Robin O'Brien: ASL AZTI Director
Robin is the director of ASL AZTI, passed on by Rocky De Buano who was the founder, establishing the Arizona’s first Total Immersion program in June of 2003. She received her MA in Sign Language Teaching from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. She is currently retired at Arizona State University as a full-time American Sign Language Lecturer. Robin also works a as part-time Interpreter Educational Specialist at Interpreter Educational Professional Development for Sorenson VRS. She has taught ASL and Deaf Culture for the past 25 years at local community colleges and universities in both Arizona and Massachusetts. She also worked for the Distance Opportunities Interpreter Training Center in Colorado as a Mentor. She has been a mentor for interpreting students, working to improve and upgrade their skills for the past 20 years. She provides workshops for educational interpreters, has been a consultant for parents of Deaf children, and has spoken to various companies and organizations about ASL and Deaf Culture. Robin has two beautiful daughters and two large dogs. She enjoys gardening and quilting.
We hope you will attend ASL Arizona Total Immersion to have an enriching and fun learning experience in ASL and Deaf Culture. Please email at AZTIAdm@gmail.com if any questions.
Serena Stone: Instructor, Program Coordinator/Instructor
Serena Stone was born in Connecticut to a Deaf family of 4 generations. She relocated to Arizona at a young age. Her primary language is ASL, she enjoys signing poetry, acting and telling jokes in ASL. Serena started her interest in teaching ASL because of her mother, Deb Stone, who is also an ASL instructor. Since then she began working at Phoenix College as an adjunct instructor in January 2011. Later, she obtained her Master’s degree in Sign Language Education from Gallaudet University in 2013. She is currently a full time residential faculty at Phoenix College teaching various ASL and IPP courses. This year is her second year at AZTI, and she is looking forward to seeing and meeting you all! Serena is full of energy, humor and compassion. She will bring the LIGHT to you all via ASL, comedy and acting! Be prepared to have sore abs by the end of the week!
Serena Stone was born in Connecticut to a Deaf family of 4 generations. She relocated to Arizona at a young age. Her primary language is ASL, she enjoys signing poetry, acting and telling jokes in ASL. Serena started her interest in teaching ASL because of her mother, Deb Stone, who is also an ASL instructor. Since then she began working at Phoenix College as an adjunct instructor in January 2011. Later, she obtained her Master’s degree in Sign Language Education from Gallaudet University in 2013. She is currently a full time residential faculty at Phoenix College teaching various ASL and IPP courses. This year is her second year at AZTI, and she is looking forward to seeing and meeting you all! Serena is full of energy, humor and compassion. She will bring the LIGHT to you all via ASL, comedy and acting! Be prepared to have sore abs by the end of the week!
Crys Lentz: Instructor & Interpreter
Crys is a nationally certified American Sign Language Interpreter and an adjunct faculty instructor at Phoenix College with the Interpreter Preparation Program. She was born and raised right here in Phoenix by her single, very hard-of-hearing mother. Crys has worked in a large variety of areas of interpreting for the last 31 years including; education, medical, mental health, DeafBlind and VRS/VRI to name a few. She attained her QMHI (Qualified Mental Health Interpreter) credentials in 2014 from the Alabama Department of Mental Health Office of Deaf Services. When not working she can, most often, be found spending time with her family, cycling or pondering her naval for the value of a life.
She is extremely excited for her first year being involved with AZTI!
Crys is a nationally certified American Sign Language Interpreter and an adjunct faculty instructor at Phoenix College with the Interpreter Preparation Program. She was born and raised right here in Phoenix by her single, very hard-of-hearing mother. Crys has worked in a large variety of areas of interpreting for the last 31 years including; education, medical, mental health, DeafBlind and VRS/VRI to name a few. She attained her QMHI (Qualified Mental Health Interpreter) credentials in 2014 from the Alabama Department of Mental Health Office of Deaf Services. When not working she can, most often, be found spending time with her family, cycling or pondering her naval for the value of a life.
She is extremely excited for her first year being involved with AZTI!
‘Godzilla’ Zachary Shawn DeLoya: ASL Instructor
‘Godzilla’ was born from Deaf family and was raised in Los Angeles, California . His parents, Deloris and Donald, were actively involved in Deaf community and events. Zachary DeLoya became more interested to involve in Deaf community just like his parents for the past 13 years (and counting). Currently, he focuses mainly on Deaf culture by empowering individuals involving in any form of business and/or personal life.
Zachary DeLoya consults and advocates regularly with Deaf people in various fields to help creating synergistic solutions to common barriers. Zachary DeLoya has the strong interest in the field of psychology while he enjoys sharing the information with the experiences he enriched through his life. With his passion, he created his own business known as ADORE. He and the co-founder, Klaus Curi, founded to provide programs for consumers with disability and to shape program specializing in job coaches to accommodate the needs for the Deaf and hard of hearing. As an active team member of MATA Expo, Zachary DeLoya plays a valuable role as host for MATA Expo events and performs excellent relationship with the audience, maintaining great entertainment for Deaf and hard of hearing guests. He works closely with the media director, David Ballard, by ensuring to design the program for each event and communicating with the sponsors while he manages to provide his time meeting the guests.
‘Godzilla’ was born from Deaf family and was raised in Los Angeles, California . His parents, Deloris and Donald, were actively involved in Deaf community and events. Zachary DeLoya became more interested to involve in Deaf community just like his parents for the past 13 years (and counting). Currently, he focuses mainly on Deaf culture by empowering individuals involving in any form of business and/or personal life.
Zachary DeLoya consults and advocates regularly with Deaf people in various fields to help creating synergistic solutions to common barriers. Zachary DeLoya has the strong interest in the field of psychology while he enjoys sharing the information with the experiences he enriched through his life. With his passion, he created his own business known as ADORE. He and the co-founder, Klaus Curi, founded to provide programs for consumers with disability and to shape program specializing in job coaches to accommodate the needs for the Deaf and hard of hearing. As an active team member of MATA Expo, Zachary DeLoya plays a valuable role as host for MATA Expo events and performs excellent relationship with the audience, maintaining great entertainment for Deaf and hard of hearing guests. He works closely with the media director, David Ballard, by ensuring to design the program for each event and communicating with the sponsors while he manages to provide his time meeting the guests.
Joan Hanna: ASL Instructor
Joan is 4th generation Deaf. Her native language is ASL. She is deaf in her left ear and hard of hearing in her right ear, and learned to speak at age 6 and with 7 years of speech training. She attended Gallaudet University, and St Joseph University. She was a teacher at the American School for the Deaf for 28 years and a professor at the University of Connecticut for 12 years. Former Board member for the National Theatre of the deaf for 20+ years, she has been a sign language consultant for Bushnell Theater for 28 years. Involved in many deaf-related organizations in Connecticut, she has been involved with Total Immersion Sign Language Program in CT. for over 25+ years as well as Immersion Programs in Vancouver WA, here in Arizona, and Minnesota. A workshop presenter and a comedian she has traveled all over many states.
Her philosophy in learning ASL is applying real-life events, daily communications, and having fun while learning as the best way to retain Sign Language Skills. So come on to AZTI for 5 days! Leave your hard work and daily lives at home and come to be like a kid at camp, learning, practicing, laughing, and making wonderful new friends.
Joan is 4th generation Deaf. Her native language is ASL. She is deaf in her left ear and hard of hearing in her right ear, and learned to speak at age 6 and with 7 years of speech training. She attended Gallaudet University, and St Joseph University. She was a teacher at the American School for the Deaf for 28 years and a professor at the University of Connecticut for 12 years. Former Board member for the National Theatre of the deaf for 20+ years, she has been a sign language consultant for Bushnell Theater for 28 years. Involved in many deaf-related organizations in Connecticut, she has been involved with Total Immersion Sign Language Program in CT. for over 25+ years as well as Immersion Programs in Vancouver WA, here in Arizona, and Minnesota. A workshop presenter and a comedian she has traveled all over many states.
Her philosophy in learning ASL is applying real-life events, daily communications, and having fun while learning as the best way to retain Sign Language Skills. So come on to AZTI for 5 days! Leave your hard work and daily lives at home and come to be like a kid at camp, learning, practicing, laughing, and making wonderful new friends.
David Hamilton: ASL Instructor
I am in 3rd generation of deafness in my family. My late grandma was deaf. My dad and two older siblings are deaf. All of us attended Kentucky school for the deaf. Upon graduating from high school, I attended Gallaudet University where I got my Bachelor of Arts degree. Later, I got my masters in deaf education at western Maryland college and teaching credential at CSUN. Basketball is my favorite sports as I have always played and coached for almost all my life. I played 4 years of college basketball at Southern Illinois and Gallaudet university. Also, I was a member of USA Deaf Olympic basketball team and won 5 gold medals. This year marks my 32nd year of teaching at the deaf schools and universities. Currently, I teach health and physical education at California school for the deaf as well as teaching American Sign Language at California State University at East Bay. Fitness and Weight training are my new hobby and it’s one of my new side job, I teach and train fitness classes through zoom.
I have two grown children who are in their last year of college education.
I am in 3rd generation of deafness in my family. My late grandma was deaf. My dad and two older siblings are deaf. All of us attended Kentucky school for the deaf. Upon graduating from high school, I attended Gallaudet University where I got my Bachelor of Arts degree. Later, I got my masters in deaf education at western Maryland college and teaching credential at CSUN. Basketball is my favorite sports as I have always played and coached for almost all my life. I played 4 years of college basketball at Southern Illinois and Gallaudet university. Also, I was a member of USA Deaf Olympic basketball team and won 5 gold medals. This year marks my 32nd year of teaching at the deaf schools and universities. Currently, I teach health and physical education at California school for the deaf as well as teaching American Sign Language at California State University at East Bay. Fitness and Weight training are my new hobby and it’s one of my new side job, I teach and train fitness classes through zoom.
I have two grown children who are in their last year of college education.
Steven J. Simmons: ASL Instructor
Steven is a full time high school ASL teacher at Norwich Free Academy (private hearing high school). Steven is also a professor of ASL at the University of Connecticut and Central Connecticut State University. On the weekend, he consults, advocates, and tutors for Life Bridge Community Services for the Deaf & Hearing Impaired in Connecticut. Previously he was a high school teacher at Oregon School for the Deaf, Oregon for 12 years, and Professor of ASL at Western Oregon University for 6 years. He received his B.S. degree from Springfield College and his M.S. degree from Western Oregon University in Teacher Preparation for the Deaf. He has been an Instructor for Total Immersion for many years in Connecticut, Arizona, Washington, Missouri, and ASL Camp Missouri. He loves to travel, has already visited 50 states, loves going on annual cruises in many different places, and is an animal lover.
Steven is a full time high school ASL teacher at Norwich Free Academy (private hearing high school). Steven is also a professor of ASL at the University of Connecticut and Central Connecticut State University. On the weekend, he consults, advocates, and tutors for Life Bridge Community Services for the Deaf & Hearing Impaired in Connecticut. Previously he was a high school teacher at Oregon School for the Deaf, Oregon for 12 years, and Professor of ASL at Western Oregon University for 6 years. He received his B.S. degree from Springfield College and his M.S. degree from Western Oregon University in Teacher Preparation for the Deaf. He has been an Instructor for Total Immersion for many years in Connecticut, Arizona, Washington, Missouri, and ASL Camp Missouri. He loves to travel, has already visited 50 states, loves going on annual cruises in many different places, and is an animal lover.
Tom Driscoll: ASL Instructor
Tom grew up hearing with hearing loss starting at age 8 gradually losing hearing from high frequency on down. He was exposed to ASL in early ‘80’s and learned more formally in mid ‘80’s at Cape Cod Community College in Massachusetts – the same place he is now in his 27th year teaching as adjunct faculty. The most important learning was applying what was learning in classroom with interaction with the Deaf community on Cape.
Coaxed to join the CCCC faculty in 1995/96 he has taught ASL-1 and ASL-2. A Total Immersion “junky” he attended Connecticut Total Immersion Sign Language Program for 20+ years until it folded – initially for a personal “vacation” from everyday life in the hearing world and eventually as staff. He taught at AZTI several years in the past as well and looks forward to seeing some old friends as well as new ones.
With a hearing background he is “native English” and technically ASLSL (American Sign Language as a second language). Once exposed to ASL he never looked back. These days, he is totally visual and uses his ears only to hold up his glasses.
A weird trip? Yeah… Let’s have some fun!
Tom grew up hearing with hearing loss starting at age 8 gradually losing hearing from high frequency on down. He was exposed to ASL in early ‘80’s and learned more formally in mid ‘80’s at Cape Cod Community College in Massachusetts – the same place he is now in his 27th year teaching as adjunct faculty. The most important learning was applying what was learning in classroom with interaction with the Deaf community on Cape.
Coaxed to join the CCCC faculty in 1995/96 he has taught ASL-1 and ASL-2. A Total Immersion “junky” he attended Connecticut Total Immersion Sign Language Program for 20+ years until it folded – initially for a personal “vacation” from everyday life in the hearing world and eventually as staff. He taught at AZTI several years in the past as well and looks forward to seeing some old friends as well as new ones.
With a hearing background he is “native English” and technically ASLSL (American Sign Language as a second language). Once exposed to ASL he never looked back. These days, he is totally visual and uses his ears only to hold up his glasses.
A weird trip? Yeah… Let’s have some fun!
Russ Bye: Volunteer
Russ is a certified dog trainer here in Arizona where he is currently working as a behavioral health technician in the valley for few years. He came from Deaf family with deaf parents, 4 Deaf siblings and one hearing. However, when he was very young, he was oral for the entire time of his life until his graduation from high school. Then he learned ASL from there where he is very a fluent signer. He is a proudly married to his wife, Sandi Bye, for 24 years with two wonderful dogs. Also, Russ has a Deaf son living in California from previous marriage and has 11 grandchildren. He and his wife went to Europe six times and are familiar with BSL (British Sign Language). During his recess time, he likes to share his extensive experience of travel and foreign language to people where he enjoys playing the poker with Deaf people.
Russ is a certified dog trainer here in Arizona where he is currently working as a behavioral health technician in the valley for few years. He came from Deaf family with deaf parents, 4 Deaf siblings and one hearing. However, when he was very young, he was oral for the entire time of his life until his graduation from high school. Then he learned ASL from there where he is very a fluent signer. He is a proudly married to his wife, Sandi Bye, for 24 years with two wonderful dogs. Also, Russ has a Deaf son living in California from previous marriage and has 11 grandchildren. He and his wife went to Europe six times and are familiar with BSL (British Sign Language). During his recess time, he likes to share his extensive experience of travel and foreign language to people where he enjoys playing the poker with Deaf people.
Sandi Bye: Volunteer
Sandi is a certified dog trainer here in Arizona where she is a proud housewife of Russ Bye for 24 years. Sandi came from hearing family where she became deaf at age of two in Ohio but grew up in Riverside and graduated from California School for the Riverside. At very young age, Sandi experienced very interesting life because she always felt abandoned with hearing family and friend due to lack of communication. But it didn’t stop her from what she was supposed to do until she met a wonderful husband, Russ Bye she is still happy with the communication method of ASL to use every day to communicate every day. Sandi has three hearing children, one son and twin daughters from previous marriage with 11 grandchildren. During their recess time, Sandi likes to train dogs in the valley with sign language and play poker with Deaf people.
Sandi is a certified dog trainer here in Arizona where she is a proud housewife of Russ Bye for 24 years. Sandi came from hearing family where she became deaf at age of two in Ohio but grew up in Riverside and graduated from California School for the Riverside. At very young age, Sandi experienced very interesting life because she always felt abandoned with hearing family and friend due to lack of communication. But it didn’t stop her from what she was supposed to do until she met a wonderful husband, Russ Bye she is still happy with the communication method of ASL to use every day to communicate every day. Sandi has three hearing children, one son and twin daughters from previous marriage with 11 grandchildren. During their recess time, Sandi likes to train dogs in the valley with sign language and play poker with Deaf people.