Who We Are

Ministry Feature: Sister Mary Jo McAtee and the DePaul School for Hearing and Speech

Sister Mary Jo McAtee, SC, hears miracles every day.

As the director of Educational Services at DePaul School for Hearing and Speech, she oversees all of the academic programs and curriculum. She also supervises the school’s teachers, speech pathologists, as well as the audiologist, psychologist, and family service coordinator.

Sister Mary Jo leads the school’s 100-year mission of teaching each child who is deaf or hard of hearing to listen, speak, and learn. Today, all of the DePaul School’s graduates enter the educational mainstream with the foundation to succeed. This mission was developed by the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill who founded this ministry in 1908 and have served there since.

“Children who are deaf or hard of hearing have the potential to learn, to listen, and to speak,” says Sister Mary Jo. “Advancements in hearing technology—such as the cochlear implant—and strong auditory oral programs, such as DePaul School, can eliminate the isolation once caused by the disability of deafness.”

Sister Mary Jo is inspired when she walks through the school and hears the voices of the children. She sees that same wonder in the faces of parents who tour the school and realize that their own child has the potential to listen and speak. Sister Mary Jo is also inspired by the dedicated teachers and staff who believe in the school’s mission and do whatever it takes to teach a child and help him or her reach full academic potential.

This community of teachers and administrators, audiologists, speech pathologists, psychologists, nurses, family service coordinators, mainstream coordinators, parents, and grandparents work together so that each child learns to listen, to speak, and to succeed in mainstream society. Sister Mary Jo emphasizes that it’s not what they do, but how they do it. She adds, “They are truly ‘partners in the work of Charity.’”

“Our biggest challenge is making sure that all parents of children who are deaf know all the options that are available to them,” says Sister Mary Jo. “Many parents don’t know and are not informed that their child can learn to listen and speak.” The second biggest challenge is reaching these parents and children as early as possible. “Early identification, appropriate amplification, and early intervention services by a trained professional make a world of difference in fostering the natural development of speech and language,” she adds.

The school has a strong early intervention component which incorporates a center-based toddler program in order to give these children the most effective start possible in life. The preschool curriculum continues to focus on vocabulary and oral language development which is the necessary foundation for reading development and academic achievement. DePaul’s students are being integrated into classrooms with hearing children at schools in their own neighborhoods when they are academically and socially ready to succeed.

Sister Mary Jo and her staff know they are making a difference in the lives of these children when they return as young adults to share their personal and professional successes. This year, more than ever, these alumni are contacting the school to say thank you and to give something back to the school in honor of the 100th anniversary.

Learn more about DePaul School for Hearing and Speech.