Ako Nakano Blea

American Sign Language is awesome, and it quickly became a passion for Ako and she used this interest to guide her through her degrees...and as an excuse to travel! Ako received her Bachelor's degree in Sign Language Interpreting in New Mexico, her Master's degree in Deaf Education in Pennsylvania, and her EdD in Special Education with a concentration in Teachers of the Deaf in California. Throughout her journey as a Deaf ally, Ako taught a diverse population of Deaf and hard-of-hearing students. If you are looking for Ako, she's probably in the middle of an Escape room, playing board games, or at a park with her daughter Mabel! Ako has been with Northwest Academy since 2023.