2024-2025 Impact Report, Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech
At Clarke, we strive to deliver meaningful outcomes for students who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families. Every day, I find joy in seeing our mission come to life through the dedicated professionals who guide the individuals we support toward success.
This year brought new opportunities to expand our impact. We advanced our early intervention and school-age programs, strengthened our approach to family engagement and continued to inspire learning through personalized support. We also began transitioning our tVisit® Teleservices program into a more comprehensive, integrated model, making virtual care more seamless and accessible for families and individuals across the country.
What drives this progress is our commitment to evolving with purpose. Across every department, Clarke’s teams are guided by a shared mindset: to innovate with intention, to inspire one another and the communities we serve and to create lasting impact—not just today, but for years to come.
Thank you for being part of our journey. Together, we are shaping stronger futures, one student, one family and one success at a time.
Shawn Naugle
President and CEO
Executive Team
Our executive team provides strategic vision and stewardship to advance Clarke’s mission and impact.
Shawn Naugle, MPA
President and CEO
Shawn Naugle was hired as the President & CEO of Clarke in July 2024. Shawn came to Clarke with more than 17 years of experience in non-profit leadership management, including a focus on advocating for the rights of children from many populations. Shawn holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Denver and a master of public administration degree from Strayer University. Bilingual in English and Spanish, Shawn led his previous organization to the school’s highest student enrollment in its 11-year history. He also grew their net assets by $15 million in a three-year period and delivered a 30% increase in community and business partnerships to support operations.
Martha deHahn
Chief of Staff
After having two children who are deaf, Martha and her husband were introduced to Clarke and benefited from an early foundation of Clarke support. With a degree in early childhood education, Martha worked at an early intervention center in central Massachusetts and was also the parent outreach coordinator for all families with a child who did not pass the hearing screening. Martha later joined Clarke as director of program information and outreach, and she is now the chief of staff reporting to Clarke’s president and CEO, Shawn Naugle. Her role includes supporting Shawn with strategic plan implementation and working closely with Clarke’s Board of Trustees.
Sheila Fortson, MS
Chief Marketing and Communications Officer
Danielle Gantt, MS
Chief Financial Officer
Danielle comes to Clarke with over 16 years’ experience in non-profit leadership in finance and development operations, with a focus on education, social services and healthcare. Danielle holds a bachelor’s in business administration and a master’s in accounting from Texas A&M Commerce. Danielle has led a previous organization through growth periods that doubled budgets from $10M to $20M in two years, serving an additional 2,000 clients. Danielle has also optimized finance departments to deliver more timely and accurate reporting needed for decision-making. Most recently, Danielle was the CFO of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay.
Andrea Harkins, MBA, SHRM-CP
Chief Human Resources Officer
Andrea holds an MBA in business administration with a human resources concentration from William Paterson University. She is also an SHRM-certified professional. With over 18 years of experience in human resources, Andrea has successfully led projects that have enhanced operational efficiency and improved employee satisfaction. Throughout her journey she has worked with a diverse range of nonprofit organizations, honing the ability to adapt to varying needs and emerging challenges.
Claudia Miner, PhD
Chief Development Officer
With more than 30 years of fundraising and leadership experience across nonprofit and private sectors, Claudia initially joined the Clarke team as a consultant in 2023 to help elevate the organization’s grant writing, after which she assumed the role of interim chief development director. Most recently Claudia served as executive director of Waterford Upstart, a national early education program which she also co-founded.
Judith S. Sexton MS, CED, LSLS Cert. AVEd
Chief Program Officer
Formerly the director of Clarke Pennsylvania, Judy holds a bachelor’s degree in general education with a minor in deaf education, her master’s degree in deaf education and her supervisory certificate in special education. She has spent nearly 44 years in the public and private sectors working in the fields of general and special education in preschool, elementary, middle and high schools. As a former advisory board member of the Department of Health Early Hearing Detection and Intervention committee, a member of the state Educational Resources for Children with Hearing Loss committee, as well as a member of the LaSalle University Speech and Language Advisory Committee and an adjunct professor, Judy regularly presents at local and national conferences and conventions related to childhood hearing loss. Learn more about Clarke’s programs and services.
Board of Trustees
Clarke is guided by a dedicated board of trustees who bring diverse expertise and a strong commitment to our mission.
Learn more about the board and their roles.
- Michael Budner, Chair
- Lara Zaroulis Mattina, Vice Chair
- Andrew S. DeCastro, Treasurer
- Robert I. Glassman, Clerk
- Mitch Benton, Trustee
- Robert J. Bush, CPCU, CPIA, Trustee
- John F. Danahy, Trustee
- Adriene Hobdy, EdD, Trustee
- Caroline D. Linz, JD, Trustee
- Julie (Biron) Maletz, Trustee
- Theodore Mason, MD, Trustee
- Philip Stefano, Trustee
- Michael Straubel, Trustee
- Brett Trevett, Trustee
The journey of hearing loss is not linear. Consistent and personalized support for children and adults makes long-term progress possible at every step. Clarke offers a comprehensive continuum of services—including early intervention, preschool and school-age programs, mainstream support, speech and language therapy, and audiology services—ensuring the tools individuals and families need to thrive are within reach. Our services are delivered at four schools along the East Coast and virtually, enabling remote opportunities for people across the country and beyond. The Clarke Hearing Center in Northampton, MA, expands these efforts with expert audiological care that fosters lifelong listening and spoken language development.
Measuring the Power of Possibility
The numbers tell our story. They reveal the progress we’ve made toward breaking down barriers, expanding our presence and building brighter futures. These metrics represent Clarke’s reach and results from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.
Students Served:
759
Students supported across all Clarke programs and locations, including Mainstream and virtual services.
Photo: Early hearing screenings make a lifelong difference. A mother and infant await their hearing assessment at Clarke.
Photo: A Clarke preschool student enjoys playtime at a classroom table, engaging in hands-on learning.
Kindergarten Mainstream Placement:
87%
87% of students successfully entered mainstream kindergarten after completing our Preschool Programs. Clarke’s readiness-based approach supports transitions when language and learning skills are developmentally appropriate. Some students receive extended support through kindergarten or first grade to ensure long-term success.
Patients Served:
2,467
Audiology patients supported through the Clarke Hearing Center’s full spectrum of hearing health services.
Photo: A Clarke Audiologist explains technology options to a Clarke Hearing Center patient.
International Outreach:
4
Through professional exchanges, teleservices and volunteer work, Clarke professionals extended their expertise internationally to Canada, India, Bermuda and Kenya.
Photo: Team member, Sherri Fickenscher, MS, LSLS Cert. AVEd, Clarke Education Support Specialist was invited to offer her expertise during a training event in Kenya organized and funded by Global Foundation For Children With Hearing Loss.
Literacy Initiative Phase:
3
As we enter the third phase of our literacy initiative, results from the Test of Preschool Early Literacy (TOPEL) showed improved scores and fewer students performing below average across all subtests.
Photo: A Clarke Teacher of the Deaf reads aloud to a preschool student, strengthening their listening skills.
Clarke serves children from infancy through their teens. Vibha’s story highlights how our specialized programs support students at different stages to achieve meaningful outcomes.
Born in India and diagnosed at age three with severe to profound hearing loss, Vibha’s family moved to the US where she enrolled in Clarke’s Preschool Program in Pennsylvania. Through personalized Listening and Spoken Language support, Vibha gained communication skills and confidence to fully engage with the world around her.
Vibha continued to grow through Clarke’s speech therapy, summer programs and Mainstream Services, where she built a strong foundation academically and socially. Today, she is pursuing neuroscience as a pre-med student at Temple University, actively involved in leadership roles and community service. Vibha’s journey is a powerful testament to the life-changing possibilities that emerge when early support and determination come together. Read Vibha’s full story and additional student profiles.
Clarke continues to be a recognized leader in the field of listening and spoken language, sharing expertise at national conferences and regional engagements. We’re proud to advance the industry’s best practices and support the professional development of leaders inside and outside of our organization.
Clarke’s work is fueled by the generosity of donors who inspire us to innovate and continuously improve the services we provide. Your support empowers us to develop new approaches, expand access and deliver personalized care that truly transforms lives.
Thank you to everyone who contributed this year. Together, we are creating meaningful change and brighter futures for students, families and adults.
FY25 marked Clarke’s most successful fundraising year since the expansion to four school locations. Total contributions surpassed $2.3 million, a 22% increase compared to FY24. This achievement reflects the strong commitment of our community of supporters including individuals, families, corporations and foundations. These valued partners play a key role as they continue to invest in Clarke’s present and future.
Fundraising remains vital to Clarke’s ability to fulfill its mission. With limited federal, state, and local funding, philanthropic support helps tremendously to ensure that families do not bear the cost of the specialized education and services their children need. Every gift enables Clarke to create life-changing opportunities for children who are deaf or hard of hearing, giving them skills they need to thrive for a lifetime.
Number of Gifts
1,812
Dollars Raised
$2.3m
Increase over last year
22%
Clare Doverspike Conover graduated from Clarke in 1947 and went on to achieve remarkable academic and professional milestones. She graduated from Colby Junior College in 1953, then built a distinguished career as a medical technologist and medical researcher at several Connecticut hospitals, retiring in 1997.
Her life was rich with interests including reading, swimming, hiking, biking and kayaking, reflecting the confidence and vitality Clarke hopes to instill in all of our students. That Clare chose to include Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech in her estate planning more than 70 years after graduation is a powerful testament to the impact our early education had on her life path.
Clare’s legacy gift honors a foundation laid long ago: the ability to learn, grow and pursue meaningful work. It will empower future students who are deaf or hard of hearing to gain the same skills, self-assurance and potential she enjoyed throughout her life.
Clarke continues to be a recognized leader in the field of listening and spoken language, sharing expertise at national conferences and regional engagements. We’re proud to advance the industry’s best practices and support the professional development of leaders inside and outside of our organization.
Financials
Clarke consists of three nonprofit corporations (Clarke School for the Deaf, Clarke Pennsylvania, Inc., and Clarke School for Hearing and Speech Florida, Inc.), collectively referred to as “Clarke.” Clarke is a 501(c)(3) organization and is designated as an educational organization under Internal Revenue Code section 170(b)(1)(A)(ii). Clarke prepares its financial information based on the accrual method of accounting.
Revenue
Expenses
*Endowment drawdowns and net asset releases
Although our year-end results reflect a strategic use of resources beyond initial projections, this was a purposeful investment in strengthening Clarke’s infrastructure. These investments included the rollout of a new student database system to enhance administrative workflows and data management across our schools, along with more competitive teacher compensation packages—a critical factor in achieving an impressive 96% teacher retention rate. Additional resources directed toward fundraising, leadership development, and the revitalization of our Teleservices program have laid the groundwork for expanded impact in the years ahead.
