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RN-T.com - Shiver GSD educates deaf students to be productive citizens
In the last three years, Georgia School for the Deaf has had a 42 percent increase in enrollment, attained a school where students can graduate with normal diplomas and provided students a normal high school experience, according to Lee Shiver, executive director.
Shiver spoke about the progress of the Cave Spring school at the Rome Area History Museum on Thursday.
“Our school is a place where deaf students can be understood. We’re trying to get our kids ready to leave school and be ready to be a productive part of America,” he said.
The school’s curriculum, like that of other schools in the state, is based on the Georgia Performance Standards. Students are required to take and pass standardized tests like the End of Course Tests, CRCT and the Georgia High School Graduation Test.
“Our curriculum is the Georgia standards just like it would be for any other student, which is really amazing. It’s immeasurable to see what happens to these students,” stated Shiver.
GSD has students ranging from ages 3 to 21, and because deaf students are visual learners, every classroom has a Smartboard and the middle and high school students have laptops.
When Shiver joined GSD in 2006, the school had been neglected and was seen as more of a “dumping ground” for all children with learning disabilities, he said.
“It is not an asylum, it’s a school for deaf children,” stated Shiver.
The school also has a variety of extracurricular activities including football, basketball, cheerleading, Accelerated Reader, track, choir and Academic Bowl.
In fact, this year’s annual Mason-Dixon basketball tournament is going to be held at GSD’s new gym, Shiver said.
“Ten deaf schools are going to be in the small town of Cave Spring. I’m telling you this school does not just sit in class—it’s just like a normal high school,” said Shiver.
Shiver is very hopeful for the future of GSD and he is expecting eight students to graduate with regular diplomas next school year.
In the last three years, Georgia School for the Deaf has had a 42 percent increase in enrollment, attained a school where students can graduate with normal diplomas and provided students a normal high school experience, according to Lee Shiver, executive director.
Shiver spoke about the progress of the Cave Spring school at the Rome Area History Museum on Thursday.
“Our school is a place where deaf students can be understood. We’re trying to get our kids ready to leave school and be ready to be a productive part of America,” he said.
The school’s curriculum, like that of other schools in the state, is based on the Georgia Performance Standards. Students are required to take and pass standardized tests like the End of Course Tests, CRCT and the Georgia High School Graduation Test.
“Our curriculum is the Georgia standards just like it would be for any other student, which is really amazing. It’s immeasurable to see what happens to these students,” stated Shiver.
GSD has students ranging from ages 3 to 21, and because deaf students are visual learners, every classroom has a Smartboard and the middle and high school students have laptops.
When Shiver joined GSD in 2006, the school had been neglected and was seen as more of a “dumping ground” for all children with learning disabilities, he said.
“It is not an asylum, it’s a school for deaf children,” stated Shiver.
The school also has a variety of extracurricular activities including football, basketball, cheerleading, Accelerated Reader, track, choir and Academic Bowl.
In fact, this year’s annual Mason-Dixon basketball tournament is going to be held at GSD’s new gym, Shiver said.
“Ten deaf schools are going to be in the small town of Cave Spring. I’m telling you this school does not just sit in class—it’s just like a normal high school,” said Shiver.
Shiver is very hopeful for the future of GSD and he is expecting eight students to graduate with regular diplomas next school year.
