Governor Eric J. Holcomb announced Superintendent Dr. David Geeslin will retire from the Indiana School for the Deaf following the current academic school year, effective June 30, 2025, after serving the ISD for 33 years in multiple positions of leadership.
"Dr. Geeslin's commitment to excellence in service to others has left a forever positive imprint on Indiana. To say his leadership will be missed, is an understatement understanding all he and his team have accomplished.," Gov. Holcomb said. "I celebrate all 33 years of his dedicated service and wish Dr. Geeslin a happy retirement."
Geeslin was appointed superintendent of the ISD in 2006. An alumnus of the school, Geeslin has been an employee of the ISD since 1991, having served in a variety of roles, including classroom teacher and elementary principal.
As one of the largest state schools in the nation serving students who are Deaf, ISD enrolls 350 students spanning preschool through high school. The school offers a wide array of programming aligned with its statutory mission of serving young Deaf Hoosiers in a barrier-free environment where students can belong, excel and thrive academically and socially.
During his tenure at the school, Geeslin
- Led ISD to become the first school to provide American Sign Language and English instruction equally from kindergarten through 12th grade.
- Developed the nation’s first ASL assessment tools and diagnostic tests for ISD staff.
- Collaborated with the Indiana Department of Education to establish Deaf education standards in 2008.
- Co-founded nonprofit organizations serving the wider ISD community, including the Indiana Deaf Heritage organization in 2005 and the Indiana Deaf Children Foundation, in 2021, to support ISD students’ efforts towards excellence.
- Served two terms as President of the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf.
- Played a major role in the planning and preparation for the co-location of ISD on the campus of the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
- Supported efforts that led to multiple national championships in both academic and athletic programs, in addition to more extracurricular opportunities, such as the nation’s first Jr. National Black Deaf Advocates chapter.
“I deeply appreciate how the State of Indiana, state lawmakers, Governor Holcomb and his staff have supported the Indiana School for the Deaf,” said Dr. Geeslin. “They have allowed us to build a place of belonging for students, where they are able to excel and thrive as productive citizens who will make a difference.”
The ISD Board, in conjunction with the next gubernatorial administration, will lead the search to appoint a new Superintendent.