Leadership

An expert in “building a plane while flying it”, Dr. Sarah Glenn-Smith has worked as a professional in the healthcare, education, technology and nonprofit arenas for more than 20 years. She has been an RID certified sign language interpreter, CI/CT, since 2003.

Dr. Glenn-Smith currently serves as President and CEO for The Learning Center for the Deaf in Framingham, MA. Previously, Sarah worked for Kaleida Health, the largest healthcare system in Western New York, as both a CEO for their joint radiology venture, and, later, as President of Ambulatory Services. Applying her passion for education, she worked for six years at PLS 3rd Learning, an international education technology company, as Chief Operating Officer, and brings extensive experience in the conception, development and execution of strategic and tactical financial, organization and development initiatives. Sarah has also held the roles of Chief Administrative Officer for the healthcare management group, Exigence, and Executive Director of Deaf Adult Services, in Buffalo, New York.

Dr. Glenn-Smith earned her Executive Master's Degree in Business Administration at State University of New York at Buffalo, and both a Masters and Doctorate in Conflict Analysis and Resolution at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Sarah grew up in Southern California, and currently resides in Massachusetts.

Karen Bishop received a Master's Degree in Education of the Deaf from Boston University. She has worked with children for twenty years, the past 16 with Walden School as a teacher, supervisor, curriculum coordinator, assistant director and now the Director. In 1999, she was trained in the Second Step Violence Prevention Curriculum. Karen recently became re-certified as a Pro-ACT trainer, marking her tenth year as a Pro-ACT instructor.

With a genuine passion for social justice, Kyle Amber brings extensive background in mental health, Deaf culture and education.

She received her Master’s degree in Mental Health from Gallaudet University, she is currently working on her dissertation to complete her Ph.D. in social justice, and has participated in numerous presentations and panel discussions on mental health counseling, Deaf culture, empathy and intersectionality. Most recently she has also served on the Faculty of Color Coalition Committee at Gallaudet. Kyle Amber has worked with organizations nationwide, including the Deaf Abused Women’s Network, CSD Unites, National Association of the Deaf, National Black Deaf Advocates and Maryland School for the Deaf.

Danielle Kehoe joined The Learning Center for the Deaf in 2016. She brings over 20 years of experience in advancement and sponsored programs in education, having previously served as the Executive Director of Academic Grants at Sponsored Programs at Daemen College in Amherst. Danielle holds a master's degree in Executive Leadership & Change from Daemen College and a bachelor's degree from Sarah Lawrence College. She is a Certified Research Administrator (CRA). She serves on the Board of the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce and has completed ASL classes at Framingham State University. She currently lives in Harvard, Mass., with her husband, six-year-old son and nine-year-old golden retriever.

Jennifer Greenfield is the superintendent of the Marie Philip School, She previously worked at two other schools for the deaf in various positions, bringing more than 20 years of experience to TLC.  Jennifer is a recently-elected Board member of the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf (CEASD). Additionally, she is a member of the DESE's Special Education Advisory Board.

Jennifer holds a master’s degree Special Education from Bank Street College of Education and a master’s degree in Social Work from Columbia University, both in New York.  She is honored to be working at a school that holds ASL and Deaf culture as their utmost value.

Michelle Cline is the Executive Director of Walden School. Michelle obtained her bachelor’s degree from Rochester Institute of Technology and her master’s degree in Social Work from Syracuse University. After several different job stints, she has made Massachusetts her home. Michelle continues to volunteer her time to different organizations through advocacy and is currently the Treasurer of the National Association of the Deaf.  She has won several awards, including the Hamilton Relay 2018 Deaf Community Leader Award, NJAD – State Association Excellence Award from National Association of the Deaf and the Albert Barnabei Memorial Service Award from Union County College Sign Club. Michelle is married with three beautiful children and is experiencing a nest that is almost empty. She enjoys spending time with her family and the little critters, Nevaeh, Stripey and Lilo.

An experienced director of curriculum and instruction, Toni Ammirati is responsible for TLC’s Educational Compliance through DESE and is a MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) approved Educational Administrator. Toni received her master’s degree in Deaf Education from Gallaudet University and has more than 30 years of experience working in the fields of nonprofit organizations, literacy, classroom management, education reform and lesson planning. She was an Elementary Principal for 25 years prior to moving into a leadership role in curriculum and instruction.

Jeanne Reis is the director of CRT and the ASL Clear project director. As CRT director, she oversees consultancies with schools, districts, and states on effective bilingual instruction and assessment practices and partners with universities to advance research related to bilingual education. As ASL Clear project director, Jeanne partners with collaborators to develop new content in ASL Clear, offer ASL STEM professional development workshops, and conduct research. Jeanne also engages teams of Deaf subject matter experts to provide standardized test translation into ASL for assessment consortia and states. She served as an ASL and Math content expert for the Guidelines for Accessible Assessments Project, an 18-state, multi-year research and coalition effort funded by The U.S. Department of Education. Jeanne holds a Master’s degree in Education from Boston University, a BA in Linguistics from University of Southern Maine, and a Master Mentor Certificate from University of Colorado Boulder. Jeanne is the daughter of Deaf parents and a heritage signer of American Sign Language.

Kym Meyer has spent the last 25 years pioneering and developing the Public School Partnership Program at TLC. She received her master’s degree in Audiology from Gallaudet University and is a Ph.D Candidate in Special Education at UMass-Amherst. Kim was the first person in her family to graduate high school and move across the country to attend college. In 2019, she was selected as one of 10 HECSE (Higher Education Consortium in Special Education) doctoral students to participate in their Policy and Politics in Special Education Short Course in Washington, D.C. Kym is the recipient of the 2019 Jane West SPARK award from the Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children for teacher and student advocacy.

Andrew Veith was born deaf and native signer. He obtained his studies from Delgado Community College in Certification of Technical Studies focusing on ASL Studies and A.A. in Interpreting, then received his bachelor’s in Deaf Studies at Gallaudet University. He has been in management level of employment since 2006 and holds Massachusetts State Screening (MCDHH) Approved Deaf Interpreter. He is currently consulting, teaching and mentoring ASL users and Interpreters, active Deaf Interpreter, and contractor. He works with a few theaters in Massachusetts doing ASL Consulting to the team for the shows. 

He is very involved with Deaf Community and Organizations including National Association of the Deaf, several State Association of the Deaf, several State Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. He serves as a Board member for Massachusetts State Association of the Deaf and was elected President for two terms; he is currently Vice President of Operations. Andrew was represented as a board member at Disability Policy Consortium, Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and Northern Essex Community College. He worked as a Registration Coordinator for NAD Conferences (two conferences), Exhibitor Coordinator for CSD/Deaf Expo and Interpreting for NAD, ASLTA, Street Leverage, and local conferences as Audience, Platform, and DeafBlind Interpreting. 

He holds SLPI: ASL Rating – Superior Plus/Superior, ASLPI 4 and obtained award from MSAD in 2015, The Laurent Clerc Service Award in appreciation of my long-term commitment, involvement and many contributions to Deaf Community. 

Dr. Colón is the current Director of Audiology at The Learning Center for the Deaf. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Massachusetts – Amherst, with a certificate in Latin American Studies, and was awarded her Master of Science and Doctor of Audiology degree from Gallaudet University. Dr. Colón had previously completed her last year of doctoral practicum at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona and was most recently the Clinical Program Manager of the Cochlear Implant Program at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center before transitioning to her current director role. Her passion is hearing healthcare as well as rehabilitative measures, including hearing aids and cochlear implants. She is a strong advocate of equality and ease of access of healthcare services for marginalized and immigrant populations, most recently spearheading the credentialing of the TLC Audiology Clinic for MassHealth services. Dr. Colón is fluent in English, Spanish, and American Sign Language.

Elisa Valles is the CBHI/DCF Program Director. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with certifications in clinical mental health counseling and writing and literature. She has previously presented to the American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association (ADARA) about trauma-informed care for parents in the home and is trained in the GROW curriculum. In her spare time, Elisa enjoys baking. 

An expert in “building a plane while flying it”, Dr. Sarah Glenn-Smith has worked as a professional in the healthcare, education, technology and nonprofit arenas for more than 20 years. She has been an RID certified sign language interpreter, CI/CT, since 2003.

Dr. Glenn-Smith currently serves as President and CEO for The Learning Center for the Deaf in Framingham, MA. Previously, Sarah worked for Kaleida Health, the largest healthcare system in Western New York, as both a CEO for their joint radiology venture, and, later, as President of Ambulatory Services. Applying her passion for education, she worked for six years at PLS 3rd Learning, an international education technology company, as Chief Operating Officer, and brings extensive experience in the conception, development and execution of strategic and tactical financial, organization and development initiatives. Sarah has also held the roles of Chief Administrative Officer for the healthcare management group, Exigence, and Executive Director of Deaf Adult Services, in Buffalo, New York.

Dr. Glenn-Smith earned her Executive Master's Degree in Business Administration at State University of New York at Buffalo, and both a Masters and Doctorate in Conflict Analysis and Resolution at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Sarah grew up in Southern California, and currently resides in Massachusetts.

Ralph Hinckley is a vice president of Eaton Vance Management and portfolio manager and analyst on Eaton Vance’s floating-rate loan team. He is responsible for buy and sell decisions, portfolio construction and risk management for the firm’s floating-rate loan strategies. He joined Eaton Vance in 2003. Ralph began his career in the investment management industry in 1997.

Before joining Eaton Vance, he was a vice president in the communications lending division of Citizens Bank and a lending officer at State Street Bank. Ralph earned a B.A. from Bates College and an MBA, with honors, from Boston University Graduate School of Management.

He is a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society and is a CFA charter holder.

Kathy Vesey is the director of the Gallaudet University Regional Center at Northern Essex Community College.  Previously she directed a large K-12 program serving students who are deaf and hard of hearing in southeastern MA.  She has worked professionally as an administrator, educator, and counselor.  Ms. Vesey is currently on the Advisory Board for the MA Newborn Hearing Screening Program.  She has been instrumental in adapting the Shared Reading Program to include families with children with hearing losses who speak Spanish in the home.

Val has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Hollingsworth and Vose Company since 1997. He received his bachelor's from the University of Pennsylvania and holds an MBA from Dartmouth’s Amos Tuck School of Business Administration. Val and his wife Carol live in Dover with their three children.