SCHOLARSHIP

Gary Curtis moved his young family to Texas in 1972 when he became Superintendent of the Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) in Austin. Gary grew up in Illinois, and he had a close relationship with his Deaf maternal grandparents, aunts and uncles who lived in his neighborhood, near the Illinois School for the Deaf. Gary was most profoundly influenced by his Deaf grandfather. Gary graduated from Illinois College and obtained a master’s from Gallaudet College. He taught language and composition and was a popular teacher and administrator at 3 schools for the deaf in other states. At the American School for the Deaf, he became Assistant Executive Director-Headmaster. At the age of 37, Gary was appointed Superintendent of TSD, which had over 700 students and was one of the largest residential schools in the country. He brought a Total Communication philosophy to TSD, which was a change for some. He was a collaborative leader who met frequently with staff and worked hard to promote cohesiveness.

In the early 1970s, enrollment at TSD was increasing, and facilities were at capacity. There were many parents and school districts who wanted their deaf students educated closer to home. The Regional Day School Program for the Deaf (RDSPD), was established by the Texas Legislature in 1973 for deaf/hard of hearing students ages birth through 21. The RDSPD began operation September 1, 1974 and incorporated existing countywide schools and urban ISD programs for the deaf. Gary Curtis was hired by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to be the first Director of Deaf Services. He and a team put together and managed the new RDSPD, which became a model for other states. Gary served as the TEA Director of Deaf Services from October 1, 1973 until he retired in 1995. He was an innovative leader who always enjoyed being around Deaf people, especially students. Gary remained a strong supporter of TSD as well as the RDSPD throughout his career. He passed away August 2, 2024.