Deaf & Hard of Hearing Program
PS #11 Martin Luther King, Jr. School
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Program Description
Get to Know Us
Jersey City Public Schools is delighted to announce the thriving presence of our Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program, centrally located at PS #11, Martin Luther King Jr. School. This pioneering program is committed to addressing the evolving and diverse needs of our deaf and hard-of-hearing students with unwavering dedication.
We are at the forefront of embracing new knowledge and enhancing our expertise to align with the latest advancements in deaf education. Our specialized literacy program is meticulously tailored to cater to the distinct requirements of our students, ensuring that every aspect of their education is fully accessible and comprehensively supportive. We are steadfast in our mission to provide an enriching educational experience that celebrates and nurtures the unique talents of deaf and hard-of-hearing learners, empowering them to achieve their fullest potential.
Empowering individuals through communication
Specialized Curriculum
The Bedrock Literacy Curriculum
Foundational English
Literacy Skills for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students
by Kristin A. Di Perri, Ed.D
This manual is designed for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) students. It is not a curriculum in the traditional sense but supports teachers in developing literacy skills in meaningful ways—by building a solid foundation that minimizes gaps. The contents focus on assisting the teacher in creating a literacy plan using visually based approaches that excite, motivate, and, most importantly, are meaningful to their students. The Bedrock program outlines a developmental plan, rather than a grade-level approach, for cultivating essential literacy skills in students.
Bedrock covers foundational components such as how to read, write, and develop a strong beginning vocabulary. It also includes some basic beginning grammar skills. The Bedrock program focuses on engaging the DHH students' meta-skills (i.e., metacognitive, metalinguistic) to develop the independent processes for constructing and understanding meaning—the hallmarks of a literate individual. The approach and activities are distinctly designed using a hierarchy that will make sense to the DHH child who has not had intensive exposure to English. These critical literacy building blocks are what all literate students require for lifelong literacy development.
Classroom
Model:
Total Communication Approach
American Sign Language (ASL) is a natural language that serves as the predominant language of Deaf communities in the United States of America. ASL is a complete and organized visual language that is expressed through both manual and non-manual features. However, ASL is conveyed without any verbal output.
In our program model, all teachers, paraprofessionals, and speech therapists utilize ASL signs while verbally presenting the material using Total Communication (TC). Total Communication (TC) is the philosophy of educating children with hearing loss that incorporates all means of communication; formal signs, natural gestures, fingerspelling, body language, listening and speech. Children in TC programs typically wear hearing aids or cochlear implants. The goal is to optimize language development in whatever way is most effective for the individual child building language competence.
Total Communication is truly a philosophy rather than a methodology. As a result, the implementation of the TC philosophy with one child may look entirely different than its implementation with another child.
Administration
Cleopatra Wingard, Ed.D, Principal
Mark Florio, Assistant Principal
Tiffany Smolansky, M.S., CCC-SLP, Special Education Supervisor
Jodi Zaleck, M.A., LDTC, Special Education Supervisor
Teachers of the Deaf (TOD)
Tanaz Karai
Jennifer Guimaraes
Michele Martinez
Jocelyn Martinez
Christine Borchard
Child Study Team
Miriam Badee, School Psychologist
Christine Apicella, Learning Disabilities Teaching Consultant
Martha Saldarriaga, School Social Worker
Linda Miller, Speech-Language Specialist
2024-2025 Deaf / Hard of Hearing Classes
Preschool (PSD) Auditory Impairment
Primary (K-2) Auditory Impairment
Grammar (3-5) Auditory Impairment
Middle (6-8) Auditory Impairment
District-Wide Itinerant TOD Services
2024-2025 Staff
Address
886 Bergen Avenue Jersey City, NJ 07306
Call
CST: 201-413-6914
Fax
Provider Spotlight
Linda Miller
Hi. My name is Linda Miller and I am a Speech Language Specialist in the Jersey City school district. I work at PS#11 with all students, hearing and specifically with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing students. I received my training from Passaic County Community College in the interpreter training program. I was a part of the first class to graduate in 2013. Before coming to Jersey City, I used my skills at Goodwill in Harrison, NJ as a Job Coach for deaf adults.
Here are a few things that have been happening as a part of the Deaf Program:
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Community engagement from former students and the community at large from Hudson and Essex counties
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Workshops teaching basic sign language to the Speech Department
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2018 started weekly basic sign language trainings to building staff
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2018 brought in a speaker for Black History Month to discuss being black and deaf to our middle school students
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2019 started teaching basic sign language to hearing students afterschool
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2019 had our first ever bridging the gap social event for our deaf and hearing students from the afterschool program
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2019/2020 had another bridging the gap social event including individuals from the community
I truly enjoy working with my students and their families. I enjoy helping our staff communicate better by sharing my knowledge. The passion that I have does not stop and start within the Jersey City school district. I am currently attending workshops, connecting with other professionals to continue to build up this program.
I am also a part of an organization in the state of NJ called, “Deaf Advocacy Group”. We are currently training Officers and other first responders on how to communicate with deaf and hard of hearing individuals of all ages. We are also working with various lawmakers to make changes/ improvements to bills and laws in the state of NJ.
Bridging the Gap
Linda Miller, JCBOE SLP and host of extended day Sign Club, where students learn American Sign Language, organized an event where members of the club, as well as students in the AI program at PS #11, could connect with members of the local Deaf community.
Click here for more information!
Click to watch the video!
Community Spotlight
Meet Jersey City Public Schools Alum Thyson Halley!
Thyson was born and raised in Jersey City, NJ. At the age of two and a half, Thyson was diagnosed with spinal meningitis. Thyson’s family was told by doctors that he would never walk, talk, or hear. Although he is Hard of Hearing (DEAF), with only 52% hearing in his left ear and no hearing in his right ear, that has not slowed Thyson down at all! Thyson is an alum of Jersey City Public Schools. He also attended Governor Livingston High School in Berkeley Heights, NJ. After high school, Thyson moved on to get an Associate Degree in Deaf Studies at Camden County College. He furthered his education at Gallaudet University, becoming a Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI).
Thyson felt the Lord had called him to help those in need, which led him to choose this field of study. He leads his life according to “The Great Commission.” In this Bible verse, Jesus stated, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” Thyson was licensed to preach gospel in 2006 and was ordained in 2011. He works closely with Chosen Generation Ministries (CGM) in Newark, NJ, where he is an Elder, and assists other organizations in reaching their projected goals. He has taken over 1500 under-privileged youth and parents to Disney World for an educational Christian Retreat. He also works with CGM’s Project Reconnect, which assists men and women coming out of prison to become reacquainted in their communities.
In addition to his work with CGM, Thyson acts as a consultant for various ministries to successfully implement Deaf Ministry in their place of worship. He is the founder of His Hands Ministry, a Deaf and Hard of Hearing Sign Language Ministry. Thyson gives back to his community by hosting free sign language classes at public libraries and community centers in NJ. Thyson serves as the ASL Interpreter for the city of Newark and has also had the opportunity to interpret for the mayors of both Newark and Jersey City. He served on the Jersey City Board of Ethical Standards, as well as the Newark Health Center Board of Commission.
Most recently, Thyson was featured in the September 2020 edition of the New Jersey Monthly Magazine! Check out the article here!
A Historic Moment
Mayor Fulop, the Jersey City Municipal Council, the J.C. Deaf Community, and the Office of Cultural Affairs presented the Deaf Awareness Month Flag Raising at City Hall.
Watch below!