Connecting Deaf Students with Tools to Succeed

Dana Miles is a secondary teacher at Washington School for the Deaf (WSD) and teaches three classes she describes as “Adulting 101”: Consumer Math, Work Experience, and Applied Bilingual Language Arts.

In other words, she empowers her Deaf and hard-of-hearing students with skills to navigate the real world as adults. They learn how to do things like double recipes, calculate paycheck deductions, make change, deal with various retail situations, navigate the city bus system, purchase car insurance, and even get work experience.

Dana’s lessons to give students skills and confidence earned her the distinction of 2023 Washington State Teacher of the Year. Yes, for the whole state. This is an awesome honor for any teacher and even more so when it’s a Deaf teacher because they are definitely in the minority.

Congratulations, Dana and WSD!

Sorenson shares the goal of empowering Deaf and hard-of-hearing teachers and students with tools they can use to thrive wherever they are.