Ella Mae Lentz

Ella Mae Lentz (born May 5, 1954) is a Deaf American author, poet, teacher, and advocate.[1] Lentz was born in Berkeley, California, to two deaf parents. Her brother was also deaf.

Ella Mae Lentz
Born (1954-05-05) May 5, 1954
Berkeley, California
NationalityAmerican
EducationCalifornia School for the Deaf
Alma materGallaudet University
OccupationWriter, educator
Notable work
The Signing Naturally Curriculum Series, National consortium of Programs for the Training of Sign Language Instructors (NCPTSLI)

Education

Lentz graduated from the California School for the Deaf (currently the California School for the Deaf, Fremont) in Berkeley in 1971. After graduating, she attended Gallaudet University where she received dual bachelor's degrees in Drama and English, graduating in 1975.[2]

Research

Lentz has done research on American Sign Language (ASL) at several research institutions, including Northeastern University in Boston, the Salk Institute in San Diego, and the University of California, San Francisco.[3]

Written production

Lentz has developed training material as well as educational material such as:

  • National Consortium of Programs for the Training of Sign Language Instructors (NCPTSLI): Lentz developed and tested the curricula for this project as well as recruited and trained the instructors. This project was a grant project combined with the National Association of the Deaf, with the hopes of reforming ASL instruction.[4]
  • The Signing Naturally Curriculum Series, which is a best-seller[5] (Lentz was a co-author). The series was given a three-year federal grant through the Funds for Improvement of Post Secondary Education, and was produced in hopes to teach ASL as a second language. Today many schools use this series as their textbooks for their ASL classes in high school as well as college.
  • The Deafhood Foundation.[6]

Productions
  • The PBS children's television show Rainbow's End.[7]
  • A televised talk show in 1974 called Silent Perspectives[8]
  • Dennis Cokely and Charlotte Baker's ASL curriculum known as "The Green Books".
  • Starred in a Milwaukee Repertory production of Children of a Lesser God in 1982, playing the leading role of Sarah Norman.[9]

Poetry

Lentz is widely known in the deaf community for her poetry.[10] Many people have analyzed and studied her poems.

Recognition
  • On August 27, 2009, Ella was honored by the Purple Communications as one of the ten finalists for its "Dream Bigger Campaign".
  • She is recognized for her achievements as well as her contributions to the Deaf community by being appointed a member of the California Association of the Deaf as a member of the Board of Directors.[11]
  • She was also recognized for her achievements as a "Famous Alumna" at the California School for the Deaf.[12][13]
  • She was also awarded the Kappa Gamma Poetry Award at Gallaudet University.
  • She is a part of the Deaf Bilingual Coalition.[14]

Her company ASL Presents

ASL Presents was founded by Ella Mae Lentz in 2007, located in Hayward, California. The company focuses on the how to coach, consult, present, perform, and teach ASL and Deaf Culture curriculum.[15]

Family

Lentz' partner is Judy D. Gough. They have five children, the youngest being Deaf, and ten grandchildren, of whom three are Deaf.

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2011-12-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. http://www.aslpresents.com/ella.html
  3. Signs of Language
  4. Cokely, Dennis and Charlotte Baker.1999. American Sign Language: A Teacher's Resource Text on Curriculum, Methods and Evaluation, Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press, p. xiii.
  5. Whitley, Sharon. 1997. Breaking the Silence--Deaf Publisher Started Small, Shook Off Discouragement. San Diego Union-Tribune (September 3, 1997), p. C-1.
  6. http://www.deafhoodfoundation.org/Deafhood/About_Us.html
  7. Frei, Terry. 1990. "Firehouse Nine Polishing Up Stage Diamond, The Oregonian (April 15, 1990), p. F1.
  8. Lane, Harlan L., Robert Hoffmeister and Benjamin J. Bahan. 1996. A journey into the deaf-world, San Diego, CA: Dawn Sign Press, p. 148.
  9. Jaques, Damien. 1980. "Deaf Actress Not Sure She Wants Broadway", Milwaukee Journal (December 14, 1980), Section 5, Page 2.
  10. "Pearl Awards". Archived from the original on 2015-03-31. Retrieved 2013-07-18.
  11. http://cad1906.org
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-05-26. Retrieved 2011-12-14.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. "Hall of Fame" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2011-12-14.
  14. http://www.deaf-culture-online.com/dbc-agb.html
  15. http://www.aslpresents.com
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