chance, But by Choice” was energetic and inspiring. Bethany Mayo and Ruth Anne Everett gave program updates and recognized staff years of service milestones. Sharon Moore provided an insightful session “Listen, Understand, Communicate” about how to build meaningful relationships with parents and professional partners. Afterwards, we posed for our annual group picture. The day ended with Mandy Hice’s annual session on “Reporting Suspected Abuse and Neglect”. Mandy made sure we all participated in a competitive game of Jeopardy to test our knowledge.
For a fun challenge, everyone submitted one of their photos from middle school beforehand and the challenge was on to see who could correctly match photos to the person when the pictures appeared on dual screens in the room.
On the second day, our groups of teachers of the deaf and the visually impaired met separately. “Autism in Toddlers and Young Children with Hearing Loss” was presented by Wanda Pendergrass and Ruth Fuller. Meg Locklear presented “Working with Adult Learners-(Applying Critical Thinking to Their Children”) Chris, Jen and Ruth Anne spoke to us about the “NC Teacher Evaluation Process and Rubric-Guidance for ELSSP Teachers of Infants and Toddlers with Hearing Loss”. The vision team invited guest speaker Susan Sullivan to present on “Cortical Vision Impairment: What Works and What’s New”
Unanimously, everyone reported this year’s opening meeting was the best so far. Our year is off to a productive and memorable start.
Submitted by Ruth Anne Everett
Community of Practice - Services in Childcare Settings
A new Community of Practice has been established focusing on childcare settings. The leaders of this CoP are: Emily Reeves, Emily Orman, Sara Gibson, Cindy Tedder, and Anna Ownbey. These leaders met in August to create a plan for the upcoming year. Broad topics that will be covered this year are: challenges and successes, planned coaching, just in time coaching, and coaching on the fly; all within the childcare setting. More specifically, the CoP will discuss how to get started, how to get everyone on board with a plan, what an initial visit in a childcare center could look like, joint planning with classroom teachers and parents, documentation that can be shared with classroom teachers and childcare directors, and how to use coaching strategies in a childcare setting.
If you are interested in joining the CoP, please contact one of the leaders.
Submitted by Anna Ownbey
Assessment Committee Update
The Assessment Committee met on August 27, 2018 to discuss updates regarding the ELSSP-HI assessment protocol forms (initial, annual, and transition) and the development of future staff training pertaining to the review of assessment protocol and student-specific long-range planning. The committee approved updates and moved forward with a plan of action to address staff input/needs for future training. A survey was developed and distributed to staff via email. Once results of the survey are analyzed, the Assessment Committee will meet again to discuss the results and design training to accommodate staff needs. The committee members will present trainings via staff monthly GoTo Meetings. Long Range Planning training dates are TBD the spring of 2019.
Assessment Committee Members are: Valerie Best, Andrea Cagle, Preston Collins - co-chair, Chris Czajkowski, Jen Dunn, Ruth Anne Everett, Sara Gibson, Elizabeth Hopkins, Sharon Moore - co-chair, Emily Orman, Anna Ownbey, Emily Reeves, and Cindy Tedder.
Submitted by Sharon Moore and Preston Collins, co-chairs
Staff Development and Save the Dates
Save the Date
Opening ELSSP Convocation
August 13-14, 2019
Holiday Inn Raleigh - Crabtree
4100 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh
Additional Information to Follow!
68th Annual Conference on Exceptional Children
Joseph S. Koury Convention Center
Greensboro, NC
November 14-16, 2018
Register at:
https://registration.socio.events/e/35/68th-conference-on-exceptional-children
Children's Cochlear Implant Center at UNC
24th Annual Hear 'n Now Conference
Friday October 12, 2018
519 Church and Conference Center
1100 Perimeter Park Drive
Morrisville, NC
Staff Meeting dates:
September 19
October 17
November 14
December 19
January 16
February 20
March 20
April 17
May 15
June 19
Resources and Opportunities for Parents
68th Annual Conference on Exceptional Children
Joseph S. Koury Convention Center
Greensboro, NC
November 14-16, 2018
Register at:
https://registration.socio.events/e/35/68th-conference-on-exceptional-children
Triad Hitch-Up
The Triad Hitch-Up had its first meeting of the 2018-19 school year in Greensboro September 24, 2018. The purpose of the meeting was for families of children with hearing loss to meet one another, share stories and enjoy the fellowship. The next meeting date has not been determined. For more information go to their Facebook page, "Triad Hitch-Up".
Hearing First
The Hearing First website is a multimedia digital experience and connection point designed to link families who have chosen listening and spoken language (LSL) for their children with hearing loss, and the professionals who work with them, with the resources, information, tools, community and learning experiences they need to ensure the children in their lives succeed.
They also have a Online Family Support Community. Members have access to helpful resources and tools and will be able to connect through discussions and shared experiences to support children towards their desired LSL outcome. All community members will have a variety of opportunities to collaborate, learn and grow together to help children reach their full potential.
You can register at:
MedicAlert
Many audiologists recommend that children who have cochlear implants wear a MedicAlert bracelet.
This link should guide you through all the steps to obtain a MedicAlert bracelet for children.
https://www.medicalert.org/product/catalog/medical-ids/youth-kids
This link is specific to the MedicAlert charity program for families who may not be able to afford the cost of the bracelet and membership.
Maternal Mental Health
Postpartum Support International is dedicated to helping women deal with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Many suffer from this and may not know where to find help. Clink on the link below to find locations in North Carolina for help.
http://www.postpartum.net/locations/north-carolina/
MIles for Wellness Campaign
ELSSP-HI has a team in this year's challenge: "Hear We Come"
Miles for Wellness is a virtual, team-based walking initiative by and for the state employees of North Carolina. The purpose of Miles for Wellness is to encourage and support employees to increase their level of physical activity, with the goal of 10,000 steps, or the equivalent of 5 miles, achieved most days of the week.
Miles for Wellness Challenge 18 will take us indoors to enjoy entertaining exhibits at several museums.The Trail of Amusing Museums will highlight amusing and/or unusual aspects from one museum to the next.
Hear We Come team members include: Ruth Anne Everett (captain), Preston Collins, Jen Dunn, Gil Medina, Neena Malosky, Kristen Steele and Mary Lou Wright.
Director's Corner
Welcome To Our New Teacher in Wake County-Candi Garrett!!
My name is Candace “Candi” Garrett. I am very excited to join the ELSSP team!! I have always enjoyed working with children, helping others and I am passionate about the need for early intervention.
I grew up in Vermont and attended Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Ma. There, I earned my BA in psychology and education, and attained a teaching license in K-6 . During my time at Mount Holyoke College I studied courses in children’s literature at Smith College. I had the privilege of being taught by some famous authors in children’s literature. I also interned at the Clark School for the Deaf. The combination of learning about the usage of language in children’s literature and the developmental process of psychology and education with the work that I did with deaf children at the Clark school intensified my desire to know more about deaf education.
I was accepted at the University of Southern California and earned my masters from USC and the John Tracy Clinic. After graduation, I continued to work at the John Tracy Clinic as a parent educator and teacher of the deaf, which was a unique experience. In the summers we worked with families from all over the world. Teaching has always been a daily learning opportunity for myself. I am continually enlightened by the diversity and uniqueness that each culture brings to me.
I was given the opportunity from the John Tracy Clinic to create a demonstration home program for the families in southern CA. This was a great life experience for me to observe the dynamics of a community coming together for one purpose.
I then took a very long break to raise nine wonderful and beautiful children of my own. In 2009, I moved from Atlanta to Cary, NC as a single mother with nine children. During this time, I have been able to renew my three teaching licenses in K-6, Exceptional Children and Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
I feel very blessed to have been able to teach in several schools and have been given the opportunity to work in different positions. I have taught in Wake County as the EC and DHH teacher in one classroom and have also taught as the Regular Ed and DHH preschool teacher at another school. I did take some time off to be with my mother who had terminal cancer.
I returned back to work and taught in the Durham Public School system as DHH/EC teacher. In the remaining two years, I moved to a Charter School with one of my DHH students and have been the DHH, EC Facilitator and Literacy Coach.
My experiences have brought me a wealth of knowledge and a great deal of humility. I am honored to be working with all of you and I look forward to learning from each one of you!!
Newsletter Committee
Chris Czajkowski
Jen Dunn
Donna Snipes
Contributors
Jenni Campagna
Preston Collins
Ruth Anne Everett
Sharon Moore
Anna Ownbey