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West Virginia Schools For The Deaf and the Blind

Keller Hall Dorm

Residential Program

WVSDB Dormitory

West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind

 

Residential Program

 

Building Confident Independent Young People in a Safe Environment

 

Mission:

 

In the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind residential program, students and staff will:

 

  1. Demonstrate patience and respect for each other through language, actions, and attitude

  2. Solve problems together

  3. Advocate effectively for themselves as individuals with vision or hearing losses who have unique needs

  4. Create a culture that anticipates and fosters independence and self-determination

  5. Recognize and accept the logical consequences that come with independent decision making

  6. Establish a positive laughter-filled environment where creativity is fostered and independent living skills are promoted

  7. Support its residents as they grow to be independent adults with the skills to thrive in the community and world of their choice

 

In the residential setting, all participants accept the need for communication of all kinds.  Staff will understand that for a resident to grow, he or she must acquire a means of communication and feel comfortable using it.  All forms of communication, including ASL, English, Braille, and tactile/picture identification are accepted and practiced by all. Students and staff will learn the value of listening to one another.  They will be flexible and work together in creating effective solutions to problems.  Staff will work to understand residents’ untapped potential and create individualized experiences to promote lifelong learning and happiness.    

 

Dr. Christine Lewis

Director of Student Life

304-822-4865

[email protected]

 

Ms. Susan Swenson

Evening Shift Supervisor

304-822-4856

[email protected]

 

Ms. Dawn Harrold

Night Shift Supervisor

304-822-4845

[email protected]

Keller Hall Middle School Boys 304-822-4848

Evening Staff: Cassy, Henretta, Eddie

Night Staff: Chris S

 

Keller Hall Middle School Girls 304-822-4846

Evening Staff: Kim B, Becky

Night Staff: Deb Mick

 

Keller Hall Higher Needs Boys 304-822-4888

Evening Staff: Tammy, Kitty

Night Staff: Charles, Pattie

 

Keller Hall Higher Needs Girls 304-822-4886

Evening Staff:: Debbie, Angela H., Cassy

Night Staff: Robin, Haley

 

Keller Hall High School Boys Floor 304-822-4889

Evening Staff: Barry, Pam, Ronnie

Night Staff: Dave, Holly

 

Keller Hall High School Girls 304-822-4887

Evening Staff: Angela L, Chris W, Kim Wales

Night Staff: Krista, Shelia, Crystal

 

Custodians

Cheryl 

Deb 

RCS - Kelly
RCS of the Month - Kelly
Kelly is always on time for work and present for her job duties. She demonstrates compassion for both residents and other staff. Kelly is a true team player and works in various dorm settings. She maintains a positive attitude and helps residents learn independent living skills. Kelly is proactive in researching and collaborating with other professionals and staff on campus to create the best practices for the individual residents that she care for daily. She focuses on providing learning opportunities in the morning routine. Kelly has professional goals that positively support the residential program’s mission. Kelly is working on improving her communication skills in ASL in order to support the residents in her care.
 
Resident - Steshka
Resident of the month of March - Steshka
Steshka was nominated and selected due to being kind and engaged in dorm activities. She is respectful to both residents and staff. She has a positive upbeat attitude and shows kindness towards other residents. She completes all tasks, chores and requests ask of him. She is involved in all dorm activities and enjoys being physically active. She takes opportunities to be creative and show her talents during artistic activities. Steshka is a dorm council representative for the middle school girls. She is a good listener and shows leadership in activities. Sheshka enjoys making new friends and proud of being a member of the WVSDB black bears community.
 
RCS - Cassy
Cassy
Cassy is affectionately known to the residents as Miss Bug. She is always on time for work and present for her job duties. She demonstrates compassion for both residents and other staff along with making resident-focused decisions. Cassy is a true team player and works in various dorm settings. She maintains a positive attitude and helps residents to remain physically active. Cassy communicates well with staff and works to solve problems with other RCS's and school staff when there are student concerns. Cassy plans fun, engaging activities that focus on the residents’ residential goals. She is community focused and loves to involve the residents in local town events along with practical community service projects. Cassy is the first to bring staff together for collaboration to benefit the residential program and the residents. This year she has teamed with another RCS to create a social club for the female residents in Keller Hall.
 
 
Resident - Canyon
Canyon
Canyon was nominated and selected due to being polite and showing growth in independence. Canyon is respectful to both residents and staff and has a positive attitude and compassion towards other residents. He completes all tasks, chores and requests ask of him. He is involved in all dorm activities and enjoys interacting with both peers and adults. Canyon has developed his independent living skills in keeping his room neat and tidy. He is using his orientation and mobility skills to navigate inside the dormitory along with needing less prompts when outside. He is always happy, enjoys life and loves to discover new things.
RCS - Henretta
Henretta
Henretta is always on time for work and present for her job duties. She demonstrates compassion for both residents and other staff along with letting empathy guide resident-focused decisions. Henretta is a true team player and completes all tasks needed to fulfill this job role. She maintains a positive attitude and helps to decorate for all events. Henretta communicates well with staff and works to solve problems with other RCS's and school staff when there are student concerns. She creates a home environment and marks seasonal holidays to make the residential programming memorable for the residents. Henretta strives for the residents that are assigned to her to reach the highest level of independence that is individually possible for each of them. She has multiple ideas to make dorm life engaging for the residents. Henretta uses humor and laughter to make the residents feel at home. She provides activities where the residents learn by engaging in the process.
 
 
Resident - Jocelynn
Jocelynn
Jocelynn was nominated and selected due to always being helpful in assisting fellow residents and staff with tasks. Jocelynn is respectful to both residents and staff. She has a positive attitude and compassion towards other residents. Jocelynn completes all tasks, chores and requests ask of her. She is involved in all dorm activities and is currently a member of the goalball team. Jocelynn is a dorm council representative and advocates for her own needs as well as others. She works in the dorm supporting the needs of the dorm through the Lions Club Work Program.
RCS - Chris
Chris
Chris is always on time or early for work. Throughout her career in the residential program, she has demonstrated compassion for both residents and other staff. Chris is a true team player and completes all tasks needed to fulfill this job role. She does not complain and maintains a positive attitude even as chaotic situations arise. Chris communicates well with staff and works to problem solve with other RCS's and school staff when there are student concerns. She is always problem solving and considering how she can better serve the residents’ needs. She looks at a problem and considers various solutions. She adapts as needed to continuously support students and manage the dorm. Chris excels at creating dorm schedules and tactile cues. She is a person that helps other staff with residents and tasks.
 
 
Resident - Earl
Earl
Earl was nominated and selected due to always being helpful in assisting other residents and staff with tasks. Earl is respectful to both residents and staff. Earl demonstrates positivity and compassion towards other residents. Earl completes all tasks, chores and requests ask of him. He is involved in all dorm activities because he like to remain physically active. Earl asks questions to self-advocate for his needs. He works in the cafeteria doing trash removal through the Lions Club Work Program.
RCS - Barry
Barry
Barry is always on time or early for work. Throughout his career in the residential program, he has demonstrated compassion for both residents and other staff. Barry is a true team player and completes all tasks needed to fulfill this job role plus many more. He does not complain and maintains a positive attitude even as chaotic situations arise. Barry communicates well with staff and works to problem solve with other RCS's and school staff when there are student concerns. Barry takes a leadership role in most holiday or special events’ planning in the dorm. Barry always wants the residents to have memorable experiences while living on campus that teach character building qualities. His creative mind has made magical backdrops for numerous activities this year and throughout his career. He is always job focused and works to promote WVSDB in positive ways while giving the residents many real-life learning opportunities off campus. Barry has a desire to find ways to perform his job better daily.
 
 
Resident - Raiden
Raiden
Raiden was nominated and selected due to always being helpful in assisting other residents with tasks. Raiden is respectful to both residents and staff. He demonstrates positivity, helpfulness, and compassion towards other residents. Raiden completes all tasks, chores and requests ask of him. He is involved in all dorm activities and helps creating things for activities. Raiden is the first one to let staff know what he needs to help him in any situation. He is very family oriented and makes friends easily.
RCS - Robin
Robin
Robin is always on time or early for work. Throughout her career in the residential program, she demonstrates compassion for residents and other staff by working many additional hours to support the students and the program. She is quick to recognize what needs to be done and adjusts accordingly. Robin pitches in to make sure that all students are taken care of and is a true team player. She assists and guides substitute staff to ease transitions including taking on the most difficult tasks to make it easier on substitute staff. Robin completes her job duties in effort to make sure that everyone is ready for the day. She does not complain and maintains a positive attitude even as chaotic situations arise. Robin communicates well with staff and works to problem solve with other RCS's and school staff when there are student concerns. She is always job focused and works to represent WVSDB in positive ways.
 
 
Resident - Asher
Asher
Asher was nominated and selected due to always being helpful in the dorm by making dinners and snacks. Asher is respectful to both residents and staff. He demonstrates positivity, helpfulness, and compassion towards other residents. Asher completes all tasks, chores and requests ask of him. He is involved in all dorm activities. Asher self-advocates what supports or items that is needed for him to be successful. Asher has plans for after graduation and is very future focused.
RCS - Ronnie
Ronnie
Ronnie is always willing to help other staff and communicates effectively with staff and residents. He is on time or early for work shifts and activities. Ronnie manages his dorm floor well and works with his co-workers to make the dorm a compassionate living environment. Working with Ronnie is fun. Ronnie always has an activity in the back of his mind to lead that keeps the residents happy and active. He is respectful of both residents and co-workers along with being empathic to life situations. Ronnie is a graduate of WVSD and makes decisions in his job that promotes the residents and WVSDB.
 
 
Resident - Abby
Abby
Abby was nominated and selected due to always being helpful in the dorm. She is respectful to both residents and staff. Abby demonstrates positivity, respect, helpfulness, and compassion towards other residents. Abby completes all tasks, chores and requests asked of her. She is a fabulous organizer in the dorm. Abby self-advocates what supports or items that is needed to make the experience of dorm living better.
Director of Student Living
Dr. Christine Lewis
Phone: (304) 822-4865
[email protected]