Clarke is proud to announce that Barbara F. Hecht, PhD, national director of strategic initiatives and partnerships at Clarke, has been appointed Vice President of the Council on Education of the Deaf (CED) board. Barbara will represent OPTION Schools and the field of Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) education on the Board.
CED is a national organization sponsored by eight prominent national entities committed to delivering high-quality education for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. The professional organization plays a vital role in establishing nationally recognized standards for educators working with these students across various educational settings.
Additionally, CED accredits university programs that prepare teachers for this specific field and collaborates extensively with numerous related organizations through national committees and workgroups.
Barbara brings over 25 years of experience in working with families of young children with hearing loss to the CED Board. She has also played a pivotal role in educating and coaching parents, teachers, pediatricians and other professionals in the field. As national director of strategic partnerships, she leads research, partnerships, policy influence and data analytics at Clarke.
The CED Board champions and oversees standards for teacher education that incorporate the best practices, as well as reflect the latest research, embracing diversity and multiculturalism. The Board works alongside various national, state and local associations and agencies in multiple capacities to achieve its goal.
As the previous President of OPTION and author of LSL best practice guidelines for students who are deaf or hard of hearing Barbara continually works to advance excellence in the field. Barbara recently shared, “I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to serve on a board that is dedicated to improving the quality of education for students who are deaf and hard of hearing. It is a privilege to work alongside and support dedicated teachers of the deaf by implementing best practices for them to succeed.”
