Mr. K's ASL History

Mr. Kitterman knew nothing about deaf people nor any sign language when he started working in the media center in January, 1986.

This is where he learned ASL from everyone around him, students, co-workers, who were mostly deaf.

He went back to graduate school here and majored in rehabilitation counseling doing his internship at the Gallaudet Career Center.

At the end of his internship he was hired as a Career/Placement Counselor.

He experienced the "Deaf President Now" protest while living in the dorms at Gallaudet in 1988 while he was a graduate student.

His Gallaudet experience is what he brings to his teaching as he not only learned to sign, but learned about an entirely new culture of Deaf people.

History of MacArthur ASL, Chess & Mr. Kitterman

Mr. Kitterman was 1 of the 3 original ASL teachers in the district and taught at Reagan HS from 2007-2009. In 2011 after 2 years of teaching ESL at Western Oregon University, he returned to NEISD at MacArthur HS. In 2013 he also started teaching ASL part-time at Our Lady of the Lake University and began teaching dual credit ASL at MacArthur HS through San Antonio College. MacArthur HS is currently the only school in NEISD with dual credit ASL. In 2013 the ASL Honor Society was established along with the free sign language classes at the Brook Hollow Library (see page). These are a series of classes in the Fall taught by MacArthur ASL Honor Society students. 2020 will be the 7th straight year of these very popular classes. In the Spring of 2016, MacArthur started its annual talent show, originally called, "ASL's Got Talent."  Spring, 2020 would have been the 5th straight year of this major event, which will now take place in Spring, 2021. In 2017, Mr. Kitterman became department head of World Languages. Then, in February of 2018, he organized the first annual "World Language Tour." 2020 was the 3rd straight year and includes other languages as well as musical and dance groups from MacArthur.  In December, 2019, Mr. Kitterman recognized 5 students, as the first ASL Angels (see ASL Angels page). Spring 2020 brought the Corona virus and distance learning, which temporarily sidelined major events like the Brook Hollow Library classes, the World Language Tour and ASL Has Talent. 2021 we recorded our 5th annual ASL Has Talent show without an audience. Also, Spring 2021, 7 ASL Honor Society students volunteered to teach for the KIN after school program, teaching kids sign language at 17 elementary and middle schools in the district via zoom. Those 7 students got the Superintendent's Award (see picture on the Home Page).  In the Fall of 2021, Mr. Kitterman established the MacArthur Chess Club. In the Fall of 2022-2023 year, ASL moved to a new room, C339. The ASL program was back in full swing with the Brook Hollow library classes (in-person), the World Language Tour, KIN teaching and the ASL Has Talent show in April.  MacArthur students won another Superintendent's Award in the Fall of 2022 for the Brook Hollow Classes and again in the Spring of 2023 for the KIN ASL teaching.   The MacArthur Chess Team won all 4 tournaments they played around San Antonio in 2022-2023 finishing with their most dramatic win in May, 2023 at Stephens HS.  In December, 2023, Mr. Kitterman received the PTSA Lifetime Member Award. This was a very special and memorable event since it was presented by current students who each gave a short speech about me.  2024 has hardly begun and we've had our first ASL Retirement Home show and our 1st Middle school ASL Tour. The chess team continued undefeated this year winning twice in the Fall and again in January, making it 7-0 overall.  In the Fall of 2024, Advanced class ASL students will offer the first "Teach Your Baby Sign Language" class at the Brook Hollow library.  2024 In December we had our first Christmas show at the Forum at Lincoln Heights Retirement Home.  Spring 2025 we had our first Flex ASL Show during the school day flex period.  This was in addition to our annual World Language Tour and ASL Has Talent.  By request from the Brookdale Retirement Home, we started classes for the residents there Spring semester 2025.  The request came from hearing about our Brook Hollow classes annually and having a Deaf resident who wasn't able to communicate with the other residents or staff.  

Happy Days Diner (above) is where Mr. Kitterman learned a lot about life and work before he started teaching.

He started as a handyman, cleanup and fix-up person, helping restore this original 50's Diner in Boulder City, Nevada, near Hoover Dam.  The restaurant was originally built for the workers building Hoover Dam. After helping refurbish this unique old restaurant, he started as dishwasher, quickly moved to work at the counter and then became manager and then owner within a few months. It was more than a full-time job, like teaching and some of the hardest work he's ever done, but filled with precious experience and memories. The Happy Days Diner was famous for the Happy Burger, Barbershop Quartet singing and even occasional puppet shows.

PTSA Lifetime Member Award

December, 2023

Thank you students . . . 

I will never forget your kind words!