For 25 years, Jean Massieu School of the Deaf has provided a space where students who are deaf or hard of hearing can thrive, focusing not just on academics but creating a sense of community and belonging. 

As it celebrates its 25th anniversary, JMS remains dedicated to helping students achieve their full academic, social and career potential by offering tailored education plans, access to technology and an environment where each student is valued. 

Kelsey Ensign, 13, started at JMS as a preschool student and is now in eighth grade. She participates on the robotics team, plays sports and is president of the student council. Speaking through an American Sign Language interpreter, Kelsey said the best thing about the school is the options it provides for growth.

“I can be a part of different sports teams and different activities,” she said. “This year, I have an opportunity to go to Iowa, Minnesota and Idaho, for sports, for volleyball specifically, and then I might also join the basketball team. I have math competitions, robotics and drama. There’s just so many opportunities for me here. It’s awesome.”

JMS opened as a charter school in August 1999, named after a pioneer of Deaf education, Jean Massieu. In 2005, it merged with Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, and in 2010, JMS found a permanent home in Millcreek at 1655 E. 3300 South.

Students from 3 to 22 years old can participate in preschool, elementary, secondary and post-high school programs. Through a partnership with Granite School District, students can also take classes at Olympus High, Evergreen Junior High, Granite Technical Institute and Salt Lake Community College. 

Michelle Tanner, Ed.D. worked as a teacher and principal at JMS for many years. She is now associate superintendent of Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind. With campuses in Ogden, Springville and St. George, the school serves more than 1,200 deaf or hard-of-hearing students.

“The biggest benefit in the way these students are taught is that they know they are successful and valued as they are and who they are is a great value to society,” Tanner said. “We teach in their mode and their communication preference. We also bring in a lot of culture so they understand there is a Deaf culture. 

“The other piece is they’re with peers just like themselves, so they don’t feel isolated. They are with others who see the world and have the same experiences they’re having. That makes a difference and an impact on learning.”

Kelsey’s mom, Alisa Ensign, said attendance at JMS has been critical in Kelsey’s development. Not only does Kelsey take classes at Evergreen Junior High, using interpreting services, but she also wants to attend the Rochester Institute of Technology after she graduates. 

“As a parent, the phrase ‘It takes a village’ was expounded when I had a deaf child, when I knew that there were resources and tools that I couldn’t give my child as a non-deaf parent,” Ensign said. “We chose to come to JMS so she’d have bimodal communication. She writes English and she speaks with American Sign Language.”

Ensign sees a lot of misconceptions people have about the deaf or hard of hearing, but it’s mainly based in fear. Whether it’s a potential employer, a coworker, a student in mainstream classes or everyday interaction, she wants people to give her child, and every deaf person, a chance to succeed.

“A deaf person is an expert at communicating with you,” she said. “They work in a world and they live in a world full of non-deaf, hearing people that speak another language all the time, and they’re masters at making accommodations so that the two of you can communicate. If you have a little bit of fear, just let it go, and give it a try. The fear, I think, stops people more than ignorance or other biases.”

Tanner hopes the state legislature will soon release allocated funds that have been earmarked for expansion at JMS that includes a separate building for high school students. Although the attendance numbers may be small, an investment in expansion shows students they have value in the community.

“We have high school students up on this wing, we’ve got elementary students down the hallway and we have preschool students down the far end of the building,” Tanner said. “We absolutely need the building. We’ve been waiting for three years for the building and the students are just waiting.”

For information about JMS, visit
USDB.org. λ