Dr. Sherri Schieferstein

ASL Educator & Deaf Education Specialist

Dedicated higher-education faculty member specializing in accessible curriculum design, American Sign Language instruction, and the advancement of Deaf culture within inclusive learning environments.

Dr. Sherri Schieferstein

About Me

Education

Ed.D. Exceptional Student Education

Doctor of Education

Ed.S. Exceptional Student Education

Educational Specialist

M.S. Deaf/Hard of Hearing Education

Master of Science

B.A. Multidisciplinary Studies

Concentration: Child Life Specialist / Medical Play Therapy

A.A.S. Interpreting for the Deaf

Associate of Applied Science

Professional Profile

With a robust academic background spanning doctoral research in Exceptional Student Education to hands-on experience as an interpreter, I bring a holistic perspective to the higher-education classroom. My work is grounded in the belief that language acquisition serves as a gateway to cultural understanding and advocacy.

I operate effectively at the intersection of pedagogy and practice, serving as:

  • A higher-ed ASL educator fostering fluency and confidence.
  • A curriculum specialist designing rigorous, standards-based courses.
  • A Deaf culture advocate promoting awareness and equity.
  • An online-learning accessibility specialist ensuring WCAG compliance.
  • A faculty-ready instructor prepared for hybrid and remote modalities.

Teaching Philosophy

Visual Immersion

Prioritizing a "voice-off" environment that encourages students to think spatially and visually, mirroring the natural acquisition of signed languages.

Deaf Cultural Respect

Teaching ASL not just as a code, but as the living heartbeat of the Deaf community, rooted in history, identity, and shared experience.

Accessibility First & UDL

Applying Universal Design for Learning principles to ensure course materials are accessible to all learners from day one.

Inclusive Pedagogy

Creating a safe, trauma-informed learning space where mistakes are viewed as essential steps in the language learning journey.

Courses & Curriculum

Core Courses Taught

American Sign Language I – IV
Introduction to Deaf Culture
ASL Linguistics
Introduction to Interpreting
Fingerspelling & Numbering
Communication in the Deaf Community
Special Topics in Deaf Education

Sample Curriculum: ASL II Hybrid Module

Topic: Spatial Referencing & Classifiers

Weekly Learning Objectives

  • Demonstrate the correct handshape, location, and movement for descriptive classifiers (DCLs).
  • Utilize spatial mapping to describe the layout of a room or environment.
  • Comprehend and gloss a native signer's description of a physical object.

Module Components

  • Async Video Lecture: "Defining Space: The Viewer's Perspective."
  • Interactive Assessment: Video response submission identifying 5 objects via classifier description.
  • Live Lab: Peer-to-peer "Info Gap" activity describing floor plans without voice.
  • Culture Corner: Analysis of Deaf architecture and "Deaf Space" principles.

Areas of Expertise

Curriculum Development
Video-based ASL Assessment
Online & Hybrid Pedagogy
Interpreting Theory
Supporting Deaf/HH Learners
Accessible Material Design
Faculty Mentoring
Program Evaluation

Accessibility & Inclusion

Commitment to Equity

Leveraging my background as a Child Life Specialist and Deaf Educator, I approach instruction through a trauma-informed lens. My classroom is designed to be a space where cognitive diversity is respected, and barriers to entry are systematically removed.

I ensure that all digital and physical course materials meet strict compliance standards while remaining engaging and human-centric.

WCAG 2.1 AA/AAA Section 508 Compliance Closed Captioning Workflows Equitable ASL Pedagogy Trauma-Informed Teaching

Get in Touch

I am always open to discussing curriculum development, academic collaboration, or speaking engagements.

📧 Email: signingsongssherri@gmail.com

A tailored résumé or complete Curriculum Vitae is available upon request.