Meet the Expanded Core Services Team
The Expanded Core Services Division at the Utah School for the Blind provides direct instruction, training and programs for students with vision impairments or deaf-blindness statewide in Utah. We are a small but mighty team! We started with one person and now have expanded into a full team. Our services include: in-person programs, hybrid learning and virtual sessions for parents, teachers and students. All programs are free for students in Utah. Our goal is to partner with local teachers of students with vision impairments to provide high quality Expanded Core instruction for students & resources for families.
Becky Weeks, Expanded Core Curriculum Coordinator
I love being involved in all aspects of education. I have worked as a SEM teacher, served as a PTA president, served on a scholarship board and am currently serving as the president of an education foundation in the community where I live.
I have worked at USDB for fifteen years. I started in DeafBlind Services and have totally loved working as an Educational Services Aide in Blind Outreach for eight years and The Expanded Core Services for the past five years. I appreciate the foundational skills training I received while working in DeafBlind. I loved learning and teaching Braille and am excited about the continuing training I receive, learning from Robbin and the ECC Team and the wonderful students that teach me something new everyday!
I enjoy taking road trips with my husband, Troy, spending time with our four kids, their spouses and our twelve grandchildren. I LOVE being with them all, biking in Moab, hiking and swimming at Lake Powell, riding ATV’s in the Uintas, or just playing games and eating homemade ice cream in our backyard.
Kathy Bingham, Lead Expanded Core Educator
I started in the field of education by working as a staff assistant in special education classrooms at the elementary and junior high levels. I obtained my teaching license and taught students with significant disabilities for 12 years. During that time, I completed a Master’s degree in Special Education. I started working at USB in December of 2019 and fell in love with the field of VI! I completed my studies at University of Northern Colorado to obtain my TVI endorsement. I enjoy camping, gardening, baking and Sunday afternoon naps.
Becca Frias, Expanded Core Educator, Certified Orientation & Mobility Instructor
Hi, I’m Becca. I am the newest member of the Expanded Core Services Division. I was born and raised in south Florida and am a recent graduate from Florida State University majoring in visual disabilities education. I am finishing my student teaching in Florida and then will be at USDB full time starting in January. My favorite hobbies include: cooking, caring for plants, skiing, and cuddling with my cat. I am so excited to join the ECC team as a new Orientation and Mobility instructor!
Robbin Clark, Director of Curriculum & Instruction
Hello! I'm Robbin Clark and I LOVE the Expanded Core Curriculum. I've been in the field for 17 years. I have worked at USDB for 7 years. I loved jumping into all things ECC here at USDB! I've been privileged to be a teacher of the deaf-blind, early intervention provider and Expanded Core teacher. My undergrad is from UNLV, completed my master's degree in vision rehabilitation therapy from the University of Arkansas, Little Rock & an endorsement in curriculum & instruction from Walden University. Some of my favorite teaching moments have happened in our ECC Study Abroad programs, short term programs and with our Bridges Program students. My favorite hobbies include food tours, fitness and lots of time with my family.
Get Involved with Short Term Programs
Have you discovered the new short term programs at the Utah School for the Blind? New for the 2021-22 school year, short term programs are all over the state of Utah and with some returning favorite programs throughout the school year.
Teachers of students with vision impairments: You are invited to join us in your area to help individualize learning to your students.
Parents: Short term programs provide supplemental, intensive Expanded Core instruction with a guide for how to keep the learning going at home.
For students of all abilities: There are a variety of short term programs to meet the needs of all students.
Short Term Program FAQs
Where are short term programs located?
The new model starting for the 2021-2022 school year has short term programs all over the state of Utah. We have new locations in Springville, SLC and Davis County. These new locations are in addition to our Logan, St. George and Tooele locations. Short term program locations, dates and details will be posted on the website and through distribution list. Click here to see what programs are currently running.
How do I get involved?
Students: Students must register for short term programs. You can sign up on our website or through the registration link. All short term programs are free. Each short term has a registration form. It is a quick process.
Teachers: We want to partner with the local TSVIs and OMs in the area. Please reach out when you see that our team will be hosting a short term in your area. Kathy Bingham will also contact you about a month prior to partner with you.
What about medication needs?
Students that require medication to be administered during our programs (including summer camps) must have a medical authorization form filled out and signed by a doctor. Our short term program nurse will work with families to ensure that we are in compliance and have a health care plan in place. We will arrange nursing for students that require it. Nursing needs for students must be made a minimum of three weeks in advance. Our nurse will coordinate efforts for students that require nursing during a program.
What do you do during Short Term Programs?
The sky is the limit with short term program fun! All of our programs are based on the Expanded Core Curriculum. Each short term has a theme with focused skills that we are addressing. Most short term programs have mixed ages and abilities to allow for a collaborative, empowering environment. Our staff have been trained in vision impairment education best practices. All programs are supervised by the Expanded Core Services Division. Students are empowered to step out and try new skills, develop independence, make mistakes and learn from their experiences. Support is provided for students at individual levels.
Do you provide transportation?
For most of the short term programs in various areas, we do not provide curb-to-program transportation support. As available, we will coordinate support via vanpool at pick up locations. For bigger short term programs such as a main program in Ogden, we will provide bus support in various pick up spots such as Draper and SLC to bring students to Ogden.