Board Members

ID: A person with long curly hair and glasses smiles while signing “hello” in American Sign Language, wearing a long-sleeve top against a light background.

Delia Lozano is a first-generation American born in El Paso, Texas, and currently residing in Tennessee. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education and a Master of Public Administration, reflecting her strong foundation in child development, leadership, and advocacy within educational systems. Delia serves as an ASL L1 Instructional Coach, where she supports educators and promotes high-quality American Sign Language instruction. She is deeply passionate about early language acquisition and believes that early access to language is essential for children’s cognitive, social, and academic growth. A strong advocate for parent engagement, Delia recognizes the critical role families play in their children’s success. She is also a proud mother and bonus mother to five Deaf children, and her personal experiences continue to guide her commitment to empowering families and strengthening sign language education.

ID: A person with short hair and glasses signs “hello” in American Sign Language, wearing a dark long-sleeve shirt against a neutral wall.

Nerita is a Deaf educator from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, currently completing her degree in Deaf Education and her student teaching at the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf. She serves as President-Elect of ASLRT, working closely with leadership to advance the organization’s mission and strengthen collaboration among ASL educators nationwide. Coming from a Deaf family and as the proud mother of a CODA son, Nerita brings both personal and professional insight to her work. She is deeply committed to promoting ASL, supporting Deaf education, and ensuring equitable opportunities for Deaf individuals in all spaces.

ID: A person with straight, shoulder-length hair and glasses signs “hello” in American Sign Language, wearing a dark top against a dark background.

Karla is originally from Indiana and was raised in the Deaf community, an experience that continues to shape her passion for Deaf education and language advocacy. She earned her BA in Psychology from Gallaudet University and her MS in Deaf Education from McDaniel College. Karla currently serves as an ASL Specialist at the Wisconsin School for the Deaf, where she previously worked as a Kindergarten/1st grade teacher and bilingual specialist. She has been a dedicated member of the ASL Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (ASL-CIA) team since its founding in 2016 and also serves as a Jr. NAD advisor, supporting Deaf youth leadership. Outside of her professional work, Karla enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and her four adorable dogs.

ID: A person with short hair signs “hello” in American Sign Language, wearing a light-colored hoodie in an indoor setting.

Lilly resides in Kansas and is a proud alumna of the Kansas School for the Deaf, where she attended from age four through graduation. She earned her Bachelor of Social Work from Gallaudet University and her Master of Education in Deaf Education from Boston University. Lilly now teaches ASL and Deaf Studies at her alma mater, guided by her strong belief in bilingual Deaf Education and ASL as the foundation for language acquisition. She actively volunteers with the Museum of Deaf History, Arts, and Culture, serves on multiple committees for both MDHAC and KSD, and coaches high school track while helping coordinate the “ASL for ALL 5K.” Outside of work, she enjoys exploring local coffee shops, spending time with her furbabies, and cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs.

ID: A person with long hair smiles while signing “hello” in American Sign Language, wearing a dark top against a solid blue background.

Melly lives in Maryland and was born and raised in Kansas City in a hearing, biracial family. Growing up, she experienced a range of educational settings, including oral education, mainstream programs, cued speech, and residential schooling, ultimately graduating from the Kansas School for the Deaf. She earned her BA in Social Work and MA in Deaf Education from Gallaudet University and brings over 20 years of experience teaching students from Parent–Infant through high school and adults at the Texas School for the Deaf and the American School for the Deaf, where she currently serves as Program Specialist for the ASL Department and ASL Lead Teacher for the Online Academy. She has also taught ASL online nationwide for over a decade and previously served as Treasurer for Deaf Women of Texas. She and her husband, John A., are proud parents of three CODA children and enjoy cheering on their family and Kansas City teams.

ID: A person with short hair, glasses, and facial hair signs “hello” in American Sign Language, wearing a blue button-down shirt against a light background.

Rayburn lives in Arkansas and Tennessee and brings more than 30 years of experience in Deaf Education. He holds advanced degrees in educational leadership from Gallaudet University, including an Educational Specialist degree, and is currently pursuing his Doctor of Education at Capella University, expected in Winter 2026. His career includes fifteen years of classroom teaching—seven at the Alabama School for the Deaf—as well as principal leadership roles at schools for the Deaf in Indiana, Louisiana, New York, Arkansas, and the Tennessee School for the Deaf in Nashville. As Executive Director of the National American Sign Language Education of Heritage Language Learners, Rayburn is known for his collaborative leadership and dedication to strengthening ASL education, supporting heritage language learners, and advancing inclusive school communities. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Elly, and their two CODA sons.