Cheryl Broekelmann

Cheryl is the Director of Operations at St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf in St. Louis. She has over 30 years experience as an educator of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. She has served in a variety of roles at St. Joseph Institute, including teacher, preschool supervisor, early childhood program director, and director of iHear Internet Therapy and Early Intervention. In 2008, she completed the Graduate Symposium in Mission Leadership from the Vocare Center at Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph, Carondelet. She served as a Lecturer at Fontbonne University. She has presented at numerous professional conferences as well as an author and co-author of articles published in journals such as Volta Voices, Volta Review, and ASHA Leader. Cheryl is the co-author of a chapter in 101 Frequently Asked Questions about Auditory-Verbal Therapy, and Promoting Language and Literacy in Children, who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.

Connection to the CSJs and their ministries:

Cheryl has two sisters, Sr. Sandra Straub and Sr. Linda Straub, who are Sisters of St. Joseph. Her sisters, through their experiences, have guided her personal and professional life to serve. Cheryl attended St. Anthony of Padua in St. Louis City from kindergarten to eighth grade and St. Anthony of Padua High School. Both schools were taught and administered by the CSJs. When she decided to become a teacher of the deaf, there was only one school that she considered, Fontbonne College now Fontbonne University! At Fontbonne, she was taught by many CSJs and later became a teacher at the University.

Her personal goal is “to serve the dear neighbor without distinction, with an orientation toward excellence tempered by gentleness, peace and joy.” These values she embraced from her CSJ sisters and to all the CSJs who have taught and mentored her. In the last years working at SJID, Cheryl learned firsthand to serve those who otherwise would not be served through the iHear Internet Therapy program.