About CJ

Video Description:ID: CJ, a light skinned male with shaved head and beard, is standing behind a white wall, he is wearing black long sleeve t-shirt.

Transcript: Hello, my name is CJ.  I was born and raised in El Paso, Texas.  My family is hearing, I am the only deaf member.  I was mainstreamed since third grade.  I graduated from Burges High school in El Paso, Texas.  I went to Rochester Institute of Technology.  I majored in criminal justice and minored in business.  After taking classes, I realized I was in the wrong field.  I went back home to El Paso and took a year off to figure out things.  I realized I wanted to work with children.  I decided on an education major.  I enrolled at University of Texas at El Paso.  I graduated in   My degree focused on 4th to 8th grade core areas.  Math, social studies, science, English.  I had a hard time finding jobs.  Many schools were not willing to hire interpreter.  Some doubted having deaf teachers.  I had to figure out a solution.  Why not teach high school ASL.  Texas has ASL certification.  I challenged it and passed.  I’ve been teaching for  years now at my old high school.  I just finished my teaching  year at El Paso Community College.  I am currently a graduate student at Gallaudet University.  I am pursuing my Masters in Sign Language Education.  My goal is to provide dual credit at my high school.  Also establish a program at my university.  I want to provide opportunities, interpreters, ASL, Deaf education and CDI.