HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR TO TEACH DEAF STUDENTS
MELDS LOVE OF SKATING, SIGN LANGUAGE by TOM RUST Maggie Hausmann, an
18-year-old senior at Shattuck-St. Mary’s School (S-SM) in Fari- bault, Minn., remembers the first time she saw deaf students talking. Her school is next to the Minne- sota State Academy for the Deaf (MSAD). “I loved watching the ex-
pressive movements of American Sign Language (ASL),” she said. “It spoke to me the same way that figure skating and dance do. When I found out that Shattuck offered ASL as a foreign language, I had to sign up.”
As Maggie’s proficiency in
ASL grew, she wanted to apply that knowledge in a useful way. She loved teaching learn-to-skate students at Shattuck and wondered why the deaf students couldn’t par- ticipate.
“I wanted to learn more about
deaf culture,” she said, “and teach them something that I was passion- ate about.” When she approached her fig-
ure skating coach Diana Ronayne two years ago about that possibility, Ronayne admits she was skeptical. “She tends to want to do ev-
erything,” Ronayne said. “She’s an honor student, proctor, president of the Dramatics Association and is on prom committee — all of that on top of her training schedule. “She sometimes overextends
Hausmann displays her figure skating talent at a summertime competition.
Maggie Hausmann realized a longtime dream when she received approval to teach deaf children to skate at her school of Shattuck-St. Mary’s.
herself. I wanted her to understand what was involved in setting up a program like this — ice time, teach- ers, liability. But most of all, I want- ed a program that would have some longevity and not just end when she graduated.” Hausmann’s opportunity came when she was selected to take part in S-SM’s new “Blended Learning” pilot program. Te program lets students attend traditional classes on Tuesdays and Tursdays, work independently the other days and commit to a service or academic project.
“I finally had the time and the
support I needed to make my idea a reality,” Hausmann said. On March 14, 2013, the first
“Sign-and-Skate” class filled the studio rink at Shattuck-St. Mary’s. Four boys ranging in age from 8 to 11 traveled the short distance from MSAD to S-SM’s sports complex with four of their teachers. Tey were met by Maggie, Dianne Lyles (S-SM’s ASL teacher), and four S-SM girls who also skate, take ASL and are committed to continuing
32 MAY 2013
the program after Hausmann grad- uates.
Te MSAD students were shy at first, but the girls quickly put them at ease, introducing them- selves using sign language and helping put on skates. Two of the MSAD teachers also strapped on skates, along with Lyles, and every- one stepped on the ice. Te boys were soon smiling and laughing. Lyles — herself deaf and an alumna of MSAD — was impressed with what Hausmann had put together.
“She was wonderful in leading the deaf kids from MSAD,” Lyles said. “She showed skating as a fun and positive experience for us all.” Hausmann reflected on what this experience has meant to her. “Sign language is truly beau-
tiful because it gives people a way to express themselves physically and emotionally in a way that spoken languages cannot. I’m so happy I’ve been able to learn it and use it to share the beautiful language of fig- ure skating.”
Hausmann uses sign language to encourage one of her deaf students.
PHOTOS BY TOM RUST
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