Professional Development

2007 Heartspring Award for Innovation and Creativity in Special Education

Jay Cherry, Columbus, IN
Jay Cherry is an audiologist, teacher, and certified interpreter. He teaches deaf and hard of hearing students at the Bartholomew Special Services Cooperative in Columbus, Indiana. In 2005, Jay established a program that began with five students, each with a varying degree of hearing loss, called the HEAR Club, which stands for Hearing Loss, Education, Access and Resource. This club is designed to help the students become advocates for themselves and other students with hearing loss in the community.

The first priority of the HEAR Club was to provide mentors to young deaf and hard of hearing students. The mentors consist of high school students with career interests in the field of hearing loss. Soon, the club focused on creating a fund to provide assistance in purchasing hearing aids for younger children. The club began a newsletter and collaborated with their local fire department to provide flashing smoke detectors. Students also attend parent support group meetings where they offer parents of young children with a hearing loss perspective related to what their child may experience as they grow older. HEAR club members even began working with their state representative to send a bill to the Indiana House of Representatives for insurance companies to pay for hearing aids.

In September 2007 Congressman Baron Hill, respresenting Indiana's 9th Congressional District, commended Cherry's contribution to special needs education and congratulated him on his distinction as a 2007 Heartspring Award winner:

"I want to write and congratulate you on the high distinction of being one of only six International Heartspring Award winners. Truly, you are going above and beyond your duties in the service of children with special needs and the greater public."

The community also recognizes Jay’s leadership within the HEAR Club, but he gives all the credit to his students. Please join us as we honor Jay Cherry and his students with the 2007 Heartspring Award for Innovation and Creativity in Special Education.