From Maria’s Desk – September 2021

Dear OVV Friends and Family,

Fall is in the air! For me, that means three things: (slightly) cooler temperatures, the OVV fashion show, and, most important of all, the beginning of another exciting but challenging school year.

As we get back into the swing of things, all of us in the OVV family—teachers, staff, parents, and children—carry on courageously, happy to be together no matter how that looks. Even masked and socially distanced, we are a family!

The work we do at OVV isn’t easy. Whether you’re giving or receiving early intervention therapy, it requires immense amounts of patience, grit, and determination. In other words, it requires leaning in.

Thankfully, our community is full of brilliant individuals who lean in daily. Take, for instance, Julie Carter, the subject of this month’s staff spotlight. (Tramadol) Julie lost her hearing at the age of four and through a Herculean effort learned to speech read her teachers’ lessons.

As an adult, Julie began teaching at Ohio Valley Voices—an experience that motivated her to undergo cochlear implant surgery. For over ten years, Julie has brought her experiences as a cochlear implant user to bear on her work as an OVV teacher, changing the lives of dozens upon dozens of kids in the process.

Julie will be an inspiration to all of us at OVV, students and staff members alike, as we lean in this school year. And she’ll be an inspiration to me during the L(OVV)E Amplified Fashion Show when I lean in by wearing a truly funky and eccentric outfit. (I would tell you more, but I don’t want to spoil the surprise.) You’ll just have to come see it for yourself on September 23rd!

Until then, stay safe and remember to lean in!

Sincerely,

Maria

This letter from Maria was originally featured in our September Newsletter. You can read the entire newsletter and become a subscriber by clicking here.

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