News Release: DC teacher nabs national honor

From: Gallaudet - Nov 5, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Darrick Nicholas
Media Relations Coordinator
Gallaudet University
PH: 202.448.7136
E-mail: darrick.nicholas@gallaudet.edu

Instructor gains national notoriety

Magazine tabs DC teacher as 2004 Ed Tech Leader of the Year

(WASHINGTON) Rosemary Stifter, a technology specialist at the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center in Washington, DC, has been named Technology & Learning's 2004 Ed Tech Leader of the Year.

Technology & Learning is the leading publication in the K-12 educational technology market. The Ed Tech Leader of the Year program, in its 17th year, recognizes the "best of the best" in technology leadership in an education setting.

At the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center, Stifter works primarily with children from as young as toddlers up to eighth grade, all of whom are deaf or hard of hearing. Many of them have secondary disabilities and come from homes in which English is not the primary language. As part of her work, Stifler has also created a Digital Video Dictionary for students and a Web site that trains educators of deaf and hard of hearing students across the country.

Stifter was selected first out of four finalists. All four will be featured in Technology & Learning's December Awards Issue. They were also honored recently at a special reception during the National School Boards Association's T+L2 conference in Denver.

"Each of our Ed Tech Leader of the Year honorees have had a profound impact on the quality of teaching and learning in their respective communities," Amy Poftak, the magazine's executive editor, said. "They are outstanding examples of what can be done when you pair the power of technology with a visionary, well-trained educator."

Housed on the campus of Gallaudet University, the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center works to improve the quality of education for deaf and hard of hearing children and youth from birth through age 21.

About Gallaudet University

Gallaudet University is the world leader in liberal education and career development for deaf and hard-of-hearing undergraduate students. The University enjoys an international reputation for the outstanding graduate programs it provides deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing students, as well as for the quality of the research it conducts on the history, language, culture, and other topics related to deaf people. In addition, the University's Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center serves deaf and hard-of-hearing children at its two demonstration schools and throughout the nation by developing, implementing, and disseminating innovative educational strategies. Gallaudet is located in Washington, DC.