From: Janet Kurzd
Good afternoon, all. Below is the official Press Release for Dean’s
retirement.
Janet
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact Person: Janet Kurz
Company Name: Washington State School for the Blind
Telephone Number:
(360) 947-3302
Fax Number:
(360) 737-2120
Email Address:
janet.kurz@xxxxxxxxxxx
Web site address
www.wssb.wa.gov
Dr. Dean Stenehjem’s successful 30 year tenure leading the Washington
State School for the Blind (WSSB) will soon draw to a close.
Stenehjem, who has
been superintendent of the WSSB since 1990 informed the Board of
Trustees and Governor’s office that he plans to retire on June 30,
2016.
“My tenure at WSSB has been an amazing career, which would not have
been possible without great staff working side by side in helping to
improve program
and program options for blind and visually impaired (BVI) students. I
am grateful for the support and confidence that was provided by staff,
consumers,
the School’s Board of Trustees, the Governor’s office and many more.
As Helen Keller said, “Alone we can do so little, together we can do
so much”, was
something I tried to live by during my career.”
Dr. Stenehjem’s roots go back to North Dakota where he was presented
the opportunity to help develop a vocational/technical program for BVI
students in
the Grand Forks Public School System. His journey then took him into
an administrative position at the N.D. School for the Blind, followed
by a move to
Colorado, where he completed his doctoral program, then on to Iowa
where he was the Director of Education at the Iowa Braille and Sight
Saving School (School
for the Blind), followed by a move to the state of Washington. In
1986, Dean was hired as the Director of Education at WSSB, under
superintendent Dr.
Roy Brothers and in 1990, Dean was hired as superintendent.
While at WSSB, Dean served under five different Governors and worked
with amazing people who helped develop new programs and services that
provided options
and opportunities for students. This included major changes in
programs and facilities for the on-campus programs, expansion and
development of the Outreach
Program, development of the Braille Access Center, acquisition and
expansion of the Instructional Resource Center, increases in
professional development
for both on-campus and throughout the Pacific Northwest, development
of Accessible Online learning System, creation of the Assistive
Technology Services
for BVI, facilitation of statewide coordination of Birth–Three
Services, development of a new foundation “Pacific Foundation for
Blind Children”, and numerous
other initiatives. However, these were never done in isolation, but in
partnership with many state agencies, organizations, stakeholders,
staff, families,
the board and wide array of individuals both within our state and
throughout the country.
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