DuBard School for Language Disorders

Recent posts

DuBard School to Host 15th Annual Dyslexia Symposium Feb. 3

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Time is running out to reserve a spot for the 15th Annual DuBard Symposium: Dyslexia and Related Disorders set for Feb. 3-4 at the DuBard School for Language Disorders on the campus of The University of Southern Mississippi.

The International Association Method Task Force and the Southern Miss Office of Professional Development and Educational Outreach are also serving as partners in the symposium. Continuing education units have been approved for speech pathologists, educators and school administrators who attend.

“Educators, administrators, speech-language pathologists, psychologists, social workers and parents from across the Southeast gather each year to gain information, services, products and networking opportunities to assist them in supporting and serving children with dyslexia and related disorders,” said Missy Schraeder, professional development coordinator for the DuBard School. “We are excited about the opportunity to share the expertise of nationally-known speakers with them.”

Two renowned keynote speakers will kick off the symposium each day. Georgann Mire, an educational consultant from Baton Rouge, La., will discuss motivational strategies as well as accommodations that can be used to help children with learning disabilities. Suzanne Carreker, vice president of program development for the Neuhaus Education Center in Houston, Texas will speak about activities and strategies that develop oral language and improve reading comprehension.

Other topics will include the following:

• How to prepare for college transitions
• National standards for teaching students with dyslexia
• Reading and the brain: Understanding and helping students with reading difficulties
• Applications for print for children on the autism spectrum

Early registration for the symposium is $115 before Jan. 7, 2011. For more information or to register, call the Office of Professional Development and Outreach at 601.266.4186. Registration forms may be downloaded online at www.usm.edu/profdev_edoutreach/DYSLEXIA.html

Filed under: Hattiesburg, K-12, USM, DuBard School for Language Disorders, Dyslexia, education, International Association Method Task Force, Medicine, The University of Southern Mississippi

School of Music to Host Vocal Arts and Science Symposium Jan. 21-22

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The University of Southern Mississippi School of Music will blend two popular disciplines when it hosts the inaugural Vocal Arts and Science Symposium on the Hattiesburg campus January 21-22.

Featured clinicians will include two of the nation’s leading pedagogical and voice experts: Dr. Karen Peeler, professor of voice and vocal pedagogy at Ohio State University and Dr. Thomas Cleveland, director of vocology at Vanderbilt’s Bill Wilkerson Center.

Southern Miss professors representing the departments of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Theatre and Dance, Mass Communication and Journalism and the School of Music will participate in panel discussions, lectures and the recital.

Additionally, local speech therapists, hearing specialists and professional singers will be serving as panelists and speakers. Physicians from Hattiesburg Clinic and Wesley Medical Center will also offer their expertise and assistance. These include: otolaryngologists, John D. Sobiesk, M.D., Robert McCrary, M.D., FAAAI-ENT and facial plastic surgery, and Charles E. Guice, III, M.D. FACS-ENT and facial plastic surgery.

Symposium topics will include voice production, tension and injury, among many others. Master classes will be available to give practical methods and techniques on vocal improvement in speech and various styles of singing.

“This is a totally different and new realm of interdisciplinary collaboration,” said Dr. Kimberley Davis, associate professor of voice at Southern Miss. “This is a significant event being that it is the first time to bring the realms of art and science together face-to-face. We have the opportunity to appreciate and develop a respect for each other while gaining knowledge in and of the other field.”

“Great teachers are always looking for new techniques or fresh ways of communicating their subject matter or concepts. This symposium is the perfect opportunity to do so.”

The symposium is open to members of the National Associations of Teachers of Singing (NATS), the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), private studio teachers, professional singers and speakers, K-12 teachers, choir members/directors, students and all who have an interest in professional or avocational voice usage.

A recital titled, “The Joy of Singing” will take place Friday, January 21 at 7:30 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Hattiesburg. The concert is free and open to the public.

Symposium sponsors include Forrest General Hospital, Hattiesburg Clinic ENT Associates, Partners for the Arts, National Association of Teachers of Singing Inc., DuBard School for Language Disorders and Kappa Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota.

For more information or to register, visit www.usm.edu/music/index.php/studios or call The University of Southern Mississippi Office of Professional Development and Educational Outreach at 601.266.4186.

Filed under: Arts, Medical, USM, Charles E. Guice, DuBard School for Language Disorders, Forrest General Hospital, Hattiesburg, Hattiesburg Clinic and Wesley Medical Center, Hattiesburg Clinic ENT Associates, Hattiesburg Mississippi, John D. Sobiesk, Kimberley Davis, Music, Music Teachers National Association, Robert McCrary, Singing, University of Southern Mississippi, University of Southern Mississippi Office of Professional Development and Educational Outreach, University of Southern Mississippi School of Music, Wesley Medical Center, Westminster Presbyterian Church

New Officers & Directors Named For The Greater PineBelt Community Foundation

The Greater PineBelt Community Foundation has named new officers and directors for 2011.  New officers include:

· President:  Hayden Mitchell, Executive Vice President, The First – A National Banking Association

· Vice President: Iris Easterling, Department of English, William Carey University

· Secretary:  Paul Laughlin, First Vice President & Trust Officer, Trustmark Bank

· Treasurer: Richard Topp, Partner, Nicholson and Company, PLLC

· Immediate Past President:  Ed Langton, Chairman and CEO, Grand Bank

New Directors include:

· Alex Agnew, CFO, Hattiesburg Clinic

· Mike Axton, ChFC, CLU, Corporate and Endowment Solutions, Inc.

· Jim Compton, General Manager & CEO, South Mississippi Electric Power Association

· Dr. Frances Karnes, Director, The Frances A. Karnes Center for Gifted Studies

· Michelle Mabry, CFP®, AIF®, Senior Financial Officer, Wealth Management Consultants

· Joshua Mars, JD, LLM, Copeland, Cook, Taylor and Bush, P.A.

· Dr. Steve Ramp, JD, Pastor Westminster Presbyterian Church

· Jon Mark Weathers, JD, University Council, The University of Southern Mississippi

The new officers and board of directors are joined by current board members: Dr. Ben Carmichael, Retired Cardiologist with Hattiesburg Clinic; Mike Collins, Mississippi Power; David Fortenberry, Stewart Sneed Hewes; Drew Foxworth, Foxworth & Shephard, P.A.; Bernard Green, Bernard Green Insurance, Inc; William P. “Phil” Hanberry, Hanco Corp; Dan Kibodeaux, United Way of Southeast Mississippi; Edward J. “Ed” Langton, Grand Bank; Morgan McCarty, Regions Bank; Stace Mercier, USM Foundation;Gene Owens, Owens Business Machines, Inc; Lucy Parkman, Community Leader; Michael Shemper, Michael J. Shemper, PLLC; Ralph Simmons, retired Vice President, Sunbeam-Oyster Corporation; Sheila Varnado, R3SM, Inc; and Benny Waddle, Hancock Bank.

Board of Directors who have served since the inception of the PineBelt Foundation and who will be rolling off the Board of Directors include:  Robert Jackson, Sr., Gwen James, Andy Leslie, Dr. Aubrey Lucas, Andy Mercier, and Wanda Simpson.

Other Board of Directors rolling off include:  Dr. Richard Clark, Skippy Haik, Bob Pierce, Lou Ann Poynter, Mike Ratcliff, Andy Stetelman, Dr. Christy Thornton, Larry Watson, and Jim Yelverton.

The mission of The Greater PineBelt Community Foundation is to build better communities through philanthropy.  The PineBelt Foundation, a 501(c)(3), manages numerous charitable funds set up by compassionate donors who want to leave a legacy and make a difference.  Some of the endowed funds include United Way, The Domestic Abuse Family Shelter, The Association for the Rights for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities (ARC), The DuBard School for Language Disorders, The Family YMCA and The Southern Pines Animal Shelter.

For more information about the PineBelt Foundation, please visit www.PineBeltFoundation.org, www.Facebook.com/PineBeltFoundation or call 601.583.6180.

Filed under: Business, Featured, Forrest County, Jones County, Lamar County, Alex Agnew, Andy Leslie, Andy Mercier, Andy Stetelman, Association for the Rights for Individuals, Aubrey Lucas, Ben Carmichael, Bernard Green Insurance Inc, Bob Pierce, Christy Thornton, Dan Kibodeaux, David Fortenberry, Department of English, Drew Foxworth, DuBard School for Language Disorders, Ed Langton, Endowment Solutions Inc., Frances A. Karnes Center for Gifted Studies, Frances Karnes, Gene Owens, Grand Bank, Greater PineBelt Community Foundation, Gwen James, Hanco Corp, Hancock Bank, Hattiesburg Clinic, Hayden Mitchell, Iris Easterling, Jim Compton, Jim Yelverton, Jon Mark, Larry Watson, Lou Ann Poynter, Lucy Parkman, Mike Axton, Mike Collins, Mike Ratcliff, Mississippi Electric Power Association, Other Board of Directors, Owens Business Machines Inc, Pastor Westminster Presbyterian Church, Paul Laughlin, Ralph Simmons, REGIONS BANK, Richard Clark, Richard Topp, Robert Jackson Sr., Sheila Varnado, Stace Mercier, Steve Ramp, Stewart Sneed Hewes, The Domestic Abuse Family Shelter, The Southern Pines Animal Shelter, Trustmark Bank, USM Foundation, Wanda Simpson, William Carey University

How can I give Back this Holiday Season? | Greater PineBelt Community Foundation

With the recent announcement of Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder of Facebook, to give away most of his wealth, attention has been drawn to charitable giving this holiday season.

“People wait until late in their career to give back. But why wait when there is so much to be done?” said Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder, CEO, and president of Facebook. “With a generation of younger folks who have thrived on the success of their companies, there is a big opportunity for many of us to give back earlier in our lifetime and see the impact of our philanthropic efforts.” Echoing his sentiments, the PineBelt Foundation continues to focus on charitable giving at all stages of life.

The holiday season is wonderful time to give back to an organization or charitable cause that you are passionate about.  And by giving through the PineBelt Foundation, you know that your donation will work to enhance your community. Whether you are establishing an endowment or scholarship fund or giving to one of our recognized 68 charitable funds, you are creating a better community in which to live.

“Donors love the simplicity of establishing and supporting a fund through the PineBelt Foundation,” said Ed Langton, President of the Board of Directors. “The foundation handles all administrative, legal, accounting and investment matters for the donor. And, if donors open a Donor Advised Fund (one type of Fund at the PineBelt Foundation), they can get a tax deduction before the end of the year, and decide next year which charity to give to.”

Contributions to funds may be made at any time with cash, securities, real estate, or other types of assets.  Or, contributions also may be made at a future date through deferred gifts such as life insurance, qualified retirement benefits, bequests, charitable remainder trusts, and charitable gift annuities.  This is the time of year to think about what you are passionate about and how you would like to give back.

PineBelt Foundation recently opened an endowment for ARC

The Greater PineBelt Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that connects people with charitable causes that matter to them. “The Pine Belt region has benefited tremendously this year from the charitable efforts of The Greater PineBelt Community Foundation” said Langton. “In 2010 we gave over $300,000 in grants to support various charitable projects.”

Some examples of our funds and the impact on the community include:

>       Safety in Numbers Fund – The ADP Leadership PineBelt 2010 class put up house numbers in the Palmer’s Crossing area to assist emergency personnel.

>       Operation: Kover Our K-9s – Chris Cook and concerned citizens provided bullet-proof vests to six police dogs.

>       Dig A Well Fund started by Harrison St. John built a water well in Africa.

>       Angel Face Foundation Fund led by Holliman St. John helped a class attend a school field trip.

>       Extra Table led by Robert St. John helps feed the hungry.

>       Hearing Maximized led by Dr. Peggy Carlin helped Tegucigalpa’s school for the Deaf in Honduras.

>       Numerous Scholarships – over 50 students received $1,000+ in scholarships to schools across the country.

>       The Family Y received a $23,500 grant from their endowment.

>       The Southern Pines Animal Shelter received a $2,300 grant from their endowment.

>       Sumrall Development Fund – to assist the town of Sumrall.

Currently the PineBelt Foundation has endowments for the United Way of Southeast Mississippi and four of their agencies:  Domestic Abuse Family Shelter, Association for the Rights of Individuals with Developmental Disabilities (ARC), The Family Y, and DuBard School for Language Disorders.

“Establishing an endowment with the PineBelt Foundation makes financial sense for a non-profit,” said Dan Kibodeaux, United Way Executive Director. “An endowment is invested for long-term growth and the income from the investment is used support the agency’s operations.”

“We are so grateful for all that we have been given and giving back to a charitable organization that you are passionate about is just another way of saying thanks,” added Kibodeaux.

For a complete list of active funds with the PineBelt Foundation or for additional information, please visit www.PineBeltFoundation.org, www.facebook.com/PineBeltFoundation, or call 601.583.6080.

Filed under: Business, Featured, Lifestyle, Angel Face Foundation Fund, Charitable organization, Charities, Chris Cook, Community foundation, Dan Kibodeaux, Domestic Abuse Family Shelter, Donor advised fund, DuBard School for Language Disorders, Ed Langton, Fundraising, Greater PineBelt Community Foundation, Harrison St. John, Holliman St. John, Peggy Carlin, PineBelt Foundation, Robert St. John, Sumrall Development Fund, The Southern Pines Animal Shelter

Greater PineBelt Community Foundation Celebrates Community Foundation Week

During the week of November 12 – 18, the Greater PineBelt Community Foundation (PineBelt Foundation) will join more than 700 community foundations across America celebrating Community Foundation Week.

The PineBelt Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was formed as a charitable organization to receive gifts (cash, stock, property, life insurance, etc.) from individuals, businesses, and organizations who wish to support not-for-profit organizations or charitable causes in the Pine Belt.  The organization was formed in 1997 by local civic leaders through the Area Development Partnership’s Leaders for a New Century. Currently the PineBelt Foundation manages 68 Funds and has assets of $1.5 million.

The PineBelt Foundation is governed by a thirty-four member board of directors who represent a broad cross section of community leaders in the Pine Belt area.  These Directors are servant leaders who commit their time and service to help enhance their community.

In a down economy, with limited resources, and a growing need for services to help families in need, we are more determined than ever to bring our community partners together to find innovative and effective solutions to help with the needs of our community” said Theresa Erickson, Executive Director of the PineBelt Foundation. “One of our goals is to help grow endowed funds for United Way agencies and other non-profit organizations. To date, generous donors have started endowments for the following United Way agencies:  United Way of South Mississippi, The Domestic Abuse Family Shelter (capital campaign), The Family Y, the DuBard School for Language Disorders, and The Association for the Rights for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities.”

“Donor-advised funds within community foundations seem to be a wave of the future throughout the country,” added Erickson.  “Donor advised funds offer donors a way to stay actively involved with their giving. Once such a fund is established, the donor maintains a relationship with the foundation advising on what charitable causes he / she would like to support.

Where organizations might once have created and managed their own endowments and where once individuals might have established small family foundations, community foundations have arisen to consolidate efforts and costs. “One misconception is that you have to be wealthy to have a fund at the PineBelt Foundation,” said Erickson.  “The fact is that a donor doesn’t need to be wealthy to create an individual fund. We can combine the gifts of individuals to support their charitable passion(s).”

In the wake of the recent announcement that more than 40 of America’s billionaires will donate a majority of their fortunes to charity, the role and impact of philanthropy and community foundations is being redefined. Community foundations represent one of the fastest-growing forms of philanthropy in the United States and hold nearly $50 billion in assets, according to Foundation Center. Every state in the United States is home to at least one community foundation — large and small, urban, and rural – and they are creating solutions to a wide range of social issues.

“America’s community foundations are on the frontlines of a tremendous shift in philanthropy and how we do business differently in a high-tech, rapidly changing world,” said Steve Gunderson, president and chief executive officer of the Council on Foundations. “These organizations are leading the charge by bringing communities together, galvanizing resources, and maximizing their impact to advance the public good.”

The mission of the PineBelt Foundation is to connect people who care with the causes that matter to enrich the quality of life in the Pine Belt area.  “We are committed to improving the lives of people in our community,” added Erickson.

For more information on the Greater Pine Belt Foundation, call 601.583.6180 or visit www.PineBeltFoundation.org.

Filed under: Forrest County, Hattiesburg, Jones County, Lamar County, Oak Grove, Petal, Purvis, Area Development Partnership, Community foundation, DuBard School for Language Disorders, Greater Pine Belt Foundation, Greater PineBelt Community Foundation, PineBelt Foundation, The Domestic Abuse Family Shelter, The Family Y, Theresa Erickson, United Way of South Mississippi

DuBard School to Host Missing Links in Academics Seminar

The University of Southern Mississippi Seal
Image via Wikipedia

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The DuBard School for Language Disorders at The University of Southern Mississippi will host the Missing Links in Academics seminar Nov. 4-5 on the Hattiesburg campus.

Scheduled to run from 8:30 a.m.-3:45 p.m. both days, the seminar will benefit kindergarten through eighth grade teachers, reading specialists and speech language pathologists. The cost is $250 before Oct. 14 and the fee includes lunch and materials.

The seminar is designed to provide multisensory techniques for teaching the National Reading Panel area of reading which include:

  • Syllable types and syllable division rules
  • Use morphemes as a way of increasing comprehension
  • Ways of building reading fluency
  • Methods of teaching comprehension strategies

“I gained valuable information that I took back with me to use in my classroom,” said Teresa Belton, first-grade teacher in the Stone County Public School District and a past participant.

Former attendees laud the seminar for its detail-oriented platform and hands-on experience. “I really enjoyed the seminar. Everything was well-prepared with great information presented,” said Valmena Blackman, a speech language pathologist with the Hattiesburg Public School District.

Additional topics to be discussed during the seminar include characteristics of language disorders, sound-symbol association, spelling analysis of prefixes and suffixes, vocabulary and comprehension instruction, semantics, syntax and graphic organizers.

The seminar is approved for 1.2 continuing education units for educators and speech-language pathologists. For more information or to register, call Professional Development and Educational Outreach at 601.266.4186 or visit www.edu/profdev_edoutreach/MLACAD .html

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed under: USM, DuBard School for Language Disorders, Dyslexia, Hattiesburg, Hattiesburg Mississippi, Language disorder, Reading, Speech and language pathology, The University of Southern Mississippi

Lifelong Philanthropist Makes Donation to DuBard School

Charles Guidroz has established a donor advised fund to benefit the DuBard School for Language Disorders at Southern Miss.

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Philanthropist Charles Guidroz has parlayed his appreciation for the DuBard School for Language Disorders at The University of Southern Mississippi into a donor advised fund through The Greater PineBelt Community Foundation.

“Thank you so very much for coming here and giving me and my family the ideal giving program in which I have already experienced a sweet joy greater than I could have imagined,” said Guidroz, who resides in Foley, Ala. “I chose the DuBard School because I am familiar with what is accomplished there. I have visited the school and met some of the instructors there.”

Guidroz and his son, Kevin Guidroz, decided to open the fund because of their compassion for those who have attended the DuBard School. Charles Guidroz has auditory dyslexia but did not realize he had the disorder until adulthood.

“He joked with me, stating that his life would have been very different if he had realized why he didn’t pick things up as easily as others,” said Theresa Erickson, executive director of The Greater PineBelt Community Foundation. “Because of his challenges, he is truly passionate to help children at the DuBard School.”

Erickson explained that a donor advised fund mimics the benefits of a private foundation, but without the burdensome and expensive legalities of setting up a private or corporate foundation.

“For those individuals who haven’t decided which charity to give to, the donor advised fund is a perfect vehicle,” she said. “They can set up a fund, get an immediate tax deduction for the gift (cash, stock, property) and postpone the decision regarding which nonprofit to give it to until they are ready.”

The DuBard School is a clinical division of the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences at Southern Miss and serves children with severe language-speech and hearing disorders. The school has served hundreds of children since 1962. Approximately 40 percent of the $18,000 annual cost per enrolled student must be raised through donations.

“My ultimate hope for the DuBard School is that there will be no child or instructor that does not meet their potential because of a shortage of funds – especially for learning,” said Guidroz. “I hope that I can add additional funds every year.”

The Greater PineBelt Foundation oversees two funds for the DuBard School. For more information about the DuBard School and to make charitable contributions call the school at 601.266.5223 or the PineBelt Foundation at 601.583.6180. Also, visit either Web site at www.usm.edu/dubard or www.PineBeltFoundation.org

From USM Public Relations

Filed under: Featured, Forrest County, Hattiesburg, USM, Business/Finance, Charles Guidroz, Community foundation, DuBard School, DuBard School for Language Disorders, Greater PineBelt Community Foundation, Greater PineBelt Foundation, Hattiesburg, Kevin Guidroz, mississippi, PineBelt Foundation, The University of Southern Mississippi, Theresa Erickson, University of Southern Mississippi