News

Below is the YMCA basketball schedule. Older Team (5th-8th grade)Tuesday, Nov. 7, 7 – 8 p.m.Thursday, Nov. 9, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.Thursday, Nov. 16, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.Thursday, Nov. 30, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.Thursday, Dec. 7, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Younger Team (3rd-5th grade)Tuesday, Dec. 5, 6 – 7 p.m.Tuesday, Dec. 12, 6 – 7… Continue Readingabout YMCA Basketball

We've had some firsts at IESBVI and ISD this fall! Find out what's new in this issue of Iowa Education for Deaf & Blind news. LINK TO NEWSLETTER LINK TO ACCESSIBLE NEWSLETTER in WORD ASL Stories are posted to the website as they become available.… Continue Readingabout Fall Newsletter is here

Click this link to view Iowa School for the Deaf’s family and educator activities for this fall.… Continue Readingabout November and December Upcoming Events

Beginning this fall, students who aren’t interested in traditional sports now have another option: joining the ISD esports team. Dorm staff were inspired after learning of success from another school for the deaf. “Having esports allows tech savvy students to learn team skills, be competitive and still dive into a subject they are passionate about,”… Continue Readingabout New Esports team at ISD

When it comes to one trait of the next superintendent for Iowa Education for Deaf & Blind, 100% of survey respondents agree: being a strong relationship builder is “very important” or “extremely” important.  In late September, the general public and ISD’s stakeholders were offered the chance to express opinions on characteristics and qualities the next… Continue Readingabout Everyone agrees: relationship qualities important for new leader

In a crowd of friends, family and alumni, William “Bill” Page Johnson, PhD, received the honor of having the ISD Lied Multipurpose Complex gymnasium named for him during homecoming on Oct. 14. Naming the building after Bill is an acknowledgement of his passion to provide a building in which deaf students could be proud to… Continue Readingabout Gym named for Johnson

Putting students’ needs first. This is always the goal of the Educational Interpreter Immersion Conference for Iowa’s K-12 educational interpreters, hosted by Iowa School for the Deaf (ISD). The focus of this ninth annual event, held in Ames for 25 attendees, was no different this June. All sessions are conducted in a voices-off, ASL-only environment,… Continue Readingabout Voices-off environment boosts interpreter skills

ASL Version It’s not whether you win or lose but if you get to play the game.  No one understands this modified adage more than the 2023 Iowa School for the Deaf football team. The last time the Bobcats were on the field was 2019. COVID-19, a dip in enrollment and different interests among potential athletes meant… Continue Readingabout Football is Back!

There's a distance for everyone at the virtual or in-person race fundraisers this year! Prefer an in-person option? Nov. 11 at 10 a.m., a 5K will be held on Iowa School for the Deaf's trail system. Need more flexibility? Complete a 5K, 10K, half or full marathon anytime, anywhere between Oct. 11 and Nov. 11.… Continue Readingabout Run/walk for Class of 2025

Download Apple Festival Flyer Free! Area families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing are invited to join Iowa School for the Deaf (ISD) students and families for Apple Festival at Ditmars Orchard (19475 225th St. in Council Bluffs). Families from Nebraska and Iowa are welcome- even if your child is not enrolled… Continue Readingabout Join us at the Apple Festival

This information in American Sign Language. What qualities and characteristics should the next superintendent of Iowa Educational Services for the Blind & Visually Impaired and Iowa School for the Deaf have? You are invited to express your thoughts in a public forum in September. There are three dates and sites for in-person forums. You may… Continue Readingabout Input on superintendent qualities, characteristics

Click this link to view Iowa School for the Deaf's family and educator activities for this fall.… Continue Readingabout September and October Upcoming Events

Homecoming is back in the fall at ISD! Plan to join us for public activities Friday and Saturday, Oct. 13 and 14. The schedule will be updated as events as finalized. You can find more information here.… Continue Readingabout Homecoming Schedule

Registration for new and current students is now open. Parents, check your email for more information and the registration link. If you have any questions, please contact the school building's secretary. School starts August 23!… Continue Readingabout Student Registration Now Open

ASL Version Hi. More. All done. Mom. Dad. Anyone who has parented a toddler understands the importance of how a child communicates basic concepts. When a baby who is deaf is born to hearing parents who do not know sign language, the struggle to communicate can be overwhelming. A new free overnight experience, provided by… Continue Readingabout New event teaches families importance of ASL; Deaf mentors

Two Iowa School for the Deaf staff members presented at the XIX World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf in Jeju, South Korea. Tina Caloud, ISD chief academic officer and Deb Cates, Ph.D., language resources coordinator, lectured on “Language modeling intervention for STEM reasoning in deaf/hard-of-hearing students.” Twenty-four presentations were accepted at the… Continue Readingabout ISD Presents at World Federation of the Deaf

Announcement in American Sign Language As part of Gov. Reynolds’ state government alignment, Iowa Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired and Iowa School for the Deaf have moved under the governance of Iowa Department of Education, effective July 1. Previously, the special schools were governed by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa.  … Continue Readingabout Governance changes for Iowa School for the Deaf

ASL version Twelve ISD residential staff were among the three dozen schools for the deaf participating in the National Student Life for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NSLDHH) conference in late June. A variety of student life-related topics were offered at the conference location, held at the New Mexico School for the Deaf in Santa… Continue Readingabout ISD dorm staff attend national student life conference

ASL link Welcome to Trisha Waddell, who joined the ISD staff June 29 as middle school and high school principal. Waddell was most recently principal at Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, Tucson Campus. In addition to supervising staff and teachers, she was responsible for day-to-day operations for both the school and… Continue Readingabout Waddell new principal for ISD Middle School & High School

ASL link Two Iowa School for the Deaf faculty members presented at the national virtual PBIS conference June 21 & 22. PBIS, or Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports, is an evidence-based, tiered framework which supports behavioral, academic, social, emotional and mental health. Kristi Zimmerman, ISD school counselor, and Hana Krommenhoek, ISD reading specialist, presented, “The… Continue Readingabout PBIS Conference

ASL link Iowa School for the Deaf staff presented at a conference for those who teach English learners, hosted by Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency in Bettendorf June 8. Tina Caloud, chief academic officer, and Megan Shama, ISD high school English learner faculty, presented, "Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing English Learners: Taking the ELPA (English Language Proficiency Assessment) and Classroom Strategies."… Continue Readingabout Staff present English learner strategies

ASL link Kalista Nipper, Class of '23, won't forget her athletic years at Iowa School for the Deaf.  First, she became the first ISD basketball player to score 1,000 points during her basketball career this year. Next, in late June, she became the first female ISD athlete to be named Athlete of the Year, National… Continue Readingabout Making history. Three times in a year.

Two Iowa School for the Deaf faculty members will present at the national virtual PBIS conference June 21 & 22. PBIS, or Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports, is an evidence-based, tiered framework which supports behavioral, academic, social, emotional and mental health. Kristi Zimmerman, ISD school counselor, and Hana Krommenhoek, ISD reading specialist, will present, “The… Continue Readingabout ISD faculty present at national virtual conference

ASL link Iowa School for the Deaf has promoted Tina Caloud to the position of chief academic officer, where she will oversee the academic program. The promotion became effective May 28. Under this appointment, Caloud will maintain her role as outreach director where she established five areas of focus: family resources, assessments, expanded learning program,… Continue Readingabout Caloud named chief academic officer