{"id":27642,"date":"2016-04-05T13:29:38","date_gmt":"2016-04-05T17:29:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=27642"},"modified":"2016-07-08T12:05:32","modified_gmt":"2016-07-08T16:05:32","slug":"celebrating-service-pamela-rutt-heads-back-to-the-classroom-fulfilling-a-dream-as-a-sign-language-interpretor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2016\/celebrating-service-pamela-rutt-heads-back-to-the-classroom-fulfilling-a-dream-as-a-sign-language-interpretor\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating Service: Pamela Rutt heads back to the classroom, fulfilling a dream as a sign language interpretor"},"content":{"rendered":"

This year, several Eastern Mennonite University faculty and staff, among them Pamela Rutt, former assistant director of the graduate teacher education program \u00a0in Lancaster, are moving into retirement after many years of service. To acknowledge their service and deep commitment to our community, we\u2019ve offered the opportunity for them to share favorite memories of their time here, as well as advice for those of us still laboring onwards. <\/em><\/p>\n

Please stay tuned as we feature retiring faculty (at least those were agreeable to our idea) in the coming weeks. A complete list of 2016 retirees concludes each article. The comment box is open below for those of you who wish to share greetings and memories with Pam. <\/em><\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Pam Rutt has already moved on to a new \u201cpost-retirement, winding-down-her-career\u201d position, as she describes it. She is working in a public elementary school in the Lancaster area as a sign language interpreter and \u00a01:1 instructional support for a student who is deaf. The position, with summers off, will allow her to spend more time with her children and grandchildren, and catch up on work around the house.<\/p>\n

\u201cSummers are the busiest time\u201d for the Lancaster\u00a0MA in Education<\/a> program, says the former assistant director of the program.<\/p>\n

The interpreter and support role also allows her to fulfill a long-time goal, she says. \u201cRaising a daughter who is Deaf gave me the opportunity to learn sign language and to support our daughter in her education experience. It has been one of my dreams to be able to use my sign language skills, background in education and my experience as a parent to work with children who are Deaf and to encourage families of children who are Deaf.\u00a0It is good to be\u00a0back working with teachers and students in an elementary classroom and to have the opportunity to make a difference in the life of a little boy \u2014 to see his faraway expression fade and his eyes light up as he learns a language with which to understand his world and to communicate.\u201d<\/p>\n

Additionally, Pam serves on the education committee for Lancaster Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services and teaches GED and ESL classes to adult refugees who are Deaf at the Lancaster Literacy Council.<\/p>\n

\"Pamela<\/a>
Pamela Rutt at a retirement celebration. (Photo by Catherine Stover)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pam earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in home economics education from EMU in 1997 and a master\u2019s in education in 2011. [Her husband Roger \u201976, her son Jason \u201906 and daughter-in-law Alexis Sauder Rutt, \u201906, MA (education) \u201811, are also graduates of EMU.]<\/p>\n

Pam joined EMU Lancaster as an office manager and administrative assistant in the MA in Education program before becoming assistant director.<\/p>\n

Her favorite memories are linked to relationships with graduate students and the growth and expansion of \u00a0the Lancaster site:<\/p>\n