Maura Martindale developed the unique program to train teachers to work with children with hearing loss
The unique two-year program prepared more than 100 people to teach the increasing number of students with hearing loss and she is retiring with emeritus status on Tuesday.
"In the United States today, 87% of children with children loss are in general education for all or part of the day," Martindale told KCLU.
She said that she wanted to prepare teacher candidates to work with children with hearing loss, from as young as possible, so they aren't at a disadvantage from their peers.
Although she is retiring, Martindale will continue to instruct prospective teachers and therapists through a just-released textbook called Listening and Spoken Language Therapy for Children with Hearing Loss: A Practical Auditory-Based Guide.
Martindale began teaching part time at Cal Lutheran in 2005. With grant funding, she developed the university’s two-year, part-time program to prepare teachers to work with the growing number of children with cochlear implants and digital hearing aids whose families request spoken-language programs in general education settings. Candidates can earn a preliminary education specialist credential and a master’s degree in education of the deaf and hard of hearing.
Cal Lutheran’s program is the only one in California focused on spoken language that prepares teachers to work with students older than six.
In 2011, Martindale received a $1.2 million grant for the program from the U.S. Department of Education to address the shortage of teachers prepared to work with those who are deaf and hard of hearing. The grant provided aid for prospective teachers and helped the university work to reduce the large achievement gap between hearing students and those with hearing loss, especially those from Latino families.
Martindale also served as chair of the Department of Learning and Teaching and as a member of multiple university committees. In 2014, she received the Graduate School of Education’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Teaching.
She began her career teaching general education students in public schools before teaching and leading programs at the John Tracy Center Clinic for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children for more than two decades. Martindale has a bachelor’s degree in history and elementary education from Annhurst College, a master’s in education of the deaf from Smith College and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Southern California.
Cal Lutheran in the parent of KCLU.
