NCSD Director OUT
NCSD director steps down
By Heather Sanders
Morganton – The North Carolina School for the Deaf director stepped down from her position Thursday. Department of Health and Human Services Superintendent Dwight Pearson made the announcement to a group of parents and students that Dr. Linda Lindsey would be reassigned to Office of Education Services as of April 1.
Parents, who were there to talk about problems at NCSD and what has happened at the school since Sunday night, wanted to know if Lindsey would still be in a position where her decisions would affect the school. On Thursday, Pearson assured parents Lindsey would have no oversight and therefore no impact on the school.
Administrators met with students Sunday night in the school’s chapel in an effort to squash a protest.
On Thursday, Pearson assured parents Lindsey would have no oversight and therefore no impact on the school.
Parents also wanted to know what the criteria will be for Lindsey’s replacement. Pearson said they will conduct a nationwide search for someone with experience in deaf education and is fluent or close to fluent in American Sign Language.
Principal Janet McDaniel will take over as interim director until a replacement is found, he said. Kathleen Jensen objected to the announcement, saying that McDaniel was one of the ones that stopped the protest.
“Is that the kind of leadership you want?” Jensen said.
She said she would rather not have a director than have someone who would not let the students have a voice.
To read the full story: NCSD director steps down – The Morganton News Herald
Commentary: The new change is a promising start. The state officials of North Carolina heard NCSD students and validated the grievances of NCSD students and the concerned parents by taking swift action and meeting with them yesterday afternoon. The director stepped down amidst the controversy and accusations of inferior academic quality, poor communication skills, the failure to address the issues, oppression and intimidation. Even though this director will still be working for the state in the Department of Education, she won’t have any input on the NCSD. Why was a person with no qualification in Deaf Education hired in the first place as she had proven herself an inadequate administrator? The good news is that the state officials are now aware of the importance of finding a qualified administrator being acknowledgeable in Deaf Education and ASL so communication barriers won’t be an issue.
*Hand waving*
Kudos to the courageous Deaf students for standing up for their rights!!! 
VICTORY
Gallaudet
Mississippi
North Carolina
All they wanted was better education and communication. They did go through proper channels, but their complaints weren’t addressed. The fact that they had to protest in order to get their needs met reflects the heavy paternalism within the deaf education system. MZ
.
WBTV-TV Channel 3 Transcript:
ANCHOR:
Breaking news right now out of Morganton. The director at this school, the
North Carolina School for the Deaf is stepping down. Now we told you
earlier this week about controversy at the school because of claims the
director and several administrators don’t know how to use sign language
fluently. The principal at the North Carolina School for the Deaf will be the
interim school director beginning April 1st.
Thursday, February 28, 2008, 11:48 pm Eastern Time http://www.wbtv.com/news/topstories/16087017.html
.
The Charlotte Observer:
N.C. School for the Deaf director abruptly steps down
Posted on Thu, Feb. 28, 2008
MARCIE YOUNG,
The director of the N.C. School for the Deaf abruptly stepped down this
afternoon amid controversy over a protest students had planned at the
school earlier this week.
The state announced that Linda Lindsey would be stepping down from
the institution’s top post while officials from the Office of Education Services
were discussing a situation that took place on campus Sunday, said Lori
Walston, Education Services spokeswoman.
http://www.charlotte.com/breaking_news/story/514814.html
.
Channel 5 WRALNews:
Director Leaves N.C. School for Deaf
Morganton, N.C. — The director of the North Carolina School for the Deaf announced her resignation Thursday. Linda B. Lindsey, Ed. D., will take a position with the Office of Education Services in Raleigh.
Director Leaves N.C. School for Deaf :: WRAL.com
E mail contact: mishkazena@aol.com
NCSD director steps down
By Heather Sanders
Morganton – The North Carolina School for the Deaf director stepped down from her position Thursday. Department of Health and Human Services Superintendent Dwight Pearson made the announcement to a group of parents and students that Dr. Linda Lindsey would be reassigned to Office of Education Services as of April 1.
Parents, who were there to talk about problems at NCSD and what has happened at the school since Sunday night, wanted to know if Lindsey would still be in a position where her decisions would affect the school. On Thursday, Pearson assured parents Lindsey would have no oversight and therefore no impact on the school.
Administrators met with students Sunday night in the school’s chapel in an effort to squash a protest.
On Thursday, Pearson assured parents Lindsey would have no oversight and therefore no impact on the school.
Parents also wanted to know what the criteria will be for Lindsey’s replacement. Pearson said they will conduct a nationwide search for someone with experience in deaf education and is fluent or close to fluent in American Sign Language.
Principal Janet McDaniel will take over as interim director until a replacement is found, he said. Kathleen Jensen objected to the announcement, saying that McDaniel was one of the ones that stopped the protest.
“Is that the kind of leadership you want?” Jensen said.
She said she would rather not have a director than have someone who would not let the students have a voice.
To read the full story: NCSD director steps down – The Morganton News Herald
Commentary: The new change is a promising start. The state officials of North Carolina heard NCSD students and validated the grievances of NCSD students and the concerned parents by taking swift action and meeting with them yesterday afternoon. The director stepped down amidst the controversy and accusations of inferior academic quality, poor communication skills, the failure to address the issues, oppression and intimidation. Even though this director will still be working for the state in the Department of Education, she won’t have any input on the NCSD. Why was a person with no qualification in Deaf Education hired in the first place as she had proven herself an inadequate administrator? The good news is that the state officials are now aware of the importance of finding a qualified administrator being acknowledgeable in Deaf Education and ASL so communication barriers won’t be an issue.
*Hand waving*
Kudos to the courageous Deaf students for standing up for their rights!!!
VICTORY
Gallaudet
Mississippi
North Carolina
All they wanted was better education and communication. They did go through proper channels, but their complaints weren’t addressed. The fact that they had to protest in order to get their needs met reflects the heavy paternalism within the deaf education system. MZ
.
WBTV-TV Channel 3 Transcript:
ANCHOR:
Breaking news right now out of Morganton. The director at this school, the
North Carolina School for the Deaf is stepping down. Now we told you
earlier this week about controversy at the school because of claims the
director and several administrators don’t know how to use sign language
fluently. The principal at the North Carolina School for the Deaf will be the
interim school director beginning April 1st.
Thursday, February 28, 2008, 11:48 pm Eastern Time http://www.wbtv.com/news/topstories/16087017.html
.
The Charlotte Observer:
N.C. School for the Deaf director abruptly steps down
Posted on Thu, Feb. 28, 2008
MARCIE YOUNG,
The director of the N.C. School for the Deaf abruptly stepped down this
afternoon amid controversy over a protest students had planned at the
school earlier this week.
The state announced that Linda Lindsey would be stepping down from
the institution’s top post while officials from the Office of Education Services
were discussing a situation that took place on campus Sunday, said Lori
Walston, Education Services spokeswoman.
http://www.charlotte.com/breaking_news/story/514814.html
.
Channel 5 WRALNews:
Director Leaves N.C. School for Deaf
Morganton, N.C. — The director of the North Carolina School for the Deaf announced her resignation Thursday. Linda B. Lindsey, Ed. D., will take a position with the Office of Education Services in Raleigh.
Director Leaves N.C. School for Deaf :: WRAL.com
E mail contact: mishkazena@aol.com
February 29th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Thank God! I knew it happened there. Let new start over at NCSD good luck future get better education.
February 29th, 2008 at 11:50 am
“Hmmm… I have to tip the hat off to Linda L. for immediately taking notice of the need for the change at NCSD and recognizing that she could be at fault, so she took care of it.
Now we will see if the states take notice that the deaf schools are NOT health agencies, but academic institutions. Policies need to be changed, etc.”
February 29th, 2008 at 11:58 am
You know, if they had never planned the protest, would the director step down? Would the state pay so much attention? I think not.
I understood that the complaints were shared by the NCSD community but it looked like it went from ear to ear. It makes me wonder that this tactic, (the crushed) protest, is effective that it gained so much attention from the media. For those naysayers saying that they were stupid to plan the protest are stupid for saying that. This is a breakthrough that they finally get to be heard but it is unfortunate that it has to be in this way since I am for trying other options other than the protest but I trust that the NCSD community has gone through the steps to the point that they no longer have any other options. I have seen how they were intimated that they were not able to share freely about their concerns.
I just hope that there will be a better system where students and parents are able to voice their concerns in the future. Communication and collaboration are the key to the quality of education!
February 29th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
I was told that they did go through the proper channels, however they were ignored. They were also intimidated. Sounds familiar?
It was disappointing to see some Deaf people not giving them the benefit of the doubt, accusing them of being rash and so forth. When they don’t even have access to basic information. Yet they sat on their high chair, almighty and know-it-all, reprimanding them as if they are kids. Basic rule… before you jump on the bandwagon for whatever reason, do some research. Making blind assumptions can backfire big time.
Fortunately, with the media coverage, the state officials cannot any longer ignore these Deaf students.
Karen, very often the administrators stepped down under pressure, especially if a scandal broke out. She remained defensive of her actions, denying that there were unaddressed issues and unremorseful for her actions. She also had the audacity to deny that the students were suspended due to their protest plans. That was a clear lie. So it is good thing she is no longer running the school. They need an administrator who is more accountable for her actions.
February 29th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
number 3 the students did say during the meeting they had met with the director principal dorm life director many many times and were told to “shut up”
February 29th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
It’s a sad day for the people of the State of North Carolina. Moving Lindsey to a different office is bad news for the State.
Regardless of the fact that she was not able to communicate directly with students under her charge, the higher fact remains: She NEVER recognized the fact that she was inadequate to meet the needs of her students, until it was too late.
Now that she is working at a state-wide level, her presence does impact all of North Carolinans in the education system. If she was unable to realize her inadequacy on a much smaller scale, how can the State expect her to recognize her inadequacies on a larger scale?
She needs to remove herself from the field of Education period. Neither Deaf nor hearing students could possibly benefit from the likes of her.
February 29th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
My response is to Misha. I wanted to know if you realize that the state is trying to find reasons to shut down the school. Any attention brought to this school could be extremely detrimental to both NCSD and the students. The fear of all involved, hearing and deaf, is that with this attention brought to the school will cause the state to shut it down and force our students to attend public schools. Have any of you who have contacted ACLU and other organizations put any thought into the students? Do you only care to further yourselves in this matter or do you truly care about the students? I do believe this matter needs to be addressed, but attracting more attention to this school at this time could be fatal for the school and troubling for the students. Continuing on this path could give the students the opportunity to experience all that does occur in public schools. Also as a side note, another public (hearing) school here in NC had a student walk out and the students involved were suspended. Will you be contacting ACLU on their behalf as well?
February 29th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
ACLU? They burned the deaf too often in past.
They doublecrossed Dr. Pat Johanson in her fight to rescue her nephews and nieces from the polygamous group in southern Utah years ago.
ACLU has very warped agenda to suit their own needs.
Better to get any attorney specialized in specific areas.
Oregon wasn’t shut down. State agency got their hands burned badly and now the school is moving forward with growth.
February 29th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
#7,
No government official in his or her right mind would try to close down the NC School for the Deaf. It would be instant political suicide to propose such a thing.
You just have to keep in mind that thousands of people, deaf and hearing allies alike, marched from Gallaudet to Capitol Hill in October of 2006.
This is a new era.
February 29th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Ahhhh, Bryen beat me to a similar comment.
February 29th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
To #10-DT… Oops, type faster! hehe
To #7-Concerned… Your concerns are unfounded. Let’s just say, for the sake of argument, that indeed North Carolina was looking for ways to shut down NCSD. The publicity generated this week and the concerns by the surrounding neighboring communities within North Carolina show that publicity wins. They may have hoped to silently shut down the school unnoticed, but instead with a large public outcry, this is no longer possible.
In other words, the publicity was good and it SAVED the school, not hurt it.
February 29th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
So the kids should remain quiet, even though their needs go unmet and their complaints ignored, just like their parents’ too? Should they tolerate being seriously harmed due to lack of appropriate education and deprivation of accessible communication? Why should it be their job to protect the school when it should be the reverse, the school providing services to meet their needs in a nurturing and healthy atmosphere?
Why is it ok for hearing kids to get qualified services and deaf not getting appropriate services? Why is it acceptable to expect the Deaf students not to demand that they be treated equally like their hearing peers… because they cannot hear? Don’t you see something wrong with this picture? Especially when we have laws mandating that deaf people not to be discriminated based on their disability. This kind of attitude reeks of paternalism
By the way, not doing anything to improve the school in the long term is a guarantee that the school will eventually fall apart due to declining enrollment. The kids fighting to get a better school for themselves actually helps the school itself. With better education and communication, the school will attract more kids.
Look at ISD, MSD, CSD, TSD and FSDB. What do they all have in common? High enrollment due to excellent academic programs and communication access.
February 29th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
[...] Mishka Zena
February 29th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
there is no political agenda of shutting the school down. these students saved the schools parents spoke out last night saved the school.
told someone that lindsay and jody self need to step down from the state system period. mcdaniel is a bully.
mz is thinking for herself. she has a reliable source.
February 29th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
A great big WAY TO GO to the students! I am the mother and mother in law of two NCSD graduates. I am very proud of the contribution they both make to the community of Morganton. But, even when they were students at NCSD, they were not encouraged as they both should have been to continue thier educations. From experience with NCSD, I can confirm that even though ‘proper channels’ must be followed, they almost always were a dead end and ANY progress with any problem I ever had with the school was only solved by going over the heads of EVERYONE at the school level. Again, WAY TO GO STUDENTS!!!!!
February 29th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Mishka Zena,
Thanks for follow up the update news. Thanks Babe.
Davy
February 29th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
ncsd shutting down… NCAD and NAD saved that in the past. I havent heard will try again but maybe that what Lindsay and Self were trying to do???
We still need to save the school regardless and work with Local Education Agency… Parents are fighting with them to try to get their kids in NCSD.
February 29th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Again, Mishka, thanks for keeping everyone updated.
http://ncsdprotest.blogspot.com/2008/02/in-response-to-facts-uncovered-ncsd.html
February 29th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
The parents can fight back against the threat of shutting down NCSD by pointing to the mandate of the least restrictive environment. For many deaf students, a residential state school is the LRE for them.
So, if you have parents who are savvy enough, the state can’t shut down NCSD.
At any rate, the director resigning is quite surprising, and lends incredible credence to the students’ complaints. People don’t resign this quickly if there wasn’t something to it.
February 29th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
we are making noises.. believe me we are… next is dorm and principal.. and other garbages
February 29th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
W. David Samuelsen Says:
True, OSD, Oregon School for the Deaf need to deal with situation over there.
NCSD need to get fix their systems. It is not seem approirated about teacher to tell student they cannot go to Gally or college if they are not passed their grade.. “My head nood”
It is not accpetable of their behsvior.. Student is part of innocennt,too.. It is too confusion for them by teacher..
Sigh!!! !@*(&^%$#@!
February 29th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
like hearing students some have it to make it in college/universities whatever they want to go some just don’t…
but to tell students you are no good and youll never make it it is wrong. encourage them to find something that will benefit them and feel good.
their self esteems has been stomped on. they were passing some students for social studies when they didn’t even have a teacher to teach them. hummmmmmmmmmm i saw it with my own two eyes!!!!
some staff are wonderful convince them to stay on for the students sake. they do… then the rotten signers wants to stay because of benefits.
i am going to write to president staff organization an email and demand president of that to resign she was so oppressive and mean to her daughter telling her that she didnt need to learn about deaf culture or anything else just subject to be taught. used the shes not deaf neough card and come home crying i stopped that arguement and she said i was being too emotional i said the point the students wanted to protest to improve education and dorm life.
its ugly but its going to be more ugly soon.
February 29th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
W. Daniel Samuelson,
You are probably right about the ACLU’s warped agenda as what Brian Riley previously warned me about this organization.
ACLU is more interested in making headlines than offering solutions.
RLM
February 29th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Brian Riley,
Look at the state of Nebraska. They did close the residential school for the deaf! NCSD could be possibly closed for the budget reasons. Who knows?
Anything is possible! NC used to have THREE residential school for the deaf. It have two schools right now.
RLM
February 29th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
I hope that the news about the NCSD protest will be spreading immediately to all residential schools for the deaf. Deaf parents, who read Deafread, can convey it to their deaf children about the NCSD. Albeit a very small group, the students must be commended for making their protest heard.
February 29th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
In responce to Brian Riley and RLM:
It really depends. Dr. Thomas Klumina (spelling ?), director of research at Gallaudet has said that 30 years ago, 80% of deaf children attended residential schools and 20% attended mainstream schools. Now, in his own phrase, the number has flip-flopped in 2000s. Meaning? A governor of any state can order to close a deaf school if few deaf students attend. I have recently learned from a commentator that there are oral programs in mainstream schools. My question is: Do mainstream schools that offer oral program ALSO offer ASL program?
February 29th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
“Why is it ok for hearing kids to get qualified services and deaf not getting appropriate services? Why is it acceptable to expect the Deaf students not to demand that they be treated equally like their hearing peers… because they cannot hear? Don’t you see something wrong with this picture? Especially when we have laws mandating that deaf people not to be discriminated based on their disability. This kind of attitude reeks of paternalism”
As a parent of a deaf child, the law is on our side. If you are persistent and savvy as someone said, you can get what is needed. It’s a fact. Obviously, they got what they wanted. You can’t just go run someone out of education because they weren’t right for that job. I’m sure she was tenured, and thus can’t be fired. All that we know from this is that she didn’t sign well. Now that’s a crime for which she should be banned from the system. Get a grip. My deaf child has more appropriate services than my hearing child. I see it daily. It’s the parent’s responsibility to take care of situations like this not the child. It’s not about protesting students; it should be about protesting parents.
March 1st, 2008 at 12:34 am
justamom,
You obviously understand very little about the history of deaf education where children themselves have always played a crucial role in the transmission of the culture.
March 1st, 2008 at 12:57 am
Justamom, do some reading before you jump into conclusion as it’s obvious you don’t know the real issues.
FYI, it is not just about the director not signing, she is not doing a good job as an administrator. Had you read the complaints, it is about inferior education, hiring of unqualified teachers, poor language access, pervasive audism, and no communication between the parents and children when the kids are on campus. Do read carefully before you jump and accuse parents.
Also your argument imply that the parents are doing a lousy job as so many deaf kids are not getting a qualified education in their deaf schools. That’s insulting to the parents and inherently unfair as it’s the system that is broken.
March 1st, 2008 at 1:03 am
If you have issues with the administrators who are not doing a good job with the academic settings or you see serious concerns, please get together with the parents and work on these issues. Bring up these concerns in PTA meetings.
March 1st, 2008 at 7:06 pm
high school not only got suspended but they can’t go to the prom or take drivers education class. WHy? because they tried to protest against the AUDIST IDIOT!
March 2nd, 2008 at 8:10 am
First of all i have been reading all the comments and i understand all teh concerns. The complaint about services not being offered is untrue. NCSD offers all the services required by the state of NC. They even have some Life service offered that teach the students how to cook and shop for housing needs. They teach then how do do laundy etc. They have a PTA (parent/teacher association) for parents and educators to meet and voice and address concerns. They send out letters on a regular basis telling parents of upcoming events and opportunities that are offered to their children. The children are taking out of the dorm to movies, bowling, swiming and other activities. They are offered trips to plays, ball games and other places. They have a computer lab that they can use for homework or sending email. Students are never denied the ability to call their parents when they want to. Only during classes are cell phone use restricted. There have been problems of bullying but that has been student on student bullying and was delt with.
Students being told they arent college materail. Well you have to be honest. Some students just arent capabel of going to college, not becuase they are deaf, but because of other disabilities. You cant tell a student with the IQ of 60 that yes they can go to college. That is just leading then to heart ache. Instead that student needs to be directed to something that will be better suited to them. And yes there are program out there for that.
The problem is not that the programs for the deaf were not offered. The problem is that they were not used.
And there are some parents who just dont want to deal with their children. I have seen a letter where a parent requested that her daughter not call her during the week. Now what kind a parent is that?
All in all. I agree that there are problems with the NC school system whenit comes to educating deaf students. But until that system is changed. Protesting the ASL abilities of adminsitrators isnt going to do much good. Also if parents arent going to be involved in their childrens life and make a point to help them when the students are at home the student will fall behind.
The best teacher in the world can only do so much. It takes the support of the parents also to promote the well-being of the child. If a child is neglected at home then their chances of success dwindle.
March 2nd, 2008 at 8:08 pm
PTA meeting is a joke please when was the last time we had one? justamom???
March 3rd, 2008 at 1:02 am
Why cant you all get NCSD old former Elmer Dilligham back as ‘old fart president in 1982-1996′ then that way NCSD will have more grow number just same as FSDB does!!!
March 3rd, 2008 at 3:12 pm
DeafNC,
Actually, the high enrollment of FSDB has nothing to do with Dillingham, but the governor who visited a classroom and witnessed the waste of precious resources. So, in an attempt to manage the limited resources the best to reduce the waste, he had created a program where Deaf kids are encouraged to attend the Deaf school.
Had you keep up with the media the last few years, Dillingham was found to have violated countless federal, state, and local policies, including multiple laws. He had brought a bad image to the school, media-wise.
March 9th, 2008 at 10:19 am
MISHKA ZENA,
Thank you for your outstanding efforts for keeping
everyone updated.
My real hope NCSD will remain there for many years to come. Look what happened to Nebraska
School for the Deaf in Omaha,NE.
I am wholly concerned about WVSD is NOT what we had Dr. Hugo Schunhoff during the years of 1953 to 1970. WVSD is lacking Deaf teachers and Deaf
dormitory supervisors. It is too numerous to mention further.
July 19th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
Are you all proud of yourselves now? You had Dr. Lindsey removed and had McDaniel take over and she swept abuse under the rug. Even though Dr. Lindsey didn’t know sign language and she was overly concerned about the school’s image, at least she didn’t hide the abuse and mistreatment of students. Way to go!