Welcome to Our New Superintendent Dr. Nancylynn Ward

over 150 years of educating deaf THE TENNESSEE OBSERVER and hard of hearing children looking to the future with our roots firmly planted in the traditions of the past

looking to the future with our roots firmly planted in the traditions of the past

Volume 141

Tennessee School for the Deaf, Knoxville, TN 37920

(Issue 1)

Fall 2017

Welcome to Our New Superintendent

Dr. Nancylynn Ward

Greetings! It is my per as a premiere edhonor to write my ucational program frst submission for of the Deaf in the this publication. As state of Tennessee. you all know, it has In the meantime, been 10 weeks since I am still learnI started my tenure ing about TSD, the as your Superintenplace, the people dent. It is an exciting and the resources time for the entire we have in our great community. I have state. Please pardon received an incredme if I cannot reible welcome from member your name parents, families, stu(I am usually betdents, staf, my adter at remembering ministrative team, as faces), it takes me a well as the Tennessee while to remember Department of Eduthe names. I will get cation. there! Eventually! Tere have been In the meantime, many things that have I look forward to been set in motion, working with evnamely the three work ery one of you and groups studying how working for a great we can best integrate tomorrow for our new thinking and indeaf and hard of corporating best prachearing children attices in three areas: 1) tending our schools Bi-Bi approach in ed(Knoxville as well ucation methodology as Jackson) and TSD’s frst Deaf Superintendent, Dr. Nancylynn Ward. strengthening what in our classrooms, 2) revamping and improving is already a great team of our IT infrastructure so it people who care deeply building our outreach program. can handle our changing technology for the vision and mission of our It is my belief that these improvebased needs for the future, and 3) reschools. ments will allow us to grow and pros-

the tennessee observer

Two Thousand and Seventeen

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The Tennessee Observer

SStudent Living Corner I hope you had a great summer with your child. We had a fun-filled week in July where 39 campers Scott Skelton, participated Dir. of Student Living in various activities that was supported by the Variety of East Tennessee, an entity of Regal Cinemas. Tree camps were held during the week. Tey were Junior Camp, Senior Camp, and Camp of Courage. Some campers experienced whitewater rafing, rappelling, tubing, WonderWorks, and the biggest event of

the week, Dollywood. Everyone had a wonderful time experiencing diferent things that they will remember for a lifetime. It is hard to believe that two months of school has already gone by. Students and staf have been already busy being involved in diferent activities. Te high school students went to Main Event a few weeks ago to participate in Laser Tag, arcade games, etc. Middle school students have been playing volleyball (girls) and fag football (boys) and both sports have just completed their seasons. Some elementary boys got to go camping in the mountains and had a great time experiencing the outdoors. Tose activities are just a snapshot of many activities that occur afer school that our students have opportunity to participate in.

Soon, leaves will change colors, temperatures fall, and the holidays will be fast approaching. Te students will be busy participating in various events such as: feld trips in the area, attending a play at the University of Tennessee, participating in recreation basketball, having cooking competitions, and perhaps the biggest event of the year, the opening of the Alan J. Mealka High School opening ceremony. Be on the lookout for more information in the upcoming weeks for various activities that are happening on campus. Tank you for giving your child an opportunity to attend Tennessee School for the Deaf to experience and participate in many things that they may not otherwise have. Enjoy the Fall season and GO VIKINGS!!!!

CConstruction Update Written by Daniel Dooley What an exciting and busy time for construction on campus! Students got to start the school year enjoying meals in the new dining hall, and construction on the Alan J. Mealka High School continues on schedule. Expect to see people moving in this fall and the building in full use by next semester. Announcements will be made regarding opening ceremonies as construction nears completion. Upcoming capital projects include updating the air conditioning and roof for the old elementary dormitory. Pictured to the right are two diferent aerial views of the new Alan J. Mealka High School building taken by drone technology.




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TThe Bilingual-Bicultural Education Model & TSD Te overall, general purpose of a Bilingual-Bicultural (Bi-Bi) model is to recognize that American Sign Language (ASL) and English (written and spoken) are both equal and valuable languages. As TSD transitions to a Bi-Bi educational philosophy, we recognize that there are many Bi-Bi models across the country. Our Bi-Bi workgroup committee is working hard to develop the best model and philosophy with TSD students in mind. We look forward to this positive, researched-based venture with our students & staf. Tus far, the committee has: • identifed the educational train-

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ings that teachers and staf need at both the Knoxville and Jackson campus have begun researching the various Bi-Bi models across the country and what educational research has shown regarding this model have developed a partnership with the University of Tennessee’s Deaf Education department in order to stay research driven will be traveling to four diferent schools for the Deaf across the country this year to tour them and see how they have established their Bi-Bi models will be holding staf and parent question and answer sessions at

SSixth Graders Visit UT

volved in a federal grant that analyzes teachers’ instruction and how they can teach us the best way. It also analyzes our writing to help improve all Deaf students’ writing. When we got to UT, we had to get a parking Back row: Camille Benson, TSD teacher, Tyrek, Teya, Hope, and Dr. Wolbers, UT Deaf Education professor; pass. Te parkFront row: Kimberly, Garett, and Kaiden ing pass we got from a special ticket ofce that let us By Garett and Tyrek park for free. We had to put the parking pass in the front of the windshield. Last Tursday, September 7, 2017, Ten, we met Dr. Wolbers, Dr. Shahan, the sixth grade class, Mrs. Benson, and Calvin, Layla, Dr. Smith, and Calvin’s Mr. Morton went to the University of sister. It was so exciting to meet them! Tennessee (UT). We wanted to go to meet Dr. Wolbers since we are inWe enjoyed chatting about their expe-


future dates (we will let you know when those will be as soon as possible!) We would love for you to read the articles below from Gallaudet University. http://bit.ly/research-briefs http://bit.ly/asl-english Individuals comprised on the Bilingual – Bicultural committee are: fve TSD Knoxville and Jackson teachers, a cottage dean, a certifed staf interpreter, a Speech and Language Pathologist, a Transition coordinator, a parent, a security staf member, and a UT professor.

riences in school and what we would like to do in the future for our jobs. We had to go back to get another parking pass since our 45 minutes had run out on the other pass. Last, Dr. Wolbers met us at the van and we all walked over to get lunch. Tyrek ate Qdoba, and thought it was good, but was disappointed afer he found out there was a Subway restaurant there. Te lunch menu didn’t have Subway listed so he didn’t know it was there. Garett chose Chick-fl-A, was excited to eat it, but the line was very long! He had to use his patience. Tyrek and Mrs. Benson’s line was short at Qdoba. We took our food over to the Education Building because the Student Union tables were completely full. We knew we had to hurry and eat since the food lines had taken so long. We really enjoyed getting to meet Dr. Wolbers! It made our participation in the grant more meaningful!


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PPost-Secondary Transition Program

Charity Bailey receives her certifcate for completing Walmart’s Pathways Program Written by Holly Patterson

What do students do when they graduate from the TN School for the Deaf? Go home and sit on the couch? Not if we can help it. Many students go of to college, technical schools or to work in family businesses, etc. Others need more support, so they come back to TSD to join the Post-Secondary Transition Program (PSTP) for adult students up to age 22. In PSTP, they learn to transition into adulthood and achieve their independence goals. Students can expect to learn to ride the local public bus independently, manage a bank account, volunteer in the community, intern at various Knoxville businesses and obtain their frst jobs. Tey live in housing on the TSD campus called cottages with other adult students and staf are there to supervise and guide them. Te students learn to cook, clean, budget, do laundry and overall take care of themselves and their needs. Tey live at TSD during the week and go home on the weekends to see their families. Currently there are two students going to Pellissippi Community College full time. One is majoring in graphic design and photography. She has


Above: PSTP students Alexis Whittington, Patton Carothers, and Jesse Morneaux volunteer at Te Love Kitchen.

worked part time at Walmart for almost four years and will be moving to an apartment in a few months, ready to transition to independent life. Te other student is majoring in computer technology and plans to transfer to the UT next year. He works part-time in the cafeteria at Pellissippi. Other students are on the competitive job track and work at such businesses in Knoxville as: Duck Donuts, Menchies Frozen Yogurt, Rue 21, McDonalds, WestRock, Cardinal Health and an additional student also works at Walmart. Students not ready for competitive employment yet are interning at Karm Trif Stores, Church Street United Methodist Church, East TN Children’s Hospital, and the Humane Society of the TN Valley to gain much needed job skills. Most students have the opportunity to volunteer weekly or at some point during the year at Te Knoxville Center of the Deaf, Te Love Kitchen, KARM Trif Store, Beardsley Farm, and Te Ladies of Charity Trif Store & Food Pantry to give back to the community. We are very proud of our PSTP students as they gain further job skills and life skills, while learning how to be

Top: Alex Mize and Angel work making dough at Duck Donuts; Bottom: Birhanu enjoys his KARM internship.

independent. If you have any retail or warehouse connections in Knoxville, please contact me. We would love to partner with you! (hpatterson@tsd. k12.tn.us)



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WWe Have a Dream

Laila said, “I have a dream that one day Deaf and hearing will be seen as equal.” Written by: Becky Escamilla, Jailynn Gibson, Lalia Lewers, Chyanne Massey, Shawn Mould, and Tierra Smith

Tis year’s Washington, DC trip was very diferent from past years. We had many unexpected events take place that made this trip extra special. Upon arriving at the Maryland School for the Deaf, where we were sleeping, we were able to see the reconstruction of the Hessian Barracks. Tese

Group picture while on the Arlington National Cemetery tour.


barracks were a part of the French & Indian War, American Revolution, and the Civil War. We thought it was really cool since it had so much important American history in it. Also, we were given a piece of the reconstructed shingle that they are replacing on the roof to be time-period correct. It is amazing how hard it was to make a simple roofng shingle back then! We were able to see two Single-A baseball games by the Frederick Keys, a Washington Nationals baseball game in D.C., see the burial site of Frederick Scott Keys, have a private tour of Gettysburg battlefeld, toured various important sites: the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, the spot where Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his “I have a dream” speech on the Lincoln Memorial, WWII Memorial, Korean Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Vietnam Women’s Memorial, Vietnam Men’s Memorial, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. We also had a

private tour of the Ford’s Teatre were President Lincoln was shot and the Peterson House where he passed away. We went Arlington National Cemetery and saw the changing of the guard and a wreath presentation at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We saw Robert E. Lee’s Arlington home but we were too late to tour it. At the Capitol Building, we had a private tour by a Congressional interpreter. She was amazing! She showed us many important places in the building and important historical facts related to TN. We also saw the center point of D.C. in the Capitol Building and how all of D.C.’s roads lead away from that point. We even were able to go into the House of Representative’s gallery and see where the president gives his annual address. We went to Gallaudet University also. At their bookstore, we ran into a TSD alumnae, Carlie Cutshall, who told us that college is way harder than she had thought. TSD alumni Michaela Evans, Rashard Witherspoons, and Ethan Swaford ate lunch with us and advised us. Tey told us to study hard and learn time management skills since it is critical in college. At the Holocaust Museum, we learned more in-depth about Hitler and WWII. Hitler’s goal was genocide continued on page 7...


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PPTCA News PTCA of TSD is asking for your support. PTCA helps many of the programs at TSD to meet the needs of our students. We also are able to directly help students with needs the state and the families cannot meet. PayPal donations can be made directly through our website to PTCA by clicking on the DONATE button. Any and all size donations are welcome and appreciated. If you would like to recognize someone by making a donation in memory or in honor of someone, please be sure that information is noted on your check if mailing a donation or noted in the comments section if donating via PayPal. ____ Friend of TSD $10 donation ____ Silver TSD Supporter $25 donation

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____ Gold TSD Supporter $50 donation ____ Platinum TSD Supporter $100 donation ____ Other donation

Use this QR code to donate online.

]

Donors will be recognized in the Tennessee Observer. Tank you so much for all the ways you support Tennessee School for the Deaf. ou may send your donations to: PTCA of TSD, 2725 Island Home Blvd, Knoxville, TN 37920 or donate online. Tank you to the following donors who have made contributions ot PTCA of TSD between the dates of January 15, 2017 - May 22, 2017

Platinum Supporters Daniel and Michelle Nower Kay Brookshire and Tom Beehan George and Colleen Bottcher - In Memory of Mary Lou Bowser Rosemary and Elvis Webb Lions Club District 12-0 Germantown Lions Club Mr. Alan Mealka and Dr. Elsbeth Freeman

HHomecoming News!

Save the Date

Homecoming has been rescheduled to

Saturday, February 10, 2018 a schedule of activities will be announced closer to the date




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AAthletics News 2017 Volleyball Team (L to R): Coach Sharon Brown, Coach Mallory Clark, Madison Beard, Shelby Rednour, Tierra Smith, MarCreshia Phillips, Haliey Robinson, Sydney Rednour, Wilma Robinson, Martinna Holloway, Lorissa Currie, Daniela McSpadden, Alanna Parr, and Coach Jeanne Fair

THE TENNESSEE OBSERVER (ISSN 0896-1778) Published quarterly by the CTE Graphics Communications class at the Tennessee School for the Deaf 2725 Island Home Boulevard Periodical postage paid at Knoxville, TN Subscription: $2 per year in advance POSTMASTER: Send form 2579 to:

2017 Cheerleaders Kylan Trice Rodrian Ware Leaely Andrade

C

...continued from page 5 of the Jewish people (to kill them all). We were able to meet survivor, Mrs. Neese Galperin Godin, and hear her survival story. She was around our age (13-14 years old) when she was sent of to a concentration camp. Many people were killed by the gas chambers and then cremated. We saw lots of pictures of the sufering people and even had an actual train car used during the Holocaust. At the National Cryptology Museum, we were able to have a private meeting with three National Security Agency Deaf employees. It was super cool to see that Deaf people are able to achieve a position in the government where they are dealing with spy stuf.


Lastly, we ate dinner with Kurt Ramborger, a famous Deaf chef. He is known as the “Irish Chef ” and has even competed on the Food Network’s show “Chopped”. It was so cool to meet someone that famous and talented! We titled this article “We Have a Dream” because when we were standing where MLK gave his famous speech “I Have a Dream” on the Lincoln Memorial, one of us said that she had a dream. She said that her dream was that all Deaf and hearing people would one day be seen as equal. It became all of our dreams to one day see that happen. Tis trip brought us a little bit closer to realizing that with hard work, our generation just might make it a reality.

TENNESSEE OBSERVER 2725 Island Home Blvd. Knoxville, TN 37920 attn: Brandi Rood

Scan this QR code to connect to TSD Athletics on HS Cube (http://thecube.com/cube/tsdvikings)

Get news and scores at http://facebook.com/tsdvikings Follow TSD Athletics on Twitter: @tsdvikings


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Te Tennessee School for the Deaf is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, equal access, and afrmative action. Contact the EE/AA/ADA Cordinator at (865) 594-6022 (Voice/TDD) for further information.

THE TENNESSEE OBSERVER 2725 Island Home Boulevard Knoxville, TN 37920

Periodical Postage Paid at Knoxville, TN 37950 (USPS 539-240)

To:

To make changes to your mailing address, to be removed from the mailing list, or other questions regarding this publication, please contact Brandi Rood at [email protected]

AArt Around Campus

Last spring, Athena Ellenberger and teacher, Victoria Haggarty, painting the mural outside of Maintenance. Written by: Victoria Haggarty around campus, the program has ex-

Te students in the Tennessee School for the Deaf High School Visual Arts program have received high recognition recently. On the maintenance building, a Banksy-inspired mural, still in progress, is displayed of a Viking reaching out from behind the wall. In the Ward Building, two vivid large-scale murals symbolizing TSD’s athletic and educational programs were completed by the Art 2 students. In addition to the spread of art


panded in terms of adding a new, yet traditional, method of art production. With new equipment, students have been able to screenprint t-shirts. Tis opportunity has allowed students to use online programs to enhance design ideas and transfer them to tshirts. Since September, t-shirts have been screenprinted for state-wide conferences, clubs, and competitions. Te new addition has been a hectic, but exciting, one for our students!

Alenis Pierce, James Oliver, Jacob Johnson, and Hailey Robinson work collaboratively on screen printing. Right: Shelby helped paint the mural in the Ward Building.


Welcome to Our New Superintendent Dr. Nancylynn Ward

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