January 15, 2020

In This Issue ● Employee Spotlights ○ Donica Jones ○ Joe Amacker ○ Katherine Granier ○ Julie Alcorn ● City of Alexandria’s Christmas Parade ● Save-the-Date: Braille Challenge ● Scholarship Offers ● 2020 Education Excellence Fund ● LSVI Student Recognitions ● LSVI Partners with Louisiana Tech ● Healthy Habits ● Current Employment Opportunities

Upcoming Activities ● Braille Challenge: February 20

Employee Spotlights

Donica Jones

Congratulations to Donica Jones on her appointment as Special Assistant to the Superintendent. Jones is a seasoned public servant with nearly two decades of service at local, state, and federal levels. Jones is a 2001 Baton Rouge Rotary Club Scholar and honor graduate of Istrouma High School and Magnet. She pursued a career in secondary education with a concentration in social studies, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from and A&M College in Baton Rouge.

Jones began her career at Louisiana School for the Deaf and Visually Impaired (LSDVI) as an intern in the Admissions and Records Department and was later promoted to Admissions and Records Coordinator in 2015. Each of these roles has provided a wealth of knowledge and unique leadership skills, which are instrumental in Jones’ continued success within the district.

Joe Amacker

Joe Amacker is a forward-thinking Educational Technology leader with knowledge and experiences that span K-12, University level and both public and private sector. As a 1997 graduate of Port Allen High School, Amacker had an early interest in technology and spent most of his free time building PC’s for family and friends. This interest was further fostered when Amacker chose Southern University’s department of Computer Science as the place to continue to grow in his technology career. While at Southern, Amacker achieved the level of Boeing Scholar, receiving the Boeing Scholarship and interning with Boeing/NASA. Amacker has also been inducted to the Upsilon Pi Epsilon Computer Science Honor Society and has served in several leadership roles with the Association of Computing Machines and the Association of IT Professionals. After graduation, Joe served as the IT Manager of the Computer Science department at Southern. He was later recruited and awarded with the Robert Noyce Scholarship that allowed him to become a certified educator. While working for the Special School District (SSD), Joe attained his Masters in Information Technology with a focus on Education. In his new role as Executive Director of Information Technology and Educational Technology, Amacker will oversee SSD’s technology and training at all sites state-wide.

Katherine Granier

Katherine Granier is a veteran of the Louisiana state government with over 18 years of experience in the development and implementation of finance, budget and statistical analysis, public policy, strategies, processes and controls. Her expertise encompasses establishing budgeting functions, systems and best practices, cost-reduction, and building business relationships to ensure goal-surpassing fiscal performance. Granier worked for the Louisiana State Division of Administration-Office of Planning and Budget under the leadership of three former governors where she was responsible for the implementation of performance-based budgeting at the Executive level. Katherine will assume the role of Chief Operating Officer for SSD.

Julie Alcorn Retirement

The SSD would like to announce the retirement of Julie Alcorn, Human Resources Director, after 19 years of service at LSD. Her retirement is official on January 3, 2020. At LSD she was recognized as a kid-focused member of the team. Alcorn plans to enjoy her retirement by spending more time with her family and traveling.

Alcorn started her career by working with the State of Louisiana in 1985. She began employment with LSDVI as a Human Resources Analyst on April 3, 2000. She worked her way up in the Human Resources department and was promoted to Human Resources Director on September 1, 2010. She has been a member of various employment organizations, such as Public Risk Managers (PRIMA), the Louisiana Association for Self-Insured Employers (LASIE) and the Louisiana State Association of School Personnel Administrators (LSASPA).

City of Alexandria’s Christmas Parade

Congratulations to the Louisiana Center (LSEC), Ms. Joe Ann McCoy, and the Recreation Department for a fabulous float and beautiful ride at the City of Alexandria’s Christmas Parade.

LSEC won second place in the float category! Thank you to Ms. Joe, Kay, Martavius, and Jarmarlon. A great time was had by all.

Save-the-Date: Braille Challenge

Students in grades 1-12 are invited to compete in a series of five skills contests demonstrating braille reading and comprehension, speed and accuracy, spelling, proofreading, and tactile graphics. The Braille Challenge will be held on February 20 at the Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired, 2888 Brightside Lane, Baton Rouge.

To learn more and download practice tests, visit the Braille Challenge website. Please contact [email protected] with questions.

Scholarship Offers

The school leadership teams are leading the charge by ensuring that learning experiences for our students are being maximized. To that end, the DREAM Academy is proud to announce that students are starting to receive early acceptance letters, as well as scholarship offers. Congratulations to the students that have received these opportunities thus far.

2020 Education Excellence Fund

The 2020 Education Excellence Fund application for 304 - LA Schools for the Deaf and Visually Impaired has been approved by the Department. The approved application is available by logging into eGMS.

LSVI Student Recognitions

(l to r: Allen Crosby, Alexis Jason, Alexia Jason, Johnisin Allen, Allen Delrosario, Taylor Franks)

As the first semester came to a close, students in grades 9-12 took their End-of-Course (EOC) tests in English I and Biology. These outstanding students worked diligently in their courses throughout the semester and their hard work paid off. Several students achieved mastery on their EOC tests. Seeing the correlation between hard work and success is a powerful lesson and a great motivator as they continue to plan for their futures. The following students earned scores of Mastery on their EOC tests: ● English I: Allen Crosby, Allen Delrosario, Alexia Jason and Alexis Jason ● Biology: Taylor Franks and Johnisin Allen

LSVI Partners with Louisiana Tech

Casey Robertson West and Kristen Sims are part of LSVI’s partnership with Louisiana Tech’s Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness. The focus of the visit was looking at how LSVI integrates skills and concepts necessary for independent living throughout the curriculum, focusing on the Expanded Core Curriculum. Casey recently presented information to teachers preparing to take the National Certification in Unified English Braille (NCUEB) test in April, and then presented specific ways to track student progress using the Expanded Core Curriculum. Kristen accompanied math teachers to Eureka training. Both toured LSVI classrooms, discussing VI accommodations being used.

Healthy Habits: Daily Resolutions

Engage your “family” this year in Daily Resolutions, tasks that you can accomplish in one day. Below are bite-size goals to focus on each day to create long-lasting healthy habits.

● Eat a healthy breakfast. It is the most important meal of the day! ● Stretch for 10 minutes. Incorporate “brain breaks” or “energizers” to the class/workday. ● Drink enough water. Students are now allowed to have water in an approved bottle throughout the day. Eight 8-ounce glasses of water is the daily recommendation. ● Take a 15-minute walk. Host a walking meeting or hold class outdoors. ● Express gratitude. List five things you are grateful for. Gratitude is the attitude! ● Eat one additional serving of fruit or vegetables. Five servings of fruits and vegetables is the recommended daily amount. One serving size of fruit is about a handful. ● Get 8 hours of sleep. This is the minimum! Children should get 8-10 hours of sleep per day.

These recommendations are adopted from New Day, New Goal and Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child.

Employment Opportunities

LSD and LSVI are seeking motivated and certified teachers and support staff for grades pre-K through 12. Job postings can be found by visiting Louisiana State Civil Service and searching "LSDVI." To inquire about employment opportunities, please contact [email protected].