Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf facts for kids

Administration Building--Girls' Dormitory, Minnesota School for the Deaf
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	615 Olof Hanson Drive
Nearest city	Faribault, Minnesota
Built	1912
Architect	Clarence H. Johnston, Sr.
Architectural style	Georgian Revival
NRHP reference No.	86003095
Added to NRHP	November 6, 1986

Noyes Hall, State School for the Deaf
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Noyes Hall from the north
Location	615 Olof Hanson Drive
Nearest city	Faribault, Minnesota
Built	1902–1910
Architect	Clarence H. Johnston, Sr.
Architectural style	Neoclassical
NRHP reference No.	75001020
Added to NRHP	May 12, 1975

The Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf (MSAD) is a special public school in Faribault, USA. It helps deaf children in Minnesota learn and grow. MSAD is one of two Minnesota State Academies that serve specific groups of students.

History of MSAD

Minnesota became a state in 1858. That same year, leaders started planning a school for deaf children. A local representative, George E. Skinner, suggested Faribault as the location.

The state agreed to put the school in Faribault if the town gave 40 acres of land. Citizens quickly donated the land. However, the school's opening was delayed for five years. This was because of the American Civil War and local conflicts.

In 1863, Senator Berry from Faribault helped pass a bill to finally open the school. The first step was to find a superintendent. Roswell H. Kinney, a teacher from the Ohio School for the Deaf, was chosen.

There was no money to build a school on the donated land yet. So, Mr. Mott, one of the commissioners, rented a building in town. It cost $150 a year. This building was once a store and a home. The school opened there on September 9, 1863.

The school was first called the Minnesota School for the Deaf and Dumb. It started with eight students. In 1866, a section for blind children was added. The name changed to the Minnesota School for the Deaf in 1902. In 1986, it became the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf (MSAD).

Two buildings on campus are very old and important. They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Both were designed by a famous architect named Clarence H. Johnston, Sr.. One is the Administration Building/Girls' Dormitory, built in a Georgian Revival style. The other is Noyes Hall, built in a Classical Revival style.

A boys' dormitory called Frechette Hall was built in 1957. It was taken down in 2015. A new building, Wilkins Hall, was built in 2018. It is named after Blanche Wilkins Williams, the first African American student to graduate from the school.

Students at MSAD

The Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf helps students with different levels of hearing loss. Students come from all over Minnesota. They can be from birth up to 21 years old.

Students at MSAD get a great education. They learn in an environment rich in American Sign Language (ASL) and English. Teachers are specially trained to teach deaf and hard of hearing students.

Families can choose how their child attends school. Some students are "day-students" and go home every day. Others are "residential students" and stay in dorms during the week. Some families choose a mix of both.

Programs and Services

MSAD offers many programs and services. These are for students who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing.

• Academic programs from preschool to high school
• Residential housing (dormitories)
• Transportation
• Speech-language therapy
• Occupational therapy (helps with daily tasks)
• Physical therapy (helps with movement)
• Counseling
• Recreation (fun activities)
• Athletics (sports)

The school uses different ways to teach. These include American Sign Language (ASL), English, and Protactile. MSAD also has many fun activities outside of classes. These include sports, clubs, and student government.

Campus Life

The Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf is in Faribault, Minnesota. It is about 40 miles south of Minneapolis. The campus is 47.5 acres big. It has many buildings for learning and living.

There are several academic buildings. These have classrooms, labs, and other learning spaces. They are designed to be easy to use for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. This helps everyone learn well.

The campus also has comfortable dormitories. These are where students who live at the school stay. The dorms create a supportive place. Students can connect with others and grow personally.

The MSAD campus is a welcoming place for students. It has everything they need for school, living, and fun. This helps create a strong community. It helps students who are deaf or hard of hearing do well in school and in life.

Living at MSAD

MSAD is a residential school. This means some students live there during the week. They have two dormitories where they stay. Students usually arrive on Sunday evenings. They go home on Friday afternoons.

The school districts help with transportation for students. Parents can also choose to pick up and drop off their children. The dorms are for students who live more than 20 miles from the campus. Students who live closer are called "day students."

Sports at MSAD

The Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf has many sports for students. The school offers popular team sports. These include football, volleyball, basketball, and track and field. Sports help students stay active, learn new skills, and work as a team.

Students can also play other sports. MSAD works with local schools for this. For example, students who want to play hockey can join teams with other schools. This lets students try more sports. It also helps them enjoy being part of a team.

By offering many sports, MSAD helps students live healthy lives. It also teaches them about teamwork and good sportsmanship. Through sports, students can improve their skills, make friends, and learn important life lessons.

Sports Facilities

MSAD has different places for its sports teams to practice and play.

• Maurice Potter Field: The football team plays its home games here. This field is right on the campus. It has everything needed for football practices and games.
• Lauritsen Gymnasium: The volleyball and basketball teams use this gym. It is an indoor facility. It has courts, seating, and other features for practices and games.
• Bruce Smith Field and Ted Nelson Track: The track and field team practices on campus. But for competitions, they go to Bruce Smith Field and Ted Nelson Track. These are in the town of Faribault. They have the right tracks and equipment for track and field events.

Having these special places helps MSAD athletes train well. It also helps them show their talents in competitions.

Famous Athletes

Some well-known athletes have attended the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf:

• Ronda Jo Miller
• Maurice Potter
• Tasha Lemke
• John Dolezal
• Calvin Rausch, Ryan Johnson, and Steven Hubmer

The Administration Building at MSAD.

Noyes Hall, another historic building on campus.

Images for kids

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  The Administration Building at MSAD.

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  Noyes Hall, another historic building on campus.