Interview with Claire Kantor Executive Director, Summit Speech School
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AO/Beck: Hi Ms. Kantor. Thanks for your time this morning. If you don't mind, I'd like to start by learning a little about your professional history. I know you've had an interesting and diverse background, and perhaps you can spend a few moments on that?
Kantor: I graduated school with a bachelor's degree in audiology and speech pathology. I have been in the profession since 1968. I got my master's in speech pathology and audiology and worked at the Bruce Street School for the Deaf in Newark, New Jersey. I did that for 14 years in a variety of capacities. I served as a speech pathologist, a certified teacher of the deaf, and I worked as an educational audiologist. Towards the end of my time there, I was doing more administrative work and finally decided that my primary interest and strengths were in administration. I got a degree in administration and supervision and after all that -- I decided to leave Newark and went on to a private school where I would have more direct contact with families and children. So in 1982, I joined the Summit Speech School and I have been here ever since. I am the Executive Director of the School.
AO/Beck: Where is the Summit Speech School located, and what can you tell me about the School?
Kantor: Summit Speech School is in New Providence, New Jersey, but as you might imagine, it started in Summit, New Jersey! The school has existed since 1967. We currently serve about 150 children from birth through 6 years of age. We have a state funded Early Intervention Program, which mandates that our therapists go out to the homes to do some of their work in the child's natural environment. We also have the Sound Beginnings program. Sound Beginnings is a center-based program for children between birth and three years of age. The program allows children to come to the center and interact with other children with hearing aids and cochlear implants, allowing them to identify with each other. Additionally, we have a preschool for hearing impaired children and that program is for children aged 3 to 6 years.
AO/Beck: So the Summit Speech School is primarily for young children, and clearly it serves a diverse hearing impaired population. Please tell me about the outcomes? In particular, how many of the graduating children go on to be mainstreamed?
Kantor: About 70 percent of the kids go on to be mainstreamed into their local school districts, with appropriate support services. These children might use any of the available technologies such as hearing aids, sound field systems, cochlear implants, FM assistive listening devices and other technologies too. Unfortunately, many schools do not have the resources or the personnel to manage hearing impaired children with cochlear implants or hearing aids maximally. To help address this problem, we established an itinerant program, through which our teachers of the deaf are available to the surrounding and outlying school districts to provide services needed, as stated in their IEP.
AO/Beck: The itinerant program sounds like an excellent idea. What happens to the other 30 percent of the children who are not mainstreamed?
Kantor: Most of them go on to an auditory-oral school here in New Jersey called the Bergen Country Special Services Program. For some children we might recommend a total communication program upon their graduation from Summit Speech School. The recommendations are obviously tailored to the needs of the specific children and each one is unique. But there is a clear trend for the vast majority to wind up in the mainstream environment.
AO/Beck: I know that Oticon recognized you recently through their Focus on People awards, and I was hoping you could tell me why they did that?
Kantor: Well, I think it has to do primarily with the Summit Speech School success. When I first arrived at the school, we had seven children and we now have 150. We were originally in a tiny little house behind Overlook Hospital in Summit, New Jersey, and now we're in a state-of-the-art facility that has 30 thousand square feet. I appreciate the award and I' m very proud of it, but the entire team worked diligently to make the Summit Speech School what it is, and the entire team deserves the recognition.
AO/Beck: What is the primary source of funding for Summit Speech School?
Kantor: The funding is diverse and we have multiple sources. The primary funding for the preschool comes from the state through local tuition. In other words, the district that sends the child to the School, pays the tuition. The Early Intervention Program is on a state grant that covers about 25 percent of the actual cost and the rest of the money comes from our annual fund raising, which brings in about 1.2 million dollars annually. That is in addition to our capital campaign which was 5.1 million dollars and we completed that some 9 years ago. We have also established an endowment campaign, and it is at about 3.6 million dollars at this time, with another million dollars in pledges. The goal for the endowment fund is five million dollars. So we have accomplished a great deal, but there is a lot more to do, and we're looking forward to the challenges and accomplishing the goals!
AO/Beck: Has Universal Newborn Screenings changed the demographics?
Kantor: Yes. There has been a terrific and positive impact. We now enroll children at three and four weeks of age. Now that these children are identified early, we can start working with the parents when their needs are the greatest, which is when the child is very young. We can also help the parents learn about the audiologic testing, equipment, and auditory training and technology available to them and their child. We can have a greater, longer lasting impact by working with the youngest children. We can teach the parents to work effectively with the child and maximize the child's potential.
AO/Beck: What might be a common thread regarding the behaviors of the parents of newly identified hearing impaired children?
Kantor: One thing that happens is that without appropriate intervention, some parents stop talking to the child - because they think the child cannot her anything! Of course that's the wrong thing to do for most of the children. They can hear a little, and with amplification they might hear quite well. As you know Doug, the key to successful speech and language development is to continually bathe the child in language! This is particularly important for hearing impaired children.
AO/Beck: Do you have counseling available for children and the parents?
Kantor: Yes, we do. We have a psychologist available on staff to provide support for the families and the parents. We also have a for dads only group too, and they meet once a month. Sometimes we connect dads to dads so they can talk with each other, and that's very important for the dads of newly diagnosed hearing impaired children. Sometimes, the moms tell us the dads don't want to talk about the issues. Of course, what the dad feels is very important, but sometimes it is very different from what's important to the mom. So ongoing counseling is available, and it's an important service.
AO/Beck: For people who would like more information on the Summit Speech School, can you give us the contact information?
Kantor: Sure thing. The best email address is probably info@summitspeech.com, and we have a website too. The website is www.summitspeech.com, and our phone number is 908-508-0011.
AO/Beck: Thanks so much for your time today. The program sounds impressive, and I can see why Oticon recognized you with this wonderful award! Congratulations to you and the Summit Speech School. It has been a pleasure speaking with you.
Kantor: Thank you very much.
For more information on the Oticon Focus on People awards and to learn more about Oticon hearing aids and products, please CLICK HERE.
For more information on Oticon click here.
Kantor: I graduated school with a bachelor's degree in audiology and speech pathology. I have been in the profession since 1968. I got my master's in speech pathology and audiology and worked at the Bruce Street School for the Deaf in Newark, New Jersey. I did that for 14 years in a variety of capacities. I served as a speech pathologist, a certified teacher of the deaf, and I worked as an educational audiologist. Towards the end of my time there, I was doing more administrative work and finally decided that my primary interest and strengths were in administration. I got a degree in administration and supervision and after all that -- I decided to leave Newark and went on to a private school where I would have more direct contact with families and children. So in 1982, I joined the Summit Speech School and I have been here ever since. I am the Executive Director of the School.
AO/Beck: Where is the Summit Speech School located, and what can you tell me about the School?
Kantor: Summit Speech School is in New Providence, New Jersey, but as you might imagine, it started in Summit, New Jersey! The school has existed since 1967. We currently serve about 150 children from birth through 6 years of age. We have a state funded Early Intervention Program, which mandates that our therapists go out to the homes to do some of their work in the child's natural environment. We also have the Sound Beginnings program. Sound Beginnings is a center-based program for children between birth and three years of age. The program allows children to come to the center and interact with other children with hearing aids and cochlear implants, allowing them to identify with each other. Additionally, we have a preschool for hearing impaired children and that program is for children aged 3 to 6 years.
AO/Beck: So the Summit Speech School is primarily for young children, and clearly it serves a diverse hearing impaired population. Please tell me about the outcomes? In particular, how many of the graduating children go on to be mainstreamed?
Kantor: About 70 percent of the kids go on to be mainstreamed into their local school districts, with appropriate support services. These children might use any of the available technologies such as hearing aids, sound field systems, cochlear implants, FM assistive listening devices and other technologies too. Unfortunately, many schools do not have the resources or the personnel to manage hearing impaired children with cochlear implants or hearing aids maximally. To help address this problem, we established an itinerant program, through which our teachers of the deaf are available to the surrounding and outlying school districts to provide services needed, as stated in their IEP.
AO/Beck: The itinerant program sounds like an excellent idea. What happens to the other 30 percent of the children who are not mainstreamed?
Kantor: Most of them go on to an auditory-oral school here in New Jersey called the Bergen Country Special Services Program. For some children we might recommend a total communication program upon their graduation from Summit Speech School. The recommendations are obviously tailored to the needs of the specific children and each one is unique. But there is a clear trend for the vast majority to wind up in the mainstream environment.
AO/Beck: I know that Oticon recognized you recently through their Focus on People awards, and I was hoping you could tell me why they did that?
Kantor: Well, I think it has to do primarily with the Summit Speech School success. When I first arrived at the school, we had seven children and we now have 150. We were originally in a tiny little house behind Overlook Hospital in Summit, New Jersey, and now we're in a state-of-the-art facility that has 30 thousand square feet. I appreciate the award and I' m very proud of it, but the entire team worked diligently to make the Summit Speech School what it is, and the entire team deserves the recognition.
AO/Beck: What is the primary source of funding for Summit Speech School?
Kantor: The funding is diverse and we have multiple sources. The primary funding for the preschool comes from the state through local tuition. In other words, the district that sends the child to the School, pays the tuition. The Early Intervention Program is on a state grant that covers about 25 percent of the actual cost and the rest of the money comes from our annual fund raising, which brings in about 1.2 million dollars annually. That is in addition to our capital campaign which was 5.1 million dollars and we completed that some 9 years ago. We have also established an endowment campaign, and it is at about 3.6 million dollars at this time, with another million dollars in pledges. The goal for the endowment fund is five million dollars. So we have accomplished a great deal, but there is a lot more to do, and we're looking forward to the challenges and accomplishing the goals!
AO/Beck: Has Universal Newborn Screenings changed the demographics?
Kantor: Yes. There has been a terrific and positive impact. We now enroll children at three and four weeks of age. Now that these children are identified early, we can start working with the parents when their needs are the greatest, which is when the child is very young. We can also help the parents learn about the audiologic testing, equipment, and auditory training and technology available to them and their child. We can have a greater, longer lasting impact by working with the youngest children. We can teach the parents to work effectively with the child and maximize the child's potential.
AO/Beck: What might be a common thread regarding the behaviors of the parents of newly identified hearing impaired children?
Kantor: One thing that happens is that without appropriate intervention, some parents stop talking to the child - because they think the child cannot her anything! Of course that's the wrong thing to do for most of the children. They can hear a little, and with amplification they might hear quite well. As you know Doug, the key to successful speech and language development is to continually bathe the child in language! This is particularly important for hearing impaired children.
AO/Beck: Do you have counseling available for children and the parents?
Kantor: Yes, we do. We have a psychologist available on staff to provide support for the families and the parents. We also have a for dads only group too, and they meet once a month. Sometimes we connect dads to dads so they can talk with each other, and that's very important for the dads of newly diagnosed hearing impaired children. Sometimes, the moms tell us the dads don't want to talk about the issues. Of course, what the dad feels is very important, but sometimes it is very different from what's important to the mom. So ongoing counseling is available, and it's an important service.
AO/Beck: For people who would like more information on the Summit Speech School, can you give us the contact information?
Kantor: Sure thing. The best email address is probably info@summitspeech.com, and we have a website too. The website is www.summitspeech.com, and our phone number is 908-508-0011.
AO/Beck: Thanks so much for your time today. The program sounds impressive, and I can see why Oticon recognized you with this wonderful award! Congratulations to you and the Summit Speech School. It has been a pleasure speaking with you.
Kantor: Thank you very much.
For more information on the Oticon Focus on People awards and to learn more about Oticon hearing aids and products, please CLICK HERE.
For more information on Oticon click here.
