Silvermine 3rd Grader Inspired by Norwalk Mayor's Hearing Aid
Silvermine 3rd Grader Inspired by Norwalk Mayor's Hearing Aid
NPS Communications
Never underestimate the power of representation.
Maria Jose Perez is a third-grader at Silvermine Dual Language Magnet School. She came to Norwalk last year from Guatemala, and she wears a hearing aid.
Harry Rilling is the Mayor of Norwalk, Connecticut. He, too, wears a hearing aid.
In her native country, Maria didn’t know anyone else who wore a hearing aid. Her device was very tight and uncomfortable, nearly cutting into the back of her ear. It also didn’t work properly, and she said that people’s voices sounded like cartoons trying to talk underwater.
Upon her arrival to Norwalk Public Schools, Maria was outfitted with a new hearing aid thanks to the help of her school and the district’s Health Services department. She can now hear clearly, helping her to better understand her native language of Spanish and to learn English in her new home.
At last month’s Valentines for Veterans event at Silvermine Dual Language Magnet School, Maria met visitor Mayor Rilling, who spoke in front of her class. What she noticed about the visiting Rilling is that he too wears a hearing aid.
Maria immediately ran over to Principal Yesenia Paredes when she realized a person who wears a hearing aid could rise to such a high level of importance like the mayor of a city or “El Presidente de Norwalk,” as Maria referred to Rilling. She was shocked!
On March 11, Maria had the opportunity to visit Norwalk City Hall and meet the mayor in his office. She was joined by her mother, Alinson, Principal Paredes and Superintendent Dr. Alexandra Estrella.
Check out Maria's visit to the Mayor's Office.
Rilling explained how he was elected mayor by the people of Norwalk after serving with the Norwalk Police Department for over 40 years and previously serving in the U.S. Navy. Maria made the connection between his position and what her class was learning about government. Rilling plans to visit her class soon to speak about his role in city government.
The mayor told Maria that not only is she special because of her hearing aid, but she will soon be able to speak two languages, a superpower which not even he possesses. Now that she knows that she can be anything despite her hearing disability, Maria is well on her way to becoming a “bilingual leader of the world!”