HomeTown: Jerusalem, Israel

I Learned Sign Language from: Maxi, my amazing private teacher, who is deaf and taught me ASL with a lot of love and patience. The only way to communicate with Maxi was via ASL. She is such a gift.

A Day in my Life: Getting up very early before everyone at the house, go to at least 4 miles run, come home and make yummy breakfast for my kiddos. Enjoy growing SignShine in so many creative and fun ways – I clearly LOVE my job and consider myself one lucky person. Get my kiddos from school and enjoy them as much as I can. We have family dinner every night. When kiddos are asleep usually my hubby and I enjoy each other’s company.

Three Things that make me Smile: My kids, sincerity and simple ways to look at the world, my husband’s hug and my family phone calls from Israel.

I Love Working with Children because: I was born “a mom” to 5 siblings. I love touching young souls and their parents. I truly believe that discovering and sharing the excitement of language is magical. To see the light in the eyes of a baby and her parents when they're suddenly communicating is truly a wonder.

Coffee or Tea: In the morning, coffee (cannot resist the smell!) and at night, tea

Someone who influenced my Life: My 3 sisters and 2 brothers who teach me the real meaning of unconditional love.

 

HomeTown: Dubuque, Iowa

I Learned Sign Language from: At Pierce College's Interpreter Training Program

A Day in my Life: Is never the same! I wake up early, feed the kitties, and then I am off interpreting various situations all throughout the city and/or I'm teaching little ones!

Three Things that make me Smile: Children, Animals, and Nature

I Love Working with Children because: It's so inspiring. To watch a child have new experiences and learn, is truly magical.

Coffee or Tea: Depending on the intensity of the day, I drink coffee or Chai tea.

Someone who influenced my Life: My mother - a hard working, goal oriented, successful woman who always taught me positive, worldly lessons in life. She also passed on her love of languages to me, having worked as a trilingual Professor before retiring.

 

HomeTown:

I grew up in a small suburb in St. Louis, Missouri, in a home where only broken English was spoken.  Linguists now understand the capabilities of the child’s brain and in fact encourage exposure to multiple languages, not only for advanced language development, but also to foster imaginative and creative thinking, problem solving, and communication awareness.

I Learned Sign Language from:

Williams College where I studied child language development.  Fascinated by the child’s brain, I continued my study of language development in the brain at Brown University, where I pursued structural linguistics.  During my research I spent a semester at Gallaudet College.  Living with students whose native language was ASL was truly a rewarding and challenging experience.

A Day in my Life:

I have four children who have all left the nest - and I miss having children around!  I still volunteer my time at their school, enjoy walks along the beach, and help young teens with their college applications during my spare time.

Three Things that make me Smile:

Watching a baby kick his feet and get excited when he sees his mom; playing with a puppy who can’t stop wagging his tail because he’s just so happy to be loved; and hearing and seeing children fully immersed in imaginative play, are things that make me happy inside and out.

I Love Working with Children because:

They make me laugh and smile.  Children have such pure joy about everyday life, and an eagerness to learn, that their simple curiosity brings happiness and meaning to my life.

Coffee or Tea:

I love to eat and drink foods that are good for me, and green tea is oh so yummy.  I love to sip it and feel the goodness flow inside.  I start my day with a yoga workout and a quiet meditation and try my best to stay stress free.  I like to surround myself with young people, either gardening, writing or cooking.

Someone who influenced my Life:

My mom is the person who has most influenced my life.  She taught me early in life to value education and to work hard in everything I do.  She struggles with Parkinson’s and is always trying her best to find joy and happiness in life despite her many challenges.

 

HomeTown: I was born in Chicago Ill. moved to California when I was two years of age and grew up in the San Fernando Valley. I started college in Santa Cruz, it was home for 5 years and where my son was born. I once again call the San Fernando Valley home. It is where my 2 grown children and 2 grandsons live. We love to BBQ, hike, and walk through our neighborhood.

I Learned Sign Language from: Camp Bloomfield in Malibu at the age of 16. It has been a connection to my artistic side and a way to teach early language skills to my grandchildren, when speech wasn't yet developed. I believe learning should be interactive and fun using many modalities

A Day in my Life: Early rising to run or crossfit, dress and prepare my lesson plans, work, errands, a visit with family or friends, a hike, run or walk with my grandchildren, daughter, or son, dinner a walk to the yogurt store if we're good and some R&R time watching CSI, Glee or Criminal Minds.

Three Things that make me Smile: My students, family and friends, and a good joke

I Love Working with Children because: I never know what to expect...It's always exciting!

Coffee or Tea: Both!! I need that morning coffee jolt and I look forward to a cozy time with someone I love to chat, laugh and share.

Someone who influenced my Life: So many people have influenced my life. My parents, my children, grandchildren, childhood friends and first loves but one person who jumped out at me when I asked myself that question was my 4th grade teacher Mr. Jansen. He was an aspiring actor who made me look at myself and take risks. He was kind, supportive and motivating. He made learning fun! And that is exactly what I wanted to do, make learning fun.

 

HomeTown: Fresno, California

I Learned Sign Language from: From my hearing-impaired dear friend! At first, it was just a few signs here and there to let me know what she was really thinking about people or situations without other people knowing. She made it so fun for me to learn. As my interest in ASL increased once I started working for SignShine, she's been there for me 100% in teaching me to express myself in the beautiful language of signs!

A Day in my Life: I love running! I try to run at least 3 miles a day, and often never on the same path. There's so much of L.A. to explore and it's such a different perspective when you're on foot. I'm often working at Baskin-Robbins, baby-sitting, or writing short stories in my free time.

Three Things that make me Smile: Laughing kids, Watercolor painting, Learning new things about myself and others

I Love Working with Children because: Being in a child's world is the most amazing experience. They truly see the world from such a creative, pure and imaginative point of view. I love being with children because the more I'm with them, the more they allow me to see the world from their perspective. And secondly, they're just so much fun!

Coffee or Tea: I'm still a kid at heart, so if hot chocolate is on the menu, I always go for that! (With whipped cream on top, of course!)

Someone who influenced my Life: My best friend, who taught me the difference between just imitating words in a language, and using a language to express yourself