History of the NYS School for the Deaf
NYSSD Historical Archive Publication:
NYSSD History Timeline:
1800s
Summer 1874Ìý-ÌýMr. Alphonso Johnson, a deaf graduate of the New York Institution for the Deaf and a teacher there for some time, came to Rome to establish a school. Mr. Johnson was assisted by Dr. Thomas Gallaudet, who later became a trustee of the school.
March 22, 1875Ìý- The initial building, a rented house at 107 North Madison Street (now 515 North Madison Street) was formally opened, with an attendance of four pupils. Mr. Johnson was both principal and teacher.
September 1, 1875Ìý- The first academic year of the school, then called the Central New York Institution for Deaf-Mutes, begins with Mr. Johnson as principal.
[Picture of Edward Beverly Nelson]
September 1, 1876Ìý-ÌýMr. Edward Beverly Nelson, a graduate of Harvard and for several years a teacher at the New York Institution, assumed the principalship.
1878Ìý- Enrollment had reached nearly 100 pupils necessitating the ground breaking for additional permanent buildings.
1879Ìý- The boys’ building was completed.
1881Ìý- The girls’ building was completed.
1887Ìý- The Legislature of New York State appropriated a $40,000 grant to the Institution for the construction of the main building (later named Gallaudet Hall); a hospital; a boiler house; and a principal’s residence.
January 7, 1890Ìý- The main building was occupied for the first time.
1900s
August 1, 1909Ìý-Ìý Mr. Nelson retired as principal and was succeeded byÌýMr. Elbert A. Gruver, a graduate of Pennsylvania College.
August 1, 1919Ìý-Ìý Mr. Gruver resigned as principal of the Institution to accept the Superintendency at the Iowa School for the Deaf and was succeeded byÌýMr. Otis Allen Betts, a teacher for 13 years at the Institution.
1931Ìý- The school name was changed to become theÌýCentral New York School for the Deaf.
August 1, 1936Ìý- Mr. Betts retired as principal of the school and was succeeded byÌýMr. John Butler Hague, who at the time was Chief of the Special School’s Bureau, State Education Department, Albany, New York.
December 20, 1946Ìý- Mr. Hague retires.ÌýMr. Fred Sparks, Jr., was appointed acting principal.
January 20, 1947Ìý- The position of principal was changed to that of Superintendent, and Mr. Sparks was appointed to the position, which he held until his resignation in 1961.
1961Ìý-ÌýÌýMr. Charles G. Rawlings, a former principal at the school, was named Superintendent.
July 1, 1963Ìý- By act of State Legislature, the school becomes a state facility with powers transferred from a corporation to the jurisdiction of the State Education Department and the Board of Regents. The name of the school was changed to theÌýNew York State School for the Deaf.
May 1965Ìý-Ìý Mr. Rawlings resigned as Superintendent.
August 1965Ìý-ÌýMr. J. Jay Farman, who had been serving as headmaster of the Austine School in Vermont, was appointed Superintendent.
Fall 1965Ìý- Plans began for the development of a new school campus. With a multimillion-dollar appropriation from the State Legislature, construction was begun on the preprimary building.
September 1967Ìý- Preprimary building occupied.
October 1967Ìý- The Superintendent’s residence was completed.
1969Ìý- The dormitory-infirmary complex was completed.
September 1971Ìý- The administration-education complex completed.
1972 – 1975Ìý - Landscaping of school grounds and the development of outdoor recreation and athletic facilities.
1978Ìý- Mr. Farnam retired as Superintendent andÌýDr. Andrew RossettiÌýserves as Acting Superintendent until the appointment ofÌýMr. Robert SeiboldÌýwho served from 1978 to 1980.
1980Ìý- Dr. Rossetti again served as Acting Superintendent.
June 15, 1981Ìý- Mr. Philip E. CronlundÌýis appointed as Superintendent.
August 1999 - Mr. Cronlund retires andÌýMr. Dana Chapman, Head of the Secondary Educational Department, serves in the position of Acting Superintendent.
2000s
August 2000 - 2004 - Ms. Nancy Clark made NYSSD history as being the first female Superintendent at NYSSD.
August 2004Ìý-ÌýMr. Greg CareyÌýwas appointed as Interim Superintendent.
December 2005Ìý-ÌýMs. Carriann RayÌýwas appointed to the position of Superintendent.
September 2012Ìý-ÌýMr. Daniel RobertsÌýwas appointed to the position of Interim Superintendent.
March 2013 - Mr. Clifford Moses was appointed as Interim Superintendent.
August 2013 - Mr. David Hubman was appointed to the position of Superintendent. Retired 2018
2018 Interim Superintendent Nancy Benham formerly Assistant Superintendent
2019 Superintendent Joyce K Long appointed
2021 Interim Superintendent Kara Shore formerly Assistant Superintendent
2022 Superintendent Kara Shore appointed.