Specialty Areas - Cybersecurity, Math, IT

Joined February 2019

Jason Roop is currently the director of the NTID Regional STEM Center (NRSC) at the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (AIDB) in Talladega, Alabama. He is a native of Virginia and a graduate of George Mason University where he earned a bachelor’s in computer engineering. Instead of working in the private sector after completing his undergraduate studies, he chose to begin a career in technology education at the Alabama School for the Deaf (ASD). He received his Master’s in Deaf Education from Lamar University shortly thereafter. Because of his personal experience as a Deaf student in a mainstream program and the benefits of being exposed to STEM courses in high school, he desired to promote the same life-changing impact for the students he worked with at ASD. His nearly 21 years of experience in the Deaf Education and Information Technology fields give him a unique perspective for championing STEM content in education. Jason currently oversees NRSC’s robotics, engineering, and academic and transition programs for postsecondary deaf and hard-of-hearing students nationwide. In his free time, Jason enjoys traveling and hiking with his wife and three daughters.

Specialty Areas - English, Literacy, ACT

Joined November 2016

Having been in the educational field for over thirty years, Lynn has worn many hats from classroom teacher, language specialist, curriculum coordinator, counselor, and outreach provider in the area of English and literacy in relation to STEM education. She has taught Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing students from the kindergarten level through college level in the areas of Life Skills/ Independent Living Skills, Social Studies, English, and reading. In my latest role as STEM Outreach Coordinator, I have been involved in workshops/trainings involving the Universal Design for Learning, the Outdoor Classroom, and NSTA workshops related to including STEM across the curriculum; as well as, presenting on the regional and national levels on teaching English/Writing Skills to the Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing, ACT Prep, incorporating STEM/NGSS across all subject areas.

Specialty Area - English, Literacy, ACT

Joined May 2020

Debbie Gilliam is a dedicated educator with over 25 years of teaching experience in delivering enthusiastic instruction and curriculum based on the learning needs of students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Her teaching experience includes all ages from primary grades to working with adult learners. She was the 2015 recipient of the University of Montevallo Outstanding Alumna for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education and the 2002 recipient of the Outstanding Alumni Collaborative Teacher Program for University of Alabama at Birmingham. Debbie also holds an additional interdisciplinary graduate certification in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Infants, Toddlers and their Families: Collaboration and Leadership from Gallaudet University. She enjoys traveling, practicing yoga, and spending time with family on the lake. 

Specialty Areas - Math, Robotics, Coding/Computer Science

Joined January 2020

Brett is a STEM Trainer with a math background. Brett grew up in North Carolina and had aspirations of becoming a civil engineer, but after being a substitute teacher at a mainstream program, he knew teaching was something he wanted to pursue.  Brett has worked in the field of Deaf Education for over ten years, taking on various positions as a dorm counselor, a classroom math teacher and a statewide consultant for a Deaf-Blind Project.  He wants to combine his experience and passion for teaching to provide Deaf students with the opportunity to “find their place” in the STEM field. At work, he specializes in middle school robotics.  Outside of work, he likes to spend time with his wife and fur-children, CrossFit, and any type of outdoorsy activity.

Specialty Areas – Engineering, CAD, Mechanical, Electronics

Joined October 2020

Matt is a STEM trainer in M.E.L.D. (Mechatronic Engineering for Leadership in Deafness). A Model Secondary School for the Deaf Alumni who came from a small town in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. He started off as customization manager for a sports uniform company dealing with graphic design, heat press, screen print, and embroidery for 5 years until he was successful in getting his dream job by working as mechanical design and quality engineering within the automotive technology field. He has worked within NASCAR, military, and motorsports fields. After 20 years of working in technology industries, he wanted to share his knowledge and experience in advanced technology with Deaf students. So, he became an Engineering and Automotive Technology teacher at North Carolina School for the Deaf for a couple of years before joining the NRSC Team. He has a huge passion in motorsports and automotive technologies. He enjoys traveling, hiking, and watching movies with his beautiful wife, son, and dogs. 

Specialty Areas - Literacy, Itinerant Services, Transition, and Specially Designed Instruction for Students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Joined June 2023

Cara is an academic and transition specialist and STEM Academy II Coordinator. She has a dual bachelor's degree in Deaf Education and Elementary Education from Flagler College. Her master's degree is in Special Education from the University of North Florida (UNF). She is a UNF Project SPIDERS scholar sponsored by the Office of Special Education Program. She is pursuing her doctorate in Educational Leadership, focusing on Deaf Education. She has 26 years of expertise in Deaf Education with specialties in Reading Intervention, Transition, Itinerant Services, and Specially Designed Instruction for DHH. She has taught students from birth to 22 across the continuum of services, from a self-contained classroom to inclusion support at all levels. She is trained in the following programs designed specifically for students who are DHH: American Sign Language - Expressive Skills Test, AvenuePM, Bedrock Literacy Curriculum, Bilingual Grammar Curriculum, Explicit Contextualized Vocabulary Instruction - Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Fairview Learning, Fingerspelling Our Way to Reading, Foundations for Literacy, See the Sounds Visual Phonics, Strategic and Interactive Writing Instruction, and Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons paired with Visual Phonics. During her free time, she spends time with her husband and two children. She loves reading, traveling, cooking, and trying new adventures. 

Specialty Areas - Science, Robotics, Coding/Computer Science

Joined January 2017

Harry is a STEM Trainer with a science background. He started out as the math/science specialist and now specializes in High School Robotics for STEM education. He tries to combine his experience as a teacher of the D/HH with the best practices of STEM education into a cohesive model. Prior to his current position, Harry taught students in high school at the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind from 2003-2016, specializing in science education. Originally hailing from Maryland, he provides support & enthusiasm in robotics and computer science/coding among many other things.  He has a love for gardening, hiking, kayaking, and anything to do with nature.