RACHELLE SETTAMBRINO, PRESIDENT

Rachelle Settambrino is originally from Duluth, Minnesota. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education and a Master of Arts degree in International Development from Gallaudet University in Washington D.C.  Currently she teaches course in American Sign Language as well as Interpreting at University of South Florida. In addition to her work in Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, she serves as a Faculty in Residence on campus and collaborates with Residential Education to support the American Sign Language Living Learning Community (ASL LLC). Ms. Settambrino has also been very active in the community. She has been a board member of International Deaf Partnerships since 2014 as well as serving as an interpreter/facilitator working with Guatemalan Deaf staff and Haitian Deaf Staff. In this capacity, Ms. Settambrino trains and empowers the local Deaf community in these countries, helping them learn how to operate Educational Summer camps for deaf children in their respective countries. Also, she provides professional development trainings to the teachers of Deaf children in Guatemala and Haiti. During her free time, Ms. Settambrino is an avid traveler. She enjoys traveling to Europe, the United Kingdom, Central America, and Caribbean. Besides of her love of traveling, she enjoys spending time with her dog, scuba diving, exercising, and reading books.

BEN JARASHOW, VICE PRESIDENT

Ben Jarashow, a California native, graduated from Gallaudet University in 2004 with a Bachelor’s degree in Deaf Studies. He obtained his Master’s degree in Deaf Studies: Cultural Studies in 2006, also from Gallaudet University. His Master’s thesis focused on developing criteria for a better quality of ABC storytelling. He teaches at the University of South Florida in the Deaf Studies program. He lives in Lutz, Florida with his wife, Kat, their children, Boone, Cypress, and Wilder.

RENEE GEARY, SECRETARY 

Currently, I am teaching at FSDB - Deaf High School as ASL teacher.  I am holding Florida DOE Certifications in ASL Endorsement, 18-Hours ESOL Endorsement, K-12 Hearing Impaired, and Pre-K to 12 Educational Media Specialist. For about 25+ years, I have been teaching with a vary of subjects from elementary to college levels  - Black & White Photography, Reading, Science, Social Studies, Deaf Studies, Electives courses and ASL. There were a variety of school settings I have been teaching are FSDB, The Learning Center for Deaf in Massachusetts, National Deaf Academy, Hagerty High School, and Flagler College.  I also interned/practiced (practicum) to become a teacher at few schools, Texas School for the Deaf, Metro Deaf School, and Maryland School for the Deaf – both campuses in Columbia and Frederick. I am proudly to be part of Gallaudet University Alumni for my accomplishments of earning my BA in T.V., Film, and Photography and minor in Communication Arts, and also earning my MS degree in Educational Technology in Special Education and Deafness.  I also gained to have another Master Degree from Western Maryland College (now as McDaniel College) in Deaf Education.

All above that I have been through all my life, before that, I was not aware what I was becoming of what I am doing right now.  Before that, I was originally from Pittsburgh, PA and raised in Southern California.  I was very much involved in sports, Deaf events, and snow skiing, and also travelling with my family.  I still am with different interests to do due to time, environment, hobbies, etc. that have changed over the years.

IVAN JARAMA, TREASURER

Mr. Ivan Jarama is an American Sign Language instructor at Brandon High School in Brandon, Florida. He is also an adjunct instructor at University of South Florida (USF). He is interested in teaching American Sign Language. Before he became an instructor, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. He also received an Master of Art degree in Deaf Education from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He currently has a Florida Teaching Certification with ASL endorsement. 

He has been teaching since 2004. He has taught variety courses at Deaf schools, a community college, and USF. Prior to this position as an ASL instructor, he taught math and science courses to Deaf high school students. 

He is profoundly Deaf. He moved to New York City from Ecuador for a better education. His first and native language is ASL. In his spare time, he enjoys watching tv, coaching a basketball team, chatting with friends, and spending time with his family.

ROBIN PETERSON, SOUTH DIRECTOR

Robin Peterson is a New York native and been living in Florida since 2003.  She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York.  She also received a Masters of Arts in K-12 Deaf Education/ Special Education from Hunter College in New York City.  She also has an ASL Endorsement Certification from Florida Department of Education. 
 

Robin has taught K-12 Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students in New York and Florida since 1992.  She is currently teaching Deaf and Hard of Hearing middle school students in Palm Springs, Florida.  She taught American Sign Language, both level 1 and level 2 at several Colleges/Universities in New York and Indian River State College (IRSC) in Florida for over 30 years as an ASL Adjunct Professor. 

Robin is the Founder/President of ASL/Deaf Club of the Treasure Coast since 2011. She is a Vice President for D.E.A.F (Deaf Equal Accessibilities Foundation).  D.E.A.F is a non-profit charitable organization that prides itself on providing open captioned movies, interpreted sports events and more to the deaf community.  She is also a Board Member for the non-profit organization,  Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services of the Treasure Coast.

She was a business owner with her husband for 9 years and owned a Pottery Studio. 

She lives in Stuart with her husband Derrick and her teenage son Austin.  She enjoys walking on beaches, pottery painting, photography and reading books.