ANNUAL REPORT 2019 – 2020
Our Vision, Mission & Beliefs Cultural Linguistic Perspective
Goals & Aspirations
Highly Specialized Staff
High Expectations
Vision Children and students in New Mexico who are Deaf/hard of hearing will become lifelong learners and contributing, well-rounded successful individuals in an increasingly global society.
Communication Access
Mission Technology
Diversity
The mission of the New Mexico School for the Deaf (NMSD), New Mexico’s first public school, is to provide for the unique needs of children and students who are Deaf/hard of hearing, their families, and professional partners by providing a comprehensive array of school and statewide programs. As a school, NMSD provides an American Sign Language and English bilingual learning environment that includes direct, ongoing access to language and communication in and out of the classroom with a wide range of peers and adults. The students are interactive learners who receive dynamic high quality standards-based instruction in a variety of curricular and extra-curricular activities. As a statewide service agency, NMSD collaborates with families, school districts, agencies and communities throughout the state to meet the critical language, communication, and learning needs of children and students in New Mexico who are Deaf/hard of hearing, birth through high school. Early Engaged Learning Learning
Student Strengths
Families
ASL & English Proficiency
Spoken Language
A Message from our Superintendent & Board President Dear NMSD Community and Friends,
Dear NMSD Community and Friends,
We are grateful. NMSD services that are so vital to Deaf and hard of hearing children in New Mexico clipped along at full pace during most of the 2019-2020 school year. We are additionally grateful that in March, in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, NMSD shifted gears and was able to stay connected and support students with steady, and in some programs, increasing enrollment during these very challenging times. With the ending of the 20192020 school year, NMSD marks the beginning of our 135th year since our founding. The NMSD community remembers and is inspired by the tenacity, grit and passion that brought our founders, Lars and Belle Larson, to New Mexico. There is no better time for us to embrace their resolve and belief that all Deaf and hard of hearing children deserve a fair chance to thrive and have a community that is safe and inclusive. NMSD is committed to persevere in the goodness of this fundamental mission and reach out to every Deaf or hard of hearing child in New Mexico.
With 2020 marking NMSD’s 135th year, I am reminded of Lars and Belle Larson’s dream of ensuring that children who are Deaf and hard of hearing in New Mexico receive a quality education. Their dedication led to legislative support and NMSD has been a remarkable place for children to receive a quality education ever since. I’m in awe of its programs and services and staffs’ dedication to providing an environment where each child thrives.
Thank you for reading our annual report to learn how NMSD is present in every corner of New Mexico as we serve children from infants to students preparing for college and career. NMSD continues to be the pride of New Mexico because of the determination of children and families and the many allies and advocates in the Governor’s Office and Cabinet, the Legislature, NMSD Board of Regents, our Congressional Team, and our friends, donors, alumni, and staff who believe in children and make dreams achievable.
The 19-20 school year started much the way it typically would. When the pandemic impacted our state, I witnessed the school shift into overdrive. NMSD put every available resource into addressing the continuing education of its children while navigating a new and difficult path. It is clear to me that Lars and Belle’s dream continues today. To everyone at NMSD, thank you. You play a part in serving our community during this challenging time and I am grateful for your continued perseverance and dedication. To our friends, alumni, donors, and allies, know that NMSD and the children served remain in capable hands as Superintendent Gallegos leads the school through these difficult times. I appreciate you taking the time to read this report, learning how everpresent NMSD is in every part of the great state of New Mexico. I look forward to many more years of celebrating its legacy. We are NMSD,
Con Alma,
Dr. Rosemary J. Gallegos, Superintendent
Nathan Gomme
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“We’re very happy and fortunate to continue our relationship and journey during such adverse times. Every meeting is a new experience and learning opportunity not only for me and Arya but for the whole family and is something we look forward to weekly.” ~ Parent of child in Early Intervention Program from Albuquerque
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Statewide Deaf Mentor & Parent Infant Child Programs Certified Developmental Specialists with expertise in working with children who are deaf or hard of hearing assist families in maximizing their home enviornment and daily routines to provide the best possible opportunity for development of language, listening, and thinking. • Providing specialized home-based services in every part of the state for chidren birth through age 6 • Living, working, collaborating and connecting in the communities of the families they serve • Offering services when needed in the family’s home language such as Tewa, Navajo, Spanish, and/or American Sign Language • Rating highly in quality assurances including a 100% satisfaction rating from Parent Satisfaction Survey distributed by the Family Infant Toddler Program (FIT) and a 100% compliance rating through FIT adminstered audit Sixty-eight percent of specialists are deaf themselves bringing a unique ability to facilitate the earliest communication foundations (from Health Resources and Services Administration and Joint Commission on Infant Hearing.) In 2019–2020 specialists conducted 4,602 total Home Visits in 23 counties. Of the families served during the 20192020 fiscal year: • Twenty-one percent do not use English as their primary language • Eighty-three percent are at or below 138% of poverty • Forty-six percent live in areas categorized as “highly rural” or “isolated” • Twenty-one percent of the families served are Native American • Fifty-three percent are Hispanic/Latino Families and communities of New Mexico received the following supports and services from the Early Intervention and Developmental Services Department: • 287 children ages birth to 6 received direct, specialized early intervention services. • Approximately 1,200 hearing screenings were conducted around the state at Child Finds, Head Start programs, FIT programs, and Health Fairs. • Approximately 1,300 members of the early childhood community were served through trainings, workshops, consultation, and conference presentations. • Staff drove 229,939 miles to serve families and children in their home environment. • Collaboration with midwifery centers and home birth consultants ensures that all children are receiving their newborn hearing screens. • The Intergovernmental Agency Ageement with Navajo Nation jointly serves families in the Northwest Region of the state. • Partnership with the NM Department of Health ensures that children whose hearing is screened at birth are able to access services by age 3 months or sooner. 5
“My family and I believe NMSD is very important for our daughter’s education. She has been learning a lot there. I’m confident I chose the best school for Celeste.” ~ Fabiola Perez, Parent of 3rd grader from Santa Fe
Early Childhood and Elementary In order to give students optimal access to language and learning our school programs use a Bilingual (ASL and English) and Bimodal (Signed and Spoken) pedagogy. Staff include a variety of specialists such as audiologists, speech language pathologists (SLPs), language facilitators, licensed and trained teachers of the Deaf, educational assistants, fluent users of ASL, Deaf professionals and Deaf role models. Preschools • Preschools operated in Albuquerque, Farmington, Las Cruces and Santa Fe. • Preschools continue to be inspired by Reggio Emilia principles for authentic hands-on learning, creating an environment for language-rich and natural communication opportunities. New Mexico Early Learning Guidelines (ELG) were also applied. • Seventy-six percent of children enrolled in our preschools use cochlear implants, hearing aids or BAHA hearing aid devices. • Spoken language and listening were supported by a variety of models responsive to each child such as Spoken Language classes and groups, individual speech language therapy, aural habilitation, reading and writing. • Verbalizing and Visualizing program (Lindamood-Bell) strategies were provided by trained teachers and support staff for early literacy learning. • Our ECE staff instituted a new program, “Baby Bunch”, at our Santa Fe and Albuquerque campuses for any identified Deaf/hard of hearing child up to 18 months old. Families had the opportunity to meet and share with other families, learn ASL and question a variety of specialists in a relaxed supportive setting. • A new class called “Studio Experiences” was piloted at the Santa Fe Preschool giving students the opportunity to experience different elements of art, to become inspired by art, and to delve into the study of strokes, colors, mediums, textures and art forms. • ECE teachers explored fun ways to create ASL poetry and rhymes for students through videos. Elementary • All New Mexico Common Core State Standards were applied. • New science curriculum AMPLIFY was instituted. Students responded very well to the curriculum’s visual and hands-on materials and interactive lab activities. • Teachers continued to implement new Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and were involved in trainings and workshops to learn more about new standards. • Alternative Curriculum classroom teachers participated in a curriculum review for a math program and recommended “EQUALS”. • Verbalizing and Visualizing program (Lindamood-Bell) strategies were provided by trained teachers and support staff for early literacy learning. • Several of our elementary students had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Ryan Stewart, our New Mexico Cabinet Secretary of Education and ask him questions when he visited in March. • The elementary department visited the Pueblo Cultural Center and celebrated learning about their history together. • Students participated in American Sign Language Poetry and Storytelling competition hosted by Gallaudet University Youth Programs. One student won an Honorable Mention.
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“I asked my son what NMSD means to him and he said, ‘Good communication. Good education. Good environment.’ NMSD has given me a way of understanding Deaf Culture and of helping him accept his Deaf identity. NMSD provides amazing support for family members using American Sign Language. I love NMSD for helping me communicate with my son.” ~ Bernadette Fernandez, Parent of 8th grader from Santa Fe
Middle School & High School Academic Teams & Awards High School Academic Bowl highlights: • Western Academic Bowl League - tied for best record • Won the championship during the Greater Plains Schools for the Deaf tournament • Won 2nd place during the NMSD Classic Tournament
• Earned 2nd place out of twenty teams at the Western Regionals in Hawaii • Placed in the number one seed for Nationals • Competed online for Nationals and finished in the top eight out of eighty schools overall
Middle School Battle of the Books: • Buff team played eight teams in national quarterfinals missing advancing to finals by one point. NMSD winners in the national writing and ASL competitions hosted by Gallaudet University: • High School Poetry: one student for 1st place • Middle School Creative Writing: one student for • High School Essay: one student for 2nd place Honorable Mention • High School Creative Writing: two students for • Middle School Poetry: one student for 2nd place Honorable Mention
Signature Programs • Expanded hands-on STEM skills utilizing our aquaponic greenhouses where students: maintained ponds of goldfish and koi raised from birth, grew different plants to see which ones thrived in the greenhouse environment within a high mountain desert climate, and converted a “flood-and-drain” tote tank to grow root vegetables and to raise and harvest Tilapia fry (babies) • Collaborated with Rochester Institute of Technology to provide three dual credit courses; Forensics, Math in Society, and Web Development • Continued successful partnership and student employment with Assistance Dogs of the West via the Rocky Mountain Youth Corp (RMYC). Due to the pandemic, we had to cancel our 2020 summer work training programs. • Two students attended the Jr. National Association of the Deaf (NAD) Conference in Rochester, NY.
Graduating Student Profile (Due to the pandemic, some students postponed attending college) • Four students (40%) planned to enroll in a local community college (Central New Mexico Community College, Santa Fe Community College, San Juan Community College, Western Technical College in Wisconsin) • Five students (50%) planned to enroll in a four-year college (UNM, Rochester Technical Institute of Technology, Northern New Mexico College, Institute of American Indian Arts) • One student (10%) moved out of state for employment *NMSD Senior, Monica Chavez, was a recipient of the LANL Foundation Gold Scholarship Award 9
“I really enjoyed watching my daughter play both volleyball and basketball. I appreciated watching Emily improve with each game and was proud of how the girls grew together as a team.� ~ Parent of High School student from Gallup
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Student Life and Special Activities Student Activities Sixty-eight residential students and thirty day students participated in NMSD’s After-School Programs. These programs allow for increased immersion in language, the opportunity to excel in Athletics and Academic Competitions, and provide additional support for life skills development and homework. Students and their families also participated in cultural and community events such as BBQs, burning of Lil Zozobra, and a Mexican Independence Day event with presentations on culture and history, Mariachi dances, families sharing their favorite Mexican dishes, and pinatas. High School students joined NMSD’s International Studies Program designed to provide students with a better understanding of world history, cultures and global issues. Students selected and studied Thailand and Greece as travel options. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 concerns, the trip was cancelled. Guests from the Rochester Institute of Technology and NMSD’s Industrial Arts teacher led STEM activities over a two-day period. Middle and High School students learned coding basics for software and hardware. This allowed them to make animations, control robotics, and engage in an engineering project to build automata; small machines with movable parts. The workshop ended with a makerspace in which students planned, developed, and created unique inventions. NMSD Student Body Government and Jr. NAD had regular meetings addressing various campus-wide interests such as school lunch menus and the High School class schedules. They also participated in a leadership retreat after school hours in early March 2020 with guests joining in via videoconferencing.
Athletics NMSD students participated in a variety of recreational and competitive sporting events throughout the school year including: Elementary basketball and volleyball, flag football, as well as Middle School and High School volleyball, football and basketball. Track and Field and Spring Training were cancelled due to concerns of COVID-19. Several highlights are listed below: • NMSD’s football team competed against other schools for the Deaf, ending the season with a final record of 6-1. The team was also co-champions with Okalahoma School for the Deaf at the GPSD (Greater Plains Schools for the Deaf) Tournament. We had a successful Homecoming with Tse’Yi’Gai High School who generously agreed to compete with us after a cancellation by Iowa School for the Deaf/Blind. • NMSD’s Varsity Girls Volleyball team placed second at the GPSD Tournament hosted by Wisconsin School for the Deaf with two NMSD students taking All-Star honors. • In February, Varsity Boys and Girls Basketball teams attended the GPSD Tournament at Oklahoma School for the Deaf. Both of the teams made it to the championship game, coming in 2nd, with four NMSD students taking All-Star honors. • NMSD Varsity Boys Basketball team successfully closed out the season after losing to Maxwell in the first round of the state tournament. This is the third straight year that NMSD has competed in the state tournament.
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COVID-19 Response On Friday, March 13th, as NMSD students and staff prepared to head out on spring break, Governor Lujan-Grisham announced the closure of all New Mexico schools effective until April 6th and ultimately closed schools throughout the end of the 2019-2020 school year. NMSD responded by establishing campus safety protocols and re-envisioning the delivery of student and family services in our educational and statewide programs including: • Created the COVID-19 Update Center on our website as a resource to staff and families • Established a COVID-19 Task Force of supervisors and representatives of all NMSD Departments • Cleaned and secured campus and provided guidance on COVID safe practices for staff • Joined Grab n’ Go Breakfast & Lunch Program for all school children at three centralized locations in Santa Fe serving an average of 600-800 breakfasts and 600800 lunches weekly • Coordinated the pickup/delivery of students’ personal belongings and laptops/iPads • Implemented distance learning for preschool and K-12 students using materials bags, Google Classroom and Seesaw Platforms • Redeployed staff to provide additional one-to-one support, smaller class sizes and focus on key standards • Held IEP meetings with parents for all students to determine how special education services would be delivered in an online format • Provided internet access for students in need
• Developed Continuous Service Plans for educational and statewide programs • Created a Level 1 - 4 School Re-entry Plan for the fall • Continued NMSD Statewide Early Intervention’s Parent-Infant-Child and Deaf Mentor Programs through Telehealth home visits with families • Continued support for NM’s Public School students and families statewide through NMSD’s Center for Educational Consultation & Training including: ºº Virtual ASL community classes for families ºº Educational Consultation and ASL Tutor Services to Public Schools ºº Virtual “ASL Fun” sessions; “Summer Buddy” program for ASL and spoken language pairings to meet a new friend through Zoom ºº Supported LEAs in maximizing access on a wide variety of online instruction for students using spoken language, signed language or both • Held virtual end of the year celebrations including athletic awards, promotions, student awards, and graduation • Provided Online Student Summer Program
“I am happy to partner with NMSD. I have a soft spot for this student because I coached him in basketball so I knew we didn’t have the tools he needed to be as successful as he could be. He has amazing potential and I know NMSD has the tools to unleash it. I see our relationship as a partnership and we are in a unique situation. I don’t want any student to fall through the cracks created by COVID.” ~ Administrator from Carlsbad Municipal Schools working with NMSD to provide local support for NMSD distance learning 13
“I love ASL Immersion Week! I had a blast last year at the face-to-face event. I’m surprised at how much fun it was virtually and just want to say how much I appreciate that even Covid didn’t get in the way of that. Thank you guys!” ~ K-12 Freelance Interpreter in New Mexico
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Statewide Center for Educational Consultation & Training Educational Consultation Services work in collaboration with school district staff and families through IEP attendance, school-based observations, demonstration lessons, and workshops or trainings. This year, Educational Consultants: • Completed 270 on-site consultations with 41 districts • Provided 2004 phone or email consultations with 45 districts
• Attended 91 IEP meetings (phone/live) in 32 districts • Facilitated the completion of 6 student evaluations
This year, the K-12 Interpreting Consultant: • Coordinated 2 Interpreter Workshops in Rio Rancho • Contributed to Educational Team Training, “The Role & Partnership of the Interpreter” in Grady • Offered EIPA Study Sessions for 5 provisionally licensed interpreters from Las Cruces, Rio Rancho and Farmington
• Offered 22 general consultation sessions to 6 interpreters and 3 interpreter supervisors • Provided eight 1-on-1 mentoring sessions to a Las Cruces interpreter and weekly to a Grady interpreter
This year, the Speech-Language Consultant: • Provided speech-language services to our statewide outreach team and NMSD’s instructional program • Provided supports to the Educational Consultant team, offering insights to speech/language services in schools and the integration of those skills in the classroom
• Supported Statewide Educational Consultants in IEP/ evaluation/document reviews • Delivered support to Alamogordo, Carlsbad, Farmington, Lovington, Pojoaque, Rio Rancho • Planned training opportunities to be offered in 20-21
Partnership With a MOU, NMSD partnered with Grady Municipal Schools to provide a full-time interpreter. NMSD’s Interpreting team arranged placement and mentoring. CECT’s Interpreting and Educational Consultants also offered mentoring. ASL Service Corps ASL Service Corps is a service program located in multiple locations throughout New Mexico. ASL Tutors provide ASL instruction to families and school programs where deaf children live and attend school. ASL Tutors: • Grew ASL skills through 780 visits in 22 school districts and 368 home visits to 38 families • Five tutors taught ASL, live and virtually (post COVID), in the following districts statewide: Alamogordo, Artesia, Carlsbad, Deming, Dulce, Farmington, Gallup, Hobbs, Hondo, Kirtland, Las Vegas, Los Alamos, Lovington, Peñasco, Portales, Rio Rancho, Roswell, Ruidoso, San Jon, Santa Fe, Silver City, Zuni. District/Regional and Statewide Events CECT’s full team created and planned fun learning events that included: • 3 regional community events held in Carlsbad, • Fall and Spring ASL Classes serving 249 participants Farmington, and Silver City (Albuquerque and Santa Fe) • 12 student or staff-centered workshops offered in 9 • Statewide ASL Immersion Week (2 events) for a total of districts: Animas, APS Charter, Artesia, Aztec, Bernalillo, 258 adults and children Deming, Hobbs, Las Cruces, Silver City
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Financials FY20 Unaudited Actuals to FY21 Budget
FY20 Revenue
FY20 Expenses
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Accountability Accreditation NMSD holds Certificates of Accreditation from: • AdvancED, North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI) • Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf (CEASD)
State Performance Measures Target
Result
Rate of transition to postsecondary education, vocational-technical training school, junior colleges, work training or employment for graduates based on a three-year rolling average
100%
77%
Percent of local education agency staff satisfied with educational services from the Center for Educational Consultation and Training (Statewide Outreach)
90%
97%
Percent of Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings that address special factors of language and communication
95%
100%
Percent of students from grades K-12 with IEP goals in reading and/or math demonstrating progress as documented by quarterly IEP progress reports
90%
100% N/A (Due to
Percent of first year signers who demonstrate improvement in American Sign Language based on Fall/Spring assessments
100%
Percent of parents indicating that programs from the Center for Educational Consultation and Training (Statewide Outreach) have increased their ability to understand their child’s language and communication access needs
90%
98%
For NMSD’s Early Intervention Program, percentage of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C early intervention performance indicators that are met. (Performance indicators are outlined by the Office of Special Education Programs and adopted by the New Mexico Department of Health.)
95%
100%
Spring COVID shutdown of school)
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NMSD Children & Students Served Statewide in 30 Counties Instruction 2019 – 2020: 181
(Santa Fe: Preschool to 12th Grade; Preschools: Albuquerque, Farmington & Las Cruces)
Outreach 2019 – 2020: 253
(Support to school districts and families)
Early Intervention 2019 – 2020: 287
(Home visiting services for children ages birth – 6)
Total Children Served by NMSD
2019 – 2020: *693 *(28 of 721 receive services from both Early Intervention and Preschools)
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“In 2007, my family and I began a journey with the New Mexico School for the Deaf. That journey began with my daughter attending NMSD’s Preschool in Albuquerque, and later my youngest daughter also began attending. From those beginnings, my daughters, but more importantly, my entire family, have become members of the NMSD family. As an educator who has worked at all levels of education and observed and visited schools all across the nation, NMSD provides a community-based, culturally relevant education to the deaf community that is on par with some of the most innovative schools across the nation. However, the most important aspect is that we are part of the family and feel we belong! We are happy that NMSD has supported our family in this experience.” ~ Vigil Family from Zia Pueblo, New Mexico
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“I am thankful that NMSD helped partner me with Assistance Dogs of the West (ADW) last summer. I am very passionate about working with animals. My goal is to become a veterinarian assistant in the future and attend college at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) in Rochester, NY. Due to COVID I am postponing school. Thankfully, I am currently working with ADW. It is so fulfilling to be able to train service dogs.” ~ Andrea Leyba, NMSD Class of 2020
New Mexico School for the Deaf Dream! Explore! Achieve!
Santa Fe l Albuquerque l Farmington l Las Cruces l Statewide 1060 Cerrillos Road • Santa Fe, NM 87505 505-476-6300 • 800-841-6699 • 505-216-2001 (VP) www.nmsd.k12.nm.us