Meet Monica Corcoran! Miss. Corcoran is a first-year teacher at Lakota West. She teaches American Sign Language (ASL) levels I & II. Continue reading to learn more about this beloved teacher and her commitment to the job. 

Although this is Miss. Corcoran’s first year of teaching, she has been within the Lakota Walls for quite a while. Since 2011, she has worked as an ASL interpreter, which made her accustomed to being in a classroom. Miss. Corcoran wanted to challenge herself and went back to school to get her bachelor’s degree. Throughout her years of interpreting, she had already established a relationship with some students and worked towards creating an inclusive learning environment.

ASL is a visual and inviting language and Miss. Corcoran’s teaching methods embrace that nature. It is very spacious and welcoming in her classroom where she addresses her students compassionately, and makes them feel comfortable with making mistakes (and learning from them). She encourages group learning so that students are engaged, not only with her but with other classmates as well. ASL student and sophomore, Cooper McKnight, believes to have benefited from her teaching style. 

“ASL can be a very confusing language and she’s very good at finding a fun way to get people to learn about Deaf Culture ”

One thing about Miss. Corcoran is that she cares not only about teaching, but her students as well. Growing up she always wanted to be a teacher, and she shows it every day in her classroom. She thinks it’s important for teachers to realize each class is different and that each student is unique. Therefore, her teaching style is flexible depending on her students. 

“Tomorrow is a new day, don’t dwell on the past. ”-Ms. Corcoran