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1 | Presenter | Bio | Financial Disclosure: | Non-Financial Disclosure: | ||||||||||||||||||||
2 | Anderson, Trevor | Trevor is a high school social studies teacher at Texas School for the Deaf and an alumni of Gallaudet University and Texas Tech University. He teaches using Culturally Responsive Teaching, Universal Design of Learning, and ASL/English bilingualism. | NA | Texas School for the Deaf | ||||||||||||||||||||
3 | Aymami, Natasha | Natasha's previous employment includes more than fifteen years of experience as a sign language interpreter; interpreter coordinator at Affiliated Blind of Louisiana; Louisiana State University assistant director of Disability Services; Louisiana School for the Deaf interpreter and academic counselor; and Orientation and Mobility specialist for East Baton Rouge public schools. She has a bachelor's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Louisiana State University Health Science Center. She also has a master's degree in Orientation and Mobility from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. In addition to her academic credentials, Natasha is a Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist (COMS) and a nationally certified sign language interpreter. Outside of work, Natasha is an avid runner who completed a half marathon in 2019. Natasha’s goal is to complete a full marathon. Natasha is a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA) and enjoys spending time with family and friends. | NA | Helen Keller National Center | ||||||||||||||||||||
4 | Belding, Angela | Coordinator, RDSPD Program Reviews in Texas | NA | ESC Region 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
5 | Bennett, Kaycee | Kaycee Bennett joined the Texas Deafblind Project in 2019 after working with school districts in the North Texas area as an Auditory Impairment Specialist and then a Teacher of Students who are Deafblind. Her passion is creating better programming, access, and communication for students across the state of Texas and the staff supporting them. Kaycee is a certified Teacher of Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and has a graduate certificate and Master’s degree in deafblind education from Texas Tech University. She worked as a classroom teacher and an itinerant teacher for 10 years before joining the Texas Deafblind Project. Kaycee received the Marty Murrell Excellence in Education Award for her work teaching and assisting deafblind students and their teachers, representing the top honor in her profession in the state in 2019. Currently Kaycee is involved in developing training for interveners, supporting the evaluation of students who are deafblind, as well as creating materials to support students who are deafblind and considered proficient communicators. | NA | Texas DeafBlind Project | ||||||||||||||||||||
6 | Bergeron, Shelly | Shelly Bergeron lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, Jon. They have two sons, both of whom are Deaf. Shelly works as the Intervention Care Coordinator for the Statewide Outreach Center at Texas School for the Deaf. In this position she partners with TEHDI and other stakeholders to access information related to newborn hearing screenings. This information is used to reach out to families with newly identified infants to share resources as well as analyze data to improve the Loss to Follow up and Loss to Documentation (LTF/LTD) in Texas. | NA | Statewide Outreach Center at Texas School for the Deaf | ||||||||||||||||||||
7 | Bonner, Michael | Seen on The Ellen Show and NBC Nightly News, educator, speaker, and author Michael Bonner has taken to more than 100 education conference, school district meeting and leadership development stages across the U.S. & Canada to share his "lessons learned" from teaching in a Title I school with children that experience high levels of trauma and adverse situations. His candid, enthusiastic seminars challenge listeners to create diverse, inclusive education plans "where students can see themselves within the lessons and assessments" as a means to increase student success rates. He empowers his audiences to build genuine relationships with their students because "you can't demand a withdrawal from someone you have never invested in." Administrators and educators alike leave Mr. Bonner's presence ready to make an impact that affects eternity. Mr. Bonner is consistently seen as a visionary leader who strives to create a positive mindset among all of his students. His students come to class each day with diverse backgrounds, strengths, needs, and challenges. Therefore, he identifies strategies to ensure their growth socially, emotionally, academically, and psychologically. Due to his educational approach, students leave more hopeful, challenged, inspired, and forever a part of Bonnerville. Today, Mr. Bonner lives in Atlanta, Ga. where he is beginning a new educational journey as a fourth and sixth-grade English teacher at the famed Ron Clark Academy | Speakers' Package from Organization | Ron Clark Academy | ||||||||||||||||||||
8 | Borsotti, Bethani | Bethany Shelly Borsotti pursued a Bachelor degree at Gallaudet University in Family and Child Studies as well as a Masters in Mental Health Counseling. She worked in this field for 5 years until a job opportunity came up in Austin, Texas for an Early Childhood Education teaching position. She shifted her career to become an elementary teacher at Texas School for the Deaf for 5 years. She enjoys outdoor activities and recently became a new mother to a beautiful baby. | NA | Texas School for the Deaf | ||||||||||||||||||||
9 | Bright-Fontana, Andrea | Andrea M. Bright-Fontana, M.A., BEI Court, Master, RID NIC-Advanced. Andrea has worked professionally as an interpreter for more than 20 years and specializes in healthcare, post-secondary and legal interpreting. Her and her husband, along with their 3 boys were foster parents for 7 years, and have adopted 3 beautiful Deaf daughters. Since becoming a foster parent, she has recognized the need for more education in the interpreting field related to Child Protective Services (CPS) and working with children who have experienced trauma. This need led to the development of “CPS and the CPC”, “Insights on Child Protective Services for Educational Interpreters”, and “Trauma Informed Interpreting with Children”, co-presented with John Bergeron, PhD. In her free time, she can be found at any of her 6 children's sporting events, camping, the movies, the arcade, and...did she mention 6 kids?! | NA | NA | ||||||||||||||||||||
10 | Buchannan, Dr. Beverly | Dr. Beverly Buchanan was born in Nova Scotia, Canada. Beverly graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Gallaudet University (1986), a master’s degree in Deaf Education (1994) from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland, and a master’s degree in Sign Language Education (2017) from Gallaudet University as well as her EdD in Deaf Studies and Deaf Education from Lamar University (2021). Beverly is an assistant professor in the Department of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education at Lamar University as well as the masters in deaf studies program director. Beverly worked as a Volunteer teacher of the Deaf in Thailand from 1995-1998 and had traveled to over 60 countries to promote Deaf Education and Deaf Youth leadership. Beverly also cycled across the USA twice, and around Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. Beverly has established Deaf Way Student Scholarship fund at Southwest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf, Big Spring, Texas, and at Gallaudet University, Washington, D.C. Beverly has organized youth leadership development, both nationally and internationally June 2012. Beverly established, Deaf Education without Borders, an international non-profit humanitarian organization focusing on the education of Deaf people worldwide. | NA | Lamar University; Deaf Education without Borders | ||||||||||||||||||||
11 | Budd, Brit | Brit has been teaching for 9 years in Deaf Education. For the last 8 years, she has been a Deaf Education teacher at McNeil High School in Capital Area RDSPD. She teaches Occupational Development, and she works on a team to help develop the curriculum for the course, Navigating Life with Hearing Loss. | NA | Capital Area RDSPD | ||||||||||||||||||||
12 | Campero, Jennifer | Raised in a deaf family with ASL as her first language, Jennifer attended three different schools with different communication methods; oral, Signing Exact English (SEE), and Morphemic Sign System (MSS). After obtaining her bachelor’s degree at Gallaudet University, she completed her master’s degree in Deaf Education at McDaniel’s. Jennifer then worked as Executive Director of Deaf Abused Women and Children Advocacy Service (DAWCAS) in Austin. After a few years, Jennifer decided to shift toward teaching and is now in her 20th year as a high school teacher at Texas School for the Deaf. She currently teaches Social Studies/International Studies courses and assumes the Communication Skills Workshop Supervisor role. During her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her partner, Wilmonda, two boys, and three poodles. | Speakers' Package from Organization | Texas School for the Deaf | ||||||||||||||||||||
13 | Chamberlain, Desiree | Desiree Chamberlain joined Phonak in March 2021 as Pediatric Territory Manager covering AR, LA, MO, NM, OK, and TX. Desiree received both her Bachelor of Arts degree and Master of Arts in Audiology from Louisiana State University. Before joining Phonak, Desiree worked as a Principal Clinical Specialist with Advanced Bionics for over 10 years. Prior to joining Sonova, she worked in a variety of clinical settings and supported service to both children and adults. | NA | Phonak Communications | ||||||||||||||||||||
14 | Chandler, Lindsay | Lindsay Chandler has been an interpreter in the DFW area since 2001. She has primarily worked in the K12 and higher education setting. She currently works as the Lead Interpreter for Plano RDSPD. Aside from interacting with the best DHH kids around (one being her son), she loves planning the program's yearly fundraiser/family event. | NA | Plano ISD Regional Day School Program for the Deaf (RDSPD) | ||||||||||||||||||||
15 | Clark, Dr. M. Diane | M. Diane Clark, Ph.D. earned her Ph.D. in developmental psychology from the University of North Carolina—Greensboro in 1985. She was a tenured professor at Gallaudet University from 2002 until 2015 and a founding member of the NSF funded Science of Learning Center on Visual Language and Visual Learning. During that time, she started her collaboration with Drs. Simms, Baker, and Hile, becoming involved with making ASL/English bilingual education more effective. She moved to DSDE at Lamar in 2015 as the chair of the department. Her research areas include language acquisition of deaf children, policy creation for more effective deaf education, and the development of deaf readers in an ASL/English environment. | NA | NSF funded Science of Learning Center on Visual Language and Visual Learning; Lamar University | ||||||||||||||||||||
16 | Copeland-Samaripa, Tamara | Tamara Copeland-Samaripa has worked in the field of Deaf Education for 15 years and is currently the MTSS Coordinator at Texas School for the Deaf, assisting departments with data-based decision making. She graduated from Boston University with degrees in Psychology and Deaf Studies and received her Masters degree in Deaf Education from Lamar University in Beaumont, TX. She currently lives with her husband and 2 beautiful children in Manor, TX. | NA | Texas School for the Deaf | ||||||||||||||||||||
17 | Delgado, Dr. Natalie J. | Dr. Natalie J. Delgado is a Deaf Latina ASL user, and English and Spanish speaker born to hearing parents. Delgado is the Statewide Outreach Director of Deaf Education housed in Louisiana's Special School District, and has worked in Deaf education for over eleven years. She received her doctoral degree from Lamar University in the Deaf Studies and Deaf Education department and has worked as an adjunct instructor for Lamar University and Gallaudet University. Delgado’s research interests include Deaf Latine individuals, early childhood/early intervention, identity, and language development. | NA | Louisiana's Special School District; adjunct instructor for Lamar Univeristy and Gallaudet University | ||||||||||||||||||||
18 | Dunn, Lynn | V. Lynn Small Dunn, MEd, is an English/Literacy Outreach Trainer for the NRSC STEM Center at Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind. Ms. Dunn specializes in teaching ELA skills to Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing students. During her tenure, Ms Dunn has worn many hats: classroom teacher (prek-college), language specialist, curriculum coordinator, and outreach provider in relation to STEM education. Ms. Dunn now consults with schools nationwide in the areas of ACT Prep and strategies related to developing ELA skills, as well as, resources best suited to meet the educational needs of DHH students. | NA | NRSC STEM Center at Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind; NTID Regional STEM Center at the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind | ||||||||||||||||||||
19 | Godbold, Lee | Lee Godbold has her B.S. degree in Deaf Education and M.Ed. in ASL/English Interpretation. She taught in inner city Houston for three years prior to going into full-time interpreting. She has worked as an interpreter for Texas School for the Deaf since 2008, as well as mentors interns from across the United States and Canada. Lee spent the 2013-14 school-year in India where she worked and trained sign language interpreters (Hindi, English, ASL). | NA | Texas School for the Deaf | ||||||||||||||||||||
20 | Greene, Dr. Ashley | Ashley Greene, Ed.D. earned her degree in Deaf Education and Deaf Studies from Lamar University in 2020. She is currently an assistant professor at Lamar University. Prior to earning her Ed.D., she worked at two different public school districts in Texas as a Deaf Education teacher. Her experience as a teacher includes the pre-k age group up high school. Her research includes language acquisition of deaf children with a focus on bimodal bilingual children. She was part of the team that developed the Spoken Language Checklist (Clark et al., 2021) and is currently doing a study with a residential school for the deaf to evaluate their young students’ language acquisition in either ASL or spoken English, or both if the child uses both languages. | NA | Lamar University | ||||||||||||||||||||
21 | Grooms, Trish | Trish Grooms, LMSW, is a school counselor with early childhood and elementary age students at Texas School for the deaf. She has been a school counselor for 20 years at TSD. Trish believes that play is essential to every day life, no matter the age. She is also currently an interim mental health project coordinator for Statewide Outreach Center (SOC) since 2019. She has earned her Masters of Social Work from Texas State University. Her social work practice background is in school social work. Additionally, Trish has been trained as a certified MANDT Instructor since 2006. Trish has worked a total of 35 years in both the education and human service field. Outside of work, she is also volunteering with the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association to assist veterans to integrate back into the civilian life as well as provide support to veterans dealing with post traumatic stress syndrome. | NA | Texas School for the Deaf | ||||||||||||||||||||
22 | Hamaker, Michaela | Michaela Hamaker is a parent of three children, two of whom are Deaf. She has been involved in the Deaf/HH community for over 20 years, both as a mom to deaf children and as an ally. She volunteers at TSD and serves on several other committees/projects across the state. She is passionate about her work with GBYS because she feels that all children should be equipped to reach their highest potential and she believes that the parent to parent connection is invaluable! | NA | Texas Hands and Voices | ||||||||||||||||||||
23 | Harris, Sam | Based in Austin, TX, Sam Harris is a Communication Access Specialist in the Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (ODHHS) under the Texas Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). With extensive background in K-12 education, higher education, marketing, sales, and creative agencies, Sam provides insight, knowledge, and the tools needed in working and/or communicating with Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals by providing in-person training and webinars across Texas. Sam also holds a degree in Business Management from University of Phoenix. When Sam is not busy empowering fellow community members, he spends his time reading, writing, and learning new recipes from watching too many online videos. | NA | Texas Department of Health and Human Services: Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (ODHHS) | ||||||||||||||||||||
24 | Herndon, Amber | Amber Herndon was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. She grew up in Pleasant Grove and attained most of her K-12 education in South Dallas. Amber's schooling first began at a private school in Pleasant Grove until her mother unenrolled her because of the increasing tuition costs. From there, Amber witnessed her single mother struggle to provide. Her tenacity taught Amber the importance of education and community. At times, the South Dallas community provided a helping hand to single parents. Amber is a Dallas Independent School District alum: H.S. Thompson Learning Center, W.E. Greiner Academy for the Exploratory Arts, and Lincoln High School Humanities and Communications Magnet. | NA | Par 5 Trainers | ||||||||||||||||||||
25 | Hodges, Leanna | Leanna is a Teacher for the Deaf and a Doctoral Candidate at Baylor University. She has been employed at Bastrop ISD for 7 years. She is a passionate educator who feels it is crucial for all students to have access, language, and the ability to read. | NA | Bastrop ISD | ||||||||||||||||||||
26 | Horejes, Dr. Thomas P. | Dr. Thomas P. Horejes is Gallaudet University’s Associate Provost for Student Success & Academic Quality. He is former Executive Director for Deaf Empowerment Awareness Foundation (DEAF, Inc.), a deaf-centric non-profit advocacy and interpreting services. He holds a Ph.D. (2009) in Justice Studies at Arizona State University with a focus on current social justice issues, such as human rights against a backdrop of legal systems, law and culture to create meaningful, real-world impact through public policy and systems change. Academically, Dr. Horejes has over thirteen years of teaching in higher education, more than fifteen peer-reviewed published articles including Why Positionality Matters in Deaf Education (co-authored with Dr. Patrick Graham) and a book entitled, Social Constructions of Deafness: Examining Deaf Languacultures in Education. He is also former professor of sociology at Gallaudet University where he was co-Primary Investigator for a successful 3-year $495,000 grant that has resulted in numerous publications, presentations, and will be a book forthcoming on bilingualism in kindergarten schools for the deaf in three different countries (USA, Japan, & France). He was also co-chair of the Research on the Education of Deaf Persons Special Interest Group (SIG) for American Educational Research Association (AERA). | Speakers' Package from Organization | Gallaudet University, Associate Provose for Student Success and Academic Quality; author of "Why Positionality Matters in Deaf Eduation" (peer-reviewed, published article); author of Social Constructions of Deafness: Examining Deaf Languacultures in Education (book); | ||||||||||||||||||||
27 | Hrabak, Melodie | Melodie Hrabak has been teaching and supervising educators for over 35 years. After earning her BA in Speech and Hearing Science from Texas Tech University, she began her career as an itinerant teacher for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing. Over the years she has continued her teaching, becoming a campus administrator, central office administrator and Director of a Regional Day School Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. After retiring as a public-school administrator, she has been providing consult services to various charter schools as well as legal offices specifically focusing on services to students who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing. | NA | NA | ||||||||||||||||||||
28 | Hubig, Mari | Mari Hubig, M.Ed. is the Birth to 3 Outreach Specialist at the Statewide Outreach Center at the Texas School for the Deaf (TSD). She has a Bachelor’s degree in Deaf Education, a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Mari has been a deaf education teacher for 29 years, and the majority of those years have included work with infants, toddlers and their families. She has previously worked as a classroom teacher, an itinerant teacher, a parent advisor, and an education specialist for three different Regional Day School Programs for the Deaf (RDSPD) as well as Texas School for the Deaf. In Mari’s current position, she works with a variety of LEAs, RDSPDs, and local and state agencies to bring current research, legislative updates, networking and training to professionals working in early intervention. Mari has provided numerous in-state and national workshops, webinars, and trainings related to early intervention including coaching, collaboration with Early Childhood Intervention, laws and rules, assessment, development of goals and strategies, and transition. She is a SKI-HI curriculum trainer and is also on the Statewide Conference for Education of the Deaf planning committee. | NA | Statewide Outreach Center at Texas School for the Deaf | ||||||||||||||||||||
29 | Kilpatrick, Dr. James, Jr. | Dr. James Kilpatrick, Jr, is a Spanish Instructor at Olathe West (Kansas City suburb); Adjunct Professor of Sign Language at Minot State University; Video Relay & Community Interpreter for Sorenson, Dean of Deaf Studies at Northwest School for the Deaf & HOH Children in Seattle, and National Sign Language Interpreter Trainer/Presenter. Dr. Kilpatrick’s doctoral training from the University of Kansas concentrated on Curriculum and Instruction of Foreign Languages. James is a certified interpreter of ASL/PSE/SEE and has a International Berlitz rating of C2 in Spanish (Native-Like abilities). | Speakers' Package from Organization | Minot State University; Sorenson Communications; Northwest School for the Deaf/HH; Signing Exact English Center | ||||||||||||||||||||
30 | LeBlanc, Kasie | Kasie LeBlanc, M.S. LSLS Cert AVEd has a BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Louisiana State University. She also has a Master of Science degree in Deaf Education from Washington University in St. Louis, MO. After starting her career as a preschool teacher of the deaf, Kasie transitioned into her current role as Educational Liaison at Texas Hearing Institute. Kasie works with children with hearing loss and their families to ensure positive educational outcomes. Kasie serves as a member of the THI Cochlear Implant Team. Kasie provides community outreach education on a variety of topics related to hearing loss. She supports families across 21+ districts in the greater Houston area. Kasie has worked to create resources for teachers and daycare providers and she has co-led parent support groups. Kasie supports the THI Buddies program at THI by organizing interactive meet-ups to cultivate self-advocacy skills and relationships among peers with hearing loss | NA | Texas Hearing Institute | ||||||||||||||||||||
31 | Loftin, Twyla | Twyla Loftin graduated from Texas Woman’s University in 1996 with a Masters degree in Deaf Education. Twyla has been Deaf Education for more than 30 years and is certified BEI Master. She has been a teacher in a variety of Deaf Education settings for more than 30 years. Prior to coming to work at ESC11 as the State Deaf Education Specialist, she worked as a teacher at Texas School for the Deaf for 18 years, taught at Baylor University in their Deaf Education/Interpreting program as well as having worked as an outreach specialist at the Educational Resource Center on Deafness. | NA | ESC Region 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
32 | Marsh, Dr. Megan | Megan Marsh, Au.D., CCC-A is an audiologist and the cochlear implant clinic manager at the Texas Hearing Institute. She received her undergraduate degree in Communication Disorders from Texas State University and her Doctorate of Audiology (Au.D.) from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Dr. Marsh has over ten years of extensive training and experience with pediatric and adult cochlear implants and hearing aids. Dr. Marsh previously worked at Hearts for Hearing in Oklahoma City where she was trained and mentored by world-renowned cochlear implant audiologist, Dr. Jace Wolfe. Dr. Marsh currently manages the cochlear implant team at Texas Hearing Institute where she trains and mentors other audiologists working with cochlear implant patients at Texas Hearing Institute. She also collaborates with other cochlear implant teams and within the team at Texas Hearing Institute to help provide comprehensive care for all cochlear implant and audiology patients. | NA | Texas Hearing Institute | ||||||||||||||||||||
33 | Martin, Debbie | Plano Regional Day School Program for the Deaf Supervisor | NA | Plano RDSPD | ||||||||||||||||||||
34 | McCormick, Dr. Marina | ESC Region 4 Regional Day School Program for the Deaf Supervisor | NA | ESC Region 4 RDSPD | ||||||||||||||||||||
35 | Moog Brooks, Dr. Betsy | Betsy Moog Brooks, EdD, CED, LSLS Cert. AVEd is the Executive Director of the Moog Center for Deaf Education. She received her Master’s degree in Speech and Hearing from Washington University and her Doctor of Education in Instructional Leadership with an emphasis in Andragogy, the study of adult learners, from Lindenwood University. She is certified in Deaf Education, Behavior Disorders, Learning Disabilities, and Early Childhood Education, and is a Listening and Spoken Language Specialist. She has been in the field of Deaf Education for more than 35 years and has provided early intervention for more than 30 years. Betsy is the author of the book, My Baby and Me: A Book About Teaching Your Child to Talk. She authored a chapter in the NCHAM 2015 ebook and co-authored two chapters in 101 Frequently Asked Questions About Auditory-Verbal Practice. Betsy teaches two courses in the Washington University Program in Audiology and Communication Sciences and has been an invited presenter throughout the US, in South America, and Europe. | Speakers' Package from Organization | Executive Director of The Moog Center for Deaf Education; author of My Baby and Me: A book About Teaching Your Child to Talk; She authored a chapter in the NCHAM 2015 ebook and co-authored two chapters in 101 Frequently Asked Questions About Auditory-Verbal Practice; instructor in the Washington University Program in Audiology and Communication Sciences; | ||||||||||||||||||||
36 | Norman, Carrie | Carrie Norman, MS, CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert AVEd received her Master of Science in Communication Disorders with a Pediatric Aural Habilitation specialization from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2001. She is the President of Collaborative Communications, a private consulting firm located in the heart of Dallas/Fort Worth dedicated to helping bridge the gap between clinical and educational services for students and families impacted by hearing differences. Her experience spans infancy through high school in both clinical and educational settings. She enjoys partnering with teachers, therapists, and families to help each child meet their best communication potential. Connect with her online at www.carrienorman.com or through email at carrie@carrienorman.com. | Speakers' Package from Organization | President, Collaborative Communications | ||||||||||||||||||||
37 | Olabode, Kristi | Kristi Olabode is a Deaf Education Speech and Language Pathologist at Plano Regional Day School Program for the Deaf. Her background includes program development at a local public library, working for Early Childhood Intervention and working to improve the policies and practices for child abuse prevention, parent and parent education through assessments and relationship building throughout North Texas. She has a Master's degree is Communication Disorders with a Certificate in Deaf and Hard of Hearing, a Master's in Public Health and a Bachelor's in Human Development and Family Studies with a minor in American Sign Language. | NA | Plano Regional Day School Program for the Deaf | ||||||||||||||||||||
38 | Paige, Shannon | Shannon is a U.S. Navy veteran and a speech-language pathologist. She graduated from the University of Houston with her master’s degree in communication disorders and has over 20 years of experience specializing in Assistive Technology (AT) and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). She has a strong background in early childhood and literacy instruction. She has worked in the areas of rehabilitation, public schools, as well as private practice, and has provided training and technical assistance to school-based personnel in Texas to support best practice and increased use of AT and AAC. She has presented both state-wide and nationally on the implementation of AT and AAC in schools and currently holds the position as the Education Project Manager with the Texas Technology Access Program to improve state wide access, advocacy, and awareness of AT. | NA | Texas Technology Access Program | ||||||||||||||||||||
39 | Parker, Heather | Heather Parker works as a secondary Deaf educator for an urban public school district in the greater Houston area for the past 5 years. A native born and raised Deaf Texan, she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Science and Disorders, Master’s of Education both from Texas Woman’s University and a Master’s of Education in Educational Administration from Texas A & M. Now, when not educating deaf and hard of hearing children, she loves the adventures of raising their three firecrackers with her husband, road tripping America in their trusty Cricket, and finding hidden coffee cafes. Her 13 years of teaching background includes a variety of settings: Early Childhood Intervention, Deaf mentoring, itinerant teaching, residential schools, as well as mainstreamed programs. | NA | NA | ||||||||||||||||||||
40 | Parker, Heather | Heather Parker has been a Deaf Mentor with The Statewide Outreach Center since the birth of their Deaf Mentor program. She also works as a secondary Deaf educator for an urban public school district in the greater Houston area for the past 5 years. When not educating deaf and hard of hearing children, she loves the adventures of raising their three firecrackers with her husband, road tripping America in their trusty Cricket, and finding hidden coffee cafes. Her teaching background includes teaching in various of settings: Early Childhood Intervention, Deaf mentoring, itinerant, residential as well as mainstreamed programs. | NA | Statewide Outreach Center at Texas School for the Deaf; Cypress-Fairbanks ISD | ||||||||||||||||||||
41 | Pfeiffer, Kristin | Kristin Pfeiffer, M.Ed. completed her third year at the region 4 education service center. Prior to that, she worked in a school district for 26 years. She has been an RDSPD administrator/program director for special education for 10 years, an educational diagnostician for 11 years, and a special education teacher for 5 years. | NA | ESC Region 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
42 | Pilgrim, Lisa | Lisa Pilgrim is a Deaf Education teacher with Capital Area RDSPD in Austin, Texas. She has been teaching for nine years, primarily working with K-2 students. Lisa is a leader of their campus Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Team, as well as a district Culture and Inclusion Ambassador in Round Rock ISD. She is passionate about accessibility, inclusion, and trauma informed practices in education. | NA | Capital Area RDSPD | ||||||||||||||||||||
43 | Prigge, Jennifer | Jennifer Prigges is the Outreach project Manager for Family Services at the Statewide Outreach Center at Texas School for the Deaf. | NA | Statewide Outreach Center at Texas School for the Deaf | ||||||||||||||||||||
44 | Rains, Olivia | Olivia Rains resides in Austin, TX as a Communication Access Specialist at the Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (ODHHS) for the Texas Department of Health and Human Services. Her work experience began as a Hearing Loss Resource Specialist with ODHHS. Her journey then took her to a nonprofit state program, Texas Technology Access Program, serving all disabilities with outreach and assistive technology. Her skills and background include training, assistive technology demonstrations and assessments, advocacy, presentations, networking, outreach, marketing and more. Olivia’s work is her number one passion and outside of work, she loves creating art and creating fragrance. | NA | Texas Department of Health and Human Services: Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (ODHHS) | ||||||||||||||||||||
45 | Rasizzi, Ashley | Voted New Teacher of the Year at Dobie High School and proud graduate of Kent State University, Ashley Rasizzi is a second-year classroom Teacher of the Deaf in the Region 4 Regional Day School Program for the Deaf in the Pasadena Independent School District. Ashley is very involved with her program and tries to support other teachers and staff in as many ways as possible, including volunteering to be a part of program committees discussing language sampling and connecting with the Deaf community. She is a strong advocate for total communication and strives to make students feel empowered by their abilities everyday. | NA | Region 4 RDSPD | ||||||||||||||||||||
46 | Ricks, Diane | Diane Ricks has been a parent-infant advisor for the past 22 years. She has a backbround in speech language pathology. | NA | NA | ||||||||||||||||||||
47 | Robinson, Emily | Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing Program Administrator at the Texas Education Agency | NA | Texas Education Agency | ||||||||||||||||||||
48 | Sabatke, Bridget | As an interpreter in the field since 2005, Bridget earned a master’s degree in interpreting pedagogy in 2014. Since that time, she has been developing effective face-to-face and online education for interpreting students and working interpreters. She specializes in facilitating education in K-12 and Medical interpreting, with a growing specialization in mental and behavioral health. Outside of education, Bridget enjoys supporting the community by founding community-building organizations and serving on local committees and boards in the interpreting and deaf communities. She interprets in a variety of areas including medical, behavioral health and performing arts. Beyond work, Bridget enjoys spending time with her wonderful family of four. | Speakers' Package from Organization | NA | ||||||||||||||||||||
49 | Sanders, Genelle | Genelle Sanders works as the Coordinator of the Deaf Mentor and Role Model Program through the Statewide Outreach Center at Texas School for the Deaf, in addition to working as a Deaf Mentor herself. Currently, she is a doctoral candidate at the University of Texas at Austin in Interpersonal Communication. She resides in South Texas with her husband and children. | NA | Statewide Outreach Center at Texas School for the Deaf | ||||||||||||||||||||
50 | Smith, Dr. Chad | Dr. Smith is a Professor within the Education of the Deaf Program. He earned his master's in Deaf Studies and Habilitation from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. His doctorate is in Computing Technology in Education from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He spent a decade teaching K-12 students who are deaf/hard of hearing (DHH) at the elementary, middle, and high school levels in Texas public schools. His teaching centers on ASL, differentiating communication in deaf education settings, Deaf Culture, and instructional methodologies. In addition to teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, he coordinates the Texas Woman’s University Future Classroom Lab (TWUFCL) that he co-founded with colleague, Dr. Ludovic Sourdot. The TWUFCL serves TWU students as well as K-12 students who are (DHH) and the teachers who instruct them. Dr. Smith's areas of research centers primarily on teaching and learning methodologies of K-12 students who are DHH. His research includes deaf students' use of the Internet and technology, computational thinking with students who are deaf/hard of hearing, and 21st Century Learning in deaf education. | NA | Texas Worman's University | ||||||||||||||||||||
51 | Smith, Sara | Sara Smith is a parent of four children, two of whom are Deaf. She is a Parent Guide with Texas Hands and Voices, Guide By Your Side, and also enjoys her role in Outreach to the Houston area with families and professionals. For the past 10 years she has been seeking to connect with other parents of children who are deaf/hard of hearing. These connections have led to discovering joy on a new journey of raising children, and the wonders that can be uncovered. | NA | Texas Hands and Voices | ||||||||||||||||||||
52 | Spurgin, Dr. Kelsey | Dr. Kelsey Spurgin has seven years teaching experience as an art educator and teacher of the deaf. She earned a bachelor's degree from Northern Illinois University in Art Education with a minor in Communicative Disorders. Her master’s and doctorate degrees are from the University of Tennessee in Deaf Education with a cognate in Literacy. She is currently a Deaf Education teacher at an urban public high school in Houston, Texas. She primarily teaches reading and English courses in mainstream and self-contained classroom environments. “Dr. Kelsey” believes that all students have the ability to achieve language and literacy competencies if they are given appropriate access and support. When she’s not teaching, she enjoys camping with her husband and two rambunctious dogs. | NA | Cypress-Fairbanks ISD | ||||||||||||||||||||
53 | Standridge, Angela | Angela is a passionate about using technology to enable Texans with disabilities to meet their educational, vocational, and personal potential. She is a speech language pathologist and assistive technology specialist with over 30 years’ experience in assistive technology with an emphasis in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). She is Certified in Clinical Competence by the American Speech Language and Hearing Association. Angela obtained her Bachelors of Science in Education and Theater from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas; and her Masters degree in Communication Disorders from the University of Houston. She has completed the California State University at Northridge Assistive Technology Certificate Program, and holds the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) Certification. She has worked in public schools, private industry, private practice, rehabilitation, and as an education service center specialist. She is currently the Director of the Texas Technology Access Program at the Texas Center for Disability Studies, University of Texas. Additionally, she supports her professional organization, the American Speech Language and Hearing Association, as the Chair for Special Interest Group 12 (AAC) Coordinating Committee. | NA | Texas Technology Access Program; American Speech Language and Hearing Association; University of Texas | ||||||||||||||||||||
54 | Stephens, Peyton | Peyton Stephens, MS CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT, the Speech Clinic Cochlear Implant Coordinator at Texas Hearing Institute in Houston, provides therapy, mentors professionals, and manages the speech clinic cochlear implant candidacy process. She also spearheads Texas Hearing outreach efforts to reach children who are deaf and hard of hearing through collaboration with programs and providers across the state of Texas. | NA | Texas Hearing Institute | ||||||||||||||||||||
55 | Swanson, Dr. Anita L. | Dr. Anita L. Swanson is the Project Coordinator at Texas Technology Access Program. She brings experience as a practitioner and professor of music therapy. Dr. Swanson has worked with various youth and adults, utilizing AT with individuals on the autism spectrum, persons with developmental and intellectual disabilities, and adults with neurological challenges. Dr. Swanson has published in several journals and frequently presents across the US and internationally. Currently, she is serving as President of the World Federation of Music Therapy. | NA | Texas Technology Access Program; World Federation of Music Therapy; The Universit of Texas at Austin | ||||||||||||||||||||
56 | Trekel, Dora | Lufkin Regional Day School Program for the Deaf Supervisor | NA | Lufkin RDSPD | ||||||||||||||||||||
57 | Vaughan, Joey | Joey Vaughan is a Curriculum Specialist at Texas School for the Deaf. With twenty-three years of experience serving at TSD in various capacities, she is passionate about making learning engaging for both students and educators. She currently resides in Cedar Park, TX with her husband and two amazing children. | NA | Texas School for the Deaf | ||||||||||||||||||||
58 | Wainscott, Dr. Sarah and Bill | Sarah Wainscott is faculty at Texas Woman’s University where she trains teachers of the deaf and speech-language pathologists. Bill Wainscott is a middle school teacher for the Denton Regional Day School Program for the Deaf. They each have over 25 years of experience serving children who are Deaf/HH and their families with roles including audiologist, early interventionist, program director (Sarah) and interpreter (Bill). They also are the parents of five (nearly) adult children, including two that are Deaf, and have made many road trips together. | NA | Texas Woman's University; Denton Regional Day School Program for the Deaf | ||||||||||||||||||||
59 | Watson, Dr. Jan | Jan Watson's experience as a certified teacher of the deaf and an educational diagnostician in an RDSPD contributes significantly as she represents school districts in legal matters | Speakers' Package from Organization | Walsh Gallegos Trevino Kyle & Robinson P.C. | ||||||||||||||||||||
60 | Wellen, Brenda | San Angelo Regional Day School Proram for the Deaf Itinerant Teacher of the D/HH | NA | San Angelo RDSPD | ||||||||||||||||||||
61 | Williams, Roger | Mr. Williams is the Executive Director of the Spartanburg Area Mental Health Center with the South Carolina Department of Mental Health. He received his B.S.W. from the Rochester Institute of Technology, his M.S.W., specializing in community mental health, from the University of Illinois and has finished coursework for a PhD at the University of South Carolina College of Social Work. Mr. Williams is a S.C. Licensed Independent Social Worker - Clinical Practice and holds an RID Certificate of Transliteration, an SCAD/NAD IAP Level 5 and, is a Qualified Mental Health Interpreter. He has been recognized at the state and national level for his leadership in mental health services within the Deaf community. | Speakers' Package from Organization | South Carolina Department of Mental Health | ||||||||||||||||||||
62 | Wood, Harry | Harry is a STEM Trainer with a science background. He started out as the math/science specialist and now specializes in High School Robotics for STEM education. He tries to combine his experience as a teacher of the D/HH with the best practices of STEM education into a cohesive model. Prior to his current position, Harry taught students in high school at the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind from 2003-2016, specializing in science education. Originally hailing from Maryland, he provides support & enthusiasm in robotics and computer science/coding among many other things. He has a love for gardening, hiking, kayaking, and anything to do with nature. | NA | Alabama Institute for the Deaf and the Blind | ||||||||||||||||||||
63 | Young, Elaine | Elaine Young has been a classroom and itinerant teacher of students who are deaf or hard of hearing in Massachusetts and Texas. She was also a trainer of oral transliterators and teachers of the deaf for the Mainstream Center at the Clarke School for the Deaf. Since 2014 she has worked at ESC Region 13 where she serves as the fiscal agent and program manager for the ESC Region 13 RDSPD; Program Manager of DHH Services; and Coordinator of Special Education. | NA | ESC Region 13 RDSPD | ||||||||||||||||||||
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