Staff Bios

Program for Deaf Adults, Continuing Education Program

Elena Burgos, MS in Deaf Education from McDaniel College, certified teacher of the Deaf, has taught English Literacy to Deaf Adults since Fall 2005.

Michael Azrelyant, BA (MA degree candidate in Computer Science), has taught computer applications to Deaf Adults since 2003.

Jennifer Perlis, BS, currently enrolled in MA degree Teaching American Sign Language as a Foreign Language, currently teaches American Sign Language and Academic Skills for Deaf Adults in Reading and Writing at LaGuardia.  Taught at Maryland School for the Deaf for three years.

Gina DiBartolomeo, BA in Elementary Education from College of Staten Island, holds a provisional ASLTA certificate, and has taught ASL in the Metropolitan New York area since 1996, including teaching at LaGuardia since Spring 1999.

Carmen King, AAS, BFA, is an adjunct teacher of American Sign Language at LaGuardia since Fall 2005.

Theresa Domingues, BA, currently enrolled in MA degree Teaching ASL as a Foreign Language, IC/IT certified interpreter, has taught ASL in Austin, TX, for ten years, and is teaching ASL at LaGuardia since Spring 2006.

Joel Goldfarb, BS, MA, a certified New York State teacher at the English and ASL School, has taught Drivers’ (Learner’s Permit) Education for Deaf Adults at LaGuardia since 1994.

Amy Griffin-Otterberg, BS, MA in Deaf Education, is a certified New York State teacher for Deaf and Hearing Impaired Students. She has taught English Literacy for Deaf Adults, GED Preparation, and Baby Fingers Mommy & Me since 2005.

Lora Heller, MS, MT-BC, LCAT is a board certified and licensed music therapist with a MA degree in Deaf Education.  Lora is the founding director of Baby Fingers LLC.

Alla Tarasyuk, BA, has taught Academic Skills for Deaf Adults in Reading and Writing, and ASL since 2001.

Dennis D. Smith, BS in Psychology, MS in Deaf Education with a Specialty in ASL, has taught ASL as a foreign language since 1992, currently teaches in a School for the Deaf in New York, and is a workshop facilitator at LaGuardia since Spring 2006.

Marina Fanshteyn, MBA, Health Care Administration & Accounting/Finance, BA in English/ASL and Business Administration/Marketing, ASLTA Professional Certification, has taught ASL workshops and classes since 1994, ASL Theatre consultation, ASL to Russian Sign Language translation, and leadership workshops and trainings since 1992.

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