The Louisiana Special School District (SSD) and Louisiana School for the Deaf (LSD) are pleased to share some important updates regarding the search for the position of Executive Director of the Louisiana School for the Deaf (LSD). The LSD Executive Director Search Committee members have carefully reviewed the qualifications and experience of the candidates and conducted interviews, resulting in the selection of two outstanding finalists: Christopher Flint Fears and Dr. Natalie Delgado.
The finalists will be visiting the LSD campus on Thursday, July 13. During their visit, they will have the opportunity to interview with the committee, engage in a tour of the school campus, and meet with select staff and students.
The larger community is invited to attend a community forum on the evening of Thursday, July 13, from 6:00-8:00 pm at the LSD Student Center. This forum aims to introduce each finalist to the community and provide an opportunity for attendees to learn more about their qualifications and experience.
The Special School District and Louisiana School for the Deaf express their sincere gratitude to the LSD Executive Director Search Committee members for their dedication and support throughout this process. We also extend our appreciation to the LSD staff and community members who have contributed to the search through their participation in focus groups and surveys. Furthermore, we acknowledge the guidance and assistance provided by our partners and executive search firm, which facilitated the search and screening process, Innivee Strategies, Inc.
Christopher Flint Fears
Mr. Christopher Flint Fears is an experienced professional with a remarkable background in education. With close to 21 years of expertise gained from his time at the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, Phoenix Day School for the Deaf, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and Arkansas School for the Deaf, he has served as both a teacher and an administrator. Christopher grew up in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, and proudly graduated from Arkansas School for the Deaf. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Gallaudet University and went on to complete his Master’s degree in Special Education: Deaf Education at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Continuing his educational journey, he achieved an Educational Specialist degree in Education Administration and Supervision, again from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Outside of work, Christopher finds joy in traveling, swimming, and spending quality time with his loved ones. He has a passion for reading, particularly exploring diverse cultures, photography, and immersing himself in the vibrant Deaf culture. Christopher strongly believes in lifelong learning and recognizes the vital role of education in shaping successful lives, regardless of age. His commitment lies in supporting and inspiring children, and collaborating closely with teachers and staff to create a caring and enjoyable academic atmosphere. He ensures that the educational, emotional, and nutritional needs of young students are met, fostering their growth and development.
Dr. Natalie Delgado
Dr. Natalie Delgado is a Deaf Latina trilingual educator fluent in ASL, English, and Spanish. Delgado 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 beyond. 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.
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.
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.
