King heads one of the top deaf education programs in nation
J. Freeman King, director of deaf education, has brought experience and enthusiasm to the university. He has worked in educating teachers for deaf education at Utah State University as well as other universities and countries.
When asked why he chose to spend the last 11 years here at USU enhancing the deaf education program, he said, “When I interviewed here for the position I was impressed with the department. I was impressed with the direction they would allow me to take the deaf education program, and I was impressed with Cache Valley and the university in general.”
Not only did the program draw King to USU, the mountains influenced his decision to come teach here.
“I enjoy skiing, rock climbing and mountaineering,” he said.
King has had much experience with deaf education.
“I became interested in deaf education when I was a junior in college. I was teaching gymnastics at the local YMCA and a 12-year-old deaf boy wanted to join the team. I never met a deaf person before. We initially communicated by writing notes back and forth, then he taught me a few signs,” he said.
From then on he has had many opportunities to learn and teach deaf education. He graduated from Eastern New Mexico University with his master’s in deaf education and went on to teach and direct many programs. King has also spent a couple years in Mexico, El Salvador and Honduras training teachers in deaf education.
The deaf education program at USU is one of the top programs in the nation.
“We’re one of the best teacher-training programs in the nation. Our goal is to turn out a new breed of teachers,” King said.
He said the typical deaf student graduating from high school reads at a third or fourth grade level.
“This is not satisfactory and it doesn’t have to be. We’re turning out teachers who will not only rock the ship but sink the damn thing,” King said.
Carol Strong, who has been a professor in the communications department for 30 years, describes King as delightful and positive.
“The students and colleagues love him. We don’t ever want to see him to leave,” Strong said.
King said, “I feel a real passion to turn out excellent teachers for deaf children because I know that if we don’t, there are very few teachers who will.”
King has taught and coached in Eastern New Mexico as well as holding the position of dean of students. He was also the director of the teaching program for 10 years at Lamar University in Texas and the director of deaf education in Mississippi. King also spent time in the Republic of China doing research for deaf education.
“One thing leads to another and another door opens, then there you are. It’s like the old Spanish proverb, ‘wherever you go, there you are,'” he said.
He said if you find something you love, and don’t work just for money, then you will wake up every day loving to go to work.
“He is so helpful to faculty, and when we’re all stressed he will do something to make us laugh and lighten it up,” Strong said.
With his positive attitude, King has helped to make USU’s deaf education program like none other.
“There’s no program in the nation that can even approximate this,” King said.
He said the philosophy of the program here at USU encompasses bilingual education and bicultural education that focuses on the American Sign Language to help deaf children become literate people.
“Literacy is the key to success in life,” King said.
King has made a difference in many lives and is focused on helping produce teachers who will help deaf children succeed in life.
“He’s delightful and keeps us all laughing. No one has anything negative to say about him,” Strong said.