Vivian Smith, who teaches Biology to deaf and hard-of-hearing high students at the Mississippi School for the Deaf in Jackson, possesses not only excellent American Sign Language skills, but also an innate gift for communicating with each of her students, many of whom are communication- and language-delayed. Dr. Smith designs an Individualized Education Program for each of her students that blends necessary repetition with well-defined structure, experience-based activities and cutting-edge computer technology. A recognized instructional leader for the hearing-impaired, Dr. Smith lends her expertise to groups at the state and regional levels. Dr. Smith has completed her PhD in Science Education (emphasis in Biology) from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2013, and plans to continue working at the Mississippi School for the Deaf. She just celebrated her 30th year there. She also plans to add some research activities to her regular school duties. Currently, she serves as the IEP coordinator, point of contact for MSD, when she isn't having her students perform frog dissections in her biology classes.
After 18 years at the elementary level I have accepted a position teaching science at the junior high level. We have a brand new state of the art lab facility. I would be interesting in sharing ideas on how to make the lab a most successful teaching environment. I am also interested in doing some grant writing and would like some feedback from others who have been successful in this area.
2013 University of Southern Mississippi, Ph. D.
1983 Lamar University, M.A.
1982 Lamar University, B.S.
