Laurie Brown Named Director of Outreach Services at Willie Ross School for the Deaf

LONGMEADOW — Willie Ross School for the Deaf (WRSD) announced that Laurie Brown, who previously served as assistant education director for the school, has been promoted to WRSD’s Director of Outreach Services.

Brown’s promotion comes as Greg DeLisle, who previously served in the director of Outreach Services position and in a variety of roles at Willie Ross for more than 40 years, retired in June.

Brown joined WRSD in 2018 as assistant education director. In her new role, she will oversee services provided to students in public schools throughout Western Mass. WRSD’s Outreach program supports each individual student’s language and communication needs as determined by their individualized education plan (IEP) team. The Outreach program also provides consultation to faculty and professional staff in public schools, and also partners with school districts to develop, staff, implement, and manage programs for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. Brown will also continue to run the Early Intervention program at WRSD.

According to Bert Carter, president and CEO at Willie Ross, “our Outreach department has experienced a great deal of growth in recent years as we help local school districts in providing academic support for students with hearing loss. Laurie Brown understands our approach from the inside as assistant education director and will bring her knowledge and enthusiasm to this new and important role in serving school districts.”

Prior to joining Willie Ross, Brown was a teacher for 27 years, teaching at American School for the Deaf for 18 years and at California School for the Deaf, Riverside for eight years. She received a sixth-year degree in educational leadership from Quinnipiac University, a master’s degree in deaf education from the University of Rochester, and a bachelor’s degree in special education from Syracuse University.