GSD’s Brief HistoryGSD’s Brief History

Thanks to the students of GSD who Thanks to the students of GSD who researched and did the powerpoint! Diane researched and did the powerpoint! Diane Conti was the teacher.Conti was the teacher.

We’ve Come a LONG way!We’ve Come a LONG way!

A Short History of the A Short History of the

Georgia School for the DeafGeorgia School for the Deaf

The Georgia School for the Deaf, established in 1846, is a The Georgia School for the Deaf, established in 1846, is a state-funded residential school operating under the auspices of the Office state-funded residential school operating under the auspices of the Office

of Special Services of the Georgia State Department of Education and of Special Services of the Georgia State Department of Education and the Georgia State Board of Education. The school works cooperatively the Georgia State Board of Education. The school works cooperatively

with the Georgia Department of Education, Division for Exceptional with the Georgia Department of Education, Division for Exceptional Children, and Local Education Agencies to ensure that appropriate Children, and Local Education Agencies to ensure that appropriate educational programs are available for hearing impaired and multi-educational programs are available for hearing impaired and multi-

handicapped hearing impaired students residing in Georgia. The Georgia handicapped hearing impaired students residing in Georgia. The Georgia School for the Deaf serves students, ages 3-21 from preschool through School for the Deaf serves students, ages 3-21 from preschool through

high school. Multi-handicapped hearing impaired students are served in a high school. Multi-handicapped hearing impaired students are served in a special services program. In addition, a state-wide, home-based, early special services program. In addition, a state-wide, home-based, early intervention program (Georgia PINES) serves infants from birth to five intervention program (Georgia PINES) serves infants from birth to five years old, and a comprehensive diagnostic and evaluation center is years old, and a comprehensive diagnostic and evaluation center is

provided. The school offers training and technical assistance to parents, provided. The school offers training and technical assistance to parents, public school programs, community groups, and other agencies on a public school programs, community groups, and other agencies on a

regional and statewide basis. regional and statewide basis.

The Georgia School for the The Georgia School for the Deaf was first called Deaf was first called

The Georgia Asylum for the The Georgia Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb.Deaf and Dumb.

The school began in a The school began in a one-room log cabin.one-room log cabin.

In the past, the GSD was In the past, the GSD was divided into two campuses – divided into two campuses –

the Fannin Campus and the Fannin Campus and the Gordon Campus.the Gordon Campus.

The GSD is located in The GSD is located in Cave Spring, Floyd County, Cave Spring, Floyd County,

Van’s Valley, GA.Van’s Valley, GA.

Cherokee Indians were driven Cherokee Indians were driven out of Georgia.out of Georgia.

Oliver Porter Fannin was the first Oliver Porter Fannin was the first person to undertake the education of person to undertake the education of the first four deaf children in Georgia.the first four deaf children in Georgia.

He served at the GSD He served at the GSD from 1847-1858. from 1847-1858.

The American School was The American School was established in 1817.established in 1817.

Later the first four children from Later the first four children from Georgia were sent to Hartford, Georgia were sent to Hartford, Connecticut to be educated.Connecticut to be educated.

Fannin Hall was named Fannin Hall was named forfor

O.P. Fannin. O.P. Fannin. Mr. Fannin spent a year at the Mr. Fannin spent a year at the

American School learning the methods American School learning the methods of teaching the deaf.of teaching the deaf.

Cave Spring recognized O.P. Fannin Cave Spring recognized O.P. Fannin by naming by naming

street in his honor. street in his honor.

He studied under He studied under Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and

Laurent Clerc.Laurent Clerc.

Gallaudet Clerc

J. B. Edwards was J. B. Edwards was the first deaf teacher the first deaf teacher

in Georgia.in Georgia.

Before the Civil War, Before the Civil War, S.F. Dunlop and S.F. Dunlop and

William D. Cook served as William D. Cook served as superintendents of the GSD.superintendents of the GSD.

DunlopDunlop Cook

Samuel F. Dunlop served Samuel F. Dunlop served the GSD from 1858-1860.the GSD from 1858-1860.

W.D. Cook served the GSD W.D. Cook served the GSD from 1860-1862.from 1860-1862.

In 1862, the school was closed In 1862, the school was closed for the duration of the war.for the duration of the war.

Under Wesley O. Connor’s Under Wesley O. Connor’s leadership, vocational training leadership, vocational training

began at the school.began at the school.

In 1874, the print shop began In 1874, the print shop began and printed and printed

The Cave Spring EnterpriseThe Cave Spring Enterprise, , the town newspaper.the town newspaper.

Mr. Connor gave over Mr. Connor gave over 60 years of service to 60 years of service to the deaf in Georgia.the deaf in Georgia.

Mr. Connor’s son was later Mr. Connor’s son was later superintendent of the New superintendent of the New

Mexico School for the Deaf.Mexico School for the Deaf.

A collection of rocks and A collection of rocks and minerals was given to Berry minerals was given to Berry

College in Rome, as a loan from College in Rome, as a loan from Mr. Connor.Mr. Connor.

In 1916, James Coffee Harris In 1916, James Coffee Harris became superintendent.became superintendent.

In 1937, Clayton H. In 1937, Clayton H. Hollingsworth became Hollingsworth became

superintendent.superintendent.

Mr. Hollingsworth married Hazel Mr. Hollingsworth married Hazel Wright of Cave Spring.Wright of Cave Spring.

The federal agency, Works The federal agency, Works Projects Administration, helped Projects Administration, helped

renovate and build the GSD.renovate and build the GSD.

Under Mr. Hollingsworth, John Under Mr. Hollingsworth, John Lloyd Caple served as Lloyd Caple served as

vocational principal.vocational principal.

During 1953-1957, During 1953-1957, Alfred L. Davis served as Alfred L. Davis served as

superintendent.superintendent.

Samuel A. Newton served as Samuel A. Newton served as superintendent during 1957-superintendent during 1957-

1961.1961.

The Georgia School for the The Georgia School for the Deaf is under the direction of Deaf is under the direction of the State Board of Education.the State Board of Education.

““Straight Language for the Straight Language for the Deaf” was pioneered by Edith Deaf” was pioneered by Edith

Fitzgerald’s Key.Fitzgerald’s Key.

Fitzgerald KeyFitzgerald KeyA printed system to help deaf children learn to speak, red and write syntactically correct A printed system to help deaf children learn to speak, red and write syntactically correct English sentences. The Fitzgerald Key was developed in 1929 at the Texas School for English sentences. The Fitzgerald Key was developed in 1929 at the Texas School for

the Deaf by Edith Fitzgerald, a deaf supervising teaching.the Deaf by Edith Fitzgerald, a deaf supervising teaching.Its set of six words and symbols help children analyze the relationships between units of Its set of six words and symbols help children analyze the relationships between units of connected language, enabling them to write good sentences and correct their own errors. connected language, enabling them to write good sentences and correct their own errors. Under the system, a child places individual words under the headings of subject, verbs, Under the system, a child places individual words under the headings of subject, verbs, and predicates, indirect and direct objects, phrases and words telling where, other word and predicates, indirect and direct objects, phrases and words telling where, other word modifiers of the main verbs and "when" words and phrases. The system is still widely modifiers of the main verbs and "when" words and phrases. The system is still widely

used today (Turkington,C., Sussman,A.E. 1992, pp. 77-78).used today (Turkington,C., Sussman,A.E. 1992, pp. 77-78).

Dr. Marie Sewell Kennard Dr. Marie Sewell Kennard worked with Miss Fitzgerald and worked with Miss Fitzgerald and received an honorary doctorate received an honorary doctorate

degree from Gallaudet.degree from Gallaudet.

Our present school building is Our present school building is named in honor of Dr. Kennard.named in honor of Dr. Kennard.

Miss Katherine Casey served Miss Katherine Casey served for many years as supervisor of for many years as supervisor of

the Primary Department.the Primary Department.

Mrs. Mary Turner served as Mrs. Mary Turner served as supervisor of the Advanced supervisor of the Advanced Department (High School).Department (High School).

Freeman Hall was named for Freeman Hall was named for Samuel Freeman.Samuel Freeman.

Virginia Berry served as Virginia Berry served as secretary under five secretary under five

GSD superintendents.GSD superintendents.

On February 23, 1876 the On February 23, 1876 the Georgia General Assembly Georgia General Assembly

passed an act that authorized passed an act that authorized the purchase of a building and the purchase of a building and 10 acres for the establishment 10 acres for the establishment

of a school for African American of a school for African American deaf.deaf.

The school for African American The school for African American deaf opened in 1882.deaf opened in 1882.

Fred L. Sparks served as GSD Fred L. Sparks served as GSD superintendent from 1961-1970.superintendent from 1961-1970.

John L. Caple served as John L. Caple served as superintendent from 1970-1973.superintendent from 1970-1973.

Helen Muse’s Helen Muse’s Green PavilionsGreen Pavilions was published in 1961.was published in 1961.

Under the leadership of Walter Under the leadership of Walter Brown and Alvin Edward Steele, Brown and Alvin Edward Steele, Jr., the Jr. NAD – GAD chapter Jr., the Jr. NAD – GAD chapter

was established at the was established at the GSD in 1964. GSD in 1964.

Louise Guinn Osborne was the Louise Guinn Osborne was the first president of the Jr. NAD – first president of the Jr. NAD –

GAD during 1964-65.GAD during 1964-65.

Donna McGee served as the Donna McGee served as the first Miss GSD Pageant Queen first Miss GSD Pageant Queen

in 1984. in 1984.

In 1984 the GSD moved to the In 1984 the GSD moved to the Perry Farm Campus from the Perry Farm Campus from the

Fannin Campus due to Fannin Campus due to asbestos contamination on the asbestos contamination on the

main campus.main campus.

After the move to the new campus, After the move to the new campus, four superintendents/directors four superintendents/directors

served GSD:served GSD:

Vera Y. Owens1984-1985

Michael D. Elliott1985-1995

Rae Ann Redman1995-1996

Patricia S. Pike1996-2003

In the recent years, these served as GSD’s leaders:

Russell Fleming 2003-Nov. 2003

10 months Wilmont W. McChord 2003-June 2005

19 monthsCynthia Ashby 2005-March 2006

8 months

Lee Shiver 2006-Present

Adonia Smith is a 1988 Adonia Smith is a 1988 graduate of GSD who holds a graduate of GSD who holds a

PhD degree.PhD degree.

Diane Conti was the first Diane Conti was the first teacher of the year at GSD, teacher of the year at GSD, being voted by the staff and being voted by the staff and

students in 2006.students in 2006.