Polly Brekke is a nationally respected leader in Deaf education with over 30 years of experience in educational leadership, school psychology, higher education and ASL instruction. She is the founder of the Central Iowa Deaf Academy (CIDA), a proposed Deaf-centered private school designed to provide language-accessible, academically rigorous and community-connected education for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students in Iowa. Polly has served in senior leadership roles in public education, where she led Deaf education programming, supported educators and families and helped develop accessible learning systems for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students. She has also taught ASL, Deaf Culture and Deaf Education preparation courses at multiple universities and served in statewide advisory and leadership roles supporting Deaf education initiatives across Iowa. Her work is grounded in the belief that Deaf and Hard of Hearing children thrive when language, identity, access and community are placed at the center of education. She holds a EdD from the University of Northern Iowa along with additional graduate degrees from Gallaudet University.