2020 Board ElectionsTAER will be holding virtual elections for the following board positions:
Please see below for information on the nominees for the 2020 TAER Board. |
TAER Board
2019 Conference
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President-Elect |
Kate Borg
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Kate Borg is the director of Outreach at TSBVI. Kate joined Texas in 2019 after working at the Utah School for the Deaf and the Blind (USDB) for many years. Kate has been a school principal, instructional coach, classroom teacher, and itinerant TVI. In addition to leading TSBVI's Outreach mission, Kate has leadership roles within the Principals of Schools for the Blind (POSB) and the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AERBVI).
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Belinda Rudinger
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Belinda Rudinger has spent over 15 years in the field of special education as a teacher, mentor, consultant, and RESNA-certified assistive technology professional (ATP). Her experience in the field of education for students with visual impairments includes serving as a TVI, a consultant at Region 10 Education Service Center, a mentor for new TVIs, the chairperson of Technology Olympics, the founder and chairperson of the first Dallas Area Braille Challenge, and five summers as the facilitator for Stephen F. Austin State University's graduate braille course. In 2017 she was the recipient of the Sammie K. Rankin award from Texas AER, and her collaborative work has been published in the British Journal for Visual Impairment. She has presented nationally at the CSUN Assistive Technology conference, Closing the Gap, Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Expo, and the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) conference. She is currently a TVI in Grand Prairie ISD, an adjunct faculty member at Texas A&M University-Commerce, and she will graduate with her doctorate in May, 2020. She believes in the power of technology to afford empowerment and facilitate connection.
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Treasurer I |
Katie Nash
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Katie Nash, M.Ed has been a special educator for eight years, working with students with unique needs, their teachers, assistants, parents, and other service providers. She graduated from Our Lady of the Lake College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a B.S. in Healthcare Administration. Not long after, Katie decided her heart was in education and attended Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana to obtain an alternative teacher certification. Two years after receiving her teaching certification she completed her Master's of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. Mrs. Nash later went on to pursue her certification in Blind and Visually Impaired Education through Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas. Upon a few successful years as a Teacher for the Visually Impaired she returned yet again to continue her education by obtaining a Dual Sensory (Deaf-Blind) Impairment Certification through Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Mrs. Nash then completed her certification in Orientation and Mobility. Mrs. Nash is a special needs educator with a M. Ed plus 50 hours. She has worked with diverse populations and programs as a Classroom Teacher, Itinerant Teacher, and District Assistive Technology Specialist. Mrs. Nash is an active member on multiple committees with TSBVI (Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired) including the Texas Action Committee for the Education of Students with Visual Impairments and the Literacy Initiative Committee for Students with Visual Impairments. Mrs. Nash also sits as a Member at Large on the Texas Association for Education of Blind and Visually Impaired. Mrs. Nash is an active grant writer for students with visual impairments and has been awarded two grants by The All Blind Children of Texas Foundation.
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Board Member-at-Large |
Kate Borg
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See above
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Yvonne Corson
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Hello fellow TAER members. My name is Yvonne Corson, and I would truly be honored to serve this organization in the capacity of a Member at Large Board Member. I have been in the education field for 20 years. I taught high school algebra for 17 years and have worked as a TVI at Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired for 3 years as a residential teacher. I so enjoy the comradery, as well as the collaboration of the great professionals in the field of blindness and visual impairment along with our common goal of fundraising for scholarships for those who are truly deserving entering this field. Since working as a TVI, I have aided in the fundraising efforts with a colleague totaling approximately $33,000 for All Blind Children of Texas. Additionally, I am involved in another charity group and have fostered business relationships to secure various items for the purpose of silent auction fundraising. In fact, I assisted our current Member at Large member in gathering unique items for this year’s silent auction. I would immensely appreciate your vote for the Member at Large position. Together, we can take fundraising for this great cause to the next level. Thank you! Yvonne Corson
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Tammy Durrett
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Hello, my name is Tammy Durrett. As a parent of a child with Optic Nerve Hypoplasia, I have been in the business of visual impairments for 26 years. My social work background ultimately lead me back to education where I attained my certification as a Teacher of the Visually Impaired. I have been a CTVI with the Denton County Special Education Co-op for 15+ years. I am a strong believer in the power of positive thinking and I strive to bridge the gap for those with visual impairments. I am the past recipient of the TAER Outstanding Parent Award (2012). I enjoy a good Netflix binge and I can also be found at the lake with my family where I find my peace and tranquility.
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Elizabeth Eagan
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Liz is a TVI in Bastrop. She has written numerous posts for Paths to Literacy. She's been a TVI since the late 90's (I believe). She is always willing to share/help anyone.
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Emily Gibbs
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Emily Gibbs has been teaching blind students for the last 16 years. She’s worked with students from birth to senior in a variety of unique settings in 5 different states. She started as a Camp Director at a residential camp in Michigan and found her passion. After earning her Masters in Education from Louisiana Tech University, Emily went on to teach in Texas. She won the 2010 Teacher of Blind Students of the Year award from Texas Parents of Blind Children before she moved to work as an Education Specialist at the National Federation of the Blind’s Headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland. She completed 2 years there before returning to her first love, teaching. After serving on the state board as Treasurer for 4 years, she has just accepted the position of Director of Youth and Education Services for the National Federation of the Blind of Texas.
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Angela Howe
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My name is Angela Howe and I have been a TVI for 12 years and special education teacher for 8 years before that. I am finishing my master's in special education with a focus in Deafblind this May. I have been a member of TAER since 2008, and would like to be more active.
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Belinda Rudinger
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See above
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