Welcome!
I'm Raychelle. I started teaching American Sign Language (ASL) when I was a young child. Like many other Deaf children, we would teach our neighbors, our local librarian and the lifeguard at the pool - sign language. My first paid job teaching ASL was in 1993, so that's when I say I 'started' teaching ASL... :)
Degree-wise, I received my Bachelors degree in ASL from Gallaudet University, and Masters degree in Deaf Education from Western Maryland College (WMC) in 1995 and 2000, respectively. After working at various schools teaching ASL, I returned to Gallaudet in 2004 for my doctoral studies in the areas of education and linguistics, with my dissertation topic focused on ASL discourses in academic settings, completed in 2010.
In 2008, I joined Gallaudet University’s Department of Interpretation as an Interpreting faculty, then eventually transferred over to the Department of ASL and Deaf Studies due to a faculty shortage. The majority of my career at Gallaudet was with the Masters in Sign Language Education (MASLED) program that I co-founded along with Dr. MJ Bienvenu, preparing teachers of sign languages. I am deeply humbled and proud of the 300+ graduates of the MASLED program I had the fortune to get to know throughout their graduate studies.
At Gallaudet, I was granted tenure in 2017 and promoted to full professor in 2019. In 2021, I left Gallaudet. I am now focusing on my authoring work (TRUE+WAY ASL curriculum, 3rd edition, and Exploring Deaf Communities, 2nd edition), interpreting and translating, and happily participating on dissertation committees supporting up and coming research experts in the field of ASL and ASL pedagogy.
As for my certifications held, I hold Professional Certification with the American Sign Language Teachers Association (ASLTA), and I hold Level V certification with the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) and I am a Texas Licensed Court Interpreter.
I'm Raychelle. I started teaching American Sign Language (ASL) when I was a young child. Like many other Deaf children, we would teach our neighbors, our local librarian and the lifeguard at the pool - sign language. My first paid job teaching ASL was in 1993, so that's when I say I 'started' teaching ASL... :)
Degree-wise, I received my Bachelors degree in ASL from Gallaudet University, and Masters degree in Deaf Education from Western Maryland College (WMC) in 1995 and 2000, respectively. After working at various schools teaching ASL, I returned to Gallaudet in 2004 for my doctoral studies in the areas of education and linguistics, with my dissertation topic focused on ASL discourses in academic settings, completed in 2010.
In 2008, I joined Gallaudet University’s Department of Interpretation as an Interpreting faculty, then eventually transferred over to the Department of ASL and Deaf Studies due to a faculty shortage. The majority of my career at Gallaudet was with the Masters in Sign Language Education (MASLED) program that I co-founded along with Dr. MJ Bienvenu, preparing teachers of sign languages. I am deeply humbled and proud of the 300+ graduates of the MASLED program I had the fortune to get to know throughout their graduate studies.
At Gallaudet, I was granted tenure in 2017 and promoted to full professor in 2019. In 2021, I left Gallaudet. I am now focusing on my authoring work (TRUE+WAY ASL curriculum, 3rd edition, and Exploring Deaf Communities, 2nd edition), interpreting and translating, and happily participating on dissertation committees supporting up and coming research experts in the field of ASL and ASL pedagogy.
As for my certifications held, I hold Professional Certification with the American Sign Language Teachers Association (ASLTA), and I hold Level V certification with the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) and I am a Texas Licensed Court Interpreter.