Member Spotlight

Meet Karyn!
By Karyn Sterling

I have always had a passion for individuals with hearing loss.  From the time I was a young girl, I decided that I wanted to be a teacher of the deaf and help children learn to communicate with the world around them.  I did not know anyone that was deaf growing up but I knew that it was simply my calling.  I attended a community college in my home state of New Jersey before transferring to The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  I searched long and hard for a school that had both early childhood education and deaf education as a dual degree.  I soon discovered UNCG and was fascinated by the Auditory Oral/Birth-Kindergarten Deaf Education program that they offered. I was amazed and a little skeptical that children with hearing loss could learn to listen and speak.  Nonetheless, I relocated eight hours from my home, family and friends to follow my dreams.  It was a very hard sacrifice, but well worth it in the end! I fell in love with teaching children with a hearing loss and became a true believer in the oral deaf education movement!  I knew that I was very interested in Early Intervention, so I requested my student teaching placement with the North Carolina Early Intervention Program for Children Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing-Central Region (CNCEIPCDHH). I had a wonderful experience in the program and knew that I would enjoy working in Early Intervention.  I applied for a job opening that CNCEIPCDHH had available upon graduation and decided to move permanently to North Carolina once I was accepted for the position.  I have been with CNCEIPCDHH for four years now and have enjoyed working with a diversity of families and professionals.  I have many opportunities to better myself as a professional and am continually learning about the field of deaf education.  I am doing what I love to do and what I have dreamed of doing all of my life.  It is a wonderful feeling to know that you are making a positive difference in children’s lives.  I currently live in Greensboro with my wonderful husband who supports me as a professional (even moving from New Jersey to North Carolina so that I could accept the job with CNCEIPCDHH), a beautiful six month old daughter named Reagan and a crazy American Bulldog named Gus. 

Editors note: The board is very thankful to Karyn for her contribution to our newsletter. If you would like to be considered for the member spotlight, please email web@ncagbell.org