2008-2009 Fellows: JoAnn Malone

joann_malone.jpgI have a B.S. in Business Administration, Belhaven College, Jackson, MS and a Masters of Ed. in Special Education with an emphasis in dual-sensory impairment from the University of Southern Mississippi.

      I spent 5 ½ years as a certified teacher of the visually impaired teaching students in grades 7-12 at the Mississippi School for the Blind.  I taught math, various business courses and was the coordinator of the work-study program.  While at MSB I served on bias review committees to represent the visually impaired population to ensure that state assessments were equally accessible to visually impaired and blind students.

     I am currently employed by the MS Department of Education as a Division Director in the Office of Student Assessment.  I serve as the NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) State Coordinator.   As the NAEP state coordinator, I co-chair a special-interest group of NAEP State Coordinator from around the county on the inclusion of students with disabilities and English language learners on large-scale assessments.

     During 2008, I served on the Council of Chief State School Officer’s State Collaborative on Assessment and Student Standards’ committee on Assessing Special Education Students.  I am currently serving on ETS’s National Advisory Committee as well as the Standing Committee for the Praxis Exam for Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments and do VI consulting with school districts in our state.