Miss-Delectable

http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/13912887.htm

CAVE SPRING, Ga. - The new director of the Georgia School for the Deaf has been criticized by some members of the deaf community for a lack of experience working with the deaf and because he does not yet know sign language.

Lee Shiver, former superintendent of Pickens County schools, was appointed by the state Board of Education and will replace interim director Cynthia Ashby on March 1. Former director Winfield McChord resigned in July after serving in the position for 19 months.

"There's no knowledge of deaf education. How do you better a school when you know nothing about it? You can't," said Shirley Crook, who used sign language while her husband Gary translated.

Crook and her parents, Louise and Frank Osborne, attended the state-sponsored school. They said other alumni and deaf community members and advocates similarly have been concerned about the appointment and community input should be a part of the hiring process.

But state schools Superintendent Kathy Cox said in an e-mail response to the Rome News-Tribune that such input is not under consideration although education officials "always want to hear constructive suggestions and input from the community about all issues."

Cox also said in the e-mail she and other education officials are "very confident" the new director has "the experience and the attitude to lead the Georgia School for the Deaf and make it one of the best deaf-education schools in America."

Shiver said he is learning American Sign Language and said that challenge reflects his attitude about what he hopes to accomplish as the school's director.

"I think once the students see that and understand that, and parents see that, they will feel very positive," he said.

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