Dana Miles, a English language arts teacher at the Washington State School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Vancouver, was named the 2023 Washington State Teacher of the Year.
Miles has taught at the School for the Deaf for six years, primarily in bilingual language arts: a class that combines the usage of English and American Sign Language to walk students through practical out-of-the-classroom scenarios such as using public transportation and finding housing.
As a member of the deaf community, Miles specializes in helping students make the transition from school to adult life in the school’s Work Experience program.
“The work Mrs. Miles does to prepare her students for the world after high school is phenomenal,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal in a press release shared on Monday morning. “The way she makes her students’ learning applicable to their lives and the use of real-world contexts sets them up for success after high school in a variety of ways.”
“Self-advocacy benefits all students from all walks of life,” said Miles. “I am passionate about seeing my students develop self-advocacy skills because these skills will carry them far in life.Miles will move on to be considered for the National Teacher of the Year award. The winner will be announced next spring.
