Utah Parents of Blind and Visually Impaired Children: Introducing New USDB Superintendent

What is the UPBC?

The purpose of the organization is to create a climate of opportunity for blind children in home, school and society; to provide information and support to parents of blind children; to facilitate the sharing of experiences and concerns among parents of blind children; to develop and expand resources available to parents and their blind children; to help parents of blind children gain understanding and perspective through partnership and contact with blind adults; and to function as an integral part of the National Federation of the Blind and the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children in their ongoing efforts to eliminate discrimination and prejudice against the blind and to achieve for the blind security, equality and opportunity.

The membership is open to parents of blind children, educators of blind children and others interested in promoting the purposes of this organization.

We are a division of the National Federation of the Blind which is the largest organization of the blind in the country. Refer to: http://www.nfb.org/

Utah Parents of Blind Children is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Introducing New USDB Superintendent

The following is an article that was posted in the Salt Lake Tribune regarding the new superintendent at USDB. Shortly after Mr. Noyce was named superintendent, I received a personal letter introducing himself and inviting the UPBC to meet with him anytime to discuss concerns and/or give input. Some members of the UPBC had the opportunity to have our first (of what I hope to be many productive meetings) with Mr. Noyce yesterday. One of his goals is that USDB will become the premiere resource for children with sensory impairments throughout the state of Utah. Mr. Noyce, you have a lot of work ahead of you to make this happen. We are behind this goal and support it 100%.

Schools for the Deaf and Blind name Chief
By Lisa Schencker
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 08/07/2009 09:00:46 PM MDT

The Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (USDB) has a new leader.
The Utah State Board of Education on Friday named Steven W. Noyce as USDB superintendent. Noyce most recently served as the executive director of the Tucker-Maxon Oral School in Portland, Ore., and formerly was an education program director at the Utah School for the Deaf, where he supervised both signing and oral programs.
"I am very supportive of families making a choice in what best meets a student's needs in education," he said in a statement. He also said large print and Braille books must be made available for students in a timely manner. Noyce beat out three other finalists for the job.
He will replace Timothy W. Smith, who has been acting superintendent since former superintendent Linda Rutledge retired in July 2007. Parents seeking reforms have long looked forward to the appointment of a new superintendent.
Over the past decade, USDB, which serves 2,200 students, has endured fiscal crises and allegations of mismanagement. Parents sued the school in 2006, accusing a teacher of abusing children, and more recently USDB has seen infighting over educational strategies and limited resources.
Tribune reporter Kirsten Stewart contributed to this story