Instructor

Kelli Mathews has loved American Sign Language and the Deaf community that communicates with it for more than 25 years.  While living in the Ft. Lauderdale area, she interpreted professionally in her community as well as for a large Deaf ministry at her church for 12 years. Being involved in Deaf club, Deaf ministry, and Deaf people’s lives was a huge part of her life while living in Florida.  

Kelli’s training in American Sign Language has included full-immersion at The Florida School for the Deaf and Blind, Miami-Dade College, local teaching by CODAs (children of Deaf adults) at the local Deaf Service Center, and hands-on learning from Deaf friends and Deaf ministry members.

When the Mathews family moved to the North Georgia mountains in 2004, sign language took a back seat to raising four children and homeschooling them all to graduation.  Kelli’s eldest daughter is married and living in central Florida. Her second daughter graduated from the University of North Georgia. Her only son is a full-time welder at a local company, and her baby just graduated from high school and is already a sophomore in college.

While homeschooling, Kelli taught ASL I and ASL II at her local homeschool co-op for two years and assisted other teachers in their classes as well.  She is very excited to be teaching ASL again at Excelsior Classes!

Currently Kelli has the opportunity to interpret at church again as her church has a small Deaf community in attendance. She also works part-time at Young Harris College as a sign language interpreter for a Deaf student there.  She continues to take ASL classes to hone her skills as well.

Kelli and her husband are actively involved in their church, just fell in love with pickleball, love to go on hikes with their very active German Shorthaired Pointer, and try to keep up with their adult children.