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Amanda Hammond
Amanda Hammond
Early Childhood Specialist for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing
Amanda Hammond has worked in the field of Deaf Education for over 25 years. In 1994, she received by B.S. in Deaf Education grades K-12 at MacMurray College in Jacksonville, IL. During that time, she was able to do several internships at the IL School for the Deaf in their ASL classrooms. She was also able to spend some time at the Brighton School for the Deaf in England which is a Liberal Arts school focusing on listening and spoken language. Both experiences were great and helped prepare her for her current position in the Parent Infant Program for the Deaf at USDB. Before working for the PIP program, she taught middle school in a mainstream program and also worked as an ASL interpreter for the high school students. In 2003, she was able to go back to school to earn her M.A. in Early Intervention for Deaf and Hard of Hearing children. She has now worked for the PIP program for almost 20 years and absolutely loves it! She loves working with families to help support them in providing a language rich environment for their Deaf/HH child. She loves seeing the curiosity and desire to learn and communicate unfold in all the children with whom she works with.
She is also a state trainer for the SKI HI curriculum, which is a curriculum specifically designed for Deaf/ HH children birth to three. She is enjoying training new employees and sharing her love and passion for early intervention with the families and children that we serve in the PIP program.
Amie Jarvie
Amie Jarvie
Early Childhood Specialist for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing
Amie A. Jarvie earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and geography at Worcester State University in Worcester, Massachusetts. She earned her master’s degree in Deaf education at Smith College in North Hampton, Massachusetts. She then worked as an itinerant teacher of the deaf and an early intervention specialist in Massachusetts. As an early intervention specialist, she provided services as both a teacher of the deaf and a developmental specialist. As an itinerant teacher of the deaf, she consulted with many towns as well as provided direct service for children ranging in age from preschool to high school. While residing in Georgia, Amie served as a licensed Georgia Pines SKI-HI parent advisor and a certified Wilson Level One reading specialist. She worked at the Katherine Hamm Center, an LSL school for the deaf, as a teacher of the deaf in several different positions including their three year old transition class, toddlers, preschool, and elementary. Amie has also worked as a special education eighth grade and preschool teacher. She worked at Sound Beginnings, an LSL school for the deaf, as a preschool teacher and graduate student supervisor. Amie loves to be outside in warm weather biking, hiking, and reading. Amie also enjoys yoga and journaling. She has three daughters, ages 25, 24, and 18. She also has two stepsons, ages 18 and 13.
Ingrid Taylor
Ingrid Taylor
Early Childhood Specialist for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing
Ingrid Taylor works as a parent advisor in the Parent Infant Program at the Utah School for the Deaf and Blind. Her passion to work with deaf and hard of hearing children began after a chance encounter with a Deaf friend who introduced her to Deaf Culture. This experience helped her become an advocate for language access for all children with special needs.
She received her undergraduate degree in Deaf Studies from Utah Valley University and continued her education to earn a Masters of Education in Communicative Disorders & Deaf Education from Utah State University. She has worked in early intervention for the past 10 years and is currently serving as the transition coordinator at Kids on the Move. She loves seeing these little ones reach their potential and strives to be a support for their families.
She was born and raised in Mexico City and is fluent in Spanish. She is happily married and a mom of two beautiful kids. During her free time Ingrid enjoys exercise classes, trail runs, organization projects and some good tacos.
Ariana Franco (Kennedy)
Ariana Franco (Kennedy)
Deaf Mentor
Ariana Kennedy received her Bachelor of Arts in Deaf Studies from Utah Valley University in spring of 2018. She joined the Parent Infant Program at Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind in 2015 as a Deaf Mentor. Ariana is deaf and is the only deaf individual in her family. Growing up in a family where she was the only one who signed led her to want to help other families learn American Sign Language (ASL) so they can communicate with one another on a daily basis and develop lasting relationships. As a Deaf Mentor, she adheres to teaching principles such as using appropriate instruction and strategies, and inviting all who desire to learn to participate in home visits.
An interesting fact about Ariana is when she was in middle school she entered into an ASL music video contest and won at the school level, regional level, and state level! She enjoys tinkering around with Photoshop and taking pictures in her spare time. She married the love of her life in 2015. He happens to be deaf as well! They enjoy spending time together and going on hikes.
Sara Rinehart
Sara Rinehart
Early Childhood Specialist for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing
Sara received her Bachelor of Arts from Utah Valley University in Deaf Studies, with an Interpreting Emphasis in the Winter of 2015. She has worked as an interpreter in collegiate, K-12, and community settings. In 2021 she began her teaching career as an itinerant Teacher for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing, where she traveled to rural locations in central and southern Utah. She
completed her Master’s Degree in Special Education, Deaf and Hard of Hearing emphasis from the University of Utah in the Spring of 2023. She is thrilled to be working as a Parent Advisor for USDB’s Parent Infant Program!
Sara is passionate about communication and early language acquisition and development for young children. She loves the fun and creativity of learning through play, as well as collaborating with families and caregivers as they increase their confidence in helping their young children succeed. When Sara isn’t working in the Parent Infant Program, she adores spending time with her own family in the great outdoors. She also enjoys the creative arts, and you will often find her acting, writing, or da
Katelyn Empey
Katelyn Empey
Early Childhood Specialist for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing
Katelyn received her undergraduate degree in Communication Disorders from Brigham Young University and her graduate degree from Utah State University with an emphasis in Deaf Education/Listening and Spoken Language in 2019. She has worked in Early Intervention for over two years. Katelyn spent two years at the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and Blind as a preschool teacher in a LSL classroom as well as a birth to three parent advisor. Currently, she works as a birth-to-three parent advisor at USDB and is also working towards her Listening and Spoken Language Specialist certification.
She loves her job and is so happy she found this field a few years ago. She didn’t know much about it until she started her graduate program at USU. She has found such fulfillment at being able to help children who are deaf and hard of hearing reach their potential. Language is so important and is the gateway to finding success in life and building relationships with others. In graduate school she learned about early intervention and being a parent coach and advisor. She loved being able to empower parents and help them to become successful teachers and advocates for their children. She believes that children can succeed and become anything they want to be and she loves being able to be a support for the parents through their journey and help their children reach their potential for years to come.
She was born and raised in Eastern Washington. She grew up on a farm and she loves to continue to visit her family back home and enjoy the clear air and small, no stop light, towns. She loves to take pictures and do graphic design on the side. This last year she met and married her husband. They now live here in Utah with their dog, Juno. Their favorite wedding gift was an adventure fund piggy bank, so they always have a vacation or traveling adventure to plan for.
Lauran Reynolds
Lauran Reynolds
Deaf Mentor
Colorado Born and Raised! Lauren had a hearing screening test at one of the first hospitals where she was born in 1995 and discovered that she was deaf. After discovering her deafness, her mother got an ASL book and started learning. Lauren had an early intervention service, however no Deaf Mentor. Her speech pathologist has a deaf child of her own and suggested Lauren’s parents continue to learn sign language along with speech. When she was two years old, her parents enrolled her into Total Communication preschool for three years. Then by Kindergarten to Senior year of High School, She was raised in mainstream schools. She went on an 18 months mission in California, San Fernanado mission, where she did most of her service around deaf people. She came home and lived with her grandparents for a year then moved to Utah in 2017. She attended Utah Valley University for a year and half, then started working at USDB as a Teacher Aide in 2020. Then in late December 2022, Lauren started working as Deaf Mentor. Lauren loves outdoors, however she loves indoors a little bit more. She loves to read, watch movies and TV shows, and go out for a walk.
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