History

Gallaudet's Battle of the Books was established in 2012. Its roots can be traced to the Battle of the Books competition amongst several deaf schools across the nation. The original contest in 2007 had four participating schools: California School for the Deaf (Fremont) led by Beth Kunze, Metro Deaf School led by Lisa Ewan, New Mexico School for the Deaf led by Jennifer Herbold, and Texas School for the Deaf led by Leslie Hussey. The competition's brainchild was Leslie Hussey who gained inspiration from one of her TSD students, Maggie Kopp (her article appears in this section). The first competition had only one reading group, but in 2008, the competition was expanded to include readers from four different groups. In 2009, Maryland School for the Deaf and Phoenix Day School for the Deaf joined the competition. In 2012, an agreement was reached to allow Gallaudet to take over the competition and expand it so that other programs for the deaf and hard of hearing could join.

The first annual Gallaudet's Battle of the Books was held in the fall of 2012 as a pilot competition. 105 students on 35 teams from 17 schools participated in the competition. Texas School for the Deaf won the first Buff group national competition. Kansas School for the Deaf won the first Blue group national competition, and Texas School for the Deaf also won the first Green national competition. Lydia Kopp of Texas School for the Deaf won the first Most Outstanding Player award. Bryan Yun of Earle B. Wood Middle School, Jared Herman of California School for the Deaf-Riverside, Claude Martinez-Krohn of Phoenix Day School for the Deaf, and Malvana Ramborger of Texas School for the Deaf were also recognized as All Star players.

Final Standings for 2012 Gallaudet's Battle of the Books:

Buff Group

1st place- Texas School for the Deaf

2nd place- Earle B. Wood Middle School

3rd place- California School for the Deaf-Riverside

4th place- Phoenix Day School for the Deaf

 

Blue Group

1st place- Kansas School for the Deaf

2nd place- Texas School for the Deaf

3rd place- Arizona School for the Deaf

4th place- Atlanta Area School for the Deaf

5th place- California School for the Deaf- Fremont

 

Green Group

1st place- Texas School for the Deaf

2nd place- Atlanta Area School for the Deaf

3rd place- California School for the Deaf-Riverside

4th place- Ohio School for the Deaf

5th place- Kansas School for the Deaf