Walking into G35 feels different than any other place on campus. Some days it’s loud, chaotic and full of life, other days it’s quiet and focused, but always colorful, welcoming, and supportive for students, no matter what day.
After eight years of teaching, American Sign Language (ASL) teacher Nikki Self is moving to Whitney, TX, to be closer to family. Self plans to return to interpreting full-time after leaving the district.
“The program was here two years before I started. The first year it was online, and it was only for people who had deaf members in their family,” Self said. “Then, they opened it up the year after that. I think there were two classes, and the teacher also taught special education. And then when I came in, I was the first teacher that had only ASL classes, and the program has just steadily grown since then.”
Self’s influence on students is evident in the classroom, where many have said she has shaped both their skills, passion and dedication to ASL.
“Ms. Self is one of the best teachers I have had this year and last year, and honestly, I don’t think I would have continued ASL without her teaching it,” junior Sierra Leal said
Self said her own experiences as a student first sparked her desire to teach ASL and inspire others in the same way.
“My ASL teacher I had in high school had a very big impact on my life,” Self said. “She’s the one who actually got me into the love for the language, and I wanted to have that impact on somebody’s life. I wanted somebody to fall in love with the language that I found as beautiful as ASL, and I wanted to be a positive influence on students.”
The impact is reflected in how her students describe her teaching style, influence and dedication to her job.
“Ms. Self has brought more knowledge into the classroom than most teachers have with any other subject,” junior Jacob Hill said. “Self has taught me how to learn.”
Other students shared similar testaments, speaking about lessons that went beyond just the language she was assigned to teach.
“Self has taught me to focus better, and know when there’s a time to goof off and to have fun,” senior Zane Silver said. “She also taught me when there’s a time to actually do work and get stuff done—have fun later because no one is there to do it for you.”
As she prepares to leave the district, Self offers parting words to her students about resilience and support.
“I would like to say to them that you do have somebody in your corner, even if that person is not in this building with you,” Self said. “They still support you no matter what you’re going through. There’s always somebody that you can talk to, somebody who cares about you. You’ve got this. You are strong, and you are capable. Keep your head high, even when you don’t want to, and find that one face which is smiling for you.”
