Deaf-education program founder retiring
(THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — May 26, 2022) The founding director of California Lutheran University’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program for prospective teachers is retiring with emeritus status on Tuesday.
Thousand Oaks resident Maura Martindale, an associate professor in the Graduate School of Education’s Department of Learning and Teaching, guided the unique program as it prepared more than 100 people to teach the increasing number of students with hearing loss.
Although she is retiring, Martindale will continue to instruct prospective teachers and therapists through a just-released textbook. She and Sylvia Rotfleisch, who teaches part time at Cal Lutheran, wrote “Listening and Spoken Language Therapy for Children with Hearing Loss: A Practical Auditory-Based Guide.”
Martindale began teaching part time at Cal Lutheran in 2005. With grant funding, she developed the university’s two-year, part-time program to prepare teachers to work with the growing number of children with cochlear implants and digital hearing aids whose families request spoken-language programs in general education settings. Candidates can earn a preliminary education specialist credential and a master’s degree in education of the deaf and hard of hearing.
She launched the program at the university’s Woodland Hills Center in 2007 and became a full-time faculty member. Cal Lutheran’s program is the only one in California focused on spoken language that prepares teachers to work with students older than 6.
In 2011, Martindale received a $1.2 million grant for the program from the U.S. Department of Education to address the shortage of teachers prepared to work with those who are deaf and hard of hearing. The grant provided aid for prospective teachers and helped the university work to reduce the large achievement gap between hearing students and those with hearing loss, especially those from Latino families.
Martindale also served as chair of the Department of Learning and Teaching and as a member of multiple university committees. In 2014, she received the Graduate School of Education’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Teaching.
She began her career teaching general education students in public schools before teaching and leading programs at the John Tracy Center Clinic for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children for more than two decades. Martindale has a bachelor’s degree in history and elementary education from Annhurst College, a master’s in education of the deaf from Smith College and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Southern California.
Latest CLU News
- Commencement ceremonies set for May 12California Lutheran University will hold separate 2023 commencement ceremonies for 1,217 undergraduate and graduate students on Friday, May 12, in William Rolland Stadium on the Thousand Oaks campus.
- Extraordinary Cal Lutheran community members receive Alumni AwardsSix outstanding alumni and friends of Cal Lutheran were honored for their accomplishments and impact — from career achievements and humanitarian endeadvors to social reform.
- Cal Lutheran welcomes new spiritual leaderCalifornia Lutheran University welcomes the Rev. Scott Hamilton Adams as its new university pastor, a significant campus leader who provides spiritual support, care and counseling to students, faculty, staff and administrators.
- Cal Lutheran receives nearly $3M in grantsCalifornia Lutheran University was awarded $2,967,668 in grants from the U.S. Department of Education to help students with career pathways and professional development.
- Play explores all sides of Roe v. WadeThe original version of Lisa Loomer's 2016 play "Roe" ended with the words, "As of today, Roe v. Wade still stands." In June 2022, after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization overturned a woman's right to abortion, the play's final statement was no longer true. So students at California University Lutheran, who are staging "Roe" in October, had to wait for a rewrite from Loomer.
- Cal Lutheran guarantees UC price-matchingCalifornia Lutheran University’s Public Price Promise program is now guaranteed for new students from California high schools and colleges who meet GPA requirements.