Mary Ellen Martone, M.A.
Director of Early Childhood Education
Mary Ellen graduated from the renowned Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. with a B.A. in English.  She taught and worked for the Federal Government before returning to Gallaudet for her Master’s.

Mary was born hearing, but at age two contracted an undiagnosed illness.  Spending ten weeks in bed, she began to walk again with limited balance.  She continued to use her speech, though it seemed to be declining (as she wasn’t receiving language input).  Finally at age four, when she didn’t turn from her playing to see the milk man at the door, she had a hearing evaluation to confirm she was deaf.

First enrolled in public school as a child, Mary would throw regular temper tantrums, until her pediatrician suggested she attend what was the first U.S. school of its kind, the American School for the Deaf, in Connecticut.  Just one week made a difference.  It was an oral program (so the focus was spoken language) and in the dorm she was also exposed to ASL.

“I felt like I was in a fog [at first]... ASL enabled me to speak English even better, gave it meaning.  I became bilingual and would interpret between my [deaf] friends and my parents.”

And today: “I enjoy watching both kids and parents grow and develop.  The more involved the parents are, the more successful the kids will become.”