On November 3–4, the Michigan Department of Education Resource for Deaf/Hard of Hearing (MDE RDHH) will host a two-day opportunity to connect and explore the latest in Deaf Education. Professionals, school staff, and adult family members from across Michigan are invited to join in learning around this year’s theme, Language for Life: Transforming Education for the Whole Child. Attendees will hear from national and state leaders presenting current research and evidence-based practices, with parent-focused breakout sessions offered on the first day.
One event highlight will be a keynote presentation by Dr. Christina Rivera from the University of Arizona, called Redefining Roles: Putting the Teaching Back into Itinerant Teaching. In a recent interview with MDE RDHH, Dr. Rivera shared a preview of her presentation and key takeaways.
Dr. Rivera acknowledged the varied and ever-changing demands on DHH teacher consultants (itinerant teachers) and other professionals who work with students who are DHH. With larger caseloads due to teacher shortages, fewer placement options, and increasing responsibility to guide general and special educators unfamiliar with the needs of DHH students, teacher consultants face unique challenges. Increasingly, these professionals are becoming the primary instructors for students who are DHH, but should they be?
Drawing on her own experiences as an itinerant teacher and supervisor of preservice and inservice teachers of the d/Deaf, Dr. Rivera will argue that DHH teacher consultants should play a greater role in educating their students who are DHH. With their specialized understanding of language deprivation and its impact on academic progress, they are uniquely qualified to provide specially designed instruction and advocate for appropriate supports.
Her keynote will reintroduce the principles of systematic instructional delivery, including data-driven intensive instruction and evidence-based practices, while also empowering consultants to advocate for their services to better meet the needs of their students.
For more information, including Dr. Rivera’s full bio, visit the 2025 MDE RDHH Statewide Conference page.
From MDE RDHH Education Consultant John Kirsh