New Orleans, Louisiana (July 7, 2022): The National Federation of the Blind has presented its annual Distinguished Educator of Blind Students Award to Scott McCallum, the superintendent of the Washington State School for the Blind (WSSB). Mr. McCallum oversees the faculty, staff, curriculum, and facilities of the school, which provides educational and transition services to blind and low-vision students and their families on its campus and throughout the state. The school also collaborates with the National Federation of the Blind of Washington to conduct summer NFB-BELL® Academy sessions, as well as on other initiatives. Mr. McCallum has been a teacher of blind students and orientation and mobility instructor since 1999 and accepted the position as superintendent of WSSB in 2016.

“Scott McCallum is raising expectations for students and faculty at the Washington State School for the Blind by promoting academic excellence and by ensuring that students understand that it is respectable to be blind by teaching them to affirm blindness as part of their identity,” said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind. “He is an advocate for Braille literacy and early cane travel. Although he has many administrative duties and responsibilities, he also engages directly with students and provides them with personal encouragement and inspiration. Furthermore, he collaborates with blind Washingtonians to improve the lives of all blind students and help them prepare to live the lives they want. These qualities make him an outstanding recipient of our Distinguished Educator of Blind Students award.”

The Distinguished Educator of Blind Students award carries with it a $1,000 cash prize and an opportunity to address hundreds of parents of blind students and network with other blind individuals and teachers of blind students at the 2022 National Convention of the National Federation of the Blind, which is taking place in New Orleans from July 5-10.