Staff

Our teachers and speech therapists have master's degrees, hold California teaching credentials and licenses, and have extensive experience in the areas of:

• Parent education and support
• Early childhood development
• Sign language
• Speech therapy
• Auditory training
• Support for children who are medically fragile or have multiple special needs
• Interagency coordination
• Deaf culture

Several staff members are deaf or hard of hearing and provide positive role models for our students and families.

Our Program Consultants include a neuro-developmental pediatrician, mental health specialists in the field of deafness, a pediatric occupational therapist, and a pediatric physical therapist.

Teachers

Kim Burke-Giusti, M.A. Deaf Education
Cynthia Fong, M.A. Early Childhood Special Education
Helisa Katz, M.A. Deaf Education
Jessica Salaam, M.A. Deaf Education

Candy Sullivan, M.A. Deaf Education

Teachers Aides

Priscila Ostrowski

Megan Landis

Nina Peña

Natalie Papalii
Maria Rooney

Speech Therapy

Carol Lettko, M.A. CCC-SLP
Jennifer Wayman, M.S. CCC-SLP

Occupational Therapy

Kelli Parnall, MOT, OTR/L

Audiology Clinic

Michal Jospeh, Au.D.

Allison Nachman, Au.D.

Anita Flores, Audiology Assistant
Carley Roth, Newborn Hearing Screener

Sunshine Preschool and Childcare

Vinona Bennett, Teacher
Kyla McKenrick, Teacher

Management and Administration

Jill Ellis, M.Ed. - Executive Director

Cindy Dickeson, MSW - Program Manager

Fred Johnstone - Finance and Accounting Manager

Chrissie Bartlett - Development Manager

Kate Glass - Grants & Special Events Coordinator

Beth Reynolds - Development Associate

Jill Ellis, M.Ed. Co-Founder and Executive Director

Jill received her Masters in Education (Deaf) at Lewis and Clark College and advanced specialty training from Good Samaritan Hospital Infant Hearing Resource, working as a Parent-Infant Specialist for the hearing impaired.

For more than 30 years, she's worked in the field of deaf education as interpreter, classroom teacher, parent-infant specialist, trainer, presenter, sign language instructor, consultant, fundraiser, and administrator.

Jill co-authored a federal grant to Handicapped Children's Early Education Programs in 1980. This established the family-focused, early intervention program for young children and families, now known as Center for Early Intervention on Deafness (CEID).

Jill has supervised and implemented numerous special projects to establish mainstream childcare opportunities, community outreach, parent empowerment projects, physician and medical provider training, and special training materials.

She also produced a unique, animated storytelling videotape in sign language, “Show 'n Tell” Stories (available for order), and has consulted and presented nationally and internationally. She and her husband, Jim, have three grown sons, all of whom have unique learning styles, personalities, talents, and interests.