EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Mary Baumont is the Executive Director of Summit Speech School. She has a Master’s degree in Deaf Education from New York University, and holds certifications in Special Education and Elementary Education.
Mary has over twenty five years of experience teaching students with hearing loss in a variety of settings. She was part of the New York Eye and Ear Cochlear Implant team for seven years where she was a presenter at conferences, advised families and collaborated with schools to ensure children received appropriate educational services. She later worked as an Education Specialist at Columbia University Medical Center and was part of their cochlear implant team.
She also has worked directly with each educational program at Summit Speech School. From 1999-2005, Mary worked as a Parent Infant Program specialist and then a Preschool teacher. From 2017-2019, Mary headed Summit Speech School’s Itinerant Mainstream Support Program.
As Executive Director and CEO, Mary oversees all programs and departments at Summit Speech School: Parent Infant, Preschool, Itinerant, Audiology, Development, and Business. She is responsible for assisting the Board in setting policies and objectives for the school, maintaining sound financial resources, recruiting staff, promoting the school and its resources to all constituents and assuring that the school is in compliance with all the rules and regulations that govern its programs.
Mary may be reached at 908-508-0011 or mbaumont@summitspeech.org
PRINCIPAL
Jennifer Drechen Spence is the Principal of the Preschool. She brings over 15 years of educational experience both in teaching as well as school administration. Jennifer served as Assistant Principal in two special education schools in New Jersey as well as an Adjunct Professor at Seton Hall University. Jennifer oversees the preschool program, supervises staff and coordinates Child Study Team Meetings, parent involvement and visitations to the school.
Jennifer may be reached at 908-508-0011 or principal@summitspeech.org
COORDINATOR, PARENT INFANT PROGRAM
Nancy Schumann, CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT, manages the Early Intervention services in accordance with State and Federal guidelines. She maintains contact with each Early Intervention provider and each family. Through the NJ Department of Health and NJ Early Intervention system, Nancy supervises the SSS Target Evaluation Team which provides initial evaluations of children with hearing loss.
Nancy supervises our Parent Infant staff, develops program goals and policies, and serves as a resource for other professionals. Nancy also runs our unique Group Family Training program for parents of children with hearing loss from birth to age 3. She holds parent support meetings and teaches families about issues related to hearing loss, as well as the transition process from Early Intervention to preschool. During these weekly 2-hour Group Family Training session, the Summit Speech School staff provides group language, listening, social and motor skill intervention for the children.
Nancy is a Speech Language Pathologist and Listening and Spoken Language Specialist. She is a member of the Children’s Hearing Institute Medical and Educational Board. She is an adjunct professor at The College of New Jersey, serves on the NJ Legislative Working Group in Deaf Education, and is a Stakeholder for NJ EHDI.
Nancy may be reached at 908-508-0011 or picoordinator@summitspeech.org
COORDINATOR, ITINERANT MAINSTREAM SUPPORT PROGRAM
Heather Freeman, M.A. is the Coordinator of the Itinerant Mainstream Support Program. She received her Bachelor’s degree at The College of New Jersey, her Master’s degree at the University of Massachusetts–Lowell, and her Supervisor’s Certificate from Rowan University. She worked as a self-contained Teacher of the Deaf/HH in Cumberland County Schools, Fayetteville, NC and an Itinerant Teacher of the Deaf in West Haven, CT before joining the team at Summit Speech School in 2013. Heather was also lead teacher for the Itinerant team during the 2017-2019 school years, and headed the mentoring program.
Heather supervises Summit Speech School’s Itinerant Teachers of the Deaf who serve more than 200 students in mainstream schools throughout central and northern NJ. She also manages Summit Speech School’s Tele-consulting services for NJ school districts.
Heather may be reached at 908-508-0011 or hfreeman@summitspeech.org
EDUCATIONAL AUDIOLOGIST
Shelly Ozdamar is the School’s Educational Audiologist. She has her Doctorate of Audiology and has been practicing for over 30 years. She has worked at Beth Israel Cochlear Implant center and NYEE of Mt. Sinai for most of her career. She loves working with children and is passionate about making sure that children with hearing loss are provided with optimal access to sound so they can develop and succeed like their hearing peers.
At Summit Speech School’s Audiology Center, Shelly tests the hearing of children, from infants to adolescents. She assesses hearing and the functional benefit of hearing technology, and then works closely with each family to help obtain the follow-up support each child and family needs.
Shelly may be reached at 908-508-0011 or sozdamar@summitspeech.org
CFO & BUSINESS MANAGER
Pamela Ranco is the Chief Financial Officer and Business Manager of Summit Speech School. She is responsible for maintaining all financial records of the school including tax reporting, audit preparation, compliance with Department of Education financial requirements and financial reports to the Board of Trustees. She is the financial liaison to school districts and to the New Jersey Department of Health for the Parent Infant program.
Pamela can be reached at 908-508-0011 or pranco@summitspeech.org
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Nancy Tagle serves Summit Speech School as Director of Development, with responsibility for all aspects of fundraising, including individual giving, corporate and foundation support, special events and planned giving, as well as public and community relations. Nancy has an MS in Arts Administration from Boston University and holds a BA from The College of the Holy Cross. She has over a decade of experience in fundraising including positions at South Street Seaport Museum and Brooklyn Children’s Museum. Prior to becoming Development Director, she managed Summit Speech School’s Spring Benefit and other fundraising activities.
Nancy may be reached at 908-508-0495 or ntagle@summitspeech.org
