Miss-Delectable
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WILSONDAILY.COM
Unable to hear since early childhood, Redding, the new director of the Eastern North School for the Deaf, has spent his adult life in education advocating for deaf and hard of hearing students.
Redding, 49, attended the Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf in Trenton, N.J., after losing his hearing at the age of three due to spinal meningitis. After graduating from high school, he attended Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., a university committed to the education of deaf and hard of hearing students.
Redding began work with the school this summer. He said he chose to come to ENCSD because he enjoys working closely with the students and having a positive impact on students.
ENCSD is "a unique place," Redding said. "The school's staff and teachers have a wonderful relationship with the students."
Cyndie Bennett, superintendent of North Carolina Office of Education Services in Raleigh, said Redding's has ideal credentials to run a place like the School for the Deaf.
"Dr. Redding comes to ENCSD with a rich history of leadership in educational programs at the residential school level, the university level and at the regional, national and international levels," she said in a press release.
"His national involvement in organizations such as National Black Deaf Advocates and the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf has given him opportunities to stay current in educational practices, while making clear his interest and dedication to his field."
This year, approximately 100 students are attending ENCSD in grades K-12.
Redding also praised the school's faculty saying it takes an extraordinary commitment by teachers to work with deaf and hard of hearing students, including learning American Sign Language.
"It takes a special teacher to teach deaf students," Redding said. "Here we are a family."
Teachers are involved with students beyond the regular school day, through coaching, clubs and other activities, Redding said. The teachers at ENCSD are wonderful advocates for the students, he added.
"If not for us, who would teach them?"
"We need to empower our students," Redding said.
The greatest issue faced by deaf and hard of hearing people is the accessibility to communication, Redding said. Increased access, like interpreters at government meetings and hospitals and captioning on television, help to level the playing field.
"While deafness is a disability, we are very able people," Redding said. "We can do anything but hear."
Unable to hear since early childhood, Redding, the new director of the Eastern North School for the Deaf, has spent his adult life in education advocating for deaf and hard of hearing students.
Redding, 49, attended the Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf in Trenton, N.J., after losing his hearing at the age of three due to spinal meningitis. After graduating from high school, he attended Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., a university committed to the education of deaf and hard of hearing students.
Redding began work with the school this summer. He said he chose to come to ENCSD because he enjoys working closely with the students and having a positive impact on students.
ENCSD is "a unique place," Redding said. "The school's staff and teachers have a wonderful relationship with the students."
Cyndie Bennett, superintendent of North Carolina Office of Education Services in Raleigh, said Redding's has ideal credentials to run a place like the School for the Deaf.
"Dr. Redding comes to ENCSD with a rich history of leadership in educational programs at the residential school level, the university level and at the regional, national and international levels," she said in a press release.
"His national involvement in organizations such as National Black Deaf Advocates and the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf has given him opportunities to stay current in educational practices, while making clear his interest and dedication to his field."
This year, approximately 100 students are attending ENCSD in grades K-12.
Redding also praised the school's faculty saying it takes an extraordinary commitment by teachers to work with deaf and hard of hearing students, including learning American Sign Language.
"It takes a special teacher to teach deaf students," Redding said. "Here we are a family."
Teachers are involved with students beyond the regular school day, through coaching, clubs and other activities, Redding said. The teachers at ENCSD are wonderful advocates for the students, he added.
"If not for us, who would teach them?"
"We need to empower our students," Redding said.
The greatest issue faced by deaf and hard of hearing people is the accessibility to communication, Redding said. Increased access, like interpreters at government meetings and hospitals and captioning on television, help to level the playing field.
"While deafness is a disability, we are very able people," Redding said. "We can do anything but hear."