About the Staff

My name is Mrs. Lauren Rivera. My sign name is “angel” using both the handshape “L” and handshape “R” simultaneously with the right hand over the right shoulder. I have been working at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind since 1998. I worked in various areas, including an after-school recreation program for deaf students grades K – 5, volunteering child-care services for deaf children in the parent-infant program during evenings while parents attended school meetings, volunteering with deaf and blind students at all grade levels with a religious program on campus, and inputting information in database and focusing on grants and other valuable information in the Resource Development office.

In 2002, I began teaching in the Deaf Elementary department and have taught Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades here at FSDB. I am elated to be teaching your First Grader this year!

I was a director and child caregiver at a nursery for children 6 weeks old – 5 years old. I taught Spanish vocabulary and songs to pre-school students and was a camp counselor (including swim and gymnastics lessons) for pre-school age children to fifth grade. I was also a drama camp producer and director for fifth–eighth grade children.

I graduated with dual certification in Elementary Education (grades 1st – 6 th ) and Deaf Education (grades K – 12th ) and have K-12 Reading and ESOL (English Speakers of other Languages) endorsements. I am a Nationally Board Certified Teacher as an Exceptional Needs Specialist for Early Childhood through Young Adulthood. I was selected as the 2009 and 2015 Teacher of the Year for the Deaf Elementary Department. I was also selected as the 2009 District Teacher of the Year for the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind. This amazing honor allowed me to participate with other teachers of the year in every district in the state of Florida to share ideas and discuss very important topics with the Department of Education.

I have served as a Language Arts curriculum representative, a tutor for elementary, middle, and high school students, a tutoring coordinator for the Deaf Elementary department, and a teacher during the Summer Intensive Reading program. I have been a member of the Council of Education for the Deaf, Florida Educators of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and Kappa Delta Phi Educational Honor Society.

I am married to my high school sweetheart and we have two beautiful children, Tre and Eliana, 12 years old and 9 years old, respectively. My children are the light of my life and teach me something new every single day. I read personal development books and attend workshops to take the opportunity to reflect on my current practices and research innovative ways to present to my students. I am eager to implement these ideas into the curriculum and daily classroom procedures with them. I am looking forward to a positive and successful year with your child!

Certifications:

• General Education K-6

• Hearing Impaired K-12

• ESOL Endorsed K-12

• Reading Endorsed K-12

• National Board: Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood (birth – 21+ years)