Flintstone, GA – The Inner Circle acknowledges Rebekah J. Payne as a Pinnacle Professional Member for her contributions to Deaf Education and Advocacy.
Rebekah J. Payne is a dedicated advocate and consultant in Ethiopian deaf education, bringing nearly 25 years of experience in nonprofit and educational settings. As the founder and former country representative of LeaMcD Educational Services for the Deaf of Ethiopia, Ms. Payne has played a pivotal role in supporting the deaf community since the organization’s inception in 2001.
LeaMcD received its nonprofit license in the United States in 2005. It’s mission is deeply influenced by Ms. Payne’s personal history, honoring her parents, the Leaches, “Lea” and her late husband McDonald “McD” its name, LeaMcD. Both names are historical to the early beginnings of Deaf Education in Ethiopia. In the early 1970s. Carl McDonald was a tremendous asset to Ethiopia as he was the only expert with an MA in Deaf Education.
Carl and Rebekah courted and married among Deaf students at the first school for the Deaf in Ethiopia, founded in 1963. Lyle and Pearl Leach were overseers of all the mission’s Deaf work until their untimely death. In 1975, while in the States on furlough, a drunk driver hit and killed them. Carl and Rebekah returned to the States after their death. Then, in 1988, Carl died of cancer. 25 years later, in 2001, Rebekah returned to Ethiopia. With the full support of her second husband, Neal Payne, She founded LeaMcD.
Currently, under the new name, and local business license, “LeaMcD Education and Social Service” supports deaf students in government schools by tutoring the students on Saturdays and after school. The program serves students in grades five through ten and includes a Saturday summer program aimed at older students alongside a fall program open to participants of all ages. Ms. Payne’s commitment to fostering inclusive educational environments reflects her deep-seated belief in the potential of all students, regardless of their hearing abilities.
Throughout her career, Ms. Payne has remained dedicated to enhancing educational opportunities for the deaf community, and her long-term vision includes the establishment of a dedicated school, high school, and eventually a college for deaf students. In pursuit of this goal, she has recently restarted operations at LeaMcD, beginning with a tutoring program similar to the one launched in 2001, further reinforcing her commitment to educational excellence and advocacy. As Ms. Payne looks to the future, her primary aim is to foster the growth and impact of LeaMcD Educational Services, ensuring that it continues to provide vital support and resources for deaf students and their families. Her philosophy centers on the transformative power of education and the importance of building inclusive communities that uplift and empower individuals with hearing impairments.
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