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Date: 8/9/2018
LONGMEADOW – Willie Ross School for the Deaf (WRSD) has hired two individuals for the positions of WRSD education director as well as assistant education director. Experienced educator Laurie Brown was hired to fill the school’s assistant education director position.
Brown was born and raised in Harrison, NY and has since moved to West Hartford, CT. She lives with her husband Dennis and her two college-aged children Connor and Maggie. The four have lived in West Hartford since 2000, where they had relocated from California.
In this edition and the previous Aug. 2 edition, Reminder Publications will have conducted question and answer interviews with both Brown and Erika Kaftan, who was promoted from assistant director of educational services at Willie Ross to the schools education director. The following is an edited interview with Brown.
Reminder Publications: What is your educational background?
Brown: I received my BS in special and elementary education from Syracuse University. Go Orange! I was very involved in the university bands while I was there. I'm a big marching band geek. I still bleed orange! I received my MS in deaf education from the National Technical Institute for the Deaf and the University of Rochester. Upon receiving that degree, I headed west into my first position at the California School for the Deaf, Riverside. In 2016 I earned my Sixth Year degree in educational leadership from Quinnipiac University.
Reminder Publications: Why did you decide to go into this profession?
Brown: When I was a teen, my older sister was a beginning teacher. I idolized my sister and I already knew I was going to become a teacher as well. She had just become a special education teacher and had her first class of middle school students. My parents helped her start the first Boy Scout den for students with special needs. I became a den helper. We needed to learn sign language to help one of her students. I became hooked.
When I went to college, I took American Sign Language as an elective. I excelled. So, instead of following exactly as my sister had and becoming a special ed teacher, I specialized and went on for my masters in deaf education and never looked back.
Reminder Publications: Where did you work previously? Do you feel it has prepared you for your new position?
Brown: My first position was at the California School for the Deaf, Riverside. This is a fabulous school where I cut my teeth as a teacher and learned many of my best skills. In my eight years there I was afforded many opportunities to lead committees, clubs and initiatives. As a teacher there, I learned how to be an advocate for students and a leader.
I have spent the bulk of my career at the American School for the Deaf [ASD] in West Hartford, CT. While at ASD, I have taught both at the main campus school and as an outreach teacher. I have spent 11 of my 18 years out in public schools. This has been a nice blend of experiencing different curricula, leadership, teacher roles, advocacy roles and a great chance for me to educate many students in public schools about the deaf community. I have also worked as a transition specialist, helping students learn work skills, community living skills, and what they need to know about the job search process. Working at ASD afforded me the opportunity to complete my administrative certification and learn the supervisory skills I will need for my new role.
Reminder Publications: What excites you most about your new role at Willie Ross?
Brown: I felt the energy and the heart from my first visit. I’m excited to be apart of that and to help that continue to grow and thrive.
Reminder Publications: What experience do you feel you will bring to your new position as assistant education director?
Brown: I'm proud to say I've been a successful teacher for many years. I know the craft and I know students. I have always been a hard worker and driven to see students succeed.
Reminder Publications: Do you have any specific goals that you plan to help the school achieve as you move forward in this position?
Brown: I'm a passionate volunteer, probably because I'm a lifetime Girl Scout and Girl Scout leader. I’m tickled to see that the school has taken on the theme of kindness and done acts of kindness. We have talked about expanding that to include volunteering.