Ryan Commerson
This Principal walks into the building wearing a good suit, which is a reflection of her professionalism and the pride she takes in the job.
This Principal does not use her voice, Deaf or not, she leaves her
larynx outside of the school setting. Her sign language skills surpass the Superior rating she received on the SCPI (Signed Communication Proficiency Interview).
The faculty and staff members all around her do not use their voices either. American Sign Language is the primary language with the English language as its equal written counterpart.
As non-signing hearing parents with their Deaf child approach her, the Principal greets them and summons an in-house staff RID-certified ASL Interpreter. If the parents wish to speak with her directly in spoken English, the Principal acknowledges this and explains (via Interpreter) that the Interpreter will be used so everyone will have an equal access.
Simultaneous Communication is against the school policy.
At the end of the day, after doing all that is expected of a qualified
administrator, she leaves the building and returns the next day with a renewed spirit.
This Principal may or may not be liked by the others. However, no one denies she should be respected, for everybody knows she does her job and does it right. She puts the kids first.
Does such a principal exist? Over 100 years ago, nearly all leaders of Deaf schools in America were Deaf and fluent in American Sign Language. At that time, the graduates were highly literate in both languages, signed and written.
All this changed when oral education pervaded our society and not less than thirty years ago Total Communication philosophy muddled the waters even further.
Now, with the advent of Bilingual-Bicultural philosophy and increasing awareness of Audism, we are reclaiming our society. We are taking our Deaf children out of the suffocating hands of the Audists, starting with the leaders of our schools.
The Principals.