New sign language course makes impact beyond classroom
A student-led American sign language club generated enough interest at Poplar Bluff High School to establish a new foreign language class this school year. Now a movement
is happening in the community. Word is getting back to educators that students are applying what they have learned while providing customer service at their places of employment. Some students have further plans to pursue a related field of study in college. “I never expected it would have a community impact, but that would be the best hope,” said the trilingual Audrey Harris, who teaches ASL along with Spanish at PBHS. “To actually have it happening [affirms]… OK, we can go somewhere with this.” Audrey Harris' daughter,
Valleri Harris of the Class of 2020, founded the precursory ASL club during her senior year, with sponsorship from communication arts teacher Jennie Randolph. An Alaska native, Audrey Harris volunteered with the weekly club, and soon was inspired to renew her teaching certification in Missouri. She was first hired at PBHS to teach Spanish in 2020/21, while administrators explored introducing the ASL course. “I’m proud I have made a difference, but mostly just that a community is being established so people (hard of hearing) are able to talk and interact,” commented Valleri Harris, who is currently a sophomore at Drury University in Springfield, studying to be an interpreter.
