Educator Gives Back to Alma Mater as Teacher for Deaf, Hard of Hearing Students

This fall, Amber White (M.A.T. '24) will join the Cobb County School District's Helping Outstanding People Everyday (HOPE) Program, which provides support for students who are deaf and hard of hearing, those with visual impairments and students who are orthopedically impaired.

ATLANTA—Georgia State University student Amber White spent this spring student teaching at her alma mater, Kennesaw Mountain High School, where she worked directly with students who are deaf and hard of hearing.

White brings a unique perspective to her teaching. She’s a member of the Deaf community, earned her master’s degree in social work from Gallaudet University and spent several years as a social worker supporting deaf and hard of hearing children before deciding to go back to school to study deaf education.

“As a former school social worker, I was deeply affected by the challenges faced by deaf and hard of hearing children,” White said. “This experience ignited a strong desire for change, leading me to embark on a new path within the educational realm.”

According to the National Deaf Center, high school, college and graduate school graduation rates for deaf and hard of hearing students are up to 15 percent lower compared to hearing students. Jessica Scott, an associate professor in the College of Education & Human Development and coordinator for the Deaf education program, believes educators like White can have a major impact on students in the Deaf community.

“Her achievements make her an excellent role model for her students,” Scott said. “Most teachers of the deaf are actually hearing, so connecting with a professional in the classroom who is a highly trained professional is an important experience for deaf children.”

Scott and other university faculty members and mentors praised White in her student teaching evaluations for being an outstanding educator who’s committed to serving the Deaf community.

Her dedication to her academic pursuits and her students recently earned White the 2024 Outstanding Deaf Education Student Award at the College of Education & Human Development’s Honors Day Ceremony. This award recognizes a student who demonstrates an outstanding commitment to deaf education and who shows promise as a future educator.

“This recognition not only validates my hard work and dedication, but also reinforces the positive impact I can have on the lives of deaf and hard of hearing children,” White said. “Furthermore, it highlights the trust placed in me by my former high school teacher and now supervisor, Bobbie Ealy, when she hired me as a new teacher for the field. This serves as a testament to the enduring and positive influence teachers can have on their students’ lives, even after graduation.”

White graduates with a master’s in May and plans to take a hard-earned respite this summer before joining Cobb County School District's Helping Outstanding People Everyday (HOPE) Program, which provides support for students who are deaf and hard of hearing, those with visual impairments and students who are orthopedically impaired.

She’s looking forward to taking this next step in her education career and appreciates how the students and faculty at Georgia State prepared her for it.

“I’ve not only found a place to call home, but also a supportive work family who welcomed me with open arms,” she said. “Georgia State University will always hold a special place in my heart for providing me with the skills I need and confirming that I’ve truly found my calling and my place in this world.”

— Story by Claire Miller