Staff

Our staff is the backbone of our mission.

A Note from the Executive Director

VIPS believes the families we serve deserve to be taught by the highest level educators in the field of visual impairment and blindness to help each child reach their highest potential. VIPS is nationally recognized because we strive to attract only highly certified, compassionate, skilled team members concentrating on continuous improvement and industry advancements. I am so very proud to introduce our amazing teachers, instructional assistants and the critically important administrative team that help to make our services possible.

Diane Nelson
Executive Director

Leadership Team

Diane M. Nelson
Executive Director

Woman with glasses and hair pulled back smiling.

Justine Aycock
Director of Development

Kathy Mullen
Director of Education

Woman looking at the camera in a black dress.

Kelly Easton
Kentucky Director of Community Outreach & Intake

Woman with sequence in the background smiling at the camera.

Christina Welsh
Director of Finance

Woman smiles the camera while at the Indiana Statehouse

Meredith Howell
Indiana Director of Community Outreach & Advocacy

Education Team

Woman with glasses and blonde hair smiling.

Kim Berghoff
Blind/Low Vision Specialist

Woman with glasses smiling at the camera. Trees and bushes are around her.

Rebekah Dunda
Instructional Assistant

Woman looking at the camera while standing up.

Suzanne Bigbee
Instructional Assistant

Woman standing next to tiki while smiling at the camera.

Ashley Emmons
Teacher of the Visually Impaired | Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist

Trisha Conklin
Teacher of the Visually Impaired | Orientation & Mobility Specialist

Woman with glasses smiling at the camera.

Michelle Flora
Blind/Low Vision Specialist

Kristan Decker
Assistant Preschool Director

Debbie Hardesty
Instructional Assistant

Woman with glasses looking at the camera.

Pamela Holladay
Teacher of the Visually Impaired

Sheila Klopfenstein
Teacher of Blind/Low Vision

Woman standing up smiling at the camera.

Lesley Lusher
Developmental Interventionist

Paige Maynard
Teacher of the Visually Impaired

Staci Maynard
Teacher of the Visually Impaired

Tammy Maynard
Developmental Interventionist

Woman sitting in a chair with a computer behind her while she looks at the camera.

Juanita Miles
Preschool Director | Developmental Interventionist

Amy Nichols
Teacher of Blind/Low Vision

Rebecca Osley
Instructional Assistant

Woman standing in front of colorful balloons and a VIPS sign, smiles for the camera.

Brenda Pharris
Instructional Assistant

Woman with dangling earrings smiles at the camera.

Sarah Potter
Instructional Assistant

Woman smiling while standing in front of a dark wall.

Tommie Roesch
Teacher of Blind/Low Vision | Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist

Joni Santiago
Instructional Assistant

Woman with glasses outside with a small smile on her face.

Julia Sleder
Teacher of the Visually Impaired

David Sterne
Teacher of Blind/Low Vision | First Steps Coordinator | Cultural Quality Assurance Coordinator

Crystal Tolbert
Instructional Assistant

Woman with glasses has a slight smile for the camera.

Malinda Vogel
Instructional Assistant

Cheryl Vincent-Wallace
Teacher of Blind/Low Vision

Administrative Team

Jenny Castenir
Family Services Coordinator

Carol Dahmke
Human Resources & Office Manager

Woman with bricks behind her smiles at the camera.

Rita DeVore
Special Projects & Volunteer Coordinator

Ashley Ford
Event Coordinator

Man with a baseball cap looks at the camera.

Brian Justice
Building, Grounds, & Maintenance

Ashley Ross
Communications Coordinator

Kirsten Schmidt
Guest Relations & Volunteer Coordinator

Mary Smyth
Grants Specialist

Emily Thornton
Database Coordinator