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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.”
