"HEAR-o of the Year": Cathy Mitchell

2025 "Hear-O of the Year": Cathy Mitchell

Joff and I arrived in Mountain Lakes with our four children almost 30 years ago. With a career in teaching from New Zealand, I quickly became involved in volunteer work at all the schools as well as coaching soccer, lacrosse and field hockey over the years. I was chair of the Friends of the Arts program at Mountain Lakes High School, a member of the Medical Needs Foundation, the Recreation Commission, the Shade Tree Commission and the Board of Education.

During my term on the Board, I was liaison to the Lake Drive School. I saw for myself the excellent standard of education at all levels and the amazing difference early intervention made to the babies in the Sound Start program. I met Kayley Mayer as a young teacher and watched her develop and promote the program state wide. We now have two grand children who have experienced the Sound Start program and the Ivy school which is very special. It means so much to me to be the honoree of this program which offers these little students opportunities to learn in this remarkable school.

About Us

Since 1996, Sound Start Babies has been providing life-changing early intervention, family-support and nursery programs to children with hearing loss throughout New Jersey. The Sound Start Babies Program has helped thousands of babies with hearing loss learn to listen, speak, communicate and achieve their full potential. The program is located in Mountain Lakes, NJ within (but not affiliated with) the Lake Drive School.

Recognizing that the first three years of life are a crucial period for establishing language, speech and communication, Sound Start Babies was a pioneer in New Jersey. It was the first program in the state to provide both total communication, and spoken and listening language options for its participants. It also offers the only integrated nursery program in the state for both hearing children and those with hearing loss.

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