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7.27.2005
Nina & Roger Coyer
Wednesday July 27, 2005
Deaf professor brings hope to deaf in Russian culture
By BOBBIE CURD
Staff Writer
LANCASTER - Nina Coyer never thought she'd see herself anywhere near Russia, especially twice in two years. Due to her involvement with Hands of Hope, a charitable social service organization, she knows she will be returning.
The organization is run by part-time Danville residents Tina and Alex Savelyev, who also live in Kyrgyzstan, a Central Asian country that became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991. The group's mission is to equip and train the large population of deaf and hard-of-hearing to be self-sufficient contributing members of society.
Coyer was born hard-of-hearing, and her condition has worsened with age. She taught at Kentucky School for the Deaf for 12 years before accepting a position as an assistant professor at Eastern Kentucky University eight years ago, teaching American Sign Language, deaf culture and interpreting. She is known as a deaf culture expert and advocate.
Tina Savelyev had interpreted for Coyer and asked her to talk to the teachers in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.
"The population of deaf or hard-of-hearing there is 10 percent compared to 1 percent here," Coyer said.
There is a law against teaching sign language in hard-of-hearing classrooms in Bishkek, and Coyer wanted to help residents understand what signing can do for their students.
Coyer herself didn't learn to sign until she was 19 years old and attending Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., the only deaf liberal arts school in the world. She also met her husband, Roger, there.
"Neither one of us had signed before that," Coyer said.
Sign language guarantees understanding
Statistics show that 30 percent of content is understood when reading lips, and 70 percent is "a guessing game." With sign language, 100 percent of the content is understood.
In the Bishkek hard-of-hearing school, a portion of the class is taught with teachers hiding their mouths behind a mask so that children may not read their lips.
"They are not trying to be mean. I understand that they are trying to get the kids to focus on hearing. Their hearts are in the right place, but I asked them 'If you can teach a child 100 percent compared to 30 percent, which would you chose?'" Coyer said.
But getting the area to "hear her out" didn't happen overnight.
Coyer made her first trip to Kyrgyzstan last year and spoke with the director of Special School 21 for Hard-of-Hearing and Late-Deafened Children, where teaching sign language is outlawed.
"My first visit I only worked on building trust with the director," Coyer said, explaining that the Kyrgyzstani culture is very protective of its ways. The teachers eventually agreed to hear Coyer's presentation in June of this year, but it wasn't at all what she expected.
Coyer said she planned on speaking for 15 minutes about her background, then would go on to teaching techniques.
"But they were so shocked that I was almost deaf and had a degree and taught, so I spent two hours answering questions and having conversations about how I got where I am," Coyer said. She was even asked if she was "given" her degree. This element of her visit really underlined what she knew about their culture: they felt the deaf and hard-of-hearing were invalids, could not hold jobs and certainly could not go to college.
"What I have achieved in life affected all of the teachers deeply, and it was a very emotional talk," Coyer said.
Some participants were in tears
Some of the participants were in tears during the discussion, realizing that the children of the area had been held back for so many years due to the ideology that is 50-75 years behind.
Until she went to Gallaudet, Coyer never thought she would be able to be an achiever. The oral approach to teaching hard-of-hearing children was strictly followed until 1971, Coyer said.
"Then I got to the university and I saw students who were going to be doctors and lawyers, anything they wanted to be," Coyer said.
Coyer's husband was along for the trip to Russia as well. He is retired from KSD after 29 years of teaching physical education and coaching football, basketball, track and cross country.
"Roger spoke to them some, and they just couldn't believe that the deaf played sports," Nina Coyer said.
Soon Roger Coyer was teaching the children football.
"The change of attitude won't happen overnight, it may take 20 years," Coyer said.
Next on the Savelyevs' list is to circulate a petition, Coyer said, in hopes of getting the government to observe the difference signing makes in the classroom, allowing the technique to be taught to the hard-of-hearing.
"Nina brought a peer component to that educational community. While we do have the respect of those administrators and teachers, we are not 'one of them.' As an educator, Nina is one of them and that makes a world of difference. Being deaf herself, she also represents the students they teach here. What an awesome combination to put before them in a conference setting," said Tina Savelyev.
"I told the teachers that they have to have hope for those children. They have to believe, or the children won't believe in themselves. If I can do it, then they can, too," Coyer said.
Copyright The Advocate-Messenger 2005
Deaf professor brings hope to deaf in Russian culture
By BOBBIE CURD
Staff Writer
LANCASTER - Nina Coyer never thought she'd see herself anywhere near Russia, especially twice in two years. Due to her involvement with Hands of Hope, a charitable social service organization, she knows she will be returning.
The organization is run by part-time Danville residents Tina and Alex Savelyev, who also live in Kyrgyzstan, a Central Asian country that became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991. The group's mission is to equip and train the large population of deaf and hard-of-hearing to be self-sufficient contributing members of society.
Coyer was born hard-of-hearing, and her condition has worsened with age. She taught at Kentucky School for the Deaf for 12 years before accepting a position as an assistant professor at Eastern Kentucky University eight years ago, teaching American Sign Language, deaf culture and interpreting. She is known as a deaf culture expert and advocate.
Tina Savelyev had interpreted for Coyer and asked her to talk to the teachers in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.
"The population of deaf or hard-of-hearing there is 10 percent compared to 1 percent here," Coyer said.
There is a law against teaching sign language in hard-of-hearing classrooms in Bishkek, and Coyer wanted to help residents understand what signing can do for their students.
Coyer herself didn't learn to sign until she was 19 years old and attending Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., the only deaf liberal arts school in the world. She also met her husband, Roger, there.
"Neither one of us had signed before that," Coyer said.
Sign language guarantees understanding
Statistics show that 30 percent of content is understood when reading lips, and 70 percent is "a guessing game." With sign language, 100 percent of the content is understood.
In the Bishkek hard-of-hearing school, a portion of the class is taught with teachers hiding their mouths behind a mask so that children may not read their lips.
"They are not trying to be mean. I understand that they are trying to get the kids to focus on hearing. Their hearts are in the right place, but I asked them 'If you can teach a child 100 percent compared to 30 percent, which would you chose?'" Coyer said.
But getting the area to "hear her out" didn't happen overnight.
Coyer made her first trip to Kyrgyzstan last year and spoke with the director of Special School 21 for Hard-of-Hearing and Late-Deafened Children, where teaching sign language is outlawed.
"My first visit I only worked on building trust with the director," Coyer said, explaining that the Kyrgyzstani culture is very protective of its ways. The teachers eventually agreed to hear Coyer's presentation in June of this year, but it wasn't at all what she expected.
Coyer said she planned on speaking for 15 minutes about her background, then would go on to teaching techniques.
"But they were so shocked that I was almost deaf and had a degree and taught, so I spent two hours answering questions and having conversations about how I got where I am," Coyer said. She was even asked if she was "given" her degree. This element of her visit really underlined what she knew about their culture: they felt the deaf and hard-of-hearing were invalids, could not hold jobs and certainly could not go to college.
"What I have achieved in life affected all of the teachers deeply, and it was a very emotional talk," Coyer said.
Some participants were in tears
Some of the participants were in tears during the discussion, realizing that the children of the area had been held back for so many years due to the ideology that is 50-75 years behind.
Until she went to Gallaudet, Coyer never thought she would be able to be an achiever. The oral approach to teaching hard-of-hearing children was strictly followed until 1971, Coyer said.
"Then I got to the university and I saw students who were going to be doctors and lawyers, anything they wanted to be," Coyer said.
Coyer's husband was along for the trip to Russia as well. He is retired from KSD after 29 years of teaching physical education and coaching football, basketball, track and cross country.
"Roger spoke to them some, and they just couldn't believe that the deaf played sports," Nina Coyer said.
Soon Roger Coyer was teaching the children football.
"The change of attitude won't happen overnight, it may take 20 years," Coyer said.
Next on the Savelyevs' list is to circulate a petition, Coyer said, in hopes of getting the government to observe the difference signing makes in the classroom, allowing the technique to be taught to the hard-of-hearing.
"Nina brought a peer component to that educational community. While we do have the respect of those administrators and teachers, we are not 'one of them.' As an educator, Nina is one of them and that makes a world of difference. Being deaf herself, she also represents the students they teach here. What an awesome combination to put before them in a conference setting," said Tina Savelyev.
"I told the teachers that they have to have hope for those children. They have to believe, or the children won't believe in themselves. If I can do it, then they can, too," Coyer said.
Copyright The Advocate-Messenger 2005
Bragg
Jackie Bragg had a "daughter" Crystal who attended KSD and died last fall.
Wednesday July 27, 2005
Danville man dies when car crashes into house
By TODD KLEFFMAN
Staff Writer
A Danville man was killed and his wife seriously injured Tuesday afternoon when their car crashed into a house on Dorothy Drive, police said.
J.D. Chambers, 85, of Erskin Drive, died at the scene. Cornelia K. Chambers, also 85, who was driving, was airlifted to the Chandler University of Kentucky Medical Center, where she remained in critical condition this morning, a hospital spokeswoman said.
Boyle County Coroner Dr. James Ramey pronounced J.D. Chambers dead at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center. He said the man died of massive blunt force trauma to the chest.
The couple were headed north on Waveland Avenue, ran through a stop sign at Dorothy Drive and crashed into the front of Jackie Bragg's house at 198 Dorothy Drive. The accident, which occurred about 4:15 p.m., caused severe damage to the car, the house and its foundation, according to a police report. "I was in the kitchen in the back part of the house cooking supper. I didn't see it but I heard it," Bragg said today. "It was like an explosion. It shook things off the wall. It shook candles over. It scared me to death.
"I opened the door and there were two old people out there. It looked like the man was already gone and the woman was hurt real, real bad."
Police are still investigating the accident and trying to determine what may have caused Cornelia Chambers to run the stop sign in her 1988 Dodge Shadow. There were no indications that she tried to stop or make any evasive maneuvers, the report said.
Bragg said the couple often drove down Waveland while traveling to and from their house on Erskin, a few blocks from the accident site. "I can remember seeing them going down the street. They always drove real slow," Bragg said. "She must of had a heart attack or something, and hit the gas."
Bragg said relatives of the Chambers stopped by her house Tuesday evening to check on her. "They said she was in pretty bad shape," Bragg said.
Bragg, 68, has lived at the residence for 15 years and said Tuesday's accident was the second time a vehicle had run the stop sign and struck her house. About three years ago, a truck crashed into the house, but fled before police arrived, she said. That accident caused about $4,500 in damages, she said.
"After I get it fixed this time, I'm not staying here. I can't go out again and see two people like that. I can't stand it no more," she said.
The accident marked the first traffic fatality of the year within Danville City Limits, police said.
Copyright The Advocate-Messenger 2005
Wednesday July 27, 2005
Danville man dies when car crashes into house
By TODD KLEFFMAN
Staff Writer
A Danville man was killed and his wife seriously injured Tuesday afternoon when their car crashed into a house on Dorothy Drive, police said.
J.D. Chambers, 85, of Erskin Drive, died at the scene. Cornelia K. Chambers, also 85, who was driving, was airlifted to the Chandler University of Kentucky Medical Center, where she remained in critical condition this morning, a hospital spokeswoman said.
Boyle County Coroner Dr. James Ramey pronounced J.D. Chambers dead at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center. He said the man died of massive blunt force trauma to the chest.
The couple were headed north on Waveland Avenue, ran through a stop sign at Dorothy Drive and crashed into the front of Jackie Bragg's house at 198 Dorothy Drive. The accident, which occurred about 4:15 p.m., caused severe damage to the car, the house and its foundation, according to a police report. "I was in the kitchen in the back part of the house cooking supper. I didn't see it but I heard it," Bragg said today. "It was like an explosion. It shook things off the wall. It shook candles over. It scared me to death.
"I opened the door and there were two old people out there. It looked like the man was already gone and the woman was hurt real, real bad."
Police are still investigating the accident and trying to determine what may have caused Cornelia Chambers to run the stop sign in her 1988 Dodge Shadow. There were no indications that she tried to stop or make any evasive maneuvers, the report said.
Bragg said the couple often drove down Waveland while traveling to and from their house on Erskin, a few blocks from the accident site. "I can remember seeing them going down the street. They always drove real slow," Bragg said. "She must of had a heart attack or something, and hit the gas."
Bragg said relatives of the Chambers stopped by her house Tuesday evening to check on her. "They said she was in pretty bad shape," Bragg said.
Bragg, 68, has lived at the residence for 15 years and said Tuesday's accident was the second time a vehicle had run the stop sign and struck her house. About three years ago, a truck crashed into the house, but fled before police arrived, she said. That accident caused about $4,500 in damages, she said.
"After I get it fixed this time, I'm not staying here. I can't go out again and see two people like that. I can't stand it no more," she said.
The accident marked the first traffic fatality of the year within Danville City Limits, police said.
Copyright The Advocate-Messenger 2005
7.25.2005
An email from MY Uncle Leeland
It also included a pic of the school students where my uncle teaches.. At the left top .. the first student standing is my cousin, Dorothy. I almost didnt notice her, not for my grandmother who noticed her. She looks so Asian! I guess she is settling in with her original culture....
In case of emergency in Pagers, Cell fones,...
This just might save your life, or get your families aware of your whereabouts in case of an accident or an trauma.
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY (I C E)
Paramedics will turn to a victim's cell phone for clues to that person's
>identity. You can make their job much easier with a simple idea that
>they are trying to get everyone to adopt: ICE.
>
>ICE stands for In Case of Emergency. If you add an entry in the contacts
>list in your cell phone under ICE, with the name and phone no. of the
>person that the emergency services should call on your behalf, you can
>save them a lot of time and have your loved ones contacted quickly. It
>only
>takes a few moments of your time to do.
>
>Paramedics know what ICE means and they look for it immediately. ICE
>your cell phone NOW!
>
>Please pass this one along!
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY (I C E)
Paramedics will turn to a victim's cell phone for clues to that person's
>identity. You can make their job much easier with a simple idea that
>they are trying to get everyone to adopt: ICE.
>
>ICE stands for In Case of Emergency. If you add an entry in the contacts
>list in your cell phone under ICE, with the name and phone no. of the
>person that the emergency services should call on your behalf, you can
>save them a lot of time and have your loved ones contacted quickly. It
>only
>takes a few moments of your time to do.
>
>Paramedics know what ICE means and they look for it immediately. ICE
>your cell phone NOW!
>
>Please pass this one along!
7.24.2005
Lotus Touts
Subject: Fw: Lotus Touts
TOUCHING & HELPFUL FOR A BETTER LIFE.
This is without a doubt one of the nicest good luck forwards I have
received. Hope it works for you -- and me!
Lotus Touts: You have 6 minutes
There's some mighty fine advice in these words, even if you're not
superstitious. This Lotus Touts has been sent To you for good luck from
the Anthony Robbins organization. It has been sent around the world ten
times so Far.
Do not keep this message.
The Lotus Touts must leave your hands in 6 MINUTES. Otherwise you will
get a very unpleasant surprise. This is true, even if you are not
superstitious, agnostic, or otherwise faith impaired.
ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their
conversational skills will be as important as any other.
THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you
want.
FOUR. When you say, "I love you," mean it.
FIVE. When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.
SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.
EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams
don't have much.
NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only
way to live life completely.
TEN.. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.
TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.
THIRTEEN. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer,
smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"
FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great
risk.
FIFTEEN. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson
SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others;
and responsibility for all your actions.
EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps
to correct it.
TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your
voice.
TWENTY-ONE. Spend some time alone.
Now, here's the FUN part!
Send this to at least 5 people and your life will improve. 1-4 people:
Your life will improve slightly.
5-9 people: Your life will improve to your liking.
9-14 people: You will have at least 5 surprises in the next 3 weeks
15 and above: Your life will improve drastically and everything you ever
dreamed of will begin to take shape.
A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your
heart. Do not keep this message
--------------------
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.9.2/52 - Release Date:
19/07/2005
☆~Sari~☆®
3 pic albums
Finally found a better way to share pics! Shutterfly is a good choice. Here is 3 of my shared albums. :) Enjoy!
My Uncle Leeland's Commission
http://share.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=EeBOWbFy2bN3eQ
Parents' 35th anniversary
http://share.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=EeBOWbFy2bN3aA
SBCD Trip 2005
http://share.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=EeBOWbFy2bN3aA
My Uncle Leeland's Commission
http://share.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=EeBOWbFy2bN3eQ
Parents' 35th anniversary
http://share.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=EeBOWbFy2bN3aA
SBCD Trip 2005
http://share.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=EeBOWbFy2bN3aA
7.11.2005
Thought I'd share with u the good news. The drs decided to hold off the
surgery til Nov-Dec, will do a CAT scan then.
☆~Sari~☆®
7.08.2005
Win McChord
Win McChord is a CODA from Kentucky--his parents graduated from KSD and has many Deaf cousins. He was also an Supt. for KSD and American School for the Deaf for many years-- Sad to see Ga let him go.
McChord forced to resign
07/01/05
By Marc Dadigan, Rome News-Tribune Staff Writer
CAVE SPRING — When Winfield McChord came out of retirement and first arrived at the Georgia School for the Deaf, he had no shortage of plans for the boarding school nestled on the edge of Cave Spring.
Among his many ideas were goals to expand the after-school activities, to boost enrollment and to create a program for students with behavioral disorders.
But after 19 months as GSD’s superintendent, McChord’s vision has been derailed.
He and six other educators at the state-run school were forced to resign earlier this month by the Georgia Department of Education, motivated by what McChord would only describe as “a conflict in philosophy.”
During a Wednesday interview, McChord spoke softly but still managed to smile even though he is leaving GSD with much left on the table.
“It’s a significant change, all the shakers and movers are in this group,” he said. “Th
is is a new experience for me. I’m trying to learn and benefit from it.”
On June 13, three days after the school’s graduation, state officials arrived on campus to speak to a teacher about a disciplinary matter, McChord said. After finishing with the teacher, they brought in McChord and the six other GSD employees, asking for their resignations one by one.
Resigning with McChord were Paulette Bragg, director of instruction; Linda Godsey, director of student services; and four teachers: John Groth, Mabel Reid, Louise Osborne and Annie Shields. Those educators represent a large chunk of the staff for a school of about 100 students.
Cave Spring Mayor Rob Ware said Thursday he didn’t know much about the resignations but is saddened to see McChord leave.
“His understanding of deaf people is without question,” said Ware. “The school was affected in a positive way in the short time that he was there.”
GDOE Public Information Officer Dana Tofig said the state Board of Education had accepted the resignations but added he couldn’t comment further on personnel matters. The state will set up an as of yet undetermined interim leadership before finding a full-time replacement for McChord, he said.
The resignations were effective immediately, but McChord, who lives on campus, said he has until July 15 to clear out his office and move on.
“It’s only natural to have regret when you have dreams for something but you have to leave before you even get to take the first or second step,” he said.
Even though McChord had a truncated tenure he has left his imprint on GSD. He started the practice of bussing out-of-town students home every weekend, and last month the resurrected drama club staged its first public performance in decades, a sign language version of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
Rome resident Diane Rose has sent her daughter Kim to GSD for several years, and though she doesn’t know McChord personally, she lauded the school for its efforts.
“It’s the best thing in this area for deaf kids,” she said. “It just doesn’t work as well in the public schools when you have an interpreter following them around everywhere. They still have a lot of fine teachers.”
At a time when the trend is to integrate special education students into regular classrooms as much as possible, GSD remains an exception. Whereas deaf students might find it difficult to follow along in class or participate in sports at regular schools, deaf schools are one of the few places where they can communicate with every teacher and classmate.
GSD was founded in 1846, but its role in deaf education in the state declined significantly in 1971 with the opening of the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf in Clarkston. Up until that point, GSD had enrolled as many as 700 children from around the state.
Because the Atlanta school isn’t a boarding school, McChord said it’s important for GSD to provide the dormitory option, which offers more chances for socialization and activities.
Despite the state’s reservations about his work, McChord said he is optimistic the new administration will maintain what he started at GSD.
“I think regardless of philosophy, a new superintendent with the endorsement of the state will do well,” he said. “At least that’s my fervent hope.”
Though he can hear, McChord, 64, was born to deaf parents and was raised in Kentucky. He has presided over several renowned schools for the deaf around the world, including 20 years at the American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Conn.
He came to GSD after a five-year period in which he suffered the deaths of his wife and parents.
“Even though it’s only been 19 months, you do lay down roots,” he said. “It’s going to be difficult to leave.”
McChord forced to resign
07/01/05
By Marc Dadigan, Rome News-Tribune Staff Writer
CAVE SPRING — When Winfield McChord came out of retirement and first arrived at the Georgia School for the Deaf, he had no shortage of plans for the boarding school nestled on the edge of Cave Spring.
Among his many ideas were goals to expand the after-school activities, to boost enrollment and to create a program for students with behavioral disorders.
But after 19 months as GSD’s superintendent, McChord’s vision has been derailed.
He and six other educators at the state-run school were forced to resign earlier this month by the Georgia Department of Education, motivated by what McChord would only describe as “a conflict in philosophy.”
During a Wednesday interview, McChord spoke softly but still managed to smile even though he is leaving GSD with much left on the table.
“It’s a significant change, all the shakers and movers are in this group,” he said. “Th
is is a new experience for me. I’m trying to learn and benefit from it.”
On June 13, three days after the school’s graduation, state officials arrived on campus to speak to a teacher about a disciplinary matter, McChord said. After finishing with the teacher, they brought in McChord and the six other GSD employees, asking for their resignations one by one.
Resigning with McChord were Paulette Bragg, director of instruction; Linda Godsey, director of student services; and four teachers: John Groth, Mabel Reid, Louise Osborne and Annie Shields. Those educators represent a large chunk of the staff for a school of about 100 students.
Cave Spring Mayor Rob Ware said Thursday he didn’t know much about the resignations but is saddened to see McChord leave.
“His understanding of deaf people is without question,” said Ware. “The school was affected in a positive way in the short time that he was there.”
GDOE Public Information Officer Dana Tofig said the state Board of Education had accepted the resignations but added he couldn’t comment further on personnel matters. The state will set up an as of yet undetermined interim leadership before finding a full-time replacement for McChord, he said.
The resignations were effective immediately, but McChord, who lives on campus, said he has until July 15 to clear out his office and move on.
“It’s only natural to have regret when you have dreams for something but you have to leave before you even get to take the first or second step,” he said.
Even though McChord had a truncated tenure he has left his imprint on GSD. He started the practice of bussing out-of-town students home every weekend, and last month the resurrected drama club staged its first public performance in decades, a sign language version of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
Rome resident Diane Rose has sent her daughter Kim to GSD for several years, and though she doesn’t know McChord personally, she lauded the school for its efforts.
“It’s the best thing in this area for deaf kids,” she said. “It just doesn’t work as well in the public schools when you have an interpreter following them around everywhere. They still have a lot of fine teachers.”
At a time when the trend is to integrate special education students into regular classrooms as much as possible, GSD remains an exception. Whereas deaf students might find it difficult to follow along in class or participate in sports at regular schools, deaf schools are one of the few places where they can communicate with every teacher and classmate.
GSD was founded in 1846, but its role in deaf education in the state declined significantly in 1971 with the opening of the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf in Clarkston. Up until that point, GSD had enrolled as many as 700 children from around the state.
Because the Atlanta school isn’t a boarding school, McChord said it’s important for GSD to provide the dormitory option, which offers more chances for socialization and activities.
Despite the state’s reservations about his work, McChord said he is optimistic the new administration will maintain what he started at GSD.
“I think regardless of philosophy, a new superintendent with the endorsement of the state will do well,” he said. “At least that’s my fervent hope.”
Though he can hear, McChord, 64, was born to deaf parents and was raised in Kentucky. He has presided over several renowned schools for the deaf around the world, including 20 years at the American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Conn.
He came to GSD after a five-year period in which he suffered the deaths of his wife and parents.
“Even though it’s only been 19 months, you do lay down roots,” he said. “It’s going to be difficult to leave.”
Jennifer Harris
This article is about a Deaf daughter of Deaf professionals--Archie and Barbie Harris. I have known the family for years--and proud of Jennifer --She will leave in August.
From the Danville, KY Advocate Messenger.....
Harris is first KSD student to study abroad
By RACHEL TAPLEY
Contributing Writer
Jennifer Harris will become the first student from Kentucky School for the Deaf to study abroad in September. She will move to Stockholm, Sweden, where she will live with a Swedish family and attend school for the year.
"My brother, Chris, went to Russia for three weeks, which made me think that I wanted to go abroad, too," says Jennifer. "But I wanted to stay longer."
She says that she thought first of going to France or Italy, but that she heard great things about Sweden and changed her mind. It will be her first time in Europe.
Jennifer would be a senior in Sept-ember at KSD. Though the school system in Stockholm is not quite comparable, she will join a group of college-bound students there as well.
At the school in Sweden, which is a school for deaf students, she will learn written Swedish and Swedish sign language. Jennifer says she will take seven courses during the year, but she does not know what the others would be yet. She has finished her required courses at KSD, so she is free to take whatever interests her. She does know that she will be playing basketball on a team with her host family's daughter.
Jennifer's year in Sweden is being arranged by an organization called NorthWest Student Exchange, which is headquartered in Seattle.
"The director was very excited, because they've never worked with a deaf student or sent anyone to Sweden," she says.
Jennifer will be perhaps the only American student at her school, although she said that the school was interested in starting an exchange program. She hopes KSD will continue to help its student study abroad after she graduates.
She has no worries. "I felt apprehensive at first, but now I feel very comfortable going there. I'm looking at it as a challenge. I'm very excited."
Jennifer adds, "I think I will make a very good representative for KSD, the deaf community, the Danville community, and even for all of Kentucky. I'm hoping the community will make donations toward my trip. I've had some, but I haven't reached my goal. Anything would help."
Donations maybe sent to the Jennifer Harris Student Exchange Fund at National City Bank.
Copyright The Advocate-Messenger 2005
From the Danville, KY Advocate Messenger.....
Harris is first KSD student to study abroad
By RACHEL TAPLEY
Contributing Writer
Jennifer Harris will become the first student from Kentucky School for the Deaf to study abroad in September. She will move to Stockholm, Sweden, where she will live with a Swedish family and attend school for the year.
"My brother, Chris, went to Russia for three weeks, which made me think that I wanted to go abroad, too," says Jennifer. "But I wanted to stay longer."
She says that she thought first of going to France or Italy, but that she heard great things about Sweden and changed her mind. It will be her first time in Europe.
Jennifer would be a senior in Sept-ember at KSD. Though the school system in Stockholm is not quite comparable, she will join a group of college-bound students there as well.
At the school in Sweden, which is a school for deaf students, she will learn written Swedish and Swedish sign language. Jennifer says she will take seven courses during the year, but she does not know what the others would be yet. She has finished her required courses at KSD, so she is free to take whatever interests her. She does know that she will be playing basketball on a team with her host family's daughter.
Jennifer's year in Sweden is being arranged by an organization called NorthWest Student Exchange, which is headquartered in Seattle.
"The director was very excited, because they've never worked with a deaf student or sent anyone to Sweden," she says.
Jennifer will be perhaps the only American student at her school, although she said that the school was interested in starting an exchange program. She hopes KSD will continue to help its student study abroad after she graduates.
She has no worries. "I felt apprehensive at first, but now I feel very comfortable going there. I'm looking at it as a challenge. I'm very excited."
Jennifer adds, "I think I will make a very good representative for KSD, the deaf community, the Danville community, and even for all of Kentucky. I'm hoping the community will make donations toward my trip. I've had some, but I haven't reached my goal. Anything would help."
Donations maybe sent to the Jennifer Harris Student Exchange Fund at National City Bank.
Copyright The Advocate-Messenger 2005
