About John Powers Center
The John Powers Center provides services in both instructional and integrated settings for students who are deaf and hard of hearing from early childhood through Grade 5 for students who rely on sign language as their main mode of communication or use it to supplement their auditory and oral communication skills. As individual students have strengths in different sensory modes, a total communication approach is provided. Total communication is the combined use of sign language, finger-spelling, lip-reading, listening and speech. SEDOL initiated the first program for the deaf and hard of hearing in the area. All staff members at the Powers Center are proficient in sign language. All classes at the Powers Center are taught using Conceptually Accurate Signed English and American Sign Language.
Students with hearing loss may require a significant level of support services, dependent upon the severity of their deficit areas. At the Powers Center, a comprehensive program of support services is provided. In addition to traditional modes of therapy, the program at the Powers Center uses a trans-disciplinary team model in which therapy carries over into the classroom. The support staff works in collaboration with the classroom teacher in order to provide a more comprehensive program during the entire school day.
Many deaf and hard of hearing students need the services of interpreters to understand what is being taught and to communicate with regular education peers in social situations. Having the Powers Center located on the Hawthorn Campus allows for a significant level of mainstreaming for students into all grade levels. Interpreters are provided as needed to effectively facilitate this process.
After graduating from eighth grade at Powers Center, the students may attend the high school program at Grayslake High School. The high school program provides for a wide range of mainstream classes in academic and elective subject areas, as well as self-contained classroom instruction from trained teachers of deaf and hard of hearing. Mainstreamed students receive support from sign language interpreters and classroom instruction is provided using total communication.
Deaf/Hard of Hearing Program Staff
Adler, Elan School Social Worker 847-680-8320, 17
Aleckson, Tracy Itinerant Teacher 847-680-8320, 51
Amposta, Lisa Para-Pro 847-680-8320, 72
Assmann, Judith Lead Teacher/Tech Liaison 847-680-8320, 20
Bishop, Dawn Para-Pro 847-680-8320, 67
Boyd, Sandra EC-Grade 8 Teacher of the Deaf 847-680-8320, 29
Bozek, Patti Itinerant Teacher 847-680-8320, 56
Bradley, Abby Itinerant Teacher 847-680-8320, 63
Brandseth, Cherie Interpreter 847-680-8320, 65
Buck, Jennifer School Psychologist Send email jbuck@sedol.us
Cambrany, Irina Bilingual Interpreter 847-680-8320, 18
Carani, Robert Head Custodian 847-680-8320, 70
Caulfield, Marie Para-Pro 847-680-8320, 71
Clark, Michelle EC-Grade 8 Teacher of the Deaf 847-680-8320, 14
Currie, Abigail EC-Grade 8 Teacher of the Deaf 847-680-8320, 39
Degman, Lori Lead Itinerant 847-680-8320, 34
FitzMaurice, Laura Registered Nurse 847-680-8320, 22
Fritz, Catherine Teacher 847-680-8320, 32
Gallatin, Pat Para-Pro 847-680-8320, 66
Hickey, Connie Registered Nurse 847-680-8320, 69
Hoy, Janna Interpreter 847-680-8320, 46
Jahnke, Deborah EC-Grade 8 Teacher of the Deaf 847-680-8320, 16
Kaplan, Sue Audiologist 847-680-8320, 77
Kinder, Tara Itinerant Teacher 847-680-8320, 40
Kronn, Nancy Receptionist & Clerk 847-680-8320, 11
Kruse, Sibby Itinerant Teacher 847-680-8320, 62
LaMarca, Marilyn Para-Pro 847-680-8320, 48
Lefebvre, Joanne Para-Pro 847-680-8320, 60
Meekma, Sharon Occupational Therapist 847-680-8320, 73
Miller, Kathy Itinerant Teacher 847-680-8320, 52
Myers, Katie H.S. Teacher of the Deaf 847-986-3100, 5048
Nilson-Bugella, Terri Principal 847-680-8320, 12
Nolen, Sharon EC-Grade 8 Teacher of the Deaf 847-680-8320, 33
O'Rourke, Angelina EC-Grade 8 Teacher of the Deaf 847-680-8320, 86
Prager, Donna Itinerant Teacher 847-680-8320, 54
Rosario, Maritza Secretary 847-680-8320, 10
Rose, Liz Itinerant Teacher 847-680-8320, 47
Rosell, MaryBeth H.S. Teacher of the Deaf 847-986-3100
Salata, Jodi Itinerant Teacher 847-680-8320, 83
Sator, Michelle Itinerant Teacher 847-680-8320, 41
Scharf, Ruth Para-Pro 847-680-8320, 49
Schmidt, Missy Itinerant Teacher 847-680-8320, 57
Schrubbe, Maria Interpreter 847-680-8320, 35
Sheppard, Jeri H.S. Teacher of the Deaf 847-986-3300, 5049
Siegel, Lindsey Itinerant Teacher 847-680-8320, 28
Sonza-Novera, Alyssa Speech Therapist 847-680-8320, 31
Sweeney-Grana, Julie Audiologist 847-680-8320, 13
Tackes, Candy Teacher 847-680-8320, 37
Treslo, Lisa Audiologist 847-680-8320, 13
Wasilas, Chris Itinerant Teacher 847-680-8320, 43
Weidenfeld, Susan Speech Therapist 847-680-8320, 81
Wester, Diane Interpreter 847-680-8320, 79
Winter, Nikki Teacher 847-680-8320, 55
Woodrow, David Para-Pro 847-680-8320, 30
Wright, Gail Itinerant Teacher 847-680-8320, 61
Zegar, Jean Audiologist 847-680-8320, 24
