Friday, June 27, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Subject: Recognition of graduates from the MSDB’s 2025 Summer ASL Intensive

Jackson, MS - Mississippi Schools for the Deaf and the Blind School District  

The Mississippi Schools for the Deaf and the Blind School District are pleased to present the graduates from the MSDB’s 2025 Summer ASL Intensive. The program completers participated in the ASL Intensive, facilitated by staff from the school district. The Intensive began Monday, June 23rd and concluded Friday, June 27th. The participants engaged in sessions on Fingerspelling Fluency, Common Vocabulary, Deaf Culture and Awareness, ASl Structure and more.

The purpose of the ASL Intensive is to immerse targeted and interested individuals in concepts regarding American Sign Language, to (1) to introduce or accelerate their personal skill set in ASL, and (2) to enable them to perform professional duties more effectively, with or in support of individuals who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing or DeafBlind. The ASL intensive is organized similarly to a traditional school day, with classes, schedules, assemblies and meal time. It is designed to ensure that skills are taught, repeated, practiced, reinforced and applied in a manner to ensure transferability.

Congratulations to the following graduates of the 2025 Cohort:
Mr. Chase Barr - Middle School Math Teacher, MS School for the Deaf
Ms. Nikki Boles - Community Member, Atlanta, Georgia
Ms. Mackenzie Charles - Elementary ELA Teacher, MS School for the Deaf
Mrs. Cynthia Coccaro - Professional School Counselor, MS School for the Blind
Mrs. Lakesha Doyle - School Principal, MS School for the Blind
Ms. Latreal Hayden - Middle School ELA Teacher, MS School for the Deaf
Mr. Joshua Jackson - Community Member, Canton, MS
Ms. Jana Johnson - High School Science Teacher, MS School for the Deaf
Ms. Jermere Knight - Culinary Arts Teacher, MS School for the Blind
Dr. Jeremy Knott - School Principal, MS School for the Deaf
Mrs. Dionne Lewis - Law & Public Safety / CCR Teacher , MS School for the Blind
Mrs. Gloria McDuffy - Teacher of the Visually Impaired, Ski*Hi Early Intervention Program
Mr. Jarvis Robinson - Associate Administrator, MS Schools for the Deaf and the Blind
Mr. Antionne Sellers - High School Social Studies, MS School for the Blind
Ms. Jamere Shelby - Community Members / Firefighter & EMT, Byram Fire Dept.

Ms. Mykenzia Shoulders - Community Member, Canton, MS
Ms. Sophelia Sykes - Residential Professional, MS Schools for the Deaf and the Blind
Ms. Riley Thibodeaux - Assistant Teacher, MSDB Lower Elementary School
Ms. Cassie Tolliver - Community Member, Disability Rights Mississippi
Mrs. Maleshia Williams - Special Education Teacher, MS School for the Blind

In addition to recognizing the graduates, the Mississippi Schools for the Deaf and the Blind would also like to recognize the following Summer ASL program staff:
Mr. LaMarlon J. Wilson - Superintendent of Education, MS Schools for the Deaf and the Blind
Program Role: Session Facilitator
Session Title: “Fingerspelling Fluency / Common Vocabulary”
Dr. Adrienne Williams - Assistant Superintendent, MS Schools for the Deaf and the Blind
Program Role: Administrator Support Personnel
Mrs. Kimberly Swims - Lead Teacher / Curriculum, MS Schools for the Deaf and the Blind
Program Role: Program Coordinator / Session Facilitator
Session Title: “Technical Vocabulary”
Ms. Jala Furge - Interpreter Intern, Rankin County, MS
Program Role: Session Facilitator
Session Title: “Technical Vocabulary”
Mrs. Anquoindria Moore - Middle School Science Teacher, MS School for the Deaf
Program Role: Session Facilitator
Session Title: “Deaf Awareness and Culture”
Ms. Lynn Lane - High School Social Studies, MS School for the Blind
Program Role: Session Facilitator
Session Title: “Deaf Awareness and Culture”
Ms. Pamela Jones - Special Services Coordinator, MS Schools for the Deaf and the Blind
Program Role: Session Facilitator
Session Title: “Conversational / Expressive Skills”
Mrs. Ananda Cartee - High School English Teacher, MS School for the Deaf
Program Role: Session Facilitator
Session Title: “ASL Grammar and Syntax”