September is recognized as National Deaf Awareness Month. During this time, we are encouraged to deepen our understanding of and advocate for the experiences of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. At Sto-Rox School District, we recognize that students with hearing differences may require learning tools and support that are unlike those of their peers. That's why we value American Sign Language (ASL) and other communication methods that help students succeed academically. Our commitment to students with hearing differences extends far beyond September. Here's how we're building inclusion into our everyday practices.
At Sto-Rox Upper Elementary, fourth grade teacher Brianna Frashure wanted to provide meaningful support for a student in her class who communicates differently than his peers. Scott Dougherty, a Training and Consultation Coordinator at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, came to provide training for teachers on an iPad application, called TD Snap. The app is a symbol-based communication tool to help students express everything from basic needs to feelings. This tool, while used with deaf or hard of hearing students, can also be used with students whose speaking skills are still developing, giving them multiple ways to communicate.
During the training, Mr. Dougherty described his experiences with how students use ASL. “Sign Language instruction isn’t necessarily part of the norm for my job, but it’s part of the student’s total communication options and I was able to help,” shared Mr. Dougherty.
Mr. Dougherty visited Ms. Frashure’s class to teach students some basic signs so they could better communicate with their peer. After learning some greetings and phrases, students had a chance to ask questions, such as how to sign “come sit with us.” Ms. Frashure shared that she often sees students practicing the signs with each other or reminding each other how to sign certain words or phrases.
Mr. Dougherty's passion for this work runs deep. “I took three required classes while pursuing my BS in Education at IUP to be a Teacher of the Deaf, but the real learning came once I worked at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and got immersed with the Deaf community here in Pittsburgh.”
In addition to teaching at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, he has spent over 25 years interpreting for the Diocese of Pittsburgh and has taught ASL at universities including Point Park and Duquesne. His work with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit and PATTAN (Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network) has given him insight into what truly helps students succeed.
At the Sto-Rox Jr./Sr. High School, ASL is also in use. New to the 2025-2026 school year, an ASL course is offered to students. This course also fulfills a student’s foreign language requirement. The class is a virtual course delivered asynchronously with a teacher from the Allegheny Intermediate Unit’s Waterfront Learning program. While the course is under the supervision of a Sto-Rox teacher, Nathaniel Brown, the Waterfront Learning teacher communicates with the students regularly. Mr. Brown’s role in the class is to monitor student pacing and answer questions as needed. So far, students have learned the alphabet, greetings, short phrases, numbers, and relatives. Students have also learned about the deaf community, its culture, and norms.
Mr. Brown enjoys overseeing the class, and has been using ASL in his personal life with his son for the past 18 months. “I’m probably more familiar with ASL than a lot of people, but as I continue to learn the complexities and the nuances, I’m reminded of how much I still do not know.”
While these initiatives represent just some of the strides Sto-Rox has made in creating inclusive environments, there is still work to be done. As the district continues to learn and grow, the goal remains clear: ensuring every student feels seen, understood, and valued in their learning community.