Margaret S. Sterck School

Welcome back to the Fall! School has started at DSD Statewide Programs.  Fall has always been my favorite time of year!  Growing up as a kid, I looked forward to school starting.  I looked forward to seeing my teachers and all my friends again.  It was a great time for me.  The best part for me was the smell of new crayons.  I loved that smell!

I want to share some exciting news with you.  Friday, September 10 Governor Jack Markell is coming to DSD Statewide Programs!  He’s not coming to look at DSD or tour the school – he’s coming to sign into law HB 283.  HB 283 is The Deaf Hard of Hearing Children’s Bill of Rights.  This bill has been in the process for a long time!  The Delaware chapter of Hands and Voices has been working very hard to show the state that we have to look more closely at the communication needs of deaf and hard of hearing children, to look at their need for access, at their need for critical mass of peers for education.  This law will change our perception of deaf and hard of hearing children!

Again – this will happen Friday, September 10 at 1:00 at the DSD Statewide Program building in the gymnasium.  We will have interpreters and CART.  We will have different speakers from the legislature, Hands and Voices President, myself maybe, Superintendent, the school board President and others.  I hope you will join us!  This is the first step in our race to the top for Deaf and Hard of Hearing children.  Thank you and have a good afternoon.

Hello! Welcome to DSD, Statewide Programs for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf/Blind.  My name is Della Thomas and I am the Director for all three programs.

This has been a very exciting year at DSD, especially this past spring.  We had 7 students graduate from DSD.  Of those 7 students, 6 have gone on to college and 1 is working full time.  We are very proud of those 7 students.  We will miss them but are happy to see them move on to a successful future.

ESY (Extended School Year) has already started!  Right now, DSD has 50 students “in-house,” which means students from PreSchool to 12th grade come to DSD every day for five weeks for ESY services or credit recovery.  Plus some babies and families are being served in the home and our Deaf/Blind staff are working with Deaf/Blind students throughout the state.  Summer is not a time of rest for us but a time to keep on working!!

Speaking of keeping on working, I want to share with you that 2 days ago (June 28) was my 1st anniversary at DSD as the Director.  This past year has been a powerful one for me.  I’ve learned a lot, talked a lot, discussed with different people, and observed a lot.  I feel like after 1 year I’ve learned what Delaware needs for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students and families.

I have put together a comprehensive needs assessment  results for you to review and read.  There is a lot of good information in there.  I asked different advocacy groups in Delaware for feedback, I incorporated information from the national agenda for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students, I talked with early interventionists, hearing screening people, hospitals and the medical community, teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing all over the state, special education directors, parents, familes, and kids.  All of their responses are included in the needs assessment for you to read.  Click here to read the interesting results.   The last page is very important because it discusses the goals for next year.   A really big goal for next year is to set up an advisory council.  The advisory council will help to create a strategic plan for Delaware.  The goal is to figure out how we get there and what support and resources we need to have.  The advisory council will play an important  role in developing a state of Delaware plan.

I’m really excited and looking forward to the new school year.  I’m excited for change and I’m excited for the opportunity. “Delaware is a small state with a big heart.”  I remember hearing that from a famous person.  DSD statewide program is the best kept secret in Delaware!  I feel honored to be a part of this group.  I feel honored to continue my work as Director.  And I’m honored that you took the time to watch me today!

Thank you and have a good afternoon!

Hello my name is Della Thomas.  I’m the Director of the Delaware School for the Deaf, Statewide Programs for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and Deaf Blind Programs.  Last night the Site Council voted on the sign for the new building.  It will have “Delaware School for the Deaf” at the top of the sign with “and Statewide Programs for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf Blind” underneath.  They also voted that the new website will say “Statewide Programs for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf Blind” at the top with three separate links below for each program.  That’s cool and exciting!  This discussion has been going on since October with community meetings, feedback and ideas.  During the discussion last night, some asked what will happen to the name Sterck.  We can’t discard the name Sterck!   We will honor the tradition of Sterck’s name.  That’s where we need your help and feedback.  The new building will be ready in 2011.  We want to have something named after Sterck such as Sterck auditorium, Sterck library, Sterck gym, Sterck visitor’s center or something.  When you finish watching this video, please go online here to vote.  We will collect feeback for a week and then make a decision.

click here to fill out the survey

Hello my name is Della Thomas.  I am the Director of three programs: Delaware School for the Deaf, Statewide Programs for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students, and the Deaf Blind Program.  All three programs are under the state of Delaware.  Interestingly, these are three different programs for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students: Delaware School for the Deaf here in Newark, Statewide Programs for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students which is also located in Newark but serves students all over the state of Delaware, and the Deaf Blind Program, which also serves students all over the state of Delaware. 

Other states have the same idea with a range of services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students.  Some have a Deaf school, some have a day program, some have a mainstream program.  But it is important to note that all programs are grouped under one name.  For example, Maine has the Education  Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MECDHH).  Vermont has the Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (VCDHH).  These two programs have a Deaf school plus statewide plus autistic program plus Deaf blind program all included under one name.

Delaware is responsible for all Deaf and Hard of Hearing students – the students here at the Deaf school as well as students all over the state in public schools.  I would like to propose that Delaware consider expanding – not changing, but expanding – the name to Delaware Education Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DECDHH).

What will that name look like?  For the Website, it would be www.decdhh.  Also, for the new building which will be finished in January, 2011 there would a large sign with DECDHH with separate entrances and signs for the Delaware School for the Deaf, Statewide Programs for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and Deaf Blind Programs.  The new building will house the Education Center, Referral Center, CI Mapping, Audiological testing, and many other services to provide support for all Deaf and Hard of Hearing students in the state. It would be nice to have a sign with a name to reflect that goal.

So, please, after you have watched the video or read the transcript, give us your feedback by telling us your feelings and ideas by filling out a survey.  For your benefit, please click here to fill out the survey.  Thank you!