Grew up in Maiden, NC, Graduated HS 1968

Graduated in 1972 Appalachian State University BS Degree Health and Physical Education

Additional Certifications: Deaf ED, 9-12 English, Middle School Language Arts

Job History:

Charleston County Public Schools 1971-1973

North Carolina School for the Deaf 1973-2001

Retired

NCSD:

Coached Middle School Girls Basketball

Coached High School Girls Basketball

Began Girls Volleyball Program, NCSD

Mason-Dixon Champions 1979, 1981, 1986

National Deaf Champions Girls Basketball 1986

National Deaf Volleyball Coach of the Year 1987

Served on NCSD Foundation Board 14 Years

Chairperson for 9 years

Serving on the Alder Springs Board presently

Recieved the Distinguished Service Award from Deaf Seniors of America 2015

Recently appointed to Board of Trustees for NCSD and elected Chairperson

Dr. Mary “Tammy” Weiner is a 1977 graduate of North Carolina School for the Deaf. She is a retired administrator and professor with the Department of Psychology at Gallaudet University. Weiner received her bachelor's degree in psychology from Lenoir-Rhyne College and her master’s degree in school psychology from Gallaudet University. Her doctoral degree from the University of Maryland is in human development. She is an active member of the International Converge Ministries Deaf Catalyst Team. She is married to Dr. Steve Weiner, and they reside in Maryland.  



Wallace is a proud CODA, born and raised in Morganton, NC. His mother, Martha, dedicated her career to educating deaf children, including 25 years at NCSD, and his father, Carlisle, actively served the deaf community in Morganton for many years. Both Martha and Carlisle were educated as residential students from K-12 at SCSDB. Wallace feels truly honored to carry on their legacy as a member of the NCSD Board of Trustees. 

Professionally, Wallace has nearly 30 years of experience in finance and executive leadership, including 20+ years in banking and 7 years as a Chief Financial Officer in the Healthcare industry. He is currently a Division Executive at Wells Fargo.

Wallace currently serves on the Board of Directors for Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center, and previously served on the Board of Directors for Alder Springs in Morganton. He has enjoyed spending many weekends on the sidelines as a volunteer soccer coach and on the trails as Assistant Scout Master. 

Wallace earned his Bachelor’s Degree at the University of North Carolina and his MBA from Northwestern University. He resides in Charlotte with his wife and two children. 



• Born in Spruce Pine, NC to Deaf parents, John Autrey & Beulah Storie who were graduates of NC School for the Deaf at Morganton.

• Attended public school for 2 years prior to becoming Deaf at age 8 from genetic heredity. (CODA)

• Siblings include an older Deaf sister who graduated at NCSD in 1961 & Deaf uncle (NCSD, 1946) as well as numerous Deaf cousins in attendance.
• NCSD graduate in 1977. Ranked 7^th as an Honor Student in a class of 60 graduating Seniors. School organizational member of Jr. NAD, Boy Scout (Eagle Scout-1973), Student Government & NCSD Historical Museum Committee.

• Spearheaded & established as Founder for the NCSD Historical Museum in 1977 as a Senior Class Project.

• Retired the State of NC at the NC School for the Deaf as Community Employment Specialist in his 25^th year. 

• Currently President NCSD Historical Museum. 

• 2006 NCSD Year Book Dedicatee.

• NC Association of the Deaf Awards (1989, 1993) & NCSD Alumni Awards (1995, 1997)

• Memberships: NCAD/NAD, NCSD Alumni, NCSD Historical Museum, NC Deaf-Blind Associates, NC Deaf Seniors

• Former Deaf Self-Advocacy Master Trainer of National Consortium of Interpreter Education Centers (Gallaudet Southeast Regional) (2010-2015)



• Gallaudet University Academic Bowl South Regional Host Coordinator Award (2017).

• NC American Sign Language Teacher Association (ASLTA) - Marie J. Philip Bilingual and Bicultural Education Award for Deaf Children in North Carolina (2017)



My name is Yvonne White (but everyone calls me “Mickie”) and I live in Morganton .  I grew up in Boone and graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in Home Economics Education.  I began at NCSD in 1978 and worked there for 31 years.  Since retirement I have trained as a Literacy Tutor & volunteer two mornings a week with elementary students at Forest Hill Elementary School. I also serve as VP on the NCSD Foundation Board



Candice M. Tate, Ph.D. has had a profound hearing loss since age 3 and was mainstreamed in public schools across the United States and France with no exposure to ASL or other deaf individuals until graduate school. She entered the Ph.D. program at Gallaudet University in 1996 and went on to attain Advanced+ Fluency in ASL and earned her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology in 2004. She completed her psychology internship at the University of Rochester, Strong Hospital, Deaf Wellness Center in Rochester, New York and her post-doctorate at the University of Colorado. She spent three years at the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education writing grants and conducting research for state systems and partnering with NASMHPD for various projects and publications. 

For over ten years, her private practice, Purple Monarch, LLC, was located in Colorado and Montana where she provided assessment and psychotherapy to deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing populations as well as rehabilitative services to geriatric populations. During that time, she provided specialized assessment and consultation services to schools serving deaf and hard of hearing children in Minnesota.

She spent five years as the State Director of Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Developmental Disabilities for Deaf Populations in Atlanta, Georgia before joining North Carolina’s Broughton Hospital as a Program Director for the Deaf Services unit. In addition to her work at the hospital, she spends evenings and weekends providing community mental health services at Hickory Counseling in their Morganton location and via telehealth. 

In her spare time, Dr. Tate loves to craft, garden, read, and laugh. She has a husband, one adult son, two adult step-children, two cats, and two dogs. 



As a child of Deaf parents, Rey spent most of his educational years at NCSD in Morganton. His decision to go into teaching college-level ASL was a profound result of a personal life-saving experience when a first responder nurse could communicate with him in ASL in a time of emergency. Rey is a recent graduate of the M.A. in Sign Language Education program from Gallaudet University and has taught ASL at Blue Ridge Community College since 2020. As an NCSD alumni, he serves as the President of the NCSD Alumni Association. When Rey isn’t teaching ASL or on stage performing, you may find him pursuing his greatest hobbies in concert photography, fishing and hunting. 



Ken Jones attended Corning Community College in Corning, NY, and then, at the encouragement of his physics teacher, he went on to Syracuse University for undergraduate and graduate studies completing his BS and MBA. He worked for United Technologies in Syracuse, NY, and Bristol Myers Squibb in Evansville, IN and Princeton, NJ.  He accepted a position with Merck Pharmaceutical working in New Jersey,  Pennsylvania, and finally to Wilson as the Plant Manager.  He retired in 2011.

Mr. Jones has served extensively in the Wilson community and has been active in leadership positions in various community organizations, such as on the Barton College Board of Trustees, chair of the Wilson Chamber of Commerce, board member and chair of Diversified Opportunities Inc., and chair of Wilson 20/20, (now called Wilson Forward).  He has served on the board of Wilson Community College and currently is serving as chair of the Building and Grounds Committee. He served on the Board of Habitat for Humanity and served as Chair of the Construction committee. He is also on the board of Healthcare Foundation of Wilson and the Freeman Roundhouse African American Museum.  Mr. Jones previously served on the board of OIC of Wilson, the Whirligig Park & Museum, the Wilson Rotary Club, the Preservation of Wilson and as a member of the Industrial Manufacturing Council. He currently volunteers for Meals on Wheels, the Community Soup Kitchen, and the CHEW program. 

Mr. Jones served as Chairman of the Evansville Association for the Blind in Evansville, Indiana.  He also co-chaired the committee in Wilson to support and successfully preserved the ENCSD.

“My purpose in life is to help others and to bring people together to create a stronger, more cohesive, and sustainable community for all.” Mr. Jones is a native of Virginia.  He and his wife, Wanda, have three adult children and two grandchildren.  

Gary Farmer is a former ENCSD teacher, coach, athletic director, dean of students, transportation coordinator, and the ropes course designer and facilitator.  He has served those who are deaf, multi-disabled, and blind.  He served on the Wilson County Board of Education for 12 years, the All-State Board of Education for 2 years, and is currently a member of the Wilson Community College Board.

Mr. Farmer has multiple master’s degrees in education and is certified in thirteen areas with the State Board of Education.  He is fluent in American Sign Language, a former deacon at the First Baptist Church in Wilson, North Carolina, and a member of five athletic halls of fame.

Mr. Farmer was born and raised in Eastern North Carolina.  He is a retired educator of over 50 years.  He is married to his wife of 54 years, Brenda, with two sons.  A community lead and recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award.



Dr. David Dolman earned a master’s degree in deaf education from Northwestern University and a doctorate in educational psychology from Loyola University Chicago.  He taught deaf students in Maryland and Illinois before working for two years as a teacher educator at Mico College in Kingston, Jamaica.  For over 30 years, he served as coordinator of the Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program at Barton College, including stints as department chair and dean of the School of Education.  During that time, he also spent a semester as a Fulbright Scholar at Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Rob Boyette is a native of Wilson County in the Rock Ridge Community.  He is a graduate of East Carolina University with a BS in History, minor in Political Science; MA in History – Thesis entitled “The North Carolina Farmers’ Alliance Legislature of 1891: Harvest time for the Farmer.”

He is a retiree of the North Carolina Division of State Historic Sites, Office of Archives and History, North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. His most recent position was Director of Operations for 24 historic sites and museums, statewide. Other positions held during his 32-year career included Programs Coordinator at Bentonville Battlefield, Chief of Interpretation for State Historic Sites, Director of the North Carolina Transportation Museum, and Section Chief for the Southeast Section of State Historic Sites. Mr. Boyette’s professional leadership includes service as President of the North Carolina Museums Council 1992-94 and State Director for the Southeastern Museums Conference, 1994-96.

Mr. Boyette is the recipient of numerous awards including the Administrator’s Award, North Carolina Historic Sites, 1986; Most Outstanding N. C. Public Manager Project, 1990; Governor’s Award for Excellence Nominee, 1997; Professional Service Award, North Carolina Museums Council, 2001 and the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award, 2012

He has served the county of Wilson on many committees such as the Wilson County Youth Athletic Association coach (1990s), the Ridge Youth Athletic Association coach and board member (1990s), Hunt High School Parent Teacher Organization President and Fundraising Chair (ca.2003-2007), Swamp OFWB Church: Service includes the Deacon Board, Building Committee Chairman, Sunday School teacher, and choir member.  He has served on the Wilson 20/20 Board of Advisors, Tobacco Farm Life Museum Board, Rock Ridge Volunteer Fire Department Board Member, Wilson County Partnership for Children Board, and Wilson County 4-H Youth Advisory Council.  

Mr. Boyette is presently serving on the Wilson County Board of Commissioners, Chairman 2018-present, Wilson County Tourism Development Authority Board, Eastpointe Mental Health Board (Managed Care Organization), Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf Board of Trustees, Board Member, Friends of Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site, Wilson Community College Board of Trustees, Board Member, Wilson Chamber of Commerce, the Turning Point Workforce Development Consortium, Chairman and is currently a member of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, the American Battlefield Trust, the Wilson Chamber of Commerce, and the Rotary Club of Greater Wilson.

Dr. Patrick C. Miller is the executive director of the Central Carolina Regional Education Service Alliance (CCRESA).  Prior to his appointment at CCRESA, he served as superintendent of Greene County Schools for 14 years, retiring June 30, 2022.

In addition to his responsibilities with CCRESA, Dr. Miller works with STEM East, an initiative of the NC East Alliance, and Nash County Public Schools as a District Leadership Coach.  He serves as a consultant/advisor for Moseley Architects and HES Facilities Management.  He also serves as an executive coach for new superintendents in eastern North Carolina. 

After graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1993, Dr. Miller taught choral music/theater arts at Greene Central High School for 10 years before accepting the NC Principal Fellows scholarship/loan.  He graduated twice from ECU - once in 2005 with a Master of School Administration and again in 2011 with a Doctor of Education.

Dr. Miller is still very active in professional organizations at the state and national levels, and he participated in numerous leadership programs while serving Greene County Schools.  He is a frequent presenter at conferences at both the state and national levels.   

He serves on numerous Boards of Directors, commissions, and committees at the local, state, and national levels. In 2017, he was appointed to and elected chair of the North Carolina Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Commission (PEPSC).  Miller’s third term on PEPSC ended on August 31, 2022. Dr. Miller was also appointed to the Governor’s Commission on Access to Sound Basic Education in the fall of 2017.

Dr. Miller was named North Carolina’s Central Region Superintendent of the Year for 2014-15 and again in 2018-19.  In November 2018, he was named the 2019 A. Craig Phillips North Carolina Superintendent of the Year.  Miller was inducted into the East Carolina University Educators Hall of Fame in October 2015.  He received the Friday Medal for Educational Innovation from NC State’s Friday Institute in November 2017.  In the spring of 2018, Miller was named “Citizen of the Year” by the Greene County Chamber of Commerce.  Miller received the inaugural Administrator of the Year Award from Conn-Selmer Education in Mishawaka, IN in June 2019.  He was also recognized by the UNC School of Education with the Alumni Achievement Award in October 2019.  He received the 2020 Raymond Sarbaugh Leadership Award from the NC Association of School Administrators.  In June 2022, Dr. Miller was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Governor Roy Cooper. 

Dr. Miller lives in Snow Hill with his wife of 30 years, Becky, and their children.  The oldest, Paul, graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2022.  He lives and works in Charlotte.  James is a Department of Defense SMART Scholar & Chancellor’s Fellow in the Honors College at East Carolina University where he studies engineering.  His daughter, Mary Amantha, is in 1st grade!

Sharon Lott has an M.S., M.A., ASLTA certification: Professional, SLPI: Superior Plus. She is retired from ASL Training and Evaluation Coordinator at NTID/RIT.  She currently works with NTID, Bridge Oregon, and several other organizations. 

Ms. Lott  is a national SLPI: ASL trainer and rater with experience in providing training as far as Ghana and Kenya, Africa. Locally, she has taught at Central Piedmont Community College, Lenior-Rhyne College, Western Piedmont Community College, Gardner Webb University, Appalachian University, and Eastern Kentucky University.  

Ms. Lott was a Staff Development Specialist at North Carolina School for the Deaf (NCSD) and Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf (ENCSD). She coordinated and taught ASL, Deaf Culture, Linguistics and a variety of other sign related topics at both schools. She possesses Professional Level ASL certification from the American Sign Language Teacher Association (ASLTA) and continues to serve as an ASLTA evaluator.  

She has 3 children, Leslie, Kristina, and James, and is a proud grandmother to Lathan.

Melissa Hargrove brings a deep commitment to educational development in her role. Currently serving as an Educational Development Assistant at the Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf, Ms. Hargrove’s expertise lies at the intersection of education and technology.

A proud alumna of the ENCSD, Ms. Hargrove has dedicated her career to advancing educational opportunities for students. Holding an associate in arts in General Studies from Austin Community College and an associate in science in Information Technology from Wilson Community College, she combines her passion for learning with a solid foundation in technologies.

Ms. Hargrove’s dedication to the well-being and success of both students and the institution is evident in her years of contributions to the ENCSD community.  Her connection to the ENCSD goes beyond her professional responsibilities. She proudly serves as the President of the ENCSD Alumni Association, where her leadership is instrumental in fostering a strong and supportive network among former students. She enjoys the outdoors and is a devoted cat mom to her feline companion, Bay.