TAER O&M Division
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Board Members
Chair
Shannah Blankenship
My name is Shannah Blankenship. I have been a TVI for 10 years and a COMS for 3 years. I am currently the Special Education Specialist for ESC Region 11. I have a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from Midwestern State University and completes my TVI at Stephen F Austin and my COMS at Texas Tech. I have a wonderful husband, David. We enjoy traveling together. We have 5 children and 6 grandchildren.
My name is Shannah Blankenship. I have been a TVI for 10 years and a COMS for 3 years. I am currently the Special Education Specialist for ESC Region 11. I have a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from Midwestern State University and completes my TVI at Stephen F Austin and my COMS at Texas Tech. I have a wonderful husband, David. We enjoy traveling together. We have 5 children and 6 grandchildren.
Vice Chair
Vance Lankford
I am Vance Lankford and have been an Orientation and Mobility Specialist for 36 years. I began working with all ages at the West Texas Lighthouse for the Blind. I have been at Education Service Center Region 15 for the past 33 years. In addition to O&M, I have also worked in the area of Adapted PE. However, O&M takes up most of my time. I have six children: two in school and the other four pursuing their careers in various areas. One of my children is a teacher of the visually impaired and an orientation and mobility instructor. Jessica my wife is pretty awesome also, she teaches third grade. Our family enjoys sports and some of us still play summer softball together. I have held various offices with the TAER O&M Division-nine boards over the years. I have taught classes for Stephen F. Austin State University as an adjunct professor. O&M allows you to get to meet many people and assist people in many ways. The field has been good to me. I have been the recipient of the Best Practices Award (1999) and the Bob and Bill Leadership Award (2018). I believe that a lot dedicated O&M specialists deserve to receive these awards.
I am Vance Lankford and have been an Orientation and Mobility Specialist for 36 years. I began working with all ages at the West Texas Lighthouse for the Blind. I have been at Education Service Center Region 15 for the past 33 years. In addition to O&M, I have also worked in the area of Adapted PE. However, O&M takes up most of my time. I have six children: two in school and the other four pursuing their careers in various areas. One of my children is a teacher of the visually impaired and an orientation and mobility instructor. Jessica my wife is pretty awesome also, she teaches third grade. Our family enjoys sports and some of us still play summer softball together. I have held various offices with the TAER O&M Division-nine boards over the years. I have taught classes for Stephen F. Austin State University as an adjunct professor. O&M allows you to get to meet many people and assist people in many ways. The field has been good to me. I have been the recipient of the Best Practices Award (1999) and the Bob and Bill Leadership Award (2018). I believe that a lot dedicated O&M specialists deserve to receive these awards.
Secretary
Laura Cabrera-Garcia
Hi! My name is Laura Cabrera-Garcia. I have been a COMS and TSVI for three years. Before that, I was an elementary bilingual Special Education resource teacher. I attended the University of Texas at Arlington and completed an undergraduate degree in Psychology. I then completed a Master's in Education at Texas Tech, including a certificate in DeafBlindness. I am a native Texan, originally from Harlingen (Rio Grande Valley), lived in San Antonio, and now reside in Arlington! My husband and I love attending sporting events and spending time with our two fur-babies. We are now expecting are first real baby and are very excited :)
Hi! My name is Laura Cabrera-Garcia. I have been a COMS and TSVI for three years. Before that, I was an elementary bilingual Special Education resource teacher. I attended the University of Texas at Arlington and completed an undergraduate degree in Psychology. I then completed a Master's in Education at Texas Tech, including a certificate in DeafBlindness. I am a native Texan, originally from Harlingen (Rio Grande Valley), lived in San Antonio, and now reside in Arlington! My husband and I love attending sporting events and spending time with our two fur-babies. We are now expecting are first real baby and are very excited :)
Newsletter Editor
Shay Utley
Shay Utley has been a Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist (COMS) for the past 26 years. She began her career at the Lighthouse for the Blind in Fort Worth, Texas where she served for 6 years after graduating from Stephen F Austin State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Rehabilitation in 1995 and obtained her Orientation and Mobility Certification in 1996. Shay then began serving students in the Mansfield Independent School District where she has worked for the last 20 years. During her tenure at MISD, Shay has served students ages birth through 22 years of age with diverse visual and cognitive abilities. As a COMS in Mansfield Texas, Shay is a member of the multidisciplinary team and ensures the highest quality of services provided to each student on an individual basis. She provides a strong support system through direct instruction and consultation with parents, educators, as well as students’ sighted peers.
While employed with MISD, Shay has sought out numerous opportunities to serve students with Visual Impairments both at the local and state level. She is a Developer and Author the Texas 2 STEPS Evaluation and Curriculum for O&M. This was a cooperative project by a group of O&M Specialists in Texas who saw a need for specific evaluation and curriculum techniques designed especially for children ages birth to 5 in the area of Orientation and Mobility. Since its publication, Shay continues to travel to workshops around the country providing training to other professionals in the use of the Texas 2 STEPS tool.
Further, Shay has been awarded numerous awards and Acknowledgments throughout her career. In addition to Authoring and Developing the Texas 2 STEPS tool, she was a TAER Board Member, Member at Large, President Elect, President and Past President/Conference Chair between 2012-2018. She was awarded the Natalie Barraga and Virginia Bishop Award for Excellence in working with Students with Visual Impairments in 2013. She received the Mayor of Fort Worth Best Practices Award in 2018, and was chosen by one of her students for the MISD Top Scholars Recognition Award in 2019. She has also assisted on numerous committees including Technology Olympics Planning Committee, International O&M Online Symposium Planning Committee, Texas Personal Preparation Advisory Committee and O&M Mentor and Intern Supervisor.
In her personal life, Shay has been married to her husband Marcus for 27 years. They have three children, Triston (24), Lauren, (21) and Mya (15). She enjoys spending time with her family at the lake, outdoor activities, crafting and working out. Shay also volunteers with the National Charity League, which is a mother/daughter organization that impacts the community through leadership, culture, and philanthropic experiences. Shay has served as a Grade Level Advisor, VP of Communications, President-Elect, President and is currently the Sustainer Liaison for the National Charity League. This organization has been a huge part of Shay and her two daughter’s lives over the last 6 year.
Shay is very passionate about serving in leadership roles in her professional and personal life to expand her knowledge and give back to the community.
Shay Utley has been a Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist (COMS) for the past 26 years. She began her career at the Lighthouse for the Blind in Fort Worth, Texas where she served for 6 years after graduating from Stephen F Austin State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Rehabilitation in 1995 and obtained her Orientation and Mobility Certification in 1996. Shay then began serving students in the Mansfield Independent School District where she has worked for the last 20 years. During her tenure at MISD, Shay has served students ages birth through 22 years of age with diverse visual and cognitive abilities. As a COMS in Mansfield Texas, Shay is a member of the multidisciplinary team and ensures the highest quality of services provided to each student on an individual basis. She provides a strong support system through direct instruction and consultation with parents, educators, as well as students’ sighted peers.
While employed with MISD, Shay has sought out numerous opportunities to serve students with Visual Impairments both at the local and state level. She is a Developer and Author the Texas 2 STEPS Evaluation and Curriculum for O&M. This was a cooperative project by a group of O&M Specialists in Texas who saw a need for specific evaluation and curriculum techniques designed especially for children ages birth to 5 in the area of Orientation and Mobility. Since its publication, Shay continues to travel to workshops around the country providing training to other professionals in the use of the Texas 2 STEPS tool.
Further, Shay has been awarded numerous awards and Acknowledgments throughout her career. In addition to Authoring and Developing the Texas 2 STEPS tool, she was a TAER Board Member, Member at Large, President Elect, President and Past President/Conference Chair between 2012-2018. She was awarded the Natalie Barraga and Virginia Bishop Award for Excellence in working with Students with Visual Impairments in 2013. She received the Mayor of Fort Worth Best Practices Award in 2018, and was chosen by one of her students for the MISD Top Scholars Recognition Award in 2019. She has also assisted on numerous committees including Technology Olympics Planning Committee, International O&M Online Symposium Planning Committee, Texas Personal Preparation Advisory Committee and O&M Mentor and Intern Supervisor.
In her personal life, Shay has been married to her husband Marcus for 27 years. They have three children, Triston (24), Lauren, (21) and Mya (15). She enjoys spending time with her family at the lake, outdoor activities, crafting and working out. Shay also volunteers with the National Charity League, which is a mother/daughter organization that impacts the community through leadership, culture, and philanthropic experiences. Shay has served as a Grade Level Advisor, VP of Communications, President-Elect, President and is currently the Sustainer Liaison for the National Charity League. This organization has been a huge part of Shay and her two daughter’s lives over the last 6 year.
Shay is very passionate about serving in leadership roles in her professional and personal life to expand her knowledge and give back to the community.
Member-at-Large
Steffani Leuteneker
Steffani Leuteneker decided to become a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist in 2010 after observing an O&M lesson in Fort Worth. She graduated from Stephen F Austin with her Master’s degree in Special Education with a concentration in Visual Impairment in 2012. She worked as a contractor for over 27 school districts including Granbury, Erath County, Johnson County and Bluebonnet Co-op’s, serving students from birth to 22 years of age as well as adults with the Texas Workforce Commission, before joining the agency full time almost 2 years ago. Steffani was a contributor to the Texas2Step curriculum which is an assessment and curriculum for visually impaired 0-5year old’s used within Texas and the southwest United States. Her hobbies include gardening, stand up paddle boarding, and scent work with canines
Steffani Leuteneker decided to become a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist in 2010 after observing an O&M lesson in Fort Worth. She graduated from Stephen F Austin with her Master’s degree in Special Education with a concentration in Visual Impairment in 2012. She worked as a contractor for over 27 school districts including Granbury, Erath County, Johnson County and Bluebonnet Co-op’s, serving students from birth to 22 years of age as well as adults with the Texas Workforce Commission, before joining the agency full time almost 2 years ago. Steffani was a contributor to the Texas2Step curriculum which is an assessment and curriculum for visually impaired 0-5year old’s used within Texas and the southwest United States. Her hobbies include gardening, stand up paddle boarding, and scent work with canines
Member-at-Large
Debra Fussel
