MSSD 25th Anniversary Program Book

Page 3-Celebration Program

Greetings from Dr. Jordan

To All Members of the MSSD Community: This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Model Secondary School for the Deaf. As students, staff and faculty members, parents, and friends celebrate this significant landmark, my thoughts tum back to more than 25 years ago when I was a student at Gallaudet University.

Along with many other people on campus, I watched with great curiosity as a huge gray building arose near West Virginia Avenue. This was the temporary home of MSSD, which we referred to as the "quonset hut." I remember, too, how this building vibrated with new ideas and enthusiasm as we awaited the opening of a new window of opportunity for young deaf students. The concept of a "model" school for deaf students was an exciting and challenging one, and the subject of much anticipation and discussion for those of us on campus.

In the mid-1970s, we all watched with great interest and anticipation as a beautiful new red brick building arose on Telegraph Hill, the permanent home of MSSD, which was specially designed to meet the needs of deaf high school students.

Now, it hardly seems possible that 25 innovative and successful years have passed since the inception of MSSD. All of you who have been involved in some way with the school have the right to a full measure of pride in how MSSD has evolved to where it is today-a leader in the education of deaf students. MSSD graduates have gone on to take their places in the world, and many have achieved great strides in the world of work. Numerous faculty members have been recognized for their innovative ideas and teaching methods. Our Outreach component now produces a large number of publications, and has implemented an outstanding network across the country which links together all educational programs for deaf students by fostering the exchange of ideas and materials developed by professionals in education of deaf students.

Each of you is to be commended for your spirit and dedication to this unique school. I am very proud to serve as President of the institution that claims MSSD as a component and I am confident that the next 25 years will bring e_ven greater rewards to the students who study here, and to the fine faculty and staff members who strive to open that window of opportunity just a little further each day.

Sincerely yours,

't�L I. King Jordan President

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MSSD: 25th Anniversary-Page 6

Greetings from MSSD Alumni Association

A Greeting from the President of the Model Secondary School for the Deaf Alumni Association On the behalf of alumnus, we wish to express great appreciation for MSSD, the school that has done much for us and we now have the chance to celebrate its 25 years of excellence.

The celebration is the perfect chance for us to walk down the 11memory lane", tell our stories with old friends, staff and teachers and of course to meet new persons, too. But it also goes further than that as it will give us more firepower to launch our Alumni Association into becoming one of the most active organizations. The Association was officially formed when we had our first reunion in the summer of 1985.

Let us work together to reach our goals, both toward the Alumni Association and to enjoy our special gatherings.

MSSDAA Yours, Reggie Boyd '74

MSSD: 25th Anniversary-Page 8

MSSD: A Nice Place to Grow

By Michael L. Deninger, Ph.D.

How to chronicle the 25 year history of a unique program designed to serve deaf and hard ofhearing adolescents? How to summarize the story ofMSSD, a school established by the U.S. Congress in the late 1960s with a dual mandate-to provide an exem足 plary education for its own students, while also developing and disseminating materials and pro足 grams for replication in other programs across the country? Sounds like a tall order, and it is!

Just the Facts

There is the obvious. We could talk about the 1965 Babbidge Report to the U.S. Secretary ofHealth, Education and Welfare, which described a seem足 ingly abysmal situation in the education ofdeaf children in this country. That report and the ensuing discussions in Congress led eventually to the passage of laws that established the Model Secondary School for the Deaf, and later, Kendall Demonstration Elementary School.

During its first 25 years as a national demonstration school, MSSD has been both applauded and criticized for its efforts. Part ofthe criticism probably reflects a sense ofcompetition between this young program and its older counterparts across the country. But the school must be doing all right. It has been reviewed by numerous boards, advisory panels and one national commission. Its national demonstration programs were also the subject of a full Government Accounting Office review. Since 1986, MSSD has been governed by the Education ofthe Deaf Act. That legislation Dr. Deninger is currently a Senior Research Scientist with the Gallaudet Research Institute, where he conducts research related to language policy in schools serving deaf and hard of hearing children. He is also actively involved in cultural diversity work and training, particularly the resolution of cultural conflicts among deaf and hearing people.

required a significant shift in school priorities and an even greater measure ofaccountability.

Considering all these facts, we might describe the first 25 years as "life in the fast lane. 11

A Personal History

The purpose ofthis briefaccount is not to dwell on official challenges, but to trace how the school evolved--what makes MSSD tick on a human level.

This kind ofreview can help us understand and appreciate the spirit ofMSSD today. Admittedly, this is a personal journey through the halls with someone who has enjoyed being associated with MSSD for most ofits first 25 years.

MSSD hired its first teachers and admitted its first students in 1969, when it was housed in a wing of the old Kendall School. Doin Hicks became the school's first permanent director, and Mervin Garretson was its first principal. When I arrived on the scene in December of1971, the school occupied temporary quarters on the Gallaudet campus--two one-story Quonset-type metal buildings. Affection足 ately referred to as "the temporaries," they presented a real challenge to their inhabitants. The roofleaked regularly, and we had an ongoing battle with neighborhood vermin, who were never far away.

Those times fostered a special kinship among students,faculty and staff that continues to this day.

To all ofus, MSSD is a special place; not just another school.

The Early Days

During the first few years, at the height ofthe "counterculture" movement, MSSD was challenged to explore fresh alternatives. Educators were excited about the freewheeling "Summerhill Philosophy" and we experimented with various programs and approaches that reflected the tenor of the times.

Some faculty and staff members loved it; it drove others crazy.

MSSD: 25th Anniversary-Page 10

critics who complained that not enough was coming out ofMSSD. We established systetli's for product development and distribution to facilitate fulfillment of our important "national mission." By the early 1980s MSSD was able to advertise and disseminate a wide array of instructional materials.

As development and dissemination activities burgeoned at the school, so did the look and spirit of student programs. The Performing Arts Depart­ ment quickly earned a reputation for excellence, with its dazzling, multi-faceted spring musical productions. MSSD performing arts productions have toured all over the world, and won numerous national arts competitions. MSSD graduates have appeared in movies and syndicated television programs. None ofthis happened by chance.

Similarly, the exemplary Student Development Programs that pioneered at MSSD are now replicated in many other schools. Such innovations as student judicial boards, peer advisor programs and cultural diversity retreats were nonexistent at the high school level before MSSD developed those concepts. Intramural and extracurricular athletic programs at the school have also been marked by excellence over the years.

Most importantly, the academic success of many MSSD graduates is well known. The school

continues to demonstrate excellence in academic instruction and student counseling, well beyond the levels expected of ordinary schools. Evaluation studies show that MSSD students demonstrate greater levels of academic achievement than their counterparts nationally, across a wide variety of measures.

An MSSD recruiting poster published in the mid 1980s has a quote that summarizes the importance of the school for deaf and hard of hearing students: "For the deaf high school student who knows deaf people can! We offer a comprehensive, individualized program of academics and student life that goes far beyond the basics. We hold the highest standards for our students (and ourselves) both in and out of the classroom. Our students achieve more because we do more to encourage and educate."

A film developed about MSSD once described it as "a nice place to grow." Perhaps that's the highest compliment that can be paid to everyone who played a key role in forging high quality educational programs, in shepherding our students through times of turmoil, and in keeping the school's unique spirit alive.

MSSD has always been a nice place to grow.

Original MSSD Faculty The pioneering 1969 MSSD faculty included the following people Administration

Teaching Faculty:

Dr. Orin Cornett, Acting MSSD Director & Ga/laud.et Vice Presidentfor Long Range Planning B.A., Oklahoma Baptist College M.S., University of Oklahoma Ph.D., University of Texas J. James Kearney Coordinator ofResearch, Development, & Evaluation B.S. and M.A., Fordham University Additional Coursework:, Catholic University, University ofMaryland

Kathryn A Crown, M.A., Josephine C. Diagonale, M.A., Ada Ruth Dogger, M.S., Mary Hinchman, M.A., Ruby M. Johnson, M.S., Adalaide Laganese, M.A., Robert D. Loftus, M.A., Elaine Myers, B.A., Louis Rosenblatt, B.A.,

Patricia Rene Saunders Coordinator of Instruction (Principal) B.A., College of the Holy Name M.A., University of San Francisco

Elizabeth Scott, M.A., Sarah Val, M.A., Robert W. Wehrli, M.S.,

Social Studies English Biology Audiologist Home Economics Mathematics Social Studies English & Drama Social Studies & Physical Science Social Studies English Physical Science

Page 11-Celebration Program

The MSSD PEP Program During the 1984 school year, educators at MSSD recognized that many deaf and hard of hearing students were graduating from high school with math and English grades too low to be admitted to Gallaudet University or the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID). The school estab­ lished its Postsecondary Enrichment Program (PEP) 1985, as a one-year intensive instructional program to help these high school graduates improve their academic skills.

The original five faculty members continue to teach and administer the program. They are Charles H. Dietz, Ph.D., and Robert D. Fisher, M.A., who teach Mathematics; and Lovelle W. Golden, M.A., Carol-Ann Smalley, M.S., and Linda Turner, M.A., who teach English. PEP classes are held in the MSSD school building. There is also a PEP dormi­ tory on the MSSD campus, and PEP students have their meals in the Gallaudet cafeteria.

The primary goal of the program is to prepare students for acceptance in a college or university program. PEP students work very hard to improve their math and English skills, dedicating all of their efforts during this year to the goal of college acceptance. During the nine years since PEP began, more than 250 student have completed the program.

And each year more than 75 percent of PEP gradu­ ates are accepted by Gallaudet or NTID.

PEP Graduates

Total

Class

Female

IVlale

1�

16

15

31

1987

9

13

22

1988

15

12

Zl

1%9

18

15

33

lgJ)

12

15

Zl

lg)l

11

13

24

1m

14

19

33

1m

15

16

32

lg}l

11

12

23

To1als

121

Ii,

l :,le t

m

251

MSSD: 25th Anniversary-Page 14

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Vice Presidents and Deans of Pre-College Programs, 1969-1994

Dr. Orin Cornett Interim Director, 1969-1970

Dr. Doin Hicks Director, 1970---1975; Dean of MSSD & KDES, 1970---1978

Dr. William Marshall Director, 1976-1978 Dean ofMSSD, 1978-1980

Dr. Robert Davila Vice President, Academic Affairs, 1980---1988

Dr. Keith Wright Acting Director, 1975-1976

Dr. Lee Murphy Dean ofMSSD, 1980---1984

Dr. Michael Deninger Dean, Pre-College Programs, 1986-1992

Dr. Harvey Corson Vice President, Academic Affairs, 1992-1994

Page JS-Celebration Program

MSSD 25th Annjversary Planning Committee Greetings and welcome from the MSSD Celebration Committee!

We want to wish alumni, faculty and administration members, students and their families, a wonderful time during this celebration weekend.

Fir.st Row: Loida Canlas, Cheryl Boyd, Catherine Fischer, cochairs Tim Frelich and Stephanie Joyner, Reggie Boyd.

Second Row: Laura Bergan, Pat Yates, Allen Talbert,

Rosalyn Gannon, Mike Weinstock, Joan Schlub, Jane Kuzoian, Mark Tao. Missing from the Photo: Robin Schwartz, Tom Withrow, Steve Doleac, Arsena Strange.

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