Hello! My name is Nicole Ruiz. I was born deaf and raised in Chicago, IL. I graduated from Gallaudet University with two degrees, B.A. in Elementary Education and M.A. in Deaf Education. I am a National Board Certified Teacher. My first teaching job was at Mississippi School for the Deaf in Jackson, Mississippi. I taught different grade levels for eight years. I also taught ASL classes at a nearby college for a year. While I was in Mississippi, I got married and had a baby. We decided to move to Indiana to be closer to our family. In Indiana, I became a first grade teacher at Indiana School for the Deaf and taught there for two years. In the fall of 2021, I took an opportunity to work with the Chicago Public Schools. We are excited to be back home and see our family often. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, exploring different parks, hosting gatherings, and reading books! I cannot wait to teach and share my experiences with you! I can promise you that learning ASL is so much fun! It is definitely a visual language where you will work with your hands and use your eyes to “listen.” Looking forward to meeting you soon! 

Video Transcript

“Hello! My name is Nicole Ruiz. I was born deaf and raised in Chicago, IL. I graduated from Gallaudet University with two degrees, B.A. in Elementary Education and M.A. in Deaf Education. I am a National Board Certified Teacher.   

My first teaching job was at Mississippi School for the Deaf in Jackson, Mississippi. I taught different grade levels for eight years. I also taught ASL classes at a nearby college for a year. While I was in Mississippi, I got married and had a baby. We decided to move to Indiana to be closer to our family.  

In Indiana, I became a first grade teacher at Indiana School for the Deaf and taught there for two years. In the fall of 2021, I took an opportunity to work with the Chicago Public Schools. We are excited to be back home and see our family often. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, exploring different parks, hosting gatherings, and reading books!  

I cannot wait to teach and share my experiences with you! I can promise you that learning ASL is so much fun! It is definitely a visual language where you will work with your hands and use your eyes to “listen.” Looking forward to meeting you soon!”