Heuser Hearing & Language Academy is privileged to be the home of such a wonderful, talented and committed teaching staff. Our classroom instructors are all master’s-level deaf educators and our arts program is in the hands of experienced specialists with deep knowledge and understanding of the unique needs of Heuser’s students.
Our teachers are as committed to helping students today as their predecessors who founded this school and volunteered their time to help children were. Children with hearing, speech and processing challenges can learn to thrive with the right treatment plan and educational foundation. Here are the people who help make that happen — our teachers!
Teachers
Debbie Woods
Education Director
Debbie Woods has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in elementary education and spent 15 years as an elementary school teacher before entering the field of early intervention. Along with these degrees, Debra holds two graduate teaching certifications for dual sensory impairment and deaf and hard of hearing. After her teaching career, Debbie worked with the…
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Dana Dicken
School Coordinator
Dana Dicken attended Eastern Kentucky University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in occupational therapy in 1994. She joined Heuser Hearing Institute as a patient care coordinator in November 2017 and moved to Heuser Hearing & Language Academy as school coordinator in August 2018. She is very excited to be working in the…
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Sydney Creason
Teacher of the Deaf
Sydney Creason has taught at Heuser Hearing & Language Academy since 1999. She received her bachelor’s degree in deaf and hard of hearing education with elementary education from Eastern Kentucky University. She has a master’s degree in education of the deaf from Smith College in Massachusetts. Sydney has worked with every age level at HHLA and even spent…
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Katie Fromholt
Teacher of the Deaf
Katie (Massey) Fromholt, M.S., has taught at HHLA since the fall of 2009. She received her bachelor’s degree in deaf and hard of hearing education with elementary education and her master’s degree in interdisciplinary early childhood education from Eastern Kentucky University. Katie also holds a developmental interventionist certificate. She has worked with each age level…
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Linda Lotspeich
Teacher of the Deaf
Linda Lotspeich has been teaching deaf and hard of hearing students since the early 1990s. She has a bachelor’s degree from Texas Christian University and a master’s degrees from the University of Arizona and Louisville Presbyterian Seminary. She taught at the Texas School for the Deaf, the Plano Regional Day School for the Deaf and…
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Nikki Coleman
Teacher of the Deaf
Nikki (Sipe) Coleman is a listening and spoken language specialist (LSLS) and certified oral deaf educator. She received her bachelor’s degrees in speech pathology and psychology from St. Louis University and her Master of Early Intervention in Deaf Education from Fontbonne University. She is originally from Mt. Vernon, IL. Nikki has been teaching at Heuser…
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Katie Telek
Teacher of the Deaf
Katie Telek received her Bachelor of Science in education of the deaf and hard of hearing with middle grade mathematics from Eastern Kentucky University in 2017. Katie is currently pursuing her master’s in interdisciplinary early childhood education from Eastern Kentucky University with plans to graduate in the spring of 2020. She is originally from Richmond,…
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Dorie Smith
Preschool Teacher
Ms. Dorie has worked in early childhood education for more than 30 years. She received her associate’s degree from JCC and her Bachelor of Science from Campbellsburg University. Dorie has been with JCPS since 2013. She is honored to be the teacher of the Jump Start class of 3 to 4 year olds at Heuser…
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Jill Hedges
Art Therapist
S. Jill Hedges is a licensed professional counselor (LPCC), a licensed professional art therapist (LPAT) and a registered play therapist (RPT). Jill received her Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University at Bloomington in 1978. She was an exchange student at the Hamburg Art Academy (HFBK) and the University of Hamburg in Germany from 1976-77. In…
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Tracey Wachter
STEM Lab Teacher
Tracey Wachter is a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) teacher. STEM uses the sciences to encourage students to solve problems inside and outside of the classroom. She received her bachelor’s degree from Bellarmine University. Tracey has been teaching at HHLA for a year and a half. In the past, she has taught classes for…
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Kristin Kelly
Speech-Language Pathologist
Kristin Kelly has been the speech-language pathologist serving Heuser Hearing & Language Academy through Jefferson County Public Schools since 2005. She graduated from Butler University with a Bachelor of Art in Communication Disorders and from Vanderbilt University with a Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology. She holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech…
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Amanda Taylor, M.S.Ed., IECE
First Steps Developmental Interventionist/ Early Childhood Teacher
Amanda Taylor joined Heuser Hearing Institute in 2014 and is a First Steps developmental interventionist, helping infants and toddlers reach developmental milestones. Her bachelor degree in biology and marine science was obtained from Coastal Carolina University. She received her Master of Science in education with an emphasis in interdisciplinary early childhood education from the University…
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Brigid Taylor, M.S.Ed., IECE
First Steps Developmental Interventionist/ Early Childhood Teacher
Brigid Taylor joined Heuser Hearing & Language Academy's Early Intervention Program in January 2017. Brigid is a developmental interventionist and certified early childhood teacher, helping infants and toddlers reach their developmental milestones. She is a provider for early intervention services through First Steps in Kentucky. Brigid has a Master of Science in education for special…
Read MoreInstructional Assistants
Doris Jeffries
Teacher’s Assistant
Doris Jeffries has worked at Heuser Hearing & Language Academy since 1999. After serving three years in the US Army during the Vietnam War, she received her bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Oswego in 1976. She continues her education at the University of Louisville, majoring in art therapy. She will…
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Mary Martin
Teacher’s Assistant
Mary Martin has worked for JCPS as an early childhood assistant since 2004. She graduated from Manual High School and attended Jefferson Community College. She is a mother to three daughters and grandmother to five. She loves spending time with her grandchildren.
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Melissa Twyman
Teacher’s Assistant
Melissa Twyman joined Heuser Hearing & Language Academy in 2013 and has worked as an instructional assistant with all age levels. Prior to joining Heuser, she was an instructional assistant at Auburndale Elementary. She also worked as a court liaison and an administrative assistant for a doctor’s office. Originally from Louisville, Melissa couldn’t imagine being…
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Brooke Pinkley
Teacher’s Assistant
Brooke Pinkley joined the team as a teacher's assistant for the 2018-2019 school year. She has several years of experience as a nanny and private tutor with children of all ages and varying learning capacities. She has also worked with organizations such as Best Buddies and EDGE, which seek to further educational goals, build friendships…
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Brandy Brawner
Teacher’s Assistant
Brandy started as a volunteer and sub assistant at Heuser Hearing & Language Academy and joined the team as a teacher’s assistant in 2018. She graduated from Northern Kentucky University in May 2018 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. In her spare time, Brandy likes to paint, make large scale crafts, shop at antique stores…
Read MoreCall Heuser Hearing Institute at (502) 636-2084 for more information about Heuser Hearing & Language Academy.
