Meet our Staff

Karen Borg

Director of  Early Childhood Division 

​karenbo@usdb.org

Karen is the director for the Early Childhood Division, which includes both PIPBVI and the Preschools across Utah School for the Blind's three campuses. She loves her job, the families and children in the PIPBVI and preschool programs, and her great staff.  Karen says, "I have never seen a team anywhere that was as supportive of each other and as creative in providing services as the early childhood vision specialists who serve in both PIP and preschool. They are just topnotch!"  Karen loves flowers, cooking (but I don't love the clean up!), movies, reading, and all things Marvel and Fast and Furious!

Jamie Brown, M.Ed

Assistant Director of Early Childhood Division

jamieb@usdb.org

​Jamie received her Bachelor and Master's degrees from Utah State University where she studied Family Science and Early Childhood Special Education. She feels privileged to be invited into the homes of families with young children who are blind or visually impaired.  Her favorite part of the job is watching parents and children learn and grow together. 

Terry Gibson, M.Ed

PIP BVI Specialist; Early Intervention Specialist, PIP BVI

terrye@usdb.org

Terry Ann Gibson received her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Vision Impairments from Utah State University and her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Brigham Young University.  She was a member of the very first graduating class to be awarded a graduate degree in Early Childhood Vision Impairments from USU. She has spent her entire professional career serving children and families throughout the State of Utah for more than 30 years, and has worked for the Parent Infant Program since 1990.  She also assisted officials from the State of Nevada with a private school program for children with visual impairments and has provided advice and encouragement to children and parents throughout the U.S. She and her husband, Randy, have two daughters and one grandson. 

AnJee Thomson

Executive Secretary, Early Childhood Division                                                                          

anjeet@usdb.org

AnJee began her career as a professional photographer in 1990 and later cultivated extensive expertise in business, administration, and purchasing while also taking time to raise her family.  AnJee joined USDB prior to covid in the Expanded Core Services division and later transitioned to the Parent Infant Program, now the Early Childhood Division, which she describes as one of the most rewarding and heartwarming opportunities ever.   AnJee skillfully manages all behind-the-scenes paperwork and processes, while assisting in the development and orchestration of many of the engaging family activities and events throughout the year. In her free time she runs a small photography business and delights in being the grandmother of two adorable and spunky little toddlers.

Alyese Nybo

Preschool Office Specialist II

alyesen@usdb.org

Alyese's office training started in High School when interning as a dental assistant part-time while attending school.  Eventually, that dental office gave her the opportunity to be the office manager while earning a Bachelor's Degree in Administrative Systems with a minor in Management at WSU.  After college, she broadened her skills while working at Great Salt Lake Minerals and Chemical Corporation as a department secretary and customer service representative.  Alyese has a great love for children and enjoyed raising a family of five boys before joining the USDB staff as an intervener for the Deaf/Blind program.  Alyese joined the PIP BVI team in 2021 which became the Early Childhood Division in 2022.  Painting, music, and adventures with family and friends are some of Alyese's hobbies.  

Margaret Caulford, M.Ed.

Early Intervention Vision Specialist, PIP BVI​

Margaret Caulford received her Bachelor's degree from Weber State University in Family Studies with an emphasis in Special Education. She started working for PIPBVI as soon as she graduated in 2002.  In 2008, she finished her Master's degree in Early Childhood Special Education from Utah State University.  When she was 16, her parents began adopting children with special needs. She grew up with siblings who are blind and visually impaired, and enjoys sharing those positive life experiences with parents to give them hope and a new perspective. She enjoys working with our visually impaired babies and their siblings and parents here in Weber County. 

Pamela Christensen, M.Ed, TVI

Early Intervention Vision Specialist, Toddler Class Teacher - Ogden and Salt Lake Campuses, PIP BVI

Pam developed an interest in working with students with vision impairments when student teaching over 20 years ago. She added the vision endorsement to her Master's Degree and has been teaching at USDB for 20 years in their Early Childhood Program. When she's not teaching she enjoys gardening, cooking, and reading mysteries.   

Whitney Cunningham, M.Ed.

Early Intervention Vision Specialist, PIP BVI

​Whitney Cunningham received her Bachelor's in English from Utah State University in 2003 and her Master's of Education in Special Education with an emphasis in Early Childhood in 2010.  She was an Early Childhood Special Education Teacher for 12 years before joining PIPBVI at USDB in 2015. Whitney enjoys reading, rooting for her KC Chiefs, chasing down a Dave Matthews Band concert and spending time baking, gaming and getting outdoors with her two boys.  She loves getting to know the families she works with and is so excited to see the progress the little ones make. 

Bess Dennison, M.Ed.

Early Intervention Vision Specialist, PIP BVI

Elizabeth (Bess) Dennison has her masters from the University of Northern Colorado in education of the blind and visually impaired and has been working in this field for 40 years.  She works part-time for the Utah School for the Blind Parent Infant Program.  She has also been working with the SKI-HI Institute at Utah State University for 36 years developing curriculum materials and training in the preschool vision field across the country. Bess lives in Logan with her husband who teaches Physics at USU.  She has a son in law school, a daughter who teaches 4th grade and a daughter who teaches high school severe disabilities. She enjoys being a grandmother, the out-of-doors and music. 

Hong "Nana" Phangia Dewald, Ph.D., COMS, 

ACVREP Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist, PIP BVI

Nana started her career at USDB as a certified orientation and mobility specialist over 20 years ago and has since then been providing orientation and mobility (O&M) services to children in several school districts across the state of Utah and in USDB’s PIP-BVI program. Nana earned her undergraduate degree in Exercise and Sports Science from the University of Utah and graduate degrees in Special Education, with an emphasis in the education of individuals with visual impairment (VI), from the University of Northern Colorado. She has a passion for helping children with VI explore and move through the world as independently as possible and to help them (and their families) achieve their goals and dreams at every stage in their lives. For almost 15 years, Nana has been involved in projects to help research, innovate, and implement service delivery models to address personnel shortages in the field of VI and service delivery to underserved children and communities in Utah and across the country. In addition to being a COMS, Nana is also an adjunct professor in higher education, preparing future educators of students who have VI (TVIs and O&M specialists) around the country. Nana enjoys time with her family, travel, culinary adventures, group exercise classes, and nature walks.

Mary Dubeau, B.S.

Early Intervention Vision Specialist, PIP BVI

Mary Dubeau has worked in Early Intervention since 1999.  She has a Bachelors in Human Development and is working on a masters in Early Childhood Special Education.  She started out her career with USDB PIP, and then moved to Canada, where she continued to work in early intervention while raising her 6 children.  She rejoined the USDB PIP team in 2021 and loves serving the families in Utah.

Denise Johnson, M.Ed., IMH-E

Early Intervention Vision Specialist, PIP BVI

​Denise Johnson primarily serves PIP children in Box Elder, Cache, Rich, Weber, and Morgan counties.   She has been working in PIP for 16 years.  She became interested in working in PIP after two of her children who have Albinism received PIP services.  She returned to school and received her Masters degree from the SEIM (Sensory Impairment Early Intervention Masters) program at Utah State University in 2009.  Denise is a Certified Educator of Infant Massage (CEIM) and currently facilitates many of our parent groups.  She has four grown children and two beautiful granddaughters.  She enjoys spending time with her family, especially her granddaughters!  

Stephanie Johnson, M.Ed

Early Intervention Vision Specialist, PIP BVI

Stephanie taught FACS classes for over 16 years, then decided to change career paths to work for USDB as a PIP educator, and she couldn’t be more happy.  She is excited to work closely with infants and families.  She has two sets of twins.  All girls.  They are all the joys of her life.  Stephanie has been married for over a decade to her wonderful husband, Danny.  They love to travel as a family and like to go on as many trips as they can.  Stephanie loves to throw big birthday parties for her girls, family dinners, and she loves to bake.  Stephanie also does a little personal finance consulting as a side gig.  She loves life and is always up for a new adventure!  Stephanie loves working for USDB.  It brings so much joy to her life! 

Emily Kotowski, M.Ed.

Early Intervention Vision Specialist, PIP BVI

Emily has been working as an early childhood special education teacher since 2006. She joined the team with the Parent Infant Program in 2018. Working with the families and children with the Parent Infant Program has been a dream come true for Emily and she regards it as "the best job in the world"! She received her Master's Degree of Education through University of Utah with an emphasis in Teaching Young Children with Visual Impairments. Emily loves reading, writing, and spending time outdoors.  

Jennifer Leavitt, M.Ed.

Early Intervention Vision Specialist, PIP BVI

Jennifer began working in the field of Special Education when she was just 16 years old as a classroom aide for an early childhood Special Ed preschool classroom.  She fell in love with her job and in 1999 received her Bachelors degree in Special education with an emphasis in Early childhood and vision impairments from Utah State University.  She started working for PIPBVI just after graduation to present. Jennifer enjoys spending time with her 4 children and 4 grandchildren.  

Teri Morrison, M.Ed

Early Intervention Vision Specialist, PIP BVI

Teri has worked with families who have children with visual impairments since 2001.  She really enjoys helping them figure out how to live the unexpected lives of families of special needs children.  She has recently returned to school to further her career in a new direction.  She enjoys books, music, travel, getting organized, being creative, spending time with her family, serving in her church, and trying to exercise more and eat better. 

Ana Navarro

Early Intervention Vision Specialist, PIP BVI

Ana Navarro is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Special Education at the University of Utah, along with an endorsement in Visual Impairments. Before joining the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (USDB), Ana worked in early intervention at Kids On The Move for a couple of years and as a teacher at Giant Steps, a preschool for children with autism, for over a decade. She has a passion for coaching and supporting families during the critical early years of child development. Ana thrives on building meaningful relationships and connecting with new families and communities. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, traveling to new destinations, and exploring different cuisines. Ana describes her approach to life as “YOLO” (You Only Live Once), which inspires her to embrace new experiences and adventures.

Pam Nicolson, M.Ed

Early Intervention Vision Specialist, Toddler Class Teacher - Springville, Orientation and Mobility Specialist, PIP BVI

Pam graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education from Utah State University in 1996. She proceeded to teach preschool for children with special needs for the next seven years in the Uintah and then Alpine School Districts.  While teaching, she completed her Master’s degree in Special Education with an endorsement to teach the visually impaired – again from Utah State….Go Aggies! She loved her graduate studies so much she immediately began working as a Teacher of the Visually Impaired in Alpine School District working one on one with students from preschool up through Seniors in high school. Seven years later, she decided to solely focus once again on the little ones and started working for PIP which she has been with ever since. She loves living with her family in Spring City. 

Stephanie Scholes, EdD

Early Intervention Vision Specialist, PIP BVI

Stephanie Scholes graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood from Weber State University in 2000. After working in daycare, mainly with infants and toddlers, she returned to school and completed Early Childhood Special Education licensure at Utah State University and began working as a special education preschool teacher in Granite School District in 2008. Three years later, after completing her Master’s degree in Special Education and endorsement in teaching the visually impaired from birth through age 5, she became the preschool vision specialist for Granite. While serving in this position, Stephanie completed her Doctorate of Education from Johns Hopkins University in 2019. Stephanie joined PIPBVI at USDB in 2025. She loves working with little children and is excited about learning how to help each one to grow and experience the world.

Paige Shaw, M.Ed

Early Intervention Vision Specialist, PIP BVI

Paige Shaw received her Bachelor's degree in Special Education and her endorsement in Visual Impairments from the University of Utah in 2003. Since then, she has been working in the field of visual impairment and blindness as both an early intervention provider and an itinerant teacher of students with visual impairment and blindness. Paige truly loves working closely with the children and families she has the privilege of serving through PIP. Paige also enjoys traveling, is learning to garden, and is up for just about anything outdoors. 

Jessica Hutchins

Early Childhood Educator of the Blind and Visually Impaired, Preschool Teacher

Erin Adams

Preschool Aide

I love preschool because it offers a landscape to assist in exploring various domains of cognitive development, language acquisition, and self discovery.  Teaching is not my only passion but is my “bread and butter”.  

Tara Pursel 

Preschool Aide 

Tara has a daughter who is completely blind, and since she was born, Tara has known her passion in life is to work with blind children, ages birth to 5. Since 2016, she has attended school at Weber State University, University of Utah and currently is finishing up her Early Childhood SpEd program at USU, with a vision endorsement. She has worked in the USDB Ogden preschool for two years, and loves the opportunity to impact the lives of students while fulfilling her practicum hours for her program. In her free time she enjoys powerlifting, aerial circus, reading and scrapbooking.

Robyn Roden

Preschool Aide

As a paraprofessional, Robyn enjoys working with the preschool team at Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind and the amazing kids. Robyn believes that each student is unique and amazing in their own way. Before joining the USDB family, Robyn worked as a substitute teacher working with SPED students through Senya in many Utah public and private schools. Robyn was also a dance teacher for years. Robyn in her spare time loves to golf, do Zumba, go to the gym and spend time with her two kids.

Maria Lira Jukic, M.Ed, TVI, COMS

Early Childhood Educator of the Blind and Visually Impaired, Preschool Teacher

Maria is originally from Venezuela, but has been living in Utah since 2005. She likes to read, dance, travel, and ride her bike, but teaching preschool is what she loves the most.  Maria has a Bachelor degree in Education (Universidad de Carabobo, Venezuela), a Master degree in Special Education Early Childhood with endorsements in Visual Impairment birth to 3, Preschool and K-12 (University of Utah), an endorsement in Art Integration (Brigham Young University) and an O&M certification (COMS University of Utah & University of Northern Colorado).   Maria has been a preschool teacher at USDB since 2022 and has worked as a Teacher for the Visually Impaired for almost 10 years in a school district.

Lorena Alderete

Preschool Aide

I’m a SoCal girl.  I moved to Utah in 2006.  Transitioning from Ocean front views to Mountain Views didn’t take me long. I love our Wasatch mountains, and I think we are lucky to wake up to such majestic views. The thing I love most is spending time with my husband of 18 years and our 3 beautiful daughters. Cooking is my love language. I enjoy working out. I believe that’s the best therapy. Before I started at USDB, I worked in a few customer service settings. My previous job was medical coding, and I did that for 8 years. I’m glad I am part of the USDB family now.  Working with kids is such an amazing experience. 

Ellie Dobb

Preschool Aide

Ellie has worked at USDB for three years now and loves it! She loves learning from each student and enjoys the good community of staff. Ellie is currently going to school at Utah State University for her Early Childhood, Special Education degree and is excited to use this knowledge to help each student. She loves reading, writing, acting, and playing board games and card games with her family and friends. 

Adriana Caro

Preschool Aide

I have been with USDB for five years as an outreach aide teaching braille, life skills goals, and assistive technology.  This year I had the pleasure of moving to preschool which I enjoy so much! I am a coffee lover, dog momma, and softball junkie, I also enjoy yoga. My time with USDB has taught me so much. I am so grateful for all the wonderful support, experiences, and people I get to work with! 

Anna Sukupova

Educational Service Aide

I was born and raised in Europe. My first degree was in accounting. 

In Europe, I was working  in both accounting  and in the special education field. In Utah, I work  for USDB and in the hospitality industry. I am married and love hiking and traveling. 

Sandra Peppin

Early Childhood Educator of the Blind and Visually Impaired, Preschool Teacher

Sandra has taught students who are Blind and Visually Impaired Birth to age 21 since 2008. She began working at USDB first in the PIP BVI educating students and families in the home. In 2013 she began teaching preschool for USB ages 3 to 5. Sandra enjoys teaching preschool because of their excitement for learning and curiosity. She believes getting students off to an early start with positive patterns and routines will help students prepare for the future. Sandra received her masters in Orientation and Mobility in 2022. Sandra loves the mountains and watching the sunrise or setting anywhere in the world. She enjoys reading some of her favorite books are Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and the Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown. 

Suzanne Agle 

Preschool Aide

Suzanne was born and raised in a small village in England. After high school, she moved to London to train as an NICU nurse at University College and its training hospital. Suzanne and her husband have 3 girls, each were born with a unique medical condition. Suzanne willingly became a stay home mom for many years  to help her girls and manage their medical needs. They are now all married and Suzanne is Nana to 4 gorgeous grandchildren with a 5th almost here. Her 3 year old granddaughter is fortunate enough to be a recipient of USDB services. Suzanne has been at USDB for 3 years and loves every minute of it. Her head teacher and the students inspire her every day. Suzanne loves reading and anything to do with her family.

Brynn Davis

Preschool Aide

Hi, I am Miss Brynn! I have worked here at USDB for over three years now, and I absolutely adore my job and spending my days with these incredible kids. I was actually in the PIP program as a child, so I’ve been a part of the USDB family for a long time. In my spare time, I am likely to be found watching sports with my husband, traveling, baking, shopping, or decorating my house.

Amy Moore 

Preschool Aide

As a paraprofessional, Amy enjoys collaborating with the exceptional developmental preschool team at Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind.  Amy believes that each student can thrive in environments where needs are not only met but desires and goals empowered.  Before joining the USDB family, Amy worked as a substitute teacher in many Utah public and private schools with an emphasis on working with special needs classrooms. Amy is also a fierce supporter for the marginalized and has served as a volunteer social work advocate to help at-risk individuals overcome contextual factors and access a better quality of life.  

Laura Vincent

Preschool Aide

Hi, I’m Laura! I’ve been married for 14 wonderful years and am a proud mom of two amazing kids. I love to crochet and am a devoted Harry Potter fan—Gryffindor at heart! Serving my community is close to my heart, and I spent many years working as a CNA. I’ve been visually impaired since the age of 4 due to a car crash, and growing up blind has taught me resilience, compassion, and so many valuable life lessons.