John S. Pirone

Assistant Professor of American Sign Language

John Pirone
Alma mater(s)
  • Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Affiliated Department(s)

Department of Education

BIO

Dr. John Pirone is a teacher, evaluator, researcher, and advocate who teaches ASL and Deaf Culture courses in the American Sign Language (ASL) Program at UVM.

His research focuses on two areas: ASL education for second language/additional language (L2/Ln) students in postsecondary settings, and equity in education for signing Deaf students. He is interested in understanding what and how current practices commonly used among ASL professionals affect teaching and learning in the ASL classroom.

Dr. Pirone is committed to building scholarship in the relatively little-explored field of ASL education as a profession. Based on his lived experience as a signing Deaf person and his community advocacy, he is also interested in understanding how the current educational system affects signing Deaf children through the lens of social justice.

His two most recently published articles are American Sign Language Level 1 Assessment: What is Out There in the Journal of Foreign Language Annals and The Landscape of American Sign Language Education in the Journal of Foreign Language Annals.

In addition to his teaching and research, Dr. Pirone actively engages in community advocacy and service at the local, state, and national levels.

Prior to his tenure at the University of Vermont, he served as the Director of Deaf Studies at the College of the Holy Cross. He has two decades of teaching of experience teaching ASL, Deaf Culture, and Deaf Studies at colleges and universities in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. 

Dr. Pirone previously served on numerous boards for organizations such as The Learning Center for the Deaf, Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and National Research Center for Parents with Disabilities.

Courses

  • ASL 1100 - American Sign Language 1
  • ASL 1200 - American Sign Langauge 2
  • ASL 2100 - American Sign Language 3
  • ASL 2200 - American Sign Language 4
  • ASL 2300 - Understanding Deaf Culture
  • ASL 3100 - American Sign Language 5
  • ASL 3200 - American Sign Language 6
  • ASL 3300 - American Sign Language Literature

Publications

Google Scholar

Awards and Achievements

  • The George Veditz Award by the Massachusetts State Association of the Deaf (2017)
  • Community Leader of the Year award by the D.E.A.F., Inc., Boston, MA (2013)
  • Dr. Richard Thompson Lifetime Achievement Award by the Massachusetts State Association of the Deaf (2011)
  • Successful Deaf Leader Award by the Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (2009)
  • Deaf Leader of Year award by the State of Arizona (2000)

Area(s) of expertise

  • American Sign Language
  • American Sign Language Education
  • Deaf Studies
  • Disability and Inclusion
  • Access and equity

Bio

Dr. John Pirone is a teacher, evaluator, researcher, and advocate who teaches ASL and Deaf Culture courses in the American Sign Language (ASL) Program at UVM.

His research focuses on two areas: ASL education for second language/additional language (L2/Ln) students in postsecondary settings, and equity in education for signing Deaf students. He is interested in understanding what and how current practices commonly used among ASL professionals affect teaching and learning in the ASL classroom.

Dr. Pirone is committed to building scholarship in the relatively little-explored field of ASL education as a profession. Based on his lived experience as a signing Deaf person and his community advocacy, he is also interested in understanding how the current educational system affects signing Deaf children through the lens of social justice.

His two most recently published articles are American Sign Language Level 1 Assessment: What is Out There in the Journal of Foreign Language Annals and The Landscape of American Sign Language Education in the Journal of Foreign Language Annals.

In addition to his teaching and research, Dr. Pirone actively engages in community advocacy and service at the local, state, and national levels.

Prior to his tenure at the University of Vermont, he served as the Director of Deaf Studies at the College of the Holy Cross. He has two decades of teaching of experience teaching ASL, Deaf Culture, and Deaf Studies at colleges and universities in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. 

Dr. Pirone previously served on numerous boards for organizations such as The Learning Center for the Deaf, Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and National Research Center for Parents with Disabilities.

Courses

  • ASL 1100 - American Sign Language 1
  • ASL 1200 - American Sign Langauge 2
  • ASL 2100 - American Sign Language 3
  • ASL 2200 - American Sign Language 4
  • ASL 2300 - Understanding Deaf Culture
  • ASL 3100 - American Sign Language 5
  • ASL 3200 - American Sign Language 6
  • ASL 3300 - American Sign Language Literature

Publications

Awards and Achievements

  • The George Veditz Award by the Massachusetts State Association of the Deaf (2017)
  • Community Leader of the Year award by the D.E.A.F., Inc., Boston, MA (2013)
  • Dr. Richard Thompson Lifetime Achievement Award by the Massachusetts State Association of the Deaf (2011)
  • Successful Deaf Leader Award by the Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (2009)
  • Deaf Leader of Year award by the State of Arizona (2000)

Areas of Expertise

  • American Sign Language
  • American Sign Language Education
  • Deaf Studies
  • Disability and Inclusion
  • Access and equity