WTSD HomeAbout Us DepartmentsLocation
The mission of West Tennessee School for the Deaf is to prepare students to be successful at the next level as they become skilled communicators and to reach their maximum academic potential as measured by state assessments.
Through the successful creation and implementation of a model program for deaf and hard of hearing students, our vision at the West Tennessee School for the Deaf is to guide our students so that they may develop the academic and social skills necessary to enable them to integrate successfully into all settings.
We Believe:
* All students possess the ability to learn, and that the key to learning is proficiency in language skills. We exist to develop successful communicators through Total Communication.
* Our students must be able to compete as closely as possible with their counterparts in local public schools.
* Assessment is the foundation for effective instruction and that instructional goals must be based on curriculum-based evaluations, daily student performance and standardized tests.
* The instructional program must be child centered and data based.
* Our policies must result in a school culture that is conducive to student achievement and to safety and order.
* Decision making is a collaborative process involving all relevant members of a team.
* There is a positive correlation between learning and school attendance.
* In order for a student to get the best education possible, parents must be actively involved.
The West Tennessee School for the Deaf provides instructional programs for hearing impaired children ranging in age from two to thirteen. Our curriculum is designed to meet the individual needs of our students by emphasizing language development, speech and listening skills. Students also receive instruction in physical education, computer technology and art. All classroom teachers follow the Tennessee Curriculum Standards aet forth by the Tennessee Department of Education.
An Individual Education Plan is developed for each student enrolled at WTSD. Total communication is used throughout our program by all staff members. Small class sizes and individualized programs aid in the success of our students. Continuous collaboration between teachers, speech patholoists, and audiologists provides optimal information for instructional programming.
At WTSD, we use a total communication approach to deaf education. Total communication aims to make use of a variety of communication modes including signed and oral language development. We utilize an auditory training curriculum and offer speech-language services to students. Auditory trainers are provided for all students. Each student's unique needs and abilities are addressed.