Deaf Education
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Meet the Staff
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Andrea Alford
Coordinator for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Blind and Vision Services, and Assistive Technology
Ms. Alford has twenty-one years of experience in Deaf Education as a Teacher for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, ESY-ECSE teacher, and Program Supervisor for the Brazos Valley Regional Day School for the Deaf in Bryan ISD. Currently, Ms. Alford works as the Coordinator for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Vision Services, and Assistive Technology. She has her Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Disorders and her Master’s Degree in Deaf Education from Texas Women’s University and is pursuing a Doctorate in Deaf Studies and Deaf Education from Lamar University.
Office: 281-396-2413
AndreaDAlford@katyisd.org -
Elizabeth Salinas
Administrative Assistant
Ms. Salinas is in her first year as secretary to both the Coordinator for Deaf Education, Vision, and Assistive Technology and to the Coordinator for 18+ Transitions. Prior to working in Katy ISD, she comes to us with thirteen years of experience as a Data Quality Analyst. Ms. Salinas attended San Jacinto College North with an Associate’s Degree in Art.
Office: 281-396-2695
ElizabethASalinas@katyisd.org -
Jennifer Magee
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialist
Ms. Magee has worked for twenty-nine years in Deaf Education/Special Education as a parent-infant advisor, Deaf Education classroom teacher, Educational Diagnostician, itinerant teacher, and program specialist. Currently, she works as a Program Specialist for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Department. She has her Master’s Degree in Deaf Education from Lamar University, a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Southwestern University, an Educational Diagnostician Certificate from St. Thomas University, and a DeafBlind Certificate from Texas Tech University. Currently, she is working toward her Principalship Certification from Inspire Texas.
Office: 281-237-4693
JenniferSMagee@katyisd.org -
Amy Ashley-Withers
Parent-Infant Advisor
Ms. Ashley-Withers has worked for twenty-nine years as a parent-infant advisor, preschool teacher, elementary/junior high teacher, and itinerant teacher. Ms. Ashley-Withers received a Bachelor’s Degree in Education of the Deaf from the University of Southern Mississippi and a Master’s Degree in Parent Infant Studies of the Deaf from Gallaudet University.
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Kristi Bourque
Educational Audiologist
Ms. Bourque has worked for twenty-seven years as an audiologist. Prior to her eleven years in Katy ISD, she has sixteen years at Houston Ear, Nose, and Throat Clinic where she served as Assistant Director of Audiology and Director of Newborn Hearing Screening. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Disorders and her Master’s Degree in Audiology at Lamar University.
Office: 281-237-4693
KristiCBourque@katyisd.org -
Ezenwanyi Onwuzuruoha
Educational Audiologist
Dr. Onwuzuruoha (Dr. O) is within her first year in Katy ISD as an audiologist. Prior to coming to Katy ISD, she worked as a Speech and Language Pathologist for ten years. Currently, Dr. Onwuzuruoha works as an Educational Audiologist. She has her Bachelor's Degree from Armstrong Atlantic State University, a Master's Degree from South Carolina State University, and a Doctoral Degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. She is currently working towards her Auditory Verbal Therapy Certificate.
Office: 281-237-4705
EzenwanyiCOnwuzuruoha@katyisd.org -
Monica Garza
Audiology Clerk
Ms. Garza has worked in Katy ISD for two years. Prior to being an Audiology Clerk, she worked as an Assessment Clerk. Prior to working at Katy ISD, she worked as an accountant for six years in Mexico and a preschool co-teacher for five years here in the US. Ms. Garza graduated from Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Tamaulipas in Mexico with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting.
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Kari Hickman
Speech and Language Pathologist
Ms. Hickman has three years of experience in Deaf Education and Special Education as a Speech-Language Pathologist. She is ASHA certified in Speech-Language Pathology. Currently, she works as the Speech-Language Pathologist serving our students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing. She has a Bachelor’s Degree from Brigham Young University and a Master’s Degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Office: 281-237-4659
KariAHickman@katyisd.org -
Cindy Servin
Educational Diagnostician
Ms. Servin has worked for thirteen years in Special Education and Deaf Education as a Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, paraprofessional, and Communication Facilitator. Currently, Cindy is our Educational Diagnostician. She has her Master’s Degree from the University of West Florida and her Educational Diagnostician Certificate from Lamar University.
Office: 281-237-4667
CynthiaAServin@katyisd.org -
Kimberly Diaz
Assessment Clerk
Ms. Diaz has worked for Katy ISD for one year. Prior to working in Katy ISD, she comes with thirteen years of experience in retail and customer service. She attended Baylor University and Houston Community College with an Associate Degree in Baking and Pastry Arts and an Associate Degree in Art.
KimberlyCDiaz@katyisd.org -
John Marcelle
Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Mr. Marcelle is currently the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Teacher at the high school campus. He has been with Katy ISD for one year. Mr. Marcelle has over ten years experience as a Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Office: 281-237-3154
JohnMarcelle@katyisd.org -
Jill Cleveland
Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Ms. Cleveland has worked in Deaf Education for nineteen years. She has served as Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at the elementary, junior high, high school levels, Lead Teacher for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and an American Sign Language teacher. Currently, she works as a Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing for the junior high. She has her Master’s Degree in Deaf Education from Texas Women’s University and her Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology from Sam Houston State University.
Office: 281-237-2761
JillGCleveland@katyisd.org -
Lori Dunsmore
Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Ms. Dunsmore has nine years of experience in Deaf Education as a paraprofessional and Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Currently, she works as a Teacher for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at the elementary campus. She has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Houston.
Office: 281-237-5881
LoriADunsmore@katyisd.org -
Brenda Geraci
Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Ms. Geraci has thirty-six years of experience in education, four years in special education, two years as an itinerant teacher, and thirty years as the elementary site. She attended Lamar University earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology and a Master’s Degree in Deaf Education.
Office: 281-237-4653
BrendaMGeraci@katyisd.org -
Brittany Wright
Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Ms. Wright has worked in education for six years and has been a Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing for four years. Prior to coming to Katy ISD, she worked at Houston ISD and taught students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing with additional disabilities. Currently, she works as a Teacher for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing for the elementary school. She has her Associate Degree in General Studies from Texarkana College and her Bachelor’s Degree in Deaf Education from Stephen F. Austin State University.
Office: 281-237-4689
BrittanyWright@katyisd.org -
Cindy Bookout
Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Ms. Bookout has twenty-five years of experience in Deaf Education and education as a paraprofessional, interpreter, Communication Specialist, site-based classroom teacher, in-class-support teacher, parent-infant advisor, and itinerant teacher at both public and state schools. Currently she works as an itinerant teacher. She attended Texas A&M University, received her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Texas, and her Master’s Degree from the University of Arizona.
Office: 281-396-7461
CindyBookout@katyisd.org -
Linda Bostian
Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Ms. Bostian has thirty-five years of experience in Deaf Education, and she has taught in public and private schools, both in Texas and Maryland. Ms. Bostian currently works as an itinerant teacher.
LindaSBostian@katyisd.org -
Kaleigh Kelchner
Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Ms. Kelchner has worked in Deaf Education for ten years and has had a variety of roles including Early Childhood Intervention Teacher, preschool teacher, school-age teacher, and Itinerant Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Habilitation of the Deaf from Texas Christian University and a Master's Degree in Deaf Education from the University of Northern Colorado. Ms. Kelchner is currently working on her Deafblind Certification through Texas Tech University.
Office: 281-396-2832
KaleighKelchner@katyisd.org -
Kristyn McFarland
Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Ms. McFarland has twelve years of experience in education and Deaf Education as a Teacher for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Skills Specialist, and kindergarten teacher. Currently, Ms. McFarland works as an Itinerant Teacher for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. She has her Bachelor’s Degree from Stephen F. Austin State University and is currently working on her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Stephen F. Austin State University.
KristynCMcfarland@katyisd.org -
Jamie Patton
Communication Facilitator
Ms. Patton has ten years of experience in Deaf Education as a paraprofessional and currently as a Communication Facilitator. She has an Associate Degree from Houston Community College. She is currently working towards her Bachelor’s Degree from Grand Canyon University.
JamieDPatton@katyisd.org -
Melinda Benavides
Certified Interpreter
Ms. Benavides has worked in Deaf Education for twenty-nine years and is an interpreter. Prior to her four years in Katy ISD, she worked in Brownsville ISD. She has her BEI Level 1 Interpreter Certification.
Office: 281-237-4693
MelindaBenavides@katyisd.org -
Adriana Mendoza
Interpreter Intern
Ms. Mendoza is in her first year as an Interpreter Intern for Katy ISD. She has also interned at Humble, Cy-Fair, and Bryan ISD. Ms. Mendoza attended Lone Star College where she holds an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science in Interpreter Training Technology as well as a certificate in ASL Communication Skills.
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Avesha Irshad
Non-Certified Paraprofessional
Ms. Irshad has two years of experience in education. She started in Katy ISD as a substitute teacher and she currently works as a non-certified paraprofessional. Ms. Irshad has both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s Degree in Statistics from the University of Karachi in Pakistan.
AveshAIrshad@katyisd.org -
Darlene Kramer
Paraprofessional
Ms. Kramer is in her first year as a paraprofessional for Deaf Education in Katy ISD. She comes to us with ten years of experience in education, eight of which she worked at Schmalz Elementary. Ms. Kramer has worked as a Special Education paraprofessional for four years and an Early Childhood Special Education paraprofessional for four years.