At Oak Park High School, American Sign Language is a popular language class that all students have the opportunity to take. Mary Ruth-Summers is the new ASL teacher, taking over all ASL classes this school year.
She took over for the previous teacher, Deanne Bray, who left near the beginning of the school year. Ruth-Summers has been getting to know Oak Park better and making connections with all the students and staff.
“Teaching at OPHS has been an exciting experience, particularly because the school is very supportive and enthusiastic about total immersion in language learning,” Ruth-Summers wrote to the Talon. “The students are thriving under this approach.”
Ruth-Summers has her own immersion teaching style, which helps many students learn ASL in an enjoyable way. She has many goals for her students and herself this year, making sure that her students learn ASL, but also life lessons along with it.
“I have a lot of hopes for the year as a new teacher,” Ruth-Summers wrote. “My goal is to foster a deep understanding of both the language and Deaf culture, ensuring that students feel welcomed and gain confidence in their signing abilities. I also hope to inspire them to continue learning about diversity and respect—not just for the Deaf community but also in their own communities.”
Ruth-Summers has been teaching ASL for around 15 years now, so she isn’t new to the program. She has taught high school and college level classes before, expanding the horizons of many students wanting to learn ASL.
“My motivation for teaching ASL stems from a passion for the language and a desire to share it with others,” Ruth-Summers wrote. “ASL’s recognition as a formal language is relatively recent, and colleges and Deaf schools are now increasingly teaching ASL and Deaf culture. This promotes inclusivity and helps recognize the diversity of languages and cultures.”
Ruth-Summers is ready and excited to teach at OPHS, with her new students welcoming her and ready to learn ASL.
“My favorite part of teaching ASL is making connections with students, families, and other educators,” Ruth-Summers wrote. “Witnessing students embrace a new way of communicating and seeing their progress in signing is incredibly rewarding.”
