Last year, despite challenges from the pandemic we still served over 700 children. We need your help to continue our critical work to make a difference in the lives of children with vision loss!

We need our VIPS supporters help more than ever during this uniquely challenging time with the gift of a new donation or pledge, or continuing your existing your support. If you are not a monthly donor--now would be a great time to initiate a monthly gift. The families we serve depend on our teachers and we depend on you to help us in our critical mission to provide early intervention to every child with blindness or low vision.

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

VIPS Louisville

Diane M. Nelson
Executive Director

Kathy Mullen
Director of Education

Team Members

Suzanne Bigbee
Classroom Assistant

Jenny Castenir
Family Services Coordinator

Carol Dahmke
Office Manager | HR Director

Kristan Decker
Classroom Assistant

Rebekah Dunda
Classroom Assistant

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

Pauletta Feldman
Special Projects

Ashley Ford
Event Coordinator

Christina Frasher
Controller

Marchelle Hampton
Classroom Assistant

Debbie Hardesty
Classroom Assistant

Pamela Holladay
Teacher of the Visually Impaired

Brian Justice
Building, Grounds, & Maintenance

Paige Maynard
Teacher of the Visually Impaired

Staci Maynard
Teacher of the Visually Impaired

Juanita Miles
Preschool Director | Developmental Interventionist

Jan Moseley
Visual Impairment Specialist

Katie Norris
Classroom Assistant

Brenda Pharris
Classroom Assistant

Elaine Reed
Classroom Assistant

Kirsten Schmidt
Guest Relations | Volunteer Coordinator
Julia Sleder
Teacher of the Visually Impaired | Preschool Teacher

Carla Vied
Developmental Interventionist

Jinhee Walsh
Classroom Assistant

Tracy Webb
Developmental Interventionist

Maury Weedman
O&M Specialist | Maintenance Manager

Brittany Williamson
Teacher of the Visually Impaired

VIPS Central Kentucky

Kelly Easton
Regional Director

image of mary smiling with woods in background

Mary Smyth
Grant Writer

Team Members

Lesley Lusher
Developmental Interventionist

Dixie Marz
Teacher of the Visually Impaired

Tammy Maynard
Developmental Interventionist

VIPS Indiana

Meredith Howell
Regional Director

Team Members

Rita DeVore
Administrative Assistant | Special Projects Coordinator

Tracy Hibler-Aikin
Teacher of Blind/Low Vision

Mindy Koehne
Teacher of Blind/Low Vision | Intake & Assessment Coordinator

Melisa Matthews
Blind/Low Vision Specialist

Amy Nichols
Teacher of Blind/Low Vision

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

Ashley Ross
Development Coordinator

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