Board of Regents name new superintendents for Services for Deaf, School for Blind
The Board of Regents announced two big leadership shifts for their special school and services branches Monday afternoon.
Kami Van Sickle has been named the next superintendent of the South Dakota Services for the Deaf (SDSD), formerly known as the South Dakota School for the Deaf.
Jessica Vogel has been named the next superintendent for the South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (SDSBVI).
About Kami Van Sickle
Van Sickle is an experienced leader in deaf education and has been with SDSD for 12 years. She accepted the head position earlier this month and will take over for current superintendent, Kim Wadsworth, who retires this June.
Before beginning at SDSD, Van Sickle was a teacher for the deaf and hard of hearing in the Sioux Falls and Worthington school districts. Van Sickle started her career with SDSD in 2011 as an outreach consultant before transitioning to service coordinator in 2018.
More:Superintendent of School for the Deaf retiring, search for new leader begins
SDSD works to provide quality services for children who are deaf and hard of hearing, their families, schools, and educational teams statewide.
Services will continue to evolve to meet needs identified across the state, including all children who are deaf or hard of hearing, and extending and equalizing the audiology and educational outreach services across the state.
“The South Dakota Services for the Deaf team is the most knowledgeable, passionate team I've ever encountered," Van Sickle said in a statement. "I am excited to stand next to this amazing group and continue to provide top-notch pediatric audiology and educational outreach services for children who are deaf and hard of hearing and their families in our state."
About Jessica Vogel
Vogel, an assistant professor of education at Northern State University, will become the next superintendent for the SDSBVI and succeeds Superintendent Dan Trefz this June.
During her time at NSU, Vogel has worked alongside many of the students, teachers and staff at SDSBVI. Between the supervision of SDSBVI teacher training and her service on school committees and boards, Vogel is eager to continue establishing those relationships, she said in a statement.
"I look forward to working with our students and their families and supporting our teachers, staff, and outreach consultants," Vogel said in a statement. "To support growth in advocacy, instructional development, and independence for our students who are blind and visually impaired is the ultimate reward.”
SDSBVI is a K-12 accredited school by the South Dakota Department of Education in Aberdeen that supports children with vision loss and provides access to educational resources to prepare students for life. Enrollment on the Aberdeen campus averages about 28 students, with nearly 250 students served by the school's statewide outreach programs.
Vogel holds a doctorate in educational administration in special education, a master's degree in emotional and behavior disorders and a bachelor’s degree in special education. She is currently working on a master’s degree in visual Impairments.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Superintendents named for SD Services for Deaf, School for Blind
