Mrs. Penley: Teacher for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

                 I Graduated from Converse College with a BA in Education for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Elementary Education. Immediately following college, I volunteered in Kazakhstan for two and half years for the Peace Corps. There I taught English as a Second Language and wrote grants for the local deaf school.

                 Upon returning to states, I took a job here at Flowertown Elementary. I have been working here for ten years. Since then I have received my masters in Special Education from the University of Charleston. As well as AVA training (auditory verbal therapy) from the Medical University of South Carolina. 

Teaching the Deaf is a passion of mine. I enjoy the challenge of teaching these students and pushing them beyond their own expectations. We believe that deafness is not a handicap or an excuse for not learning.

Mrs. Newsom: Teacher Assistant

Mrs. Newsom has worked in Dorchester District two for about fifteen years. She started as a substitute teacher and later joined our team working with a student with a cochlear implant. At this time she became very interested in working with the deaf. She took the initiative to learn sign language by taking classes offered in the community and participating in the Auditory Verbal Therapy workshop at MUSC. She continues to broaden her education everyday.

Mrs. Newsom feels very blessed to have the opportunity to be working here at Flowertown with our students. This job has opened her eyes to the importance of communication and how with proper communication all things are possible.

Mrs. Halstead: Interpreter

   Mrs. Halstead has served almost twenty years, working with deaf and hard of hearing students. She is an educational interpreter here at Flowertown. Mrs. Halstead is nationally certified through the Registry of Interpreters for the deaf in both interpretations and transliteration.

She graduated from Valdosta State University in Valdosta Georgia. She has received accreditation through Registry of Interpreter for the Deaf (RID).

Mrs. Halstead has a deep passion to serve the deaf and hard of hearing. Mrs. Halstead’s goal to bridge the gap between the Deaf and the Hearing world.