











Texas

Texas
When I write the introduction to the Annual Report, I have to remind myself that it is a retrospect about our last school year. The best way for me to do that is to reflect on our 21-22 theme, Creating Connections. I spent considerable time as I usually do contemplating themes for our school year. I remember thinking connections will be ever so important this school year as we return to in-person learning and hopefully emerge intact as a community that has lived under the guidance of public health warnings for the past two years.
This theme was inspired by someone I have greatly admired for years, Rita Pierson and someone I have recently been introduced to, Joe Beckman. What these two great educational leaders have in common is their belief that HUMAN CONNECTION MATTERS! Rita reminds us “Every child deserves a champion—an adult that will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection, and insists that they become the best they can possibly be.” Joe reminds us that “Human Connection is the very foundation of our work as educators—it is oxygen for the soul!” As for me, I believe that a connected kid is a successful kid!
Within this Annual Report are stories that capture the voices and narratives that defined the 2021-2022 school year. You will read about connections we made in teaching and caring for our students in all aspects of the school. You will learn of our excitement about the Grand Opening of our new Administrative Welcome Center and Early Learning Center. You will see how we responded to changing public health guidance, strengthened our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and continued to improve the educational outcomes for all of our students and achieved re-accreditation by CEASD for another five years!
As we enter the next chapter of our proud 167-year history, my hope for TSD is to build upon our strong foundation, to expand our impact, increase our reach, and accelerate our pace. I’m not sure if this will be my last annual report, but just in case—once again, thank you for your ongoing support as we serve the children and families of our amazing community. It has been the joy of my life to partner with you in this important effort.
Once a Ranger, always a Ranger,
Claire Bugen, Superintendent
• Education is a partnership between students, family, school, and community.
• Early language acquisition is critical to a deaf child’s social, emotional, and cognitive development.
• The development of the whole person socially, physically, intellectually, culturally, and emotionally is imperative to a positive identity, self-worth, and lifelong success.
• American Sign Language and English are woven into the fabric of TSD life, building healthy Deaf identities and positive self-worth.
• An interdisciplinary curriculum that integrates technology in academically engaging learning environments prepares students to become critical thinkers, collaborators, and decision-makers.
• Outreach Services provide resources and support to the state’s deaf and hard of hearing students, their families, and the professionals that serve them.
• Showing students, families, and staff dignity and respect in an inclusive community that values diverse abilities, needs, and interests is crucial to creating a healthy, safe, and welcoming environment.
It is a privilege to serve as Board president for this amazing, iconic, purpose-driven, and diverse school. As we returned to in-person learning last school year our hearts and minds committed to Creating Connections.
In many ways, the 2021-2022 school year highlighted the strength and resilience of the TSD school community. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, our faculty, staff and leadership returned committed to teaching and caring for our children.
The Board welcomed two new members during 2021-22, opened our new Administration and Welcome Center and our Early Learning Center, and christened our new state-of-the-art boardroom. This year our Board received training on viewing our work with an equity lens as we continued to collaborate with our Superintendent on building a learning environment where all students and families feel welcomed to learn, grow and belong together.
In the pages that follow, you will read about some of TSD’s extraordinary efforts to resume operations post pandemic, and connect and engage our community in ongoing efforts to assist our students in becoming college-career-and life-ready graduates.
As I mentioned in an earlier message to the community we are currently conducting a search for the next Superintendent of TSD. I would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to recognize again the exemplary career of our current Superintendent Claire Bugen. A positive and effective board-superintendent relationship sets the tone for the entire school community from the administrative team to the instructional and residential staff, from the parents to the students. When the relationship works well, the school runs smoothly and great things can be accomplished.
This annual report is an example of the great accomplishments of this school community.
Sincerely,
Shawn P. Saladin, Ph.D Governing Board President
• 50% enrollment increase for early learning program, ages zero to five.
• ACC partnership to provide ASL classes for early learning families.
• Family storytelling events and parent workshops for early learning.
• Monthly Saturday baby playgroups.
• Brought back events such as Vocabulary Parade and One School, One Book event in Elementary.
• Three different book clubs for teachers focusing on inquiry learning, Bilingual Language Arts (BLM), and Storymaking.
15 Seniors earned more than 4 credits in a specific career cluster in Art & AV Tech, Collision Repair & Refinishing, Construction Technology, Culinary Arts, and Human Services
• New Literacy Specialist hired to support reading academies.
77 students enrolled in CTE, Biology & Forensic Science Dual Credit courses
• First ever IEP ARD week for TSD teachers and families. ARD retreats prior to ARD week helped support teachers/staff.
• Hosted the first ever kindergarten orientation for our incoming kindergarten families.
• VEX Robotics teams won a third straight national championship and qualified for the US Open in Iowa.
• Middle School students participated in Flex Club Fridays, which was very successful. Students joined various clubs such as Stock Club, Anime Club, Drama Club, Hiking Club, Trading Cards Club, etc. all led by teachers and various support staff.
• Successfully provided CPR / AED / Stop the Bleed training to 37 students in Health Education classes.
• Implemented Restorative Practices.
• High School Theatre / ASL / Video Production students were featured on the local news regarding CODA.
• Increased student leadership and peer assistance with the HS program, by identifying student ambassadors.
• Students hosted an 8th grade transition orientation in the spring.
earned endorsements in one of the following areas: STEM, Art & AV Tech, Culinary Arts, Visual Communication, Public Service, and Multidisciplinary
• One High School student secured a win at the Gallaudet Debate Bowl Championship.
• Academic Bowl team made it to the Nationals and succeeded in making it into the Top 8 out of 60 teams.
• Added Mexican-American Studies to HS Social Studies Electives.
• The 18+ transitional program (ACCESS) had 26 different business partnerships for 50 students.
• Exiting students had plans in place: 54% of them had full-time employment, 31% went into college or trade school, and 15% received services from various agencies.
• Connected BIPOC Deaf Athletes with our PE students from across the U.S. via Zoom Sessions.
• Organized and hosted the Elementary Field Day.
• Our Robotics program grew with the new addition of the Stampede Team, our 2nd FTC Robotics HS Team.
• Human Services students led several school-wide community service events that served and met the needs of our community at the local, state and national levels.
• A record of 3,000 cookies were baked by our culinary arts students for the annual holiday cookie delivery at the Capitol after a 2-year hiatus.
• The CTE Showcase was a big hit with visitors from PIP, Elementary and Middle School visitors.
• The Mad City Money Event was a smashing success in preparing our High School seniors for the world beyond high school.
• The Yearbook team broke the school record for the most yearbooks sold during their early bird special period with 145 yearbooks.
• The Career Prep I and CBVI programs partnered with 18 different programs on TSD campus to give 36 students on-campus work experience.
• The Career Prep II and CBVI programs partnered with more than 30 employers across Austin to give 32 students off campus work experience.
• 4 Seniors earned Occupational Skills Certificates from Austin Community College.
• 30 Seniors have been accepted into post-secondary training programs.
• 10 Seniors have employment opportunities waiting for them.
• 19 Seniors will attend the ACCESS program.
HS Theatre Arts Program participated in the National Deaf High School Theatre Festival and were placed respectively in set design; Honorable Mention- Jayden D.; 3rd Place- Valeria M.; 1st Place- Aiden M.
Nathanson squares off with his opponent.
• Boys team - 2nd best team among Schools for the Deaf
• The boys’ team started the season with an average team time of 32:15 for a 5k distance and ended the season with an average team time of 24:04
• The girls’ team started the season with an average team time of 22:37 for 2 miles and ended the season with an average team time of 20:35
• NDIAA Female Runner of the Year (Patricia SucillaOrozco)
• 2 NDIAA All-American runners
• NDIAA 2021 6-man NDIAA National Champions
• 9-2 record
• 5 TAPPS All-Academic players
• 10 TAPPS All-District players
• 5 TAPPS All-State players
• 7 NDIAA All-American players
• TAPPS Division 1 District Champions (back to back)
• TAPPS Division 1 State Semi-Finalist
• NDIAA Coach of the Year (John Moore, Jr)
• NDIAA Player of the Year (Zefan Nathanson)
• 1 TAPPS All-Academic player
• 2 All-District players
• 1 DeafSportszine All-American player
• 2 NDIAA All-American players
• 3 NDIAA All-American players
• 2 NDIAA All-American players
• Full team of 5 girls and 5 boys, each achieved new personal bests in all events swum
• Withstood another Covid-19 shortened season with patience and understanding
• Seven (7) Senior Swim Team members graduation (including 1 manager), highest number ever
• Full team of 5 boys holds 26 top 10 TSD records combined
• 2 girls hold 11 top 10 records combined
• 1 swimmer competed in the Deaflympics 2022
• Placed 4th in TAPPS state championship (out of 18 teams)
Wrestling Team (Continuation)
• Zefan Nathanson (120) won State Champion (back to back)
• Five wrestlers placed top 3 during the TAPPS state wrestling
• 2 TAPPS All-Academic wrestlers
• 5 NDIAA All-American wrestlers
Team
• 10 TAPPS All-District players
• Boys team placed 2nd in the district meet
• Girls team placed 4th in the district team
• 7 athletes qualified for the state track meet
• 2 athletes placed top 3 during the TAPPS track & field meet
• 2 athletes competed in the Deaflympics 2022
• 106 HS student-athletes participated in 18 different HS teams
• 16 student-athletes were selected to the All-District team
• 12 student-athletes were selected to the All-State team
• 24 student-athletes were selected to the All-American team
• 6 student-athletes were selected to the All-Academic team
• 2 student-athletes chosen as Player of the Year (CC/ FTBL)
• 3 student-athletes competed in the 2022 Deaflympics in Brazil
• 1 wrestler won state champions
• 2021 NDIAA Football National Champions
• 2021 Football District Champions
• 2021 TAPPS Football Semi-Finalist
• 173 Elem/MS student-athletes participated in 18 different Elem/MS teams
• 7/8 Girls BB team finished first place in CAPPS Championship
• 3/4 Girls & Boys BB teams
• 14 girls BB players & 16 boys BB players
• 24 student-athletes participated in 8 SOTX teams
• 2 Flag Football teams
• Bowling team
• 2 Basketball teams
• 3 Soccer teams
Samuel Street participated in the Special Olympic USA games in Orlando Florida.
Number of students enrolled at TSD
Number of residential students
Number of comprehensive assessments conducted
Number of graduates accepted into college or other post-secondary training programs
Number of students in Work Training Programs
Percent
Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) on Accountability. In accordance with this MOU, TSD assesses students in grades 3-11 for math and reading using the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP), which is a normed, state-aligned computer adaptive assessment program. Although TSD administers MAP 3 times a year (for progress monitoring), we also track student growth from fall to spring. After fall MAP assessments, NWEA (Northwest Evaluation Association - makers of MAP) provides a projected RIT growth score for each student in grades 3 – 11 in math and in reading. This score is a projected amount of “growth” for that academic school year.
TSD anticipates a percentage of students achieving their individual growth projections for reading and math for within each department. Below are the projected percentages along with percentages of students who actually achieved projected growth for the 2021-2022 school year. NWEA has stated, “one can reasonably expect that 50% of students meet their growth goals.” Note: Students with the most significant cognitive disabilities, determined by those qualifying for and who take the STAAR Alt 2, are included in the Targeted and Achieved results as well; however, these students are evaluated on report card results, which reflect mastery of IEP objectives, and not on MAP scores.
The STAAR data below reflects spring 2022 data along with summer and fall 2021 EOC passing percentages updates. The Student Success Initiative was discontinued under House Bill 4545, so there is no more retesting for grades 5 and 8. Summer and fall testing sessions are designated only for students who did not meet the passing standards for EOC in previous testing rounds.
Middle School Video and Media class.
3rd GRADE
4th GRADE
5th GRADE
6th GRADE
7th GRADE
8th GRADE
2021-2022 Results
Percentage of Students Who Achieved Proficiency STAAR (Grades 3-12)
Percentage of Students Who Passed STAAR (Grades 3-12)
MATHEMATICS STAAR ASSESSMENTS
3rd GRADE
4th GRADE
5th GRADE
6th GRADE
7th GRADE
8th GRADE
Percentage of Students Who Passed STAAR (Grades 9-12)
END OF COURSE TESTS STAAR EOCs
Early Learning Center (ELC) students enjoy the new playground area.
Summer Camps for both TSD and Non-TSD students.
• SOC hosted two training sessions: SKI-HI for additional seven new mentors, which expanded our ability to serve more families.
• The flagship Family Weekend Retreat resumed with onsite, face-to-face programming known for its usual flair.
• Families connected and reconnected through workshops, family events and child programming, the most popular was the ice cream social where families made their own ice cream bowl and socialized.
After a return to on campus programming SOC provided 52,480 individuals with technical assistance.
• Over 800 Deaf and hard of hearing students received statewide services with a renewed appreciation and enthusiasm for active in-person participating through: ASL Storytelling Live! Classrooms; Holiday event with Signing Santa Claus; Discovery Retreats: Fall (in-person) and Spring (virtual) “Business Start;” and Summer Camps and Programs.
928,849
• Parent guides gave support and encouragement to families going through their journey of parenting a Deaf or hard of hearing child.
• Through video conferencing platforms, families were provided with free sign language instruction.
• During its second year of our early intervention coordination services, SOC care coordination team grew exponentially providing early hearing identification work by contacting 10,222 families and 2,508 professionals to confirm and/or update hearing screening records.
65,963
• The Mental Health Symposium provided 80 participants the opportunity to engage in direct communication and networking.
• The Mental Health Interpreter Training Summer services shifted back to in-person programming, for 42 professionals with provision of onsite workshops in three locations: Austin, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi.
• Instructional support for professionals via lesson plans were provided through technical assistance. Thirteen lesson plans were developed. Most notable was “Texas Heroes: Deaf Smith and Emily West,” a Motion Light Lab project with Gallaudet University, where SOC helped develop an original trilingual (ASL, English, and Spanish) storybook app.
A total of 340 educators, parents and interpreters refined their sign language skills through classroom and team exercises
• Communication Skills Workshops resumed in-person immersion training with amazing ASL-fluent subject matter experts who have expertise in ASL instruction.
“Texas Heroes” storybook app developed in partnership with SOC and Gallaudet University family members learned sign language through Family Signs
TSD continued the challenge of navigating through the Delta and Omicron variants of COVID-19. Like many other parts of the state, the level of vaccine immunity was minimal due to low immunization rates, which caused breakthrough cases and a peak high after winter holiday break.
TSD was proactive in implementing a health and safety plan, screening flowchart, and vaccine outreach. The Governing Board also adopted the COVID sick leave coop where member participants could use up to three sick leave days.
Health Services
COVID-19 Webpage: A dedicated COVID-19 webpage provided the TSD community with updated COVID-19 information, including a dashboard tracking TSD positive cases for staff and students, vaccine locations, and other resources.
TSD COVID-19 Health and Safety Plan: TSD implemented the Health and Safety Plan, which replaced the Reopening Plan from the previous school year.
COVID-19 Screening Flowchart: As the nation dealt with the continuing spread of COVID-19, TSD continued to implement the Health and Wellness Flowchart for Staff and Students to help guide the community when it comes to COVID-19 positive cases and close contacts.
COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach: TSD actively promoted the importance of vaccination against COVID-19 through a public relations campaign. Efforts included: creating an informative webpage on COVID-19 vaccines; town hall meeting on the importance of vaccines; homepage info banners; email blasts; social media posts; vaccine clinics; and ASL videos on all communications.
Using the VEX IQ Robotics curriculum, TSD students learn to build and program robots
FY 2022 APPROPRIATIONS BY FUNCTION
Classroom Instruction: 29%
Residential Program: 15%
Related and Support Services: 20%
Career and Transition Programs: 8%
Student Transportation: 8%
Specialized Assistance: 4%
Statewide Outreach: 3%
Central Administration: 6%
Other Support Services: 7%
FY 2022 REVENUE (APPROPRIATED)
$19,656,160
$2,389,279 $1,286,506 $8,990,067
Receipts
BREAKDOWN OF DISTRICT EMPLOYEES
District Administrators
(Superintendent, HR Director, DOI, SOC Director, CFO, SpEd Director, IT Director, Director of SL)
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS
BREAKFASTS SERVED 17,236 LUNCHES SERVED 53,695 (August-May)
• 110 Total Certi ed Sta
(e.g. Principals, Assistant Principals, CTE Supervisor, ACCESS Supervisor, Applied Programming Supervisors)
8 12 12
School Administrators
7
(Principals, Assistant Principals, CTE Supervisor, ACCESS Supervisor, Applied Programming Supervisors)
Statewide Outreach
(e.g. Outreach Specialist, Statewide Family Services, Summer Programs, Online Resources Outreach)
(e.g. Classroom, PE, Theatre, Extra Curricular)
32 110
• 10 Average Years of Teaching Experience
PERCENTAGE OF TEACHERS WITH A MASTER’S DEGREE 70%
100 207
110
(Counselors, SLPs, LSSPs, OTs, PTs, Social Workers, Vision Specialists, etc.)
Certified Support Staff Teachers
(e.g. Classroom, PE, Theatre, Extra Curricular)
Residential Staff
(DRE’s, NRE’s, Supervisors, Student Development Staff)
Other Classified Staff
(e.g. Bus Drivers, Office Staff, Teacher Assistants, Nurses)
Our New Administrative and Welcome Center (AWC) and Early Learning Center (ELC)
We continued to partner with the Texas Facilities Commission for deferred maintenance and master planning.
• Installed new, taller perimeter fencing on campus.
• Reconfigured Congress Avenue gate entrance; added center island guard house and entry / exit gate arms to increase campus security.
• Installed new LED lighting in Deaf Smith Center and TSD (Middle School) Gym.
• Added additional exterior door badge readers and security cameras to harden facilities.
• New AWC / ELC.
• Upgraded HVAC system in Clinger Gym.
• Repaired major pool leak.
• ABA
• Chelsea Adland
• Alabama Institute for the Deaf & Blind
• Karen Amdur
• Amy’s Ice Creams
• Anees Anees
• Austin American-Statesman
• Austin Community College
• Austin Fire Department
• Austin Institute of Art
• Austin Kayak Tours
• Austin Police Department
• Austin Public Libraries
• Austin Roasting Company
• Austin Sertoma
• Austin Transit Partnership
• Michael Barker Photography
• Barton Creek Square
• Emily Bazan Molzan
• Bennu Coffee
• Blanton Museum of Art
• Blue Star Mothers
• Sarah Boyle
• Tori Branyon
• Brunswick
• Claire Bugen
• Dennis Butler
• Butler Pitch & Putt
• Cabo Bob’s
• Camp Buckner
• Camp Champions
• Capital Cruises
• CapMetro
• CaptionNow
• Michael Catron
• CEASD
• Central Machine Works Brewery
• Deborah Cernosek
• Claire Champagne
• Sisakoth Chhun
• Clark Travel
• John and Ashlee Cook
• Communication by Hand
• Tamara Copeland-Samaripa
• Kate Couri
• Sha Cowan
• DeafNation
• Denise Egbert
• Embrace Grace True Life
• Antoinetta Epifani
• Esther’s Follies
• Kelvin Etkie
• Ferra Coffee
• FIRST
• First in Texas
• Anna Fuenning
• Marilyn Galloway
• Leticia Gonzalez
• Charles Graves
• William & Victoria Gray
• The Great Outdoors
• Greater Round Rock Community Foundation
• Beeral Gupta
• H-E-B
• Heart of the Rock Civitan Club
• Hiland Dairies
• John & Dee Hodnett
• Hotel Ella
• Dustin Howell
• Hutto R.O.T.C.
• Jesse Hyde
• Inner Space Cavern
• Jail-to-Jobs
• Jo’s Coffee
• Just Because - JBMHope
• Jason Kallina
• KEYE
• Greg Kimball
• Willie King
• Troy Kotsur
• KTBC Fox 7 Austin
• KVUE
• KXAN
• L7 Informatics
• Labatt Food Service
• Lamar University
• Lazy Mary Productions
• Lynn & Judi Leventhal
• Yan Liu
• Lone Star River Boat
• Lone Star Roofing
• Lone Star Saber Academy
• Mangled Axles Jeep Krew
• Massey Services, Inc.
• Maxwell Ford
• Wilmonda McDevitt
• Corey McGowan
• McKinneyYork-Architects
• Robert Meisel
• Megalomedia
• Diana Melcer
• Mike’s Printing
• Gloria Mirick
• Mozart’s Coffee Roasters
• National Association of the DeafNAD
• National Technical Institute for the Deaf
• Native Bloom Florist
• Molly Nefkens
• Nelson Family Life Foundation
• Nelson Pruitt Foundation
• Lora Netherland
• Tonya Nixon
• Darlene Nobles
• North Austin Optimist
• Northwest Sertoma Club of Austin
• Ethan Nunez
• Sierra Obermoeller-Gilmer
• Once Over Coffee Bar
• P. Terry’s
• Parkhill
• Peaceable Kingdom
• Elisa Pimiento
• Parts & Labour
• Pinthouse
• Playwell TEKnologies
• Matthew Poe
• Point Venture Lions Club Foundation
• Public Relations Society of America
• Purple Communications
• Scott Ramsower
• Relay Texas
• Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation
• Rotary Club of Georgetown
• Round Rock Express
• Round Rock Ballet Folklorico
• Round Rock City Council
• Round Rock Lions
• Round Rock Sertoma
• Round Rock Women’s Club
• Rudy’s Country Store & BBQ
• Nancy Salazar
• Gregory Samford
• San Antonio Community College
• SCANMailboxes
• Shake Shack
• Shoreline Church
• Share the Will Foundation
• Keith Sibley
• Sign of the Times
• Simon Management
• Keri Sluyter
• Snarf’s
• Warren WaWa Snipe
• Sorenson Communications
• South Congress Hotel
• Spectrum News
• Spokesman
• St. Edward’s University
• St. Elmo Brewing
• Sunshine 2.0
• Tarrytown Pharmacy
• Texas Association of the Deaf
• Texas Department of Public Safety
• Texas Education Service Centers:
• Region 1
• Region 2
• Region 4
• Region 5
• Region 9
• Region 10
• Region 11
• Region 12
• Region 13
• Region 19
• Texas Facilities Commission
• Texas Hands & Voices/Guide By Your Side
• Texas School for the Blind & Visually Impaired
• Texas Workforce Commission
• The Contemporary Austin - Laguna Gloria
• Thundercloud Subs
• Maitreya Tomlinson
• Travis Manion Foundation
• True+Way ASL
• True Food Kitchen
• Stephanie Truong
• TSD Alumni Association
• TSD Booster Club
• TSD Foundation
• TSD PTSO
• Typhoon Texas
• Cristhian Vidal
• Brendan Walsh
• Christina Walsh
• Jennifer Washburn
• Ruth Waters
• Jennifer Wenzel
• Sharon Wolf
• Wonder World Park
• Wonderspaces Austin
• ZACH Theatre
• ZDT’s Amusement Park
• Trudy Zhang
• Zilker Boats
Shawn
Dina
Darlene Nobles
David
Keith Sibley