Leslie Powell earned a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Development from the University of Vermont and a Masters Degree in Deaf Education from Western Maryland College (now known as McDaniel College).  She is a Certified Signing Smart Instructor and Master Teacher licensed to teach Beginner and Intermediate Play Classes, Parent Workshops, Workshops for the Childcare Setting and Workshops for the Preschool Setting.   Leslie co-authored the Signing Smart at the Zoo Curriculum and teaches those classes occassionally at the Denver Zoo.  Before having children, she taught in early childhood settings including 5 years’ experience as a teacher at the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf.  Leslie used American Sign Language signs with her own children when they were babies. Leslie has interpreted for a weekly bible study during the school year and she is also a consultant for a national scrapbooking company.  She has taught Signing Smart Play Classes since 2003 and lives in Centennial, Colorado with her husband and three children.