The Signing Naturally Curriculum Series, National consortium of Programs for the Training of Sign Language Instructors (NCPTSLI)
Ella Mae Lentz (born May 5, 1954) is a Deaf American author, poet, teacher, and advocate.[1]
Biography
Lentz was born in Berkeley, California, to two deaf parents. Her brother was also deaf.
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]
ASL Presents was founded by 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.[4]
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.[5]
The Signing Naturally Curriculum Series, which is a best-seller[6] (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.
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.[12]
She was also recognized for her achievements as a "Famous Alumna" at the California School for the Deaf.[13][14]
She was also awarded the Kappa Gamma Poetry Award at Gallaudet University.
She is a part of the Deaf Bilingual Coalition.[15]
Family
Lentz' partner is Judy D. Gough. They have five children, the youngest being Deaf, and ten grandchildren, of whom three are Deaf.
^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.
^Whitley, Sharon. 1997. Breaking the Silence--Deaf Publisher Started Small, Shook Off Discouragement. San Diego Union-Tribune (September 3, 1997), p. C-1.
Baer, Joey; Gough, Judy; Faliger, Brenda; Slovick, Linda; Sluggs, Trudy; Brubaker, Joyce (2010). "About – Ella". Ava Moon Studios. Archived from the original on 2011-09-19.. This website provides information on Ella's life, what she does, what she stands for, and who she supports. The entire website is dedicated to her and provides videos as well.
Browning, Paula (2010). "ASL Teachers". Coda 365. Archived from the original on 2012-04-26.: in Depth bibliography on Ella Mae lentz life.
"Ella Mae Lentz". Flickr. Pictures of Ella at the purple convention.
"Ella Mae Lentz". San Diego American Sign Language Teacher Association. Archived from the original on 2012-04-26.. This website is the bibliography of Ella Mae Lentz.
Lentz, Ella Mae (2006). "The Treasure". San Diego: Dawn Sign.
"People behind the Foundation". Deaf Hood. Archived from the original on 2011-11-08.. This website talks about her definition of Deafhood and also a little about herself.
"River of Words – Art and Poetry". River of Words – Home. 2011. She was listed here as a poetry contest judge. It also explains a little bit about herself.
