NICOLE LECCESE
NICOLE LECCESE
Graduate student Nicole Leccese hails from a place that produces dreamers and innovators; New York- the salad bowl of the world. Currently studying Deaf Education at Gallaudet University to become a educator of the Deaf. It is her utmost desire to make a significant difference in young children' lives by showing them that learning can be fun process. Besides studying, when time permits, she finds herself in a cubby reading and and painting. Hobbies flowered from my interest in children literature because there are many beautiful illustrations and meaningful stories in children literature. Nicole believes elementary education is the fertilizer for positive development and growth for future generations to come.
NANETTE VIRNIG
A native Graduate Minnesotan, Nanette Virnig, is working on her Deaf Education M.A. degree at the only and unique deaf university in the world, Gallaudet University. Spent her whole pre-college school life at a deaf school, MN State Academy for the Deaf, located in a small town of Faribault where houses designed by a well-know deaf architect, Olof Hanson are cherished. She believes that developing a friendly and easy-guide webpage of diverse children's literature will promote positive attitude in children, parents, and teachers in many schools in MN that are white dominated. During Nanette's free time, she enjoys spending quality time with her family especially her lovely niece and soon to be born nephew, laying back and reading adventure and children books, exploring mountain bike trails on her infamous mountain bike, and taking photos.
ERIN
WHITNEY
An avid ski buff from Portland, Oregon; Graduate student Erin Whitney is in her first year of Administration and Supervision at Gallaudet University. As a former pupil of John Tracy Clinic; private schools public [mainstream] schools, and one deaf school, she one day hopes to be able to serve as an influence to improve the quality of Deaf education in the future. No matter how hectic her schedule becomes, she always manages to scour The Washington Post on a daily basis. 24 hours are not enough hours in a day for this student who wishes she had more time to read books. Erin's love and appreciation for literature developed at a young age and continues to this day.