World Language Team

Edgar King is the American Sign Language (ASL) teacher at Gunston Middle School. A proud Hoosier, he hails from Indiana, known as basketball country. Currently, Edgar lives near Washington, D.C., with his wife, son, and daughter, all of whom are deaf. The hearing members of the family include their beloved rescue dog, Jemma, and their Balinese cats, Enzo and Goose. Edgar graduated from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., and during his college years, he embarked on a cross-country bicycle trip with a friend—long before the days of smartphones and GPS, navigating the "old-fashioned" way! A football fan, Edgar shares a special bond with his son, and together, they have set a goal to visit NFL stadiums and experience live games in each one. Edgar is passionate about teaching ASL, a unique language he describes as four-dimensional. How many languages can claim to be 4-D? He strives to introduce students to Deaf culture, encouraging them to engage with the world from a fresh perspective using both their eyes and hands. Edgar has taught ASL in Delaware, Kentucky, Indiana, and at several schools in Virginia, including Yorktown High School, Williamsburg Middle School, and Dorothy Hamm Middle School. In addition to ASL, he has also taught and coached Deaf students across six different states. This year, Edgar looks forward to sharing his love for ASL and Deaf culture with the students at Gunston Middle School, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for this vibrant community.

Hello! I'm Nohelia Lizarazo, and I am thrilled to be in my second year of teaching Spanish at Gunston. With a diverse background in communication, journalism, human resources, and education, I bring a dynamic approach to teaching Spanish as a second language. Originally from the mountains in Colombia, South America. I am passionate about designing lessons that not only engage my students but also create meaningful opportunities for growth, being empathic and discovering hispanic culture. My goal is to build a warm and welcoming classroom environment where every student feels safe, supported, and confident in their learning journey. I believe that language learning is an exciting adventure, and I strive to make each class an enriching experience. When I'm not in the classroom, you can find me enjoying some of my favorite activities—reading, traveling with my husband, cooking and having arepas, spending quality time with my grandmother and parents, looking for a new public library, or relaxing with embroidery.