Deaf Principal

     Janice Drake's Deaf Principal Office 

Janice Drake is the first graduate from Belleville's Ontario school for the deaf to return as its principal. When she held her first assembly last September 6th, 2013, it had been 30 years since her graduation in 1983.

After graduating from Sir James, she  went to Gallaudet University in Washington, DC, which is the only liberal arts university in the world for deaf people,” said the 49-year-old principal and former teacher through Dale Abel's voice, one of Sir James' American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters.

Before attending Gallaudet, she noted she had a “really strong” feeling that she wanted to be a teacher. It became one of her goals in life.

She went off to university and got my BA for education and then went off to British Columbia to get a special certificate for the deaf, at which point she worked at Robarts School for the Deaf in London, Ontario, where she taught for a number of years.

Sir James Whitney School for the Deaf is located at 350 Dundas Street. West, on the historic campus of the first school for deaf students in Ontario, founded in 1870. The present school building and residence have been skilfully and carefully restored in recent years.

When she enter the doors of Sir James Whitney, she can sense the history and feel the excitement of our commitment to learning excellence.

The school provides a bilingual environment for 70 students, where language and literacy are promoted in both ASL and English. 

The language of instruction and communication at Sir James is ASL, but on an individual level, students can access tutorials in ASL, as well as in spoken English, she said.

After holding different positions at London's school for deaf, she went on to E.C. Drury School for the Deaf in Milton, Ont., where she acted as vice-principal for the high school.

When the (former) principal of Sir James (Linda Ritchey) retired she  felt there was an opportunity for me to apply and she was hired for this school, 30 years after she graduated, she said with pride.

Born deaf, she and her family lived in Belleville for nine years while her father was serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force at 8 Wing/CFB Trenton, before moving to the Toronto area.

There are many people who misunderstand the reasons (behind deafness) or the kinds of deafness. Some people like her are born deaf, while others have lost their hearing, they have been deafened. There are different identifications, she said.

She is responsible for both elementary and secondary schools at Sir James Whitney. She is currently enjoying her “honeymoon” as the school's new principal.

She graduated last June 1983 from Sir James Whitney School for the Deaf in Belleville, Ontario then she became new Principal last 2013 to retired June, 2019.

Last June, 2019 she was retired at Sir James Whitney School for the Deaf at Principal. 

MY COMMENTS 1: I remember that was my first  Principal Gary Gervis last September 1979 - June 1986 but already retired  and Janice was new Principal.

MY COMMENTS 2: He was attended last September 1974 to retired June 1994 for 20 years.

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