BY JIM LOCKWOOD
Published: June 24, 2014
The Scranton School for Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing Children has a new director.
Jon Konzelman was promoted from assistant to the principal to the newest director of the nonprofit, South Abington Twp. school, effective immediately.
Mr. Konzelman has been with the pre-K through eighth-grade school since its inception five years ago, and before that worked for two years for the school’s predecessor institution, the former Scranton State School for the Deaf.
His new position entails community relations, fundraising, supervising a principal and development of the school that is a program of the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf.
“We are gratified to have an educator of the caliber of Jon Konzelman serving our students,” CEO Donald Rhoten said in Monday’s announcement. “He is widely respected in our school community and brings a wealth of experience, energy and professionalism to the task. We look forward to seeing our school continue to grow and thrive under his leadership.”
In 2009, the state gave the former Scranton State School for the Deaf to Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf. The operation moved from the former state school’s location in the Green Ridge section of Scranton to the nonprofit’s facility at the former Lourdesmont campus on Venard Road in South Abington Twp.
Mr. Konzelman has helped shepherd growth of the school as it has evolved with a broader student pool, changing teaching styles and new technology. Enrollment has doubled from 32 children five years ago to 61 students, and 65 expected to start the new academic year, Mr. Konzelman said in a phone interview.
A big change was serving hard-of-hearing children, and 65 percent of the school’s students use hearing aids and 24 percent have cochlear implants, he said.
“We offer a product that can meet students’ needs and that parents want,” said Mr. Konzelman, noting that the school services are provided free. “We’re at a point now where we’re looking at what to do to meet space needs.”
Source: Scranton The Times Tribune.com