New Mexico School for the Deaf Progress Magazine - English- Winter/Spring 2020-21

Volume 111 / Issue 2 / Winter/Spring 2020-2021

DREAM! EXPLORE! ACHIEVE!

DR. ROSEMARY J. GALLEGOS RETIRES: CELEBRATING 36 YEARS OF CONNECTION

Dream! Explore! Achieve!

Vision

Beliefs

Children and students in New Mexico who are deaf/hard of hearing will become lifelong learners and contributing, well-rounded successful individuals in an increasingly global society.

In an environment of respect, trust, and safety, we believe in…

Mission The mission of the New Mexico School for the Deaf (NMSD), New Mexico’s first public school, is to provide for the unique needs of children and students who are deaf/hard of hearing, their families, and professional partners by providing a comprehensive array of school and statewide programs.

As a school, NMSD provides an American Sign Language and English bilingual learning environment that includes direct, ongoing access to language and communication in and out of the classroom with a wide range of peers and adults. The students are interactive learners who receive dynamic high quality standardsbased instruction in a variety of curricular and extra-curricular activities.

As a statewide service agency, NMSD collaborates with families, school districts, agencies and communities throughout the state to meet the critical language, communication, and learning needs of children and students in New Mexico who are deaf/hard of hearing, birth through high school.

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viewing people who are deaf/hard of hearing from a cultural and linguistic perspective

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having high expectations that positively affect self-esteem, identity and whole person development

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providing early, ongoing, and fluid access to communication through natural language models

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developing proficiency in American Sign Language and English which is critical for fluent communication, literacy and academic achievement

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supporting the development of auditory skills and spoken language as appropriate to the strengths and needs of the individual child/student

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providing high quality early intervention and involvement services designed to help families give their children the earliest possible on-going opportunities for language, learning and meaningful relationships

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fostering strong partnerships with families through learning and social opportunities

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identifying each student’s unique strengths and using them as the foundation for learning and development

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ensuring the child/student is a consistent and active participant in planned and incidental learning experiences in and out of the classroom

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embracing ethnic, linguistic, and cultural diversity

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developing competence in the use of advanced technology

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having high quality and committed staff who possess and maintain expertise in their respective area

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supporting all students in the pursuit of their personal and professional aspirations

May 2018

VOLUME 111 ISSUE 2 WINTER/SPRING 2020 - 2021

DREAM! EXPLORE! ACHIEVE! FEATURE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ROSEMARY J. GALLEGOS RETIRES: 3 DR. CELEBRATING 36 YEARS OF CONNECTION

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Superintendent’s Update Feature Early Intervention & Developmental Services Year in Photos School Clubs Transition Student Life: Athletics Graduation Center for Educational Consultation & Training Alumni Community Relations Retirees & Years of Service

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SUPERINTENDENT’S UPDATE

DEAR NMSD COMMUNITY & FRIENDS, This letter serves as a fond farewell as I end my tenure as Superintendent with my retirement in June 2021.

It was such a great pleasure to be interviewed by NMSD students for this edition of the NM Progress and reflect on the last six years as Superintendent and the last 36 years of service to NMSD. The New Mexico School for the Deaf and Schools for the Deaf across the country hold precious their history and heritage. It is beyond humbling to be a part of the rich heritage of the New Mexico School for the Deaf as its ninth, and first-woman Superintendent. We are fortunate that our state recognizes its responsibility to keep NMSD’s legacy alive and vibrant for New Mexico’s citizens and Deaf and hard of hearing children and their families.

Through the years we’ve held our history, successes, traditions, and struggles dear to us while continuing to expand and strengthen services in all parts of our state.

NMSD has robust early intervention, training, and consultation services, as well as school programs that remain agile in adjusting to meet our state’s needs while embracing new technology and innovation in Deaf Education. Our partnerships and connections at the local and state level also continue to grow and allow us to serve so many communities in New Mexico. I am confident these collaborations will persist and permit NMSD to be responsive to our culturally rich and diverse state. The teams in each of our programs are experienced and extremely skilled professionals who have a deep passion for providing quality services to our children and families and who work exceptionally well together to press for high expectations of the School. Their work is sustained by the common resolve that all Deaf and hard of hearing children deserve a fair chance to thrive in an educational setting that understands their potential and is safe, language accessible, and inclusive.

I have the deepest gratitude for you, our community, who works so tirelessly on behalf of children in New Mexico. It has been such an honor and privilege to serve our great school as a part of NMSD’s groundbreaking programs. I am so proud of what the community continues to accomplish together to make NMSD the center of expertise and excellence and to reach out to children and families in every corner of the state. Our Deaf and hard of hearing children and their families in New Mexico deserve no less than the best.

It was no small decision to retire but I do so with confidence that NMSD’s vision and mission will continue to be energized by our community of students, families, staff, and the many friends and allies of NMSD. All our hopes and dreams for NMSD and the vision of the eight superintendents who came before me will be made apparent for years to come through the children and students that have the opportunity to dream, explore, and achieve!

Con mucha alma,

Rosemary J. Gallegos 2

FEATURE

DR. ROSEMARY J. GALLEGOS RETIRES:

CELEBRATING 36 YEARS OF CONNECTION

BY BRUCE BREWER, JR., KIERAN ERCOLINO, KIERAN VOLLMAR & KERI-LYNN MCBRIDE

After 36 years of service to NMSD, Dr. Rosemary Jeantete Gallegos announced her retirement this past December. Taos-born Dr. Gallegos is NMSD’s ninth superintendent and has the distinction of being the first female (and second Hispanic) superintendent in the history of the school.

Superintendent Gallegos spent her first 27 years at NMSD in capacities ranging from teacher to early interventionist to Director of Early Intervention and Involvement, Director of Statewide Outreach, and Assistant Superintendent. Even after her first retirement in 2011, she continued to serve as a consultant to the school as she pursued her doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from the University of New Mexico.

Dr. Gallegos has done an outstanding job playing major roles for NMSD and NMSD’s critical statewide programs for 36 years. She’s clearly shown her love, understanding and commitment to the infants, toddlers, students, families, staff, community members, and the entire state of New Mexico with her extraordinary and life-long dedication to our school. When Dr. Gallegos accepted the Superintendency, her goal was to ensure that all Deaf and hard of hearing children in New Mexico had access to specialized resources, quality education, and opportunities to engage in their rich heritage and community of both peers and adults.

Under her steady and capable hands, students have thrived in countless ways, and grown immeasurably under her wisdom and guidance.

In the fall of 2015, a team of sixth graders crafted questions and interviewed Dr. Gallegos for our magazine. They took the opportunity seriously and spent a few hours interviewing and being photographed with our new superintendent. It's a full-circle moment as some of the students who interviewed Dr. Gallegos six years ago, interviewed her again for this fond farewell.

Dr. Gallegos will always be part of NMSD’s family and the entire Community extends its heartfelt gratitude and wishes her great happiness and success, no matter where her journey leads!

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1: Dr. Gallegos begins her journey as NMSD's 9th Superintendent! 2: Dr. Gallegos reading to her preschool students back in the 80's. 3: Students asking Dr. Gallegos about her goals for NMSD during their interview in the fall of 2015. 4: Bruce Brewer, Jr., Kieran Ercolino, and Kieran Vollmar interviewing Dr. Gallegos, six years later - a full circle moment!

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FEATURE How do you think you have done as NMSD’s 9th superintendent?

I’ve worked hard every day to ensure NMSD's programs quality and availability across the state of New Mexico – to all of New Mexico's children and families. As NMSD’s first woman Superintendent and first Superintendent to have always lived in New Mexico, I brought that deep personal knowledge of our state to the table every time we considered how to best serve our communities and how to make connections and build partnerships that will keep NMSD strong today and in the future.

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Looking back over the past 6 years, what are NMSD’s (and your) greatest accomplishments?

There are so many parts to making a School like ours successful. I think the greatest accomplishment of the school in the last six years has been maintaining and growing the number of children we serve in our different programs. This demonstrates that families and other agencies in New Mexico trust us and know we have excellent and specialized services for children and students. We expanded our public relations reach through social media and our Annual Report. We revisited our Mission and Vision Statements and created our tag line, "Dream, Explore, Achieve!" In the last six years we have nearly completed our Facilities Master Plan and we have a beautifully renovated campus with many safety features. We made large steps in modernizing our payroll and finance systems. We grew as a leadership team in supporting the scope, depth, and vital functions of our three main programs: early intervention, outreach for students in public schools, and our satellite preschools and main campus school programs. My job, my responsibility as the Superintendent was to make sure the structure of the school is solid. That includes our buildings and facilities, funding, partnerships, and compliance with all state and federal laws. It also means bringing staff together through strategic planning and understanding of our mission and vision. When the school is operating efficiently, staff can do their jobs, and students can learn and grow. So, the biggest accomplishments were the ones the students made themselves, with a baby’s first signs or words, families connecting with each other and celebrating their children, students reading challenging books, writing essays, participating in community projects, applying to college, getting work experience, challenging themselves in sporting and academic competitions, standing up for NMSD at the Legislature, learning how to make and be a good friend, and having dreams and goals.

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5: Former Superintendent, Dr. Ronald J. Stern, welcoming incoming Superintendent Gallegos in August of 2015. 6: From left: Kieran Vollmar, Dustin Hand, Kieran Ercolino, Bruce Brewer, Jr. and Evelyn Johnson a few years before they conducted the original interview of Dr. Gallegos back in 2015. 7: From left: Former Superintendent Stern with then Cabinet members, Rosemary Gallegos, Mark Apodaca and Roddy Cabbage. 8: Dr. Gallegos with "Students of the Year" during a past Honor Night. 9: Celebrating the creation of NMSD's tagline Dream! Explore! Achieve! 10: Senator Udall, during a tour of NMSD, chats with a family who receives Early Intervention services.

FEATURE Were there any challenges along the way? If so, what were some of them?

I would have never dreamed when I became the Superintendent that we would experience a flood on our campus or that there would be a Pandemic. In July 2018, a flash flood sent three feet of water gushing onto our campus and caused structural and water damage to some of our Santa Fe Campus buildings. We were just welcoming 150 participants to ASL Immersion and had to send them all home.

I’m grateful that no one was hurt, and the staff rose to the occasion with good humor and flexibility while moving their office or classroom spaces during remediation of the buildings. Then in March 2020, the COVID-19 Pandemic sent us off campus to work and teach from home. One of the hardest things I had to do was tell the students in the International Studies program that they had to cancel their trip to Greece because of the Pandemic. But again, all NMSD staff and students displayed incredible persistence and adapted to teaching, consulting, and learning online. What a thrill it was to see students and staff come back to campus in April 2021 for the last seven weeks of school.

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How has leading NMSD during the Covid-19 Pandemic been?

The Pandemic made us think differently. Schools for the Deaf and all schools were faced with a task that we had never envisioned. That task was continuing education for students while keeping all students and staff safe from a virus that no one knew very much about. So, there was a lot of uncertainty and fear about knowing how to do the right thing and continue to provide services to children and families. We are so fortunate that NMSD had the resources to provide technology to all students so that most students were able to continue their learning online and we could still see one another virtually. Schools across New Mexico contacted our outreach department more often for help and information on how to adapt online learning for Deaf students attending their public schools. NMSD was also very fortunate to have such amazing staff who adapted to an online environment to help students and families stay connected and to support them if they were struggling. So, while we felt we did pretty good keeping services afloat, we do continue to worry that students in our school programs and children in our early intervention program lost out on precious time in their development of language and communication. I think we learned a lot from our experiences and how we can use technology to enhance our connection with parents, school districts, and early intervention agencies through Zoom. When it is safe to travel again, we will want to continue to drive across New Mexico to visit with our partners in person, but I do think our familiarity with online interactions will allow us to visit even more often and have even stronger partnerships.

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When you reflect on your 36 years at NMSD, what are you most proud of?

I am extremely proud that the state of New Mexico has a school for Deaf and hard of hearing children that is of such high quality. NMSD has always been forward thinking. While there are so many things to be proud of, there are four major shifts in the past 36 years that have had profound impact on children’s learning. In 1992 NMSD started the

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11: Students and staff during one of our Retiree and Years of Service Celebrations. 12: Dr. Gallegos welcoming Senator Heinrich to campus for a tour where he learned about the critical services NMSD provides to our students and our state. 13: Students making a yarn doll during an online activity related to the book they read, “Esperanza Rising”. 14: Students reading books they wrote to each other via Zoom during the pandemic. 15: Clint Woosley and Tyr Thrower working together during in-person learning on our Santa Fe Campus.

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FEATURE Educational Resource Center that helped NMSD bring the expertise on our Santa Fe campus to the whole state. That program has grown in numbers of staff and school districts we serve. It has also been extremely creative in developing programs that fit New Mexico, such as the AmeriCorps (now ASL Corp) project that brings Deaf Culture and ASL to New Mexico families everywhere in the state. New Mexico adopted universal hearing screening in 2000 which lets us know within three months after a baby is born, and sometimes sooner, if a child is Deaf and or hard of hearing so that language learning and access can start immediately. NMSD has played a major role in this system and is the state resource for families when they first find out their child is Deaf or hard of hearing. Our early intervention providers are all over the state, speak the languages of our diverse communities, and are a vital part of their local regions. I have seen them firsthand driving down sometimes impassible roads to help find babies and offer services. The role NMSD plays in our state is profound. The other significant change I have seen in 36 years is about language and communication access and high expectations. I have witnessed the School increase its capacity in providing language and cultural models who are Deaf and proficient in ASL. In 1995 we started the Deaf Role Model Program for our statewide home visiting parent/child program. NMSD was the National Center for ASL/English Bilingual Education Training from 1997 – 2010 providing a transformation of the field’s understanding of the role of ASL in a Deaf child’s learning. Through the years we have hired more and more Deaf teachers, developmental specialists, outreach specialists, and administrators. Knowing that language learning doesn’t only happen in the classroom, we have also hired more Deaf staff in all our support departments. Supporting all efforts is an Interpreter Team that matches no other who facilitates language access between differing language users, both students and staff. We have also increased our availability and the adaptability of our services to address rapidly evolving technology in hearing assistive devices through our Audiology and Speech Language services as well as the ability of our teams to work together to meet individual student strengths in a bilingual setting.

What are your fondest memories since working at NMSD?

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I have so many. It is very difficult to pick just one. NMSD is family to me. I learned so much about culture, diversity, and acceptance. I’ve met and learned from so many amazing staff, children, and families.

I am grateful to the New Mexico Deaf community for their acceptance, on-going support, and for allowing me to be the Superintendent for this great School. Two things do come to mind though. When I was a preschool teacher, I was able to see when children first discovered the power of language and communication. I was privileged to be able to see children blossom and grow. I have to say though that I will never forget how fun it was to watch our Basketball Team win the District Tournament in 2019. How exciting was that?

What is your favorite thing to do at NMSD? (Think of the events and activities that NMSD hosts. Which one is your favorite?).

I have always liked orientation week because it marks a new school

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16: Dr. Gallegos playing with a toddler during a home visit with a family receiving Early Intervention services. 17: One of the many happy babies that is served

by NMSD's Early Intervention services. 18: Dr. Gallegos with her young students and Instructional Aide, Diane King, during the 90's. 19: NMSD's Varsity Boys Basketball team right after they won the District Tournament!

FEATURE year, new possibilities, and new ideas. It’s during this time we welcome our experienced staff back, meet new staff, and see students again after the summer and welcome new students. There is nothing to compare to a NMSD graduation where so many family members come to celebrate the accomplishments of their student. I’ve also really loved the activities arranged by our Student Life Program, such as the Mexican Independence Day celebration and Lil Zozobra.

Do you have any final advice or words of wisdom for students? Staff?

New Superintendent?

NMSD is very special to New Mexico. In over 135 years we have built a center of expertise that is highly respected in New Mexico and the U.S. and is so significant to serving Deaf and hard of hearing children from birth to 21 in our state. That includes our home visiting services for babies and families, our training and consultation to public schools for students who don’t attend NMSD, our wonderful school on our main campus and our satellite preschools. Remember, the state is our campus! I urge the whole NMSD community, students, staff, families to never take what we have for granted. Support and advocate for the school. Most people don’t understand what language and communication access means to a Deaf or hard of hearing child. We can never let up. We must continue to advocate for Deaf and hard of hearing children, explaining and re-explaining to everyone we meet how important NMSD is, especially to our politicians. We really must be persistent in this regard. Also, I’d encourage our community to never stop celebrating and embracing New Mexico’s cultural diversity and the strength that New Mexican’s have developed through their successes, traditions, and adversity. For students, take every opportunity there is to learn. You have a beautiful, wonderful school with excellent teachers and so much life ahead of you to learn and grow. Enjoy your lives, be kind to yourselves, and be kind to each other. Make this world a better place.

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What is your vision for NMSD and the next superintendent?

There is always so much work to be done. My vision is that NMSD stays strong and viable for generations of New Mexico Deaf and hard of hearing children to come. New Mexico is in need of educators with a specialty in Deaf Education. I am hoping that NMSD can solidify a partnership with one our Universities to develop a master’s degree program in Deaf Education. This will help draw more educators to New Mexico, increasing our ability to serve more students, and helping New Mexico grow our own so that we have a greater number of staff that culturally match our student demographics.

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What are your plans for retirement?

I plan to continue exploring life and all it has to offer through books, travel, reflection, friends, and family. I want to learn new things and hope to find ways to serve the community through volunteering. I will remain a Roadrunner fan and will to come to the games to see our students in action. I plan to keep NMSD in my heart forever.

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20: From left: Dr. Gallegos, Jesse Jimenez, Iesha Franklin, Twilah Joe, and Celeste Robles-Perez in the NMSD orchard. 21: Ribbon Cutting Celebration for Cartwright Hall and Delgado Hall. 22: The Class of 2017 with Dr. Gallegos and Board of Regent members. 23: Dr. Rosemary J. Gallegos.

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EARLY INTERVENTION & DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES

CONNECTING WITH FAMILIES AND THEIR LITTLE ONES

BY JOANNE CORWIN

Connections is such an apt theme for this edition of the New Mexico Progress, which also celebrates the tenure of Dr. Gallegos.

She has been a champion for connecting families, and their babies and toddlers, to services that can enhance communication in each child’s home and community at the earliest possible time.

The earliest days, months, and years of a child’s life chart the course for their future. Dr. Gallegos cleared roadblocks and smoothed the way for learning to happen during this critical time.

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Here are just a few ways Dr. Gallegos has built a small, promising early intervention program (formerly called Step*Hi) into a nationally recognized department that today serves upward of two hundred and seventy children each year, in every corner of New Mexico. Step*Hi was started by NMSD in 1983. Dr. Gallegos took the reins of Step*Hi in 1994 in her very first administrative position at NMSD. Dr. Gallegos has been: • Pivotal in the formation of the Deaf Mentor Program which serves more families percentage-wise than any other program like it in the United States. It is also the first program of its kind in the nation to be slated in state Standards as “entitled”.

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• Instrumental in having NMSD preschools accepted as IDEA Part C (formerly Part H) services. Initially, the state did not see preschools as Natural Environments. Dr. Gallegos was able to educate others as to what a Natural Environment is for a Deaf or hard of hearing child. It is a place where they can communicate freely and access their world.

• Central to establishing protocol and procuring funds for audiometric equipment for the Family Infant Toddler (FIT/ NM Part C) program and other early childhood programs as they began hearing screening for all children, enabling 8-12 children each year with late onset differing hearing levels to be identified and into services in a timely manner.

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• Essential to building collaborative agreements such as Memorandums of Understanding and Intergovernmental Agency Agreements with the state Department of Health and the NM Early Childhood Education and Care Department.

• Vital to the genesis of the NM Chapter of the Hands and Voices parent advocacy group. She brought together stakeholders, parents, and the NM Commission for Deaf

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1: Families and staff with the University of New Mexico’s Dr. Barbara Damron during her visit to NMSD in November of 2016. 2: Dr. Gallegos welcomes members of the Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC) in January of 2020. Her speech included the importance of building community relations by connecting and collaborating with each other. 3: Dr. Gallegos interacts with Arya Morningdove and Althea, her mom. 4: Dr. Gallegos presented during the Western Regional Early Intervention Conference (WREIC) in 2015.

EARLY INTERVENTION & DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES and Hard of Hearing (NMSDHH), and pooled American Recovery and Renewal Aid funds to get the program started.

• Critical to developing protocol that ensures an audiometric referral from the state’s newborn hearing (Early Hearing Detection and Intervention-EHDI) and FIT programs to NMSD. This reduced the age of program entry from 28 months to 11 months.

• Stalwart in her roles with the Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC), IDEA panel (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), and NMCDHH. • Key in increasing the number of service providers from all communities around the state, with staff who are able to speak the language of the family (Tewa, Keres, Navajo/ Denae, Spanish.)

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• Determined to hire parents in key positions, inspiring other early intervention agencies to follow suit. (This has always been a recommended practice in early intervention but rarely occurred previously.)

• Dedicated to expanding the frequency and quality of home visits.

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• An outstanding early interventionist herself, enabling her to lead from experience.

• A national leader in early intervention. She has not only been a presenter and keynote speaker but also has hosted the Western Regional Early Intervention Conference twice.

(This is the largest and longest running early intervention conference for young children who are Deaf / HOH in the United States.) She also supported the inclusion of Joint Committee on Infant Hearing indicators be included in CEASD (Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf) accreditations, bringing focus to these crucial services.

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• Dedicated to increasing the knowledge base and professional practices in the field of early language and cognitive development by having NMSD actively participate in research studies and professional resource materials.

(Under her guidance, NMSD early intervention staff helped write the SKI*HI Curriculum and helped develop the Early Intervention Illustrated video series.)

Dr. Gallegos has always been one step ahead in this field, leading with a steady hand. We are forever grateful for the connections she has made in the state for families and communities. We wish her the very best!

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5: An important moment when NMSD and the NM Department of Health sign a Memo of Understanding, outlining their critical partnership. 6: EIDS staff member Bettie Peterson with one of the families she serves. The family received the Gallegos Family Award during NMSD's Honor Awards Celebration in May of 2018. 6: Dr. Gallegos presented to the ICC in January of 2016. 7: Dr. Gallegos and Linda Lyle, Superintendent of NMSBVI at that time, visited with each other during the WREIC Conference in 2015.

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A YEAR IN PICTURES – PRESCHOOL

A YEAR IN PICTURES What a historic year we’ve all experienced. Despite the challenges of Covid-19, we faced it together and tapped into our resiliency. We’ve stayed connected remotely for the bulk of the school year and some students returned to in-person learning as of last spring. It's been an adverse and amazing year for our students and staff. As Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen said, “A picture is worth a thousand words”. Isn’t that the truth? We hope you enjoy “A Year in Pictures” which highlights the many beautiful faces of our preschool, elementary, middle, and high school students and staff in action during the 20-21 school year.

ALBUQUERQUE PRESCHOOL

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FARMINGTON PRESCHOOL

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Albuquerque Preschool 1: Jennie Higgins zooming with her Kindergarten students Leela Rhatigan (top right) and E. Rain Lobos (bottom). 2: Heidi Miranda reading the book "Caterpillar Spring" to Leela Rhatigan, Felipe Gonzalez, John Marshall, and Ashlee White Hawk. 3: Louis Whitmore II and Avalynn Huizar showing off their cool masks.

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Farmington Preschool 1: Haylee Gutierrez exploring sunflower seeds. 2: Caisen Smith playing with dinosaurs on a structure he built. 3: Teacher, Mary Helen, Nurse Aliina, Caisen Smith, Tobias Jim, and Isabella Hargrove working together to scoop out the seeds from a pumpkin.

A YEAR IN PICTURES – PRESCHOOL

LAS CRUCES PRESCHOOL

SANTA FE PRESCHOOL

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Las Cruces Preschool 1: Aliaah Munoz and Alden Green look at each other through magnifying glasses as they investigate bugs and each other! 2: Alden Green watches Aliaah Munoz as she adds sprinkles to her foam paint ice cream. 3: Aliaah Munoz uses magnetic tiles to build homes as she learns about different family types.

Santa Fe Preschool 1: From left: Lucas Lujan and Oliver Gutierrez on an archaeological dig with their teacher Sha Reins. 2: Emma Lozada reading the book “Where's Spot?” to Alexandria Freeman. 3: Front from left: Liam Mohan-Litchfield and Elijah Larson. Back from left: Richard “RJ” Nava and Wesley St. Clair. Kindergarten boys playing a game together.

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A YEAR IN PICTURES – ELEMENTARY

ELEMENTARY

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1: Maddy Weeks communicating with Anna Chavez (on laptop) while Tommy Tischler supports the process. 2: Top row: Mary Lynn Bransford and Jodi Stumbo. Middle row: Pisces Luna-Smith and Aspen Mohan-Litchfield. Bottom Row: Margarita Garcia. Having great fun growing flowers using the ASL handshape “5” during the Roadrunner Fever Talent Show. 3: Elementary students line up and eagerly wait to enter Hester Hall on the first day back on campus. 4: One of our elementary classrooms with happy students who have returned to campus.

From left: Ezrah Pacheco, Iesha Franklin, Lori Clay-Markowski, Rianza Ercolino, Mateo Perez, Brenna Gonzalez, Aniesa Gomez, and Bonny Vigil. 5: From left: Aniesa Gomez, Tahliah Joe, Nevaeh Garcia outside the Health Center on the day NMSD reopened. 6: So wonderful to see students back in Kim Burkholder’s classroom!

A YEAR IN PICTURES – MIDDLE SCHOOL

MIDDLE SCHOOL

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1: From left: Joi Holsapple, Serenity Adams, Richie Moses, Angel Cabrera, Leilani Crespo, and Levi James are excited and ready to head out to their classrooms after finishing breakfast. 2: NMSD’s Blue Team competing remotely during the Battle of the Books Playoffs. 3: Taiya Getman teaching her middle schoolers. 4: Shawn Moser and Jesse Jimenez working together last August when we had a few students on campus. 5: Isac Velo-Tarin giving a big thumbs up on being back on campus! 6: Letty Perez checks Zeriah Baca’s temperature before he enters Connor Hall.

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A YEAR IN PICTURES – HIGH SCHOOL

HIGH SCHOOL

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1: Lathaniel Williams and Stacy Vargas working together as they re-pot a Dragon Fruit plant outside the aquaponic greenhouses. 2: Last November’s Academic Bowl team competing during the Western Academic Bowl League. 3: Top row from left: Daniel Timlen, Olga Nunez, and Ricardo Salmon-Medina. Bottom row from left: Sierra Cisneros, Justin Bryant and Vicente Garcia Spillman. Daniel Timlen’s Career Preparation class participating in a Zoom session learning some great tips about preparing for their future from Alumna Olga Nunez. 4: From Left: Olivia Chaco, Toni Chaco, Stacy Vargas, and Sophia Martinez arrive on campus the day NMSD reopened in April. 5: Shira Grabowski teaching our high schoolers in-person and remotely simultaneously! 6: A freeze-frame of Melinda Johnson from a video of NMSD students signing the Star-Spangled Banner shown at New Mexico's Legislative Opening in January.

STUDENT BODY GOVERNMENT & JR. NAD

ZOOMING INTO SUCCESS

BY DOMINIC HARRISON

NMSD’s 2020–2021 Student Body Government (SBG) and Junior National Association of the Deaf (Jr. NAD) teams didn't allow the coronavirus to stop their passion for developing leadership skills! The SBG and Jr. NAD teams worked virtually while exploring how the school could accommodate current middle school and high school students.

SBG's social hours were held twice a month throughout most of the school year, allowing middle school and high school students to reconnect and socialize with their friends. Activities included an online card game Kahoot!, Hunt the Wolf, Pictionary, Black Magic, and much more.

SGB also reached out to students virtually by conducting surveys to gather concerns from their peers. They hosted several town hall meetings with high school students and staff to discuss the online learning experience. After learning what the concerns were, students and staff supported each other because they shared the same commitment to success. They celebrated this commitment and increased school spirit by hosting Spirit Week in April.

Jr. NAD was also intent on exploring leadership skills and figuring out how to “Zoom” community events. They had the opportunity to meet two special community members who shared how they contributed to their respective organizations. Emilio Garcia, an NMSD alumni, who represented the New Mexico School for the Deaf Alumni Association (NMSDAA) was one of them. Jr. NAD members learned how NMSDAA works and what they are doing for NMSD alumni members. They also met NMSD’s Deaf Mentor Joseph Lopez III, who is president of Raices del Rio Grande, Member at Large of New Mexico Mano a Mano, and Director of Families of Council de Manos. Joseph advised the group that Jr. NAD is a great steppingstone because it models how to work with other people and gives members the opportunity to network with others.

Jr. NAD members also decided to go big this year by hosting “Roadrunners’ Spring Fever!” to showcase the talents of individuals or groups. Jr. NAD members invited 1st to 12th graders and staff to participate with fifteen different performances this year! The hope is this will become an annual event that continues to educate everyone about #DeafTalents awareness. #DeafTalents is about spotlighting all Deaf individuals and groups who are talented in acting, art, dance, and much more. We were especially pleased that two special guests from #DeafTalents, Giovanni Maucere (Deaf social media influencer) and Amelia Hensley (Deaf actress and Deaf business owner of One Day Film with ASL) were able to share their talent with 90 NMSD community attendees. We look forward to seeing even more varied talent next year!

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1: James Caverly from #DeafTalents teaching us how to do improvisations during Social Hour. 2: Playing Pictionary together during one of the Social Hours.

3: Emilio Garcia sharing information about NMSD’s Alumni Association (NMSDAA) so that students have a better understanding of how it works and the benefits of being part of the group. 4: Amelia Hensley’s tale about a shark was very entertaining and everyone loved it! 5: Claire Stephens rocking it out on the drums during the Roadrunner’s Spring Fever talent show.

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TRANSITION

LOCAL LEADERS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN NEW MEXICO

BY MARCY HINTZ, UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO

This past February, an interview featuring NMSD staff member Daniel Timlen appeared in the University of New Mexico’s newsletter; “Partners for Employment at the UNM Center for Development and Disability.” NMSD has been given permission to reprint it here. It is a wonderful example of just one of the many amazing connections our staff and school have with individuals and entities from the greater New Mexico Community. Congratulations to Daniel, our entire Transition team, and the administrators who work tirelessly to create such valuable connections and partnerships that benefit our students.

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Daniel, tell us about your work at New Mexico School for the Deaf.

In my role as a Transition Teacher in our Job Preparation Program (JPP), I teach middle school and high school level classes in Career Awareness, Career Exploration, and Work Experience. Each of these classes helps prepare students for the future of their choice, with class discussions, research, guest presentations, interviews with members of professions, job shadowing, development of essential work documents, interview training, and on-campus and community work experiences.

Can you tell us more about what inspired you to begin a career in School-to-Work Transition?

I have always wanted to be a teacher to be sure students with disabilities or challenges got a fair chance to have a productive and contributing life. I was fortunate to have a special education teacher remove many barriers for me during my middle and high school years. I wanted to pass along the same and more to support today’s youth.

My entry to the Vocational Rehabilitation/School-to-Work Transition field happened by luck, and I am glad it did. At one point, I was an Academic Advisor at Gallaudet University and was asked to attend a training on assessments. I chose the MBTI and Strong Interests inventory training. These were mostly attended by Career Development professionals, so in conversations with them I became more interested in the Transition process at schools, which at the time was relatively new. I then applied for a Career Consultant position at Gallaudet, which led to more training and workshops and opened my eyes to the need for developing stronger transition preparation for our youth. It dawned on me that initiating this at the college level was too late, so I started looking for opportunities at the Middle School and High school levels. Too many college level students were arriving to our career services with no clue for their future, nor any significant prior work experience to determine their career interests.

I strongly believe in the value of early exposure to the world of work through volunteering, job shadowing, and part-time work. Students to this day express the feeling that their opportunities are limited. I believe otherwise. We need to prepare students with the right mindset and tools to overcome barriers and create opportunities for them to gain experience. We also have to communicate with business communities within our state and educate them on the positive contributions individuals with disabilities can bring to the work environment.

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1: From left: Rochelle Garcia, Janelle Williams, Tyron Wilding, and Daniel Guerra at the closing ceremony for Rocky Mountain Youth Corp’s 2017 Summer Program where Crew #13 was recognized for the outstanding work they did on various projects. 2: While working for Assistive Dogs of the West this past summer, Melinda Johnston stuffs a Kong with peanut butter as her four-legged friend looks on eagerly! 3: NMSD’s Transition team is always looking for ways to connect our students with prospective employers and job fairs provide excellent opportunities to do so. 4: From left: Ben Thomas, Senator Martin Heinrich, Julio Portillo, and Daniel Timlen take a moment for a photo together. Julio (Class of 20) and Daniel had the great honor of meeting with US Senators and Representatives from New Mexico last year and Julio did a great job expressing how invaluable Rocky Mountain Youth Corp is to the youth of New Mexico.

TRANSITION Wow, your passion really comes through. What parts of your job do you find the most exciting and fulfilling?

Every student I work with brings a sense of accomplishment and pride to the work we’ve done together. The “top” experience is seeing a student earn a job and report back that he/she is enjoying it, learning from the work environment, and saying “thank you” for the help to obtain the job.

I also enjoy working with community members to provide opportunities for underrepresented groups of individuals. I enjoy seeing their changed perspective and then the transformation when they themselves become advocates for our Deaf/Hard of Hearing students.

What’s one unique NMSD school-to-work initiative that you’ve been able to develop?

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Soon after arriving at NMSD and being trained by Ms. Ginger Blaylock, I was able to initiate having our students develop PowerPoints for their IEPs. The students share them with their IEP team, discussing their immediate and future goals, strengths, and areas needing “help.” At first only seniors were required to present PowerPoints; now 12 years later, all students in grades 8-12 present their power points at IEP Meetings.

You recently got your CESP credential! Why was that credential important to you with a lot of years of experience already under your belt? Did you learn anything new?

I am a firm believer in never being satisfied with what I have learned in the past. Each year something new comes along and we should “check in'' to see how we can add it to our repertoire. In addition, refreshers are important to reaffirm what I am already doing is the correct approach or to remind me of what I may be overlooking. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to acquire knowledge and ideas from colleagues at the training. Networking is a huge part of what we do for the success of our clients/students.

Though I went into the CESP (Certified Employment Support Professional) training knowing a bit about support services, I strengthened my factual knowledge about the services of DVR and Workforce Solutions, to name a few. I learned the adjustments that can be made to allow an employee with disabilities to keep their salary earned and still receive SSI (Social Security Insurance) or SDI (Social Security Disability Insurance.) I learned more about how to combine services. I strengthened my ideas for Person Centered Planning.

In my opinion, CESP should be required of anyone working with students who are in the Transition age years of their educational experience.

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Do you have any encouragement or advice for younger professionals just entering this field?

Oh gosh, so many… But the one I’ll choose to share is a core value of how I approach my work with students and clients: Be sure you take the time to put away the files, assessments, and written reports and just focus on the individual. Learn about his/her vision for their lives and make them feel they have a vested role in making it possibly happen. Find the strengths in them and build on it. Maybe while working towards one job placement, a better suited one comes along. Grab it with the student/client. By doing so, students can see you are sincere about them; not just interested in reports.

Thank you, Daniel. You’ve given all of us who work with transition-age students a good dose of encouragement and food for thought.

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5: NMSD’s aquaponic greenhouse program is one fantastic example of the amazing connections and partnerships our Transition Department work hard to establish. This project was a collaboration between NMSD and Santa Fe Community College. 6: Another community partnership and work experience opportunity was at Santa Fe’s Railyard Park. Students are shown here repairing a wall in the park. 7: Daniel takes his work with students and the community very seriously, but he also knows how to have some fun. Here he is being a good sport with Nevaeh Garcia at one of our past carnivals. 8: Daniel connecting with staff from other agencies during a past Transition Summit.

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STUDENT LIFE – ATHLETICS

ZOOMING IN ON LITERATURE

BY SHIRA GRABELSKY

If you are a middle schooler who likes to read good books or wants to practice reading, the Battle of the Books is for you! Battle of the Books (BOTB) is a national Middle School reading competition operated by Gallaudet University’s Youth Programs. It gives students a chance to read books and practice reading skills with each other. This year, we had a great group of students willing to try navigating BOTB remotely and they all did an outstanding job!

NMSD’s three teams - Green, Blue, and Buff (Gallaudet University’s school colors) - each received three books. Soniya Vigil, Angelique Quiñonez, and Jesse Haley from the Green Team read Far out Fairy Tales

by Comeau, Frampton, and Harper, Playing Atari with Saddam Hussein

by Jennifer Roy with Ali Fadhil, and New Kid by Jerry Craft. Adrian Fernandez, Kimora Vollmar, and Jesse Crespin, from the Blue Team, read Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee, Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson, and Bloom by Kenneth Oppel. Emilia Van Gunten and Logan Donelan from the Buff Team read The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora by Pablo Cartaya, The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA by Brenda Wood, and The Pants Project by Cat Clarke.

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The genres and themes of all the books were eclectic and enriching, including historical fiction about racial injustice, a novel about cryptogenic characters fighting biological invasions, and a graphic novel adaptation of fairy tales. Students worked together to read books, develop their own practice schedules, and encourage each other in their reading process.

The BOTB program traditionally involves schools competing with other schools. While that did happen this year, it unfolded in an entirely different format. Players could not see the other teams on Zoom, and navigating this virtual space was a new experience for players and sponsors alike.

The Blue team, with two new players and one veteran, advanced to the Playoffs this year. Head Chaperone John Jarrett and I (Assistant Chaperone) wrapped up the season reflecting on how to better support students and families in navigating this challenging new experience. John and I are deeply grateful for the opportunity to learn from this unique time and look forward to next year. The Green, Blue, and Buff teams will certainly have stories to share!

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1: Green Team from left: Assistant Chaperone Shira Grabelsky, Soniya Vigil, Head Chaperone John Jarrett, and Angelique Quinonez. 2: Blue Team from left: Jesse Crespin, Assistant Chaperone Shira Grabelsky, Head Chaperone John Jarrett, Adrian Fernandez, and Kimora Vollmar. Not pictured: Jesse Haley.

3: Buff Team from left: Emilia VanGunten, Assistant Chaperone Shira Grabelsky, Logan Donelan, and Head Chaperone John Jarrett. 4: Kimora Vollmar (bottom left corner) introduces herself to the Gallaudet Youth Program staff who are moderating and judging the match about to begin. 5: The interpreter, and moderator, NMSD alumna Nthabeleng MacDonald, and John Jarrett share Emilia VanGunten and Logan Donelan’s excitement to the revealed answer!

6: Adrian Fernandez from the Blue Team’s favorite book was Bloom because it reminded him of the year 2020! The New York Times review of this book reported that it's “The perfect book right now for young readers searching for hope, strength, inspiration…” How fitting! 7: Jesse Crespin answers the question on the screen for the Blue Team, as Kimora Vollmar and Adrian Fernandez give a thumbs up to their teammate.

STUDENT LIFE – ATHLETICS

BOWLED OVER!

BY CARRIE NICHOLS

It’s been an interesting year for the 2020-2021 Academic Bowl team! The team welcomed two new players - Adrien and Kieran Ercolino - along with our two veteran players, Bruce Brewer Jr. and Kieran Vollmar. We had the longest competition season of any competitive team on campus, from late August to the end of April. The team did well with practices and scheduled matches throughout the year. We were fortunate to maintain a close to normal playing schedule because our game format was adjusted to fit better with Zoom conferencing.

The NMSD Academic Bowl team finished second in the West Academic Bowl League, comprising 10 schools in the West, and this helped prepare us for the West Regional in mid-March. We ended in fourth place out of 20 teams, which automatically qualified us for the Nationals competition hosted by Gallaudet University.

Nationals took place in late April and while we did not advance to the top 8, our two new players learned a lot and acquired a sense of what is needed to succeed next year. We also hope to return to in-person competitions as the team missed an opportunity to fly to Washington, DC to participate in the Nationals for two straight years. Either way, the team is primed to go far as we are not losing any seniors this year!

We’re proud to announce that this year’s Most Outstanding Player award went to sophomore Kieran Vollmar. He had the highest number of correct answers and has been known to spend his off time brushing up on his knowledge in order to prepare for Academic Bowl competitions. Congratulations, Kieran!

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1: This year’s official team picture (Top row from left: Assistant Coach Scott Vollmar, Head Coach Carrie Nichols, and Adrien Ercolino. Bottom row from left: Kieran Ercolino, Kieran Vollmar, and Bruce Brewer, Jr.) 2: Starting Round 1 tournament play during the National competition. 3: The team found being together much easier as it allowed them to discuss possible answers with each other instead of through Zoom! 4: NMSD’s team during the National competition. It was fortunate that in-person learning happened in time so that the team could be together in the same location on campus, while also socially distancing. 5: NMSD’s Academic Bowl team participating in a ranking test for seeding purposes. (Top row from left: Moderator from Gallaudet University, Bruce Brewer, Jr., and Adrien Ercolino. Bottom row from left: Kieran Ercolino and Kieran Vollmar.

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GRADUATION

SENIOR CLASS OF 2021

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Joshua Armendariz

Justin Bryant

Jarrod Burns

Waylon Lopez

Zachery Reed

Katelyn Sorensen

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ABOUT THE SENIOR CLASS OF 2021 CLASS COLORS: Purple & Gold

CLASS FLOWER: Fairy Rose

CLASS SONG: “Roar”by Katy Perry

CLASS MOTTO: “Learn from the past, live in the present, and create your future” ~ Unknown

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1: Class of 2020 from left: Mya Malone, Monica Chavez, and Andrea Leyba. The Class of 2020 joined this year's graduation and gladly received their diplomas, as the pandemic prevented them from doing so last year. 2: Class of 2021 and 2020 with Dr. Gallegos, Board of Regent members, and staff.

3: Johnny Robertson, Graduation Speaker (current Board of Regents Member and NMSD Alumni), commending the Class of 2021 for persevering and not giving up during the most unique and challenging year of their lives.

CENTER FOR EDUCATIONAL CONSULTATION & TRAINING

SHARED CONNECTIONS

BY LENA STAVELY

My work with school interpreters has made me aware of professional skills that often require support; purposeful use of fingerspelling, interpreting from ASL into spoken English, and visualizing an English message and rendering it accurately via ASL. I also consistently hear how isolated interpreters feel as well as how their professional support is varied. They often lack access to deaf people in their community as language models. They report limited collaboration with fellow educational team members, and state that opportunities for professional development are scarce. Often they are working alone or as part of a small team scattered among schools in their districts. For these reasons it's exciting to have the opportunity to touch the lives of New Mexican Deaf students by cultivating K-12 interpreters’ professional skills and connections.

We’ve offered many new supports this year to foster rootedness and interconnectedness for New Mexican K-12 interpreters. I’ve partnered with NMSD’s ASL Service Corps to provide Zoom-based interpreter clubs, where participants bring English examples from their work that they struggle rendering into ASL. We’ve also had two virtual “meet-and-greet” events, both of which were wellreceived. After one meet-and-greet a participant said, “I think I may lose my voice after talking so much! We never get to share our ideas or connect with one another!”

We’ve also increased skill-growth support to interpreters In addition to the July K-12 Interpreter Intensive, we've provided multiple statewide trainings this year in partnership with the ASL Tutor program, NMSD’s Interpreting Department, and various Deaf teachers who are experts in content-specific ASL terminology.

Topics addressed have included: interpreters as agents of change, meeting the diverse language needs of Deaf students, ethical decision-making, conceptual accuracy in the 2-D realm, the critical role of the K-12 interpreter as an educational team member, voicing and fostering student participation in the classroom, preparing for the National Interpreter Certification, and improving classifier vocabulary. Many of these workshops offered Continuing Education Units to participants at no cost. I’ve been proud to provide more than 75 hours in one-on-one mentoring to interpreters. Eleven districts have participated in events, workshops, mentoring, or consultation about K-12 interpreting in the past year.

CECT strongly believes in the value of collaboration. I strive to implement that spirit of collaboration into programs offered to K-12 interpreters, and I hope interpreters continue to see NMSD as a professional resource and a community hub!

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1: Lena Stavely and Stephanie Armijo-Anderson introduce an online activity in preparation for the National Interpreter Certification Study Group. 2: Rio Rancho Public Schools interpreters meet with Dean Krohn at a biweekly interpreter club meeting. 3: Lena Stavely and an interpreter from Las Cruces Public Schools use mentoring time to work on voicing skills 4: Michael Baker shows Classifier Bootcamp participants how one classifier can be used to describe a dog's ears in movement. 5: Several participants at a Classifier Boot Camp workshop copy Michael Baker's language modeling.

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ALUMNI

ALUMNI IN ACTION

BY KERI-LYNN MCBRIDE

Many alumni think of NMSD as their home away from home and we hold all our Alumni in a very special place in our heart. It is a place where they grew up, gained an education, made life-long friends, and share many fond memories. Below, Rosina Garcia reflects on her time as an NMSD student and what she is up to currently.

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What year did you enroll at NMSD? I enrolled at NMSD in 1997 when I was 2½ years old.

What town were you from? I was born and raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Who were your best friends while at school? My best friends, who also happened to be my classmates while at NMSD, still are Garret Trujillo, Tyrel Wilding, and Kimberly Herrera.

What were your favorite subjects when at NMSD? My favorite subjects were history, science, and math.

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Who were your favorite teachers or staff members and why? There were many staff members that I admired but my favorite teacher was Gary Hand.

What are your fondest memories while a student at NMSD? My fondest memories while at NMSD are ones I have with my friends as we shared various news, stories, and funny jokes when on breaks from class, at lunch, during sports, and at play rehearsals.

What year did you graduate from NMSD? I graduated from NMSD in 2013.

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After you graduated, what college and profession did you go into? I attended Gallaudet University where I majored in Social Work and minored in Family and Child Studies. I graduated from Gallaudet University with a master’s degree in Social Work.

In what ways have you stayed connected with NMSD? I have stayed connected to NMSD as some members of my family still work there and they share news with me. I always love attending NMSD’s public events like the Feast for the Eyes, school plays, athletic events, alumni events, and graduation day. I also follow NMSD through social media so that I am looped in on what is happening.

What are you currently up to in your life? I now live in San Diego, CA and am currently working as a Program Manager of the Clubhouse Program at Deaf Community Services for San Diego (DCS). DCS’s mission centers on meeting the social, economic, educational, and behavioral health needs of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind and Late Deafened Community.

Clubhouse is a program providing services for Deaf individuals with mental health issues and focuses on enhancing the skills needed to live independently.

I manage the program and provide peer support services for Clubhouse members. Last December, I married Nathaniel Amann whom I met during the Roadrunner Classic Tournament when I was a freshman in high school!

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1: From left: Rosina, Maygan Saiz, and Garret Trujillo playing dress-up in their preschool classroom. 2: Rosina (Alicia) and fellow castmates Tweedledee (Mia Fernandez), Tweedledum (Alexandra Gamboa), and The Past (Emilio Garcia, Rosina’s brother) in a scene from 2011’s spring play, “Alicia’s Journey in NMSDland”. 3: Rosina and her teammates during the volleyball game during 2012’s Homecoming Weekend. 4: Rosina inspires her fellow graduates with words of wisdom during 2013’s graduation ceremony. 5: Rosina and her husband Nathaniel while visiting Camp Isola Bella in Taconic, Connecticut.

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COMMUNITY RELATIONS

2020 DONOR GRATITUDE REPORT GRATITUDE

GRATITUDE Gratitud - Dankbaarheid - Gratidão - Reconnaissance - Gratitudine - Vděčnost - Dankbarkeit Thank you to all of our donors for supporting our students.

There is no limit to what they can Dream! Explore! & Achieve! with your generosity.

The Pantry Bruce E. & Joanne C. Watson INDIVIDUALS The Ranch House Kimm Wiens Josie Abbenate Redwood Media Group Elaine Wirth Rebecca & Frank Anderson Rock Paper Scissor Salon & Spa Anonymous IN-KIND Santa Fe Basket Company Lynann & Andy Barbero Santa Fe Brewing Company Sheree Hall Marcia & Ted Berridge Ten Thousand Waves Sherri Musgrove Gloria Candelario Violet Crown Cinema Patti Rogoff Andres F. & Melinda Carrillo Mollie Sachs Roy W. Collins FOUNDATIONS Joanne B. & Kimm Corwin BUSINESSES SJR Charitable Foundation Veronica Crider & CORPORATIONS United Jewish Endowment Fund Patricia A. Delaney Walter Scott Foundation Rosemary J. & Robert Gallegos A-1 Lawn Maintenance & Service, LLC Back Road Pizza Ric & Dolores J. Gonzales CIVIC & COMMUNITY Café Fina Wendy J. Gordon ORGANIZATIONS Café Pasqual’s John J. Hooper ASL Love Cowgirl BBQ Cynthia Huff DeafHope Duke City Gladiators Eloy Jeantete Deaf Senior Citizens of ABQ El Dorado Hotel & Spa Joyce Litherland NMSD Alumni Association Fire & Hops Keri-Lynn McBride Quota International Santa Fe Jambo Café Patricia McBride Santa Fe Baskets Java Joe’s Elise Nye Santa Fe Civitans La Choza Restaurant Margie Propp United Way of Central New Mexico Meow Wolf Randall Rael Ohori’s Coffee Donna R. Riley Ojo Santa Fe Spa Resort Ted J. Salazar Old Town Jewelry and Loan Company Lily Shelly Paper Dosa Dr. Ronald J. & Hedy Udkovich-Stern Donations were received from January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020. Great care is given in preparing the Donor Gratitude Report. Any omissions and errors are unintentional. Corrections and/or questions should be addressed to Keri-Lynn McBride at 505-476-6399 or keri-lynn.mcbride@nmsd.k12.nm.us.

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2020 - 2021 RETIREES & YEARS OF SERVICE

RETIREE

RETIREE

Danny DeAguero 17 Years

Dr. Rosemary J. Gallegos 36 Years

25 years

20 years

Robert Huizar

Joanne Corwin

Jack Sherman

Kacee Edmonds

15 years

Mark Apodaca 24

Wendy Prouse

Cindy Ulmer-Timlen

Daniel Timlen

2020 - 2021 RETIREES & YEARS OF SERVICE

10 YEARS

Renee Apodaca

Suzanne Bono

Ashley Collins

Angela Corona

Jesse Crespin

Laurie Evans

Leonard Flores

Fernando Gonzales

Leo Gutierrez

Martin Gutierrez

Amy Licano

Crystal Mitchem

Lisa Ortega

Mary Helen Perez

Vanessa Salazar

Maribeth Schneider

Marina Sias

Presorted Marketing US Postage Paid Permit 1893 Albuq.NM

1060 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505 www.nmsd.k12.nm.us

NEW MEXICO'S FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOL

THE NEW MEXICO PROGRESS

since 1909 USPS #381-500 / ISSN #0896-6478

Vol. 111 / Issue 2 / Winter/Spring 2020-21 Published twice during the school year at the New Mexico School for the Deaf, 1060 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505.

Distributed to parents of students presently enrolled at NMSD and staff. POSTMASTER: Send address change to THE NEW MEXICO PROGRESS, 1060 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, NM 87505. Staff: Editor/Keri-Lynn McBride; Associate Editors/Bay Anapol and Kimm Wiens.

Design/Hollie Fleming.