The Louisiana Special School District is pleased to announce the selection of Dr. Natalie Delgado as the next Louisiana School for the Deaf Executive Director. She will begin her role on August 1, 2023. Dr. Delgado is a Deaf Latina trilingual educator fluent in ASL, English, and Spanish who has a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s degree in Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, and a doctoral degree in Deaf Studies and Deaf Education.
She is currently the Statewide Outreach Director of Deaf Education at the Louisiana School for the Deaf and has worked in deaf education for thirteen years, with past roles including outreach coordinator, elementary and high school teacher, substitute teacher, early interventionist, and more. Within her department, she oversees an early intervention program that serves Deaf and hard-of-hearing children ages birth to 5 and their families, as well as consultations, training, and other support for school-age Deaf and hard-of-hearing students and their school professionals. She also works closely with the Louisiana School for the Deaf staff, along with various statewide, regional, and national agencies and service providers, to support the families and students served within her department. Dr. Delgado is a strong advocate for bilingual education and has published and presented numerous times regarding early intervention, literacy, serving Deaf and hard-of-hearing students of various linguistic, cultural, and academic backgrounds, socio-emotional support for the classroom, and more.
The search for the next Louisiana School for the Deaf Executive Director began in May 2023, when the school community came together to develop a leader profile that was used to make decisions on the finalist and next Executive Director. The search process concluded with an on-site campus visit on Thursday, July 13, where each finalist gave presentations to students, staff, and the community, and the visits culminated with interviews with the search committee.
“The Louisiana Special School District is thrilled to announce the appointment of Dr. Delgado as our new Executive Director,” commented Dr. David Martin, Superintendent of the Louisiana Special School District. “After an extensive search and careful consideration by a search committee comprised of dedicated and passionate LSD staff members, we have found a remarkable leader who clearly cares about our students and embodies the values and vision of our school. Her vision of the future for our school and deep knowledge and familiarity with Deaf Education, key relationships and partnerships, and exceptional leadership skills make Dr. Delgado an outstanding choice for this role. We are confident that under her guidance, LSD will continue to make its community proud of the school and its transformative impact on our students and the state. We extend our warmest welcome and look forward to working collaboratively with Dr. Delgado as Executive Director to achieve our shared goals and advance our mission.”
Dr. Delgado said, “I am both humbled and honored to accept the position of LSD Executive Director. I have been deeply committed to our school and its students, and I believe that we have a remarkable school and community. With an unwavering dedication to our school’s mission, I look forward to working closely with the talented team we have, as well as engaging with our partners and supporters, to drive positive change and make a lasting difference in LSD students. Together, we will build upon the strong foundation and rich legacy of this organization, shaping a brighter future and leaving a meaningful legacy for generations to come.”
Innivee Strategies, Inc. wishes to thank the Louisiana School for the Deaf community for participating in the search process, especially those who provided support as staff and volunteers. We also wish to thank the Louisiana School for the Deaf for entrusting our company with facilitating the Executive Director search process. We look forward to the future of Louisiana School for the Deaf under Dr. Delgado’s leadership!
About the Louisiana Special School District
Encouraged by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) and the State Superintendent of Education, SSD is in the midst of a process of inspection, reflection, and re-dedication to the success of the students and families we serve. This initiative ensures no child with a low-incidence disability will be without an equitable opportunity to learn, nor will they be excluded from the opportunity to a life that has quality and reward.
The SSD believes every student with a low-incidence disability deserves all the support we can provide. We have confidence that our district will achieve excellence through the hard work and dedication that each of those students, as well as parents, employees, advocates, and community partners, will put forth. Through the goals and priorities we have set forth in our Strategic Plan, together, we will begin to build innovative partnerships, ensure excellent schools and programs, and provide unified support services. To learn more about SSD, visit: https://www.ssdofla.org/home
About the Louisiana School for the Deaf
LSD, which was established in 1852, has provided excellence in education for over 170 years. We serve approximately 400 deaf or hard-of-hearing children and their families, making us one of the major schools for the deaf in the nation. At LSD…. “Kids Come First.” This guides our decision-making process as we deal with the challenges residential schools for the deaf face today. Our teachers, student life staff, maintenance workers, office support staff, and management team have adopted and actively promoted this approach to providing quality service to our students. To learn more about LSD, visit: https://www.ssdofla.org/schools___programs/louisiana_school_for_the_deaf
About Innivee Strategies, Inc.
Innivee Strategies, Inc. is an organizational and leadership development company. We believe that communities are only as strong as the organizations that serve them. We consult with organizations and leaders to create and achieve goals, manage change, obtain and utilize data, cultivate community buy-in, and nurture and retain inspiring and transformative leaders.
