Dr. Natalie J. Delgado is the executive director of the Louisiana School for the Deaf and has taught from birth through 12th grade, as well as at the university level. She received her EdD in Deaf Studies and Deaf Education from Lamar University, where she also received her master's degree in Deaf Education. Dr. Delgado continues to conduct research with her colleagues, centering her work mainly on early intervention, early childhood language and identity development, and Deaf critical theory.

Erica is a wife and mom of two children, one hearing and one Deaf. She is a recent graduate of an Interpreter Training Program and is working on pursuing her state certifications. She runs an advocacy account on Instagram, @momthatsigns, hoping to provide other hearing families with Deaf children with helpful resources, an opportunity to connect with the Deaf community, and encouragement to spearhead their journey with confidence and full support.

Dr. Christi Batamula is a professor in the Department of Education and the Director for the National Beacon Center at Gallaudet University. She has experience teaching and researching in a variety of deaf education schools and settings. Dr. Batamula received her PhD in Education from George Mason University, specializing in International Education, Early Childhood Education, and Teacher Education. Her research interests are international education, including immigrant education and multilingual education, family language planning, and family collaboration with deaf and hard-of-hearing children.

Dr. Bobbie Jo Kite is a Full Professor in the Department of Education at Gallaudet University and Assistant Director of the National Beacon Center. She earned her B.A. in Early Childhood Education and M.A. in Deaf Education from Gallaudet, and her Ph.D. in Early Childhood Education and Multilingual/Multicultural Education from George Mason University. Her research centers on Family Language Planning & Policy and Multilingual Education, with a focus on supporting deaf and hard-of-hearing children and their families through inclusive language practices. At the National Beacon Center, Dr. Kite helps shape national initiatives within the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) system of services, advancing coordinated efforts across families, healthcare, and education. A second-generation Deaf scholar, she is deeply committed to fostering equitable, accessible opportunities for all children. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two cats, and a dog.

Amy is a Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing who earned her bachelor’s degree in American Sign Language with a minor in Foreign Language Pedagogy from Kent State University in 2015, and her master’s degree in Deaf Education with a graduate certificate in Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 2022. She has experience teaching DHH students as an itinerant teacher, in a hub program within a mainstream school, and at a school for the Deaf. She teaches with a whole-child, family-centered approach, providing accessible language input that supports each student’s growth while fostering new learning and encouraging ongoing development. Amy is enthusiastic about early intervention, language acquisition, and empowering students’ academic success across all areas, including literacy through evidence-based, Science-of-Reading-aligned practices.

Caitlin is a speech-language pathologist and the founder of The Signing SLP: Deaf Positive Language Therapist Inc. She specializes in supporting deaf and hard of hearing children through affirming, accessible, and individualized language intervention. In addition to her educational background in speech-language pathology, Caitlin holds a graduate certificate in Early Intervention from Gallaudet University and was the first person to receive the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialist–Practitioner certification. She serves as a regional representative on the board of California Hands & Voices. Her work centers on language access, equity, and building systems that honor each child’s unique communication profile.