Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech Announces New President, CEO
NORTHAMPTON — Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech announced the appointment of Shawn Naugle as its new president and CEO.
With more than 17 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, Naugle has a proven track record of advocating for the rights of children from diverse backgrounds. His expertise is expected to help guide Clarke toward even greater success in fulfilling its mission: to provide children who are deaf or hard of hearing with the tools necessary to thrive and lead fulfilling lives.
Bilingual in English and Spanish, Naugle led his previous organization to its highest student enrollment in 11 years, increased net assets by $15 million over three years, and achieved a 30% increase in community and business partnerships. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Denver and a master of public administration degree from Strayer University in Virginia.
“We are thrilled to welcome Shawn Naugle to Clarke,” said Michael Budner, chair of Clarke’s board of trustees. “As a father whose family has directly benefited from Clarke’s services, I can confidently say that Shawn’s vision, passion, and compassionate approach truly embody Clarke’s mission.”
Children served by Clarke are deaf or hard of hearing and use technology, including hearing aids and cochlear implants, to access sound. Clarke’s specially trained teachers of the deaf, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists help them develop listening, literacy, and spoken-language skills to maximize their learning.
“It’s pretty incredible to see the impact that Clarke is making,” Naugle said. “To see an organization that’s been leading the way for over 150 years … it’s not hard to get excited about wanting to be a part of that.”
Naugle’s leadership comes as Clarke expands its work to increase access for children with hearing loss and their families through Clarke’s tVisit Teleservices Program, a vital service in overcoming geographic and accessibility barriers.