Students/Simply Youth

The ART of Teaching Students who are Deaf & Hearing Impaired

By Chastity Trumpower - Director of Student Services

Gwen Yohe Chelsie Tenney

Simply Youth

By Terrance L. Jones -

CEO, Simply Youth

Local Youth Development program helps CCS students succeed

Simply Youth invests in each child, adolescent and high school youth by creating conditions for them to take advantage of a hand-up! Instead of the hand-out approach many youth development programs and agencies provide, Simply Youth’s development philosophy is to make learning supports and tools available to select students. These tools are designed to meet the individual aspirations of each participant while preparing them to advance into post-graduate self-sufficiency. For the past 8 years, Simply Youth has provided an array of services and supports for elementary, middle school and high school youth that correspond to the developmental and life skills suitable for each youth’s academic, social and personal progress and ambitions. Simply Youth organizes programs that assist the unique needs of each student’s age and stage of schooling through assessing their learning and motivation. Simply Youth is pleased to provide direct support to Canton City Schools District as a partner in accomplishing its Workforce Development goals and objectives through complementary programs and initiatives. A goal we share with CCSD is that high school students graduate within the traditional four-year expectation. We believe in being ambitious and managing programs that excite and support youth on their graduation tracks and assists them in preparing for their post-graduate goals. Of particular interest is our PEEProject. The PEEProject identifies high school youth who can benefit from extra encouragement and assistance through a variety of learning and experiential opportunities. It helps students clarify life goals, leading to graduation and fulfilling post-high school desires. Additionally, we provide a Summer School Work program that concentrates its morning academic program on strengthening learning and supplementing coursework with afternoon employment. Certainly, Simply Youth’s aims are not entirely unique, however, our approach is singular in Stark County. We view each high school student as a potential resource to the county. We are grateful that parents and guardians see the value of Simply Youth and encourage youth participation from elementary through high school graduation. Programming is funded by the City of Canton Community Development Department. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has taught us to pay particular attention to our children and youth and their progress. The pandemic has forever changed how work expectations are accomplished. As much as adults feel the changes brought on by new work/life structure requirements, our youth need to be prepared for flexibility and change. Their academic and work experiences set the foundation from which their futures will be realized. As an integral youth development partner, we assist youth to achieve balance between competing learning, work and lifestyle priorities. These challenges pose difficult decisions for many experienced adults, and our youth must respond to global changes with competence, agility and confidence. With knowledge and experience, Simply Youth imparts participating high school youth with the hands-up tools needed to successfully provide for themselves and their families.

The Canton City School District is fortunate to have our very own Deaf & Hearing Impaired program to serve our students! We have two certified teachers, Gwen Yohe and Chelsie Tenney, who work with our deaf and hearingimpaired students across the district. Currently, Gwen teaches the specialized classroom at The Arts Academy that serves elementary students with significant or complete hearing loss, and Chelsie provides specialized services to our students at McKinley High School. It takes a team to provide the detailed and intricate services these students need. Lisa Raynor assists Gwen Yohe at The Arts Academy and works directly with students in the classroom. Also supporting our phenomenal students are our very talented sign language interpreters who work diligently each day to interpret classroom lessons to ensure students can fully access general education experiences. This team includes Jennifer Duckworth, Robyn Spivey, Suzanne Frank, Ashley Keeney, Karen Warner, Christine Calhoun & Katie Collins. We are so thankful to have all of these talented staff members serving our students every day! Bulldog Pride Citywide!