Teacher Reviews & Feedback

Bolesta Center, Tampa Florida- 1987-1993

Ethel Denney Bolesta, Director, The Bolesta Center – “Rima Lahoud is a dedicated teacher getting excellent results from her little students. She is a delight to work with and all the children love her. She is a caring and loving person and has endeared herself not only to the parents but to all who work with her. We are glad to have the benefit of her expertise and her excellent training at Smith College and Clarke School for the Deaf.”

Judith Marlowe, Audiologist – “Rima provided crucial guidance for parents and their children while adhering firmly to her professional convictions, that auditory-verbal, and oral learning required family participation. To her credit, she has endeavored to encourage and empower parents to maintain their primary role in their children’s development. And she has been modest in assuming personal credit for the success of her students. Rima has created a sense of partnership with the families she served, and I have had the occasion to observe this close relationship when she has accompanied them to my office for audiological services.”

James Murphy – Board of Director, Tampa FL

“I have found Miss Lahoud to be an excellent teacher and an able administrator. She was the unanimous choice of the Board of Directors to assume leadership of the Bolesta Center after Mrs. Bolesta died in 1991. That was a time of severe crisis for the Center as Mrs. Bolesta had founded the Center and had been the only director the Center had ever known. Coincidentally, at that time, the Center had just completed construction of a beautiful and costly new teaching facility, and there was concern over whether after Mrs. Bolesta, the center could continue to operate. Through Miss Lahoud’s dedication, compassion, hard work and excellent teaching skills, however, the center not only has continued but has grown and prospered. Our enrollment has increased as we have hired 2 new teachers in addition to Miss Lahoud who continues to teach students as well as supervising the other teachers and managing the day-to-day operation of the Center. Miss Lahoud is truly a remarkable educator and person.”

Alice Massing – Parent – “We have been very fortunate to have worked with Rima. We have been through approximately 12 therapists over the past years, and they are none to compare. Rima’s auditory techniques and abundant language use have proven themselves.”

Sandy Martin – Parent – “Rima has been instrumental in the success my child has enjoyed in the mainstream. I have relied heavily on her expertise. Not only for her knowledge of auditory-verbal training, but also for her proficiency in knowing where potential problem areas may arise for future academic and socialization skills. Rima is very loving caring individual who relates well with children.”

Tina Miller-Parent- “Through some unusual circumstances, we found the Bolesta Center and Rima, the director. Rima quickly pointed out that we were not utilizing the residual hearing that Moriah had and that in fact he could be taught to listen and to speak. She gave us hope that our son could learn spoken language and be part of the hearing world.”

The Center for Hearing and Speech-Melinda Webb School- 1995-2003

Rebecca Blondeau, Principal: “Rima’s passion for teaching and her love of children and their families is evident in all that she does. She is a master teacher who coaches and directs students to optimal achievement. She also demonstrates leadership abilities through mentoring, initiating ideas and nurturing the teaching skills of others. Rima is the type of teacher that all parents want for their children. She is loving, firm, enthusiastic, creative, and personable. She has the ability to individualize instruction even within groups of children by knowing each child’s needs. When observing her classroom, one sees the art of teaching. Her communication with parents is honest, warm and considerate.”

Linda Gorton, Director of Audiology, The Center for Hearing and Speech – “I had the pleasure of working with Miss Rima Lahoud co-supervising Speech Language Pathology students at the University of Houston. Miss Lahoud provided 36 hours of supervision for seven master’s level students. Miss Lahoud was an excellent teacher, sharing her experience and knowledge about developing the auditory skills of children with severe to profound hearing loss.”

Gayle Stout – Educational Audiologist, Developer of the DASL: “I have been in deaf education since 1953. I have been a teacher, have supervised teachers of the deaf and I have traveled all over the United States giving workshops to speech pathologist, audiologists, and teachers of the deaf.  I feel that Rima is the very best teacher I have ever observed. Her love for the hearing-impaired child is a gift God has given these children.”

Laurie Grubbs, Community Relations Manager– “As a community relations manager, I had to call on Rima many times as I led tours at the Center that often stopped in her classroom. Her love and dedication for the children she taught could be seen in every lesson she gave. She regularly went above and beyond the call of duty. Her careful attention to detail and unending energy was appreciated by all those around her. As her coworkers will attest to, she is a joy to work with. Her passion and love did not stop with the children. She touched the hearts of many parents, staff, and visitors during her time at the Center. She is a highly respected professional in her field.”

Robert & Lisa Beasley – Parents: “One of Rima’s most distinguishing characteristics may be her consistent and substantial record of successful learning in the classroom, both past and present.”

Ted Kurland – parent: “Our daughter’s success with language in a very large part was due to Rima. The combination of Rima’s knowledge of the auditory-verbal strategies and how she implements them prove to be a wonderful match for success. Rima knows how to motivate children so that they always feel special and as a result they are willing to put forth their best efforts. Rima is a very gifted, one-of-a-kind teacher.”

Chuck & Kristen Brown – Parents – “When our daughter received her cochlear implant at 2 1/2 years old, her expressive and receptive language skyrocketed in a short time and there has been no holding her back ever since. I know her teacher at the time (Rima) was the reason she progressed so rapidly. Rima challenged her daily and gave great advice to us in getting her to use more words at home. She took the time to show us what our daughter could do. I don’t think I would have believed it if I didn’t hear it with my own ears! I was no longer afraid to push Payton (always worrying that she didn’t understand). Encouragement was not only beneficial to Payton, but to us as well.”

Cyfair ISD 2003-2015   2021-2024

Sharon Parham- Deaf Education Coordinator–

“Rima came to Cyfair ISD from the private school sector, wanting to make a difference in the lives of students with hearing impairment attending public schools. I would say that in the short time Rima has been with us she has supported the education of all students with hearing loss. She has a way of magnetically pulling everyone with her in her passion for the education students with hearing loss. Her enthusiasm is contagious and her support for all the teachers on her campus is evident. She is not only supports for the students and staff but is a strong parent advocate.”

Sandy Chance- Deaf Education Specialist

“Rima is the epitome of a teacher who exhibits passion and commitment to her job. She is extremely passionate about the amplification and educational needs of students with hearing loss. She maintains an open-door policy and welcomes parents and educational staff to come and observe. With parents, she will not only model how to work with the student but will also ask parents to demonstrate that skill while she is observing so that she can provide immediate feedback in their instructional techniques when working with their child.

Rima has been willing to present numerous staff development opportunities across the state to aid in the educational needs of students who are deaf and hard of hearing, she has presented at Statewide Conference for the Deaf and regional service centers across the state.”

Mary Roadman -Parent

“Few people can come into our lives and make an impact that is lifelong. We think Ms. Rima Lahoud has been that kind of force for our daughter. When you have a special needs child, there are times when, with great determination, you can find yourself madly searching for what will help your child. Like most hearing parents, we wanted our daughter to hear and speak. She was implanted at the age of three, she had very few words but was starting to use her implant effectively. She was able to start kindergarten at age five and be successful. She could not have made this rapid progress without Rima’s consistent efforts. Ms. Lahoud has great focus, high expectations, a strong understanding of helping our cochlear implant deaf children to learn to listen and use their voice.”

Bethany Avant-Parent

“The first time I met and observed Rima working with several hearing- impaired students I could not believe what I was seeing. What she had these students doing was what I wanted my daughter to be able to do. I knew she was capable; she just needed that special person who could teach it to her. After having her in two different schools, I knew after a few moments of watching Rima with those two students that my daughter needed to be at this school with Rima. Within minutes Rima had her down on the floor with the other students already participating. Rima is supportive emotionally for the parents, she always understands, listens and is very willing to work with the parents.”

Havanna Zachary-LSL teacher

“Rima Lahoud has been a beloved mentor for the past 8 years since I began working with her. She truly is a beacon of expertise in the field of Listening and Spoken Language. Since my first day in the classroom, Rima has been instrumental in shaping my approach to teaching in the Listening and Spoken Language field.
Working alongside Rima has taught me the importance of not only connecting with, but educating families on how to help their child with hearing loss. Rima empowers families to speak up and actively participate in their child’s education.
She is a pillar of strength that families trust. Whether it’s in the classroom, therapy room, or in the home, with a box of toys or a book of songs, she is able to get children talking.
I’ve had many opportunities to collaborate with Rima to create appropriate and fun language activities, and from this, I have seen many children reach milestones in
their speech and listening skills. Over the years, I have a firsthand view of what constitutes a truly exemplary Listening and Spoken Language program.
Rima’s dedication and passion for helping children with hearing loss has inspired myself and so many others to be an advocate for Listening and Spoken Language
programs and the families they serve. Knowing Rima personally and being able to articulate the impact that she has had on my career in deaf education is a privilege
that I deeply cherish.”

Havanna Zachary
Listening and Spoken Language Teacher

Fort Bend ISD 2016-2021

Hina Merchant Parent– Speech Language Pathologist, “Miss Rima is an extraordinary teacher of the deaf specializing in listening and spoken language for over 36 years. Our family has had the privilege of working with Miss Rima as she provided early intervention language therapy to our two boys who both have hearing loss and guided us throughout their educational journeys. Miss Rima’s dedication to her students and their families is unparalleled. Her expertise in LSL is evident in the remarkable progress our sons have made under her care. From the very beginning, Miss Rima’s approach was comprehensive, encompassing not only the immediate language therapy needs of our boys, but also offering invaluable support and guidance to us as parents. Her ability to connect with children and understand their unique needs has been instrumental in their development. Miss Rima’s methodical and patient approach created an encouraging and positive learning environment for our sons. She tailored her strategies to fit their individual learning styles, ensuring that each session was effective and engaging. Her deep knowledge of early childhood development and her innovative techniques have helped our boys achieve milestones that we only thought would be challenging beyond her technical skills. Miss Rima’s compassion and commitment stand out. She has always been available to answer our questions, provide resources, and offer reassurance when needed. Her willingness to go above and beyond to support our family has been a source of great comfort and has significantly contributed to the overall well-being and success of our boys, in every way. Miss Rima Lahoud is an exceptional educator and a compassionate professional. Her profound impact on our family and the progress of our children speaks volumes about her dedication, skill and heart. We are immensely grateful for her support and guidance and have no doubt that she will continue to make a significant difference in the lives of many more families.”