ECET2 TEAM

Student Logo Designer

Megan Martin, an 11th grade student at the Indiana School for the Deaf, created the logo for ECET2 DeafEd Central in her Digital Design class led by her teacher Darin Turner.

Planning Committee

Christina Delk

Debbie Fetzer

Heidi Givens

Stephanie Horvath

Ginger Mitchell

Jeanie Thomas

Elizabeth Ward

Christina Delk, NBCT, graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 1999 with Bachelor’s degrees in Deaf Education K-12 and Elementary Education K – 5. Christina received her Master’s in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education (IECE) in 2002. She has taught for 20 years, in a variety of settings, teaching Deaf/Hard of Hearing students in the Fayette/Jefferson County areas. In addition, Christina works at a district-provided summer Extended School Year (ESY) Program to increase student retention of skills, organizes an annual Regional DHH Spelling Bee, and coached Kentucky’s first middle school NTID/RIT Math Competition Team. Christina previously organized State and mini conferences for Kentucky Educators for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing (KYEDHH) and most recently presented at the Clarke School’s 38th Annual Conference on Mainstreaming. Christina received her National Board Certification in 2008 and renewed in 2017. She has since served as a Candidate Support Provider (CSP) for National Board cohorts and worked for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) on a DHH Standards Panel (Summer 2017), SRI Reviewer Panel (Fall 2014), and as a DHH Test Pilot (Spring 2015). Christina was selected as a National participant (1 of 200) in the Phil Mickelson/EXXONMobil Math and Science Teacher's Academy (MEMTA) in New York in 2010 for her collaborative work with DHH students.

Debbie Fetzer has been a Bilingual Educator for 34 years, 27 of which have been at the Indiana School for the Deaf. She is currently teaching MS Science, Creative Dramatics and Vibrations Performing Arts. She established and maintained a large-scale Life Science program in her Science classroom consisting of over 30 types of animals/reptiles/insects where students acquire a complete hands-on experience in caring and maintaining animals. She has her BA in Elementary Education and Psychology and MA in Deaf Education. She created and founded Camp Willard (a summer camp program), HANDS ALIVE! Arts Festival, and VIBRATIONS Performing Arts Troupe. Debbie has previously taught at the Louisiana School for the Deaf. She was also the Student Life Director at the Indiana School for the Deaf for 16 years and worked at Gallaudet University as the Coordinator of Residence Education and Development Education Specialist. Her husband is also a teacher at ISD, and has 2 beautiful Deaf children who are currently teachers at ISD and MSSD.

Heidi Givens, a National Board Certified Teacher, has been in education for 24 years. This is her 22nd year as a Teacher of the Deaf. For 2 years, Heidi left the classroom to serve as Director of Student Services for Frankfort Independent School District in Kentucky. Missing Deaf Education, Heidi returned to teaching in the fall of 2018 where she currently works with deaf students at a middle school in Lexington, KY. Heidi is the co-founder of the Kentucky Educators for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. She has served on many regional, state, and national ECET2 planning committees. From 2014-2016, Heidi served as a member of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's Teacher Advisory Council. She has also served on the Teacher Advisory Council for the Kentucky Commissioner of Education. Heidi was selected as the 2013 Kentucky Elementary Teacher of the Year. Currently, Heidi serves as the Co-Lead for a Kentucky Department of Education Work Group charged with developing a guidance document to support districts in serving students who are deaf and hard of hearing. She earned a B.S. in Deaf Studies and M.Ed. in Deaf Education from Boston University as well as a Director of Special Education certification from University of the Cumberlands. She recently began pursuing her principal certification as part of an EdD in educational leadership program. Heidi is the moderator of the monthly #DeafEd Twitter chats.

Hi, my name is Stephanie Horvath. I'm Deaf. I'm a new mom. I use American Sign Language. I graduated with Masters in Bilingual Deaf Education from McDaniel College. I’ve been in the teaching field for 5 years now. I currently work as an ASL Specialist at the Tennessee School for the Deaf.

I received both my Masters in Elementary Education with an emphasize on reading and dual BA in Deaf Education K-12 and Elementary Education from Eastern Kentucky University. I am an alumni of Gallaudet University with a BS in Business Administration: Data Processing. This is my 25th year teaching at the
Kentucky School for the Deaf. 20 years I taught grades pre-school to 5th and the last 5 years between elementary and middle school. I led the middle school this year and teach 6th, 7th and 8th grade math, reading, 6th grade social studies and a math enrichment class. I also serve as a chairperson on the KyADAPT board, which serves deaf adults with other needs to live independently with support from all staff that can communicate with them in their language. My passion is helping others, reading (especially murder mysteries), cooking healthy, traveling and camping with my husband.

My name is Jean Thomas but prefer Jeani or signed JT. Currently, I teach 5th and occasionally (when needed) a 4th/5th grade team teaching split. This school year is my 24th year teaching and my 21st year teaching at OSD. Prior to teaching at OSD, I taught in Westerville City Schools in the Deaf/HH classroom. I taught 4th-7th grade there. I graduated from Otterbein College (now Otterbein University) with my Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, Gallaudet University with my Master’s degree in Education Deafness, and am currently finishing my dissertation for my doctorate (EDLS) degree from Ashland University. One of my favorite quotes is, “A good teacher is in the business of making him or herself unnecessary, of empowering learners to learn without the teacher’s help. The aim is to enable students to get on with life under their own power and to free themselves from dependency on schools and teachers” by David Labaree. I like it because it reinforces my belief that my job as a teacher is to foster independence in students so they can succeed in life after school. I decided to become a teacher because I love school and I love children and I love learning. I wanted to work with deaf and hard of hearing students because I could not only use a beautiful language, ASL, but also make a difference. When I am not teaching, I enjoy reading and being with me family!

Elizabeth Ward, NBCT, began her teaching career in Columbus, Ohio, where she worked at The Ohio School for the Deaf and Columbus Public Schools. She taught First Grade in rural South Carolina for two years before returning to her home state of Kentucky, where she serves as a Teacher of Deaf & Hard of Hearing in Madison County.. She holds degrees from the University of Kentucky and The Ohio State University, as well as Rank One from Eastern Kentucky University. Elizabeth serves as current president of Kentucky Educators for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing (KYEDHH). She is a certified trainer for See the Sound: Visual Phonics and volunteers at Eastern Kentucky University as a guest lecturer and panelist for students in the DHH Program and IECE Program and has served as Cooperating Teacher for several student teachers and practicum students. She works with her district DHH Team to plan and organize district-wide and regional community opportunities for students. She previously worked with the Kentucky First Steps Program, serving infants and toddlers with hearing loss. She has presented at state and national conferences on topics related to Education for Deaf & Hard of Hearing. She received National Board Certification in 2009 and renewed in 2018 and has worked for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) on a DHH Standards Panel and on SRI Reviewer Panels. Elizabeth has attended regional, state, and national ECET2 Gatherings. This is her 29th year in the classroom.

Interpreter Coordinator

Marva Johnson