The Early Childhood Center at The Learning Center for the Deaf serves deaf and hard-of-hearing children aged 3-6, and their families with innovative research based instructional strategies and programs. Our goal is for every child to have the opportunity to develop age-appropriate cognitive, communication, language and social skills.
Inside ECC
Key Staff
Glennis Matthews, MA
Glennis passionately believes in the foundation of literacy and has focused her studies on early literacy intervention strategies for deaf and hard of hearing children with a career goal to advocate and implement an early literacy curriculum for deaf and hard of hearing children.
Glennis earned her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Spelman College in Atlanta after an Associate of Applied Science degree in Sign Language Interpreting from Georgia Perimeter College in Clarkston. She then obtained a Master of Arts degree in Middle Grade Math and Science from Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta.
Her role as TLC Superintendent makes her the first Black Deaf woman and first HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) graduate to become a Superintendent of a Deaf School throughout the history of Deaf Education, joining the league consisting of a few Deaf BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) Deaf School Superintendents in the United States.
Milmaglyn Morales
Milmaglyn holds certification in Connecticut as an Integrated Early Childhood Education (*N-Grade 3) and Special Education in K-12, as well as a Birth-to-Three Program Service Coordinator. She also has a Sixth-Year Leadership Certificate and is currently a Certified Visual Communication Sign Language Evaluator.
Mary Jane Huru, B.S.
Parent ASL Classes, TLCPA and PAC Group Liason
Mary Jane Huru has a deep, personal connection to TLC. She is the mother of a former PIP student, who went on to attend her entire schooling at TLC, graduating in 2010. Mary Jane received her bachelor's degree in Child and Family Services. She has worked at TLC for 25 years, 10 as Admission Director/Family Liaison. Prior, she was the Director of TLC’s Childcare Center.
Toni Ammirati, M.Ed
Toni received her master’s degree in Deaf Education from Gallaudet University and has more than 35 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 senior leadership role in curriculum and instruction. Toni is also responsible for supporting TLC’s educational leaders and academic programs. She is also responsible for TLC’s Educational Compliance through DESE and is a MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
Shira has a Master’s Degree in Deaf Education from Boston University, and a Master’s in Education Policy and Management from Harvard University. She brings 18 years of professional experience in Deaf and community-based education to TLC.
Her work in the nonprofit sector as Executive Director of Deaf Abused Women’s Network (DAWN) early in her career led to her subsequent work in Deaf Education and community-based work. Before coming to TLC, Shira worked at The New Mexico School for the Deaf as the Curriculum Specialist, working to develop and implement curriculum adoption strategies and cross-sector collaborations with community groups. Prior to that, she was an Elementary ASL Teacher at the California School for the Deaf in Fremont, a field she continues to be involved in through her current work in the ASL Curriculum Instruction and Assessment (ASLCIA) work group.
She works closely with various entities in designing and providing professional development training and coaching for educators, interpreters, and camp staff in various settings on topics surrounding advocacy, mentorship, nature-based learning, Anti-Bias education, and language access. Shira loves the arts and the outdoors!
Lynn Power, RN
Lynn Power was born, raised and worked in Framingham, Massachusetts for over 46 years, resulting in strong ties to the community. She sat on the Board of Directors for the Framingham Council on Aging and worked with local and state agencies in her capacity as Director of Health Services.
Lynn is also connected to the National Association of School Nurses for the Deaf, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, the Nurse Leaders for the Framingham School District and other stakeholders.
Her career includes a range of responsibilities in geriatric and pediatric patient health care, clinical and communication skills, patient and family relations; planning and organization, human resources, food services, finance, contracts, and grant management.
Lynn also worked to broaden her knowledge managing the Quality Assurance Process Improvement (QAPI), and the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program, while maintaining workplace safety in compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines.
While working more than 40 years in Countryside Nursing Home, Lynn also worked simultaneously at The Learning Center for the Deaf, where in 2019 she was appointed the Director of Health Services.
Lynn's passion is boating and even shows her leadership in that capacity by sitting on the Board of the Orient Heights Yacht Club. However, her true passion is working at The Learning Center for the Deaf. If you ask her about her 19 years working at The Learning Center for the Deaf, Lynn will always say, "I truly love the kids!"