Welcome Message:
Hello! I’m Dr. Heather Laine, assistant superintendent/director of Louisiana School for the Deaf. I can’t believe that I have been here for almost seven weeks after moving here from Arizona.
After moving here at the beginning of July, I was quarantined at home for two weeks while doing telework because I was from Arizona which had the high numbers of COVID cases. After two weeks and receiving the COVID result of negative, I was thrilled to be on the campus and had the opportunity to meet with SSD and LSD leaders. I had the opportunity to meet LSD teachers, paraeducators, and residential advisors. In the last two weeks, I have seen our LSD staff working so hard in providing learning opportunities virtually and getting our campus ready.
Between mid-July and now, my priority has changed by focusing on our LSD staff to prepare and provide the educational opportunities through virtual and in person for our students since August 3 as well as following the reentry plan in order to have the campus ready for your child. With the recent announcement from Superintendent Garrett of delaying our in person learning from August 17 to September 14th were based on the two facts: the increased numbers of COVID cases across the state of Louisiana and ensuring our campus is a safe and healthy environment for our students according to our reentry plan. Our whole staff on the LSDVI campus is working so hard.
This is our new normal as we wanted to provide the best educational opportunities for your child through virtual as of now but knowing that we truly care about your child’s health and being safe on the campus during this time. We cannot wait to see your child on the campus on Monday, September 14.
Dr. Heather Laine
Professional Bio:
Dr. Heather Laine began her education career as a paraeducator with Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) in the late spring of 1999 then became a teacher of the self-contained special education classroom for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students from preschool to high school from August 1999 to July 2006. After LACOE, she moved to Mesa, Arizona to work at Sequoia Deaf School for 14 years where she was employed as a teacher, elementary assistant principal, and then a K-12 principal. With a passion for serving DHH children and young adults, Dr. Laine has invested countless hours in shaping the futures of others, through her role as a principal, assistant principal, teacher, mentor, and friend.
Dr. Laine keeps the students as the focus of all of her decisions and she strives to create the best environment possible for students and staff. She is excited about the LSD community; the faculty and staff; and the students and their families. She has a goal of being transparent and collaborative at LSD. Dr. Laine is excited to work with everyone to make LSD the best that it can be.