Skip to main content
Sign In |
    Help (new window)
USDB

Advisory Council

Search
Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind
Home
Public
Employees
USIMAC
USDB Locations
  
Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind > Advisory Council > Advisory Council Members  

Advisory Council Members

   
View: 
Edit
Notes
 Leslie Castlelbcastle@hotmail.com
Leslie Castle is a current member of the Utah State Board of Education. Leslie graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Nursing and University of Utah with a BS in Anthropology.
For the past 35 years, she worked as a nurse in various clinical settings including as a Clinical Faculty Advisor in the University Of Utah College Of Nursing. Presently, Leslie is working as an auditor and nurse educator for Intermountain Health Care.
 Cheralyn Creercheralyn.creer@yahoo.com
Cheralyn was born with Cone Dystrophy. She had a typical upbringing and was held to the same expectations as her peers and nine siblings. She   progressed through the Utah public school system receiving family and special education support. However, she found herself lacking the confidence necessary to achieve her dream of becoming a teacher.
In college she became acquainted with the National Federation of the Blind. Surrounding herself with successful blind adults changed her life dramatically. Shortly thereafter, she accepted a position in Davis School District teaching Special Education. She taught and consulted for five years. After marrying her best friend, Nate Creer, she moved on to employment with the Utah State Office of Education. Among her many responsibilities, she served as the Vision Impairment Specialist for over 3 years.
Because of the impact the NFB had on her own life, she is committed to helping others to recognize and achieve their own potential. One important way she does this is coordinating Project STRIVE (Successful Transition Requires Independence, Vocation & Education).  This program brings successful blind mentors together with blind youth to help prepare them for adult life.  Her hope is that today’s youth will have the skills and confidence she lacked at their age.
Cheralyn is the proud mother of Chase and Amelia Creer. Chase and Amelia inherited their mother’s eyes so she is even more determined to improve the quality of education and opportunities for blind and visually impaired children in the state of Utah.
 Scot Ferresferre@utah.gov
Scot Ferre is a Deaf individual who was mainstreamed all the way through high school. His British Sign Language mission was the first Deaf culture exposure for him and came home and learned ASL while attending the University of Utah and Utah State University, obtaining degrees in Psychology and School Psychology. He is currently working as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Salt Lake County. He is married with two wonderful children.
 Heather Frost  Heatherfrost1206@hotmail.com
Heather Frost is the parent of a deaf child and an advocate for children with sensory disabilities. Heather grew up in Delta, Utah.  Heather is currently attending Utah State University studying deaf education. Heather also serves on the board for the Utah chapter of AG Bell as Parent Section Chair.  
 Bill GibsonBill Gibsonbgibson@utah.gov
William Gibson is the Director of the State of Utah Division of Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DSBVI) and has served in this position for 18 years.  Prior to his position as Director, he was the Coordinator of Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind and a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation.  He has worked for the State of Utah for 32 years.
Mr. Gibson has a Bachelor’s Degree from Weber State University and two Master’s Degrees from the University of Utah.  He also has a Certificate in Rehabilitation Administration from the University of Oklahoma.
William serves on the Board of the Disability Law Center and is the current Chair of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind Advisory Council.  He is involved in his community and has served on several community legislative committees.
 Anne Harvey
Anne Harvey is a long time Utah resident currently living in Sandy, Utah.  Anne is the wife of Ron Harvey and the proud mom to Adam (8) and Alex (6).  Anne is working part-time as a pediatric nurse and clinical educator at Primary Children's Medical Center while pursuing a doctorate degree at the University of Utah.  In their free time the Harvey family enjoys family parties, biking the many trails of the Salt Lake Valley and waterskiing, preferably at Lake Powell, but usually at Utah Lake.
 
 Mr. Von HortinVon Hortinvon.hortin@schools.utah.gov
Von Hortin currently serves as the USOE Audit/Finance Specialist – Utah State Office of Education, since 2006.   Mr. Hortin served as the Business Administrator of the Park City School District for eight years.  Mr. Hortin served in the Granite School District for eighteen years.  His positions included Director of Accounting Services for nine years and Budgeting Director for two years.  He also worked in the Salt Lake City Corporation for two years in accounting positions.
Mr. Hortin has a BA in Accounting from the University of Utah and is a Utah Certified Public Manager.
 Tony Jepsontony@ufbvi.org
Mr. Jepson received undergraduate education degree from Brigham Young University and Masters in Education of the Visually Impaired from the University of Northern Colorado. He worked as a Teacher of the Visually Impaired for Jordan School District for many years and is currently the Executive Director of the Utah Foundation for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Mr. Jepson is also the father of five children including two with visual impairments, one of which has multiple disabilities.
 Scott McAwardsmcaward@sa.utah.edu
Scott McAward received his Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Counseling Psychology from the University Of Utah Department Of Educational Psychology.  He also holds a B.S. degree in Psychology from Northern Arizona University and is a licensed Psychologist in the state of Utah.  Dr. McAward is currently the Director of the Center for Disability Services (CDS) at the University of Utah, a position he has held since 2008.  He also has an appointment as an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology.  Prior to working at CDS, he was the Assistant Director for Technology & Assessment at the University of Utah Counseling Center for 5 years.  He completed a Pre-doctoral Internship at the University of Iowa Counseling Service, where he specialized in the assessment of learning disabilities and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.  He also completed a two-year fellowship at the Ohio State University Counseling and Consultation Service providing mental health services to college students.
 Marla Palmermpalmermommy@gmail.com
For the past 15 years, Marla Palmer  has been actively involved in advocating for the needs of blind and visually impaired children in Utah and throughout the nation.  She recently served as program director of NFB of Utah Project STRIVE, a transition program designed to help visually impaired youth move towards independence.  Marla is the former President of the Utah Parents of Blind Children. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelors in Therapeutic Recreation and has worked with individuals with disabilities for over 20 years.  Marla lives in North Salt Lake with her supportive husband Mike and three beautiful children Megan and Adam and Lauren. Megan and Adam have Albinism.
 Jeff Pollock  jeff.pollock@datc.edu
No information submitted.
 Cordie Weedgrandmacordie@q.com
Cordie Weed is a Deafblind adult who was a former student at the Utah School for the Deaf for eight years.  She currently serves on The Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind Advisory Council, The DB PAC and Transitions Taskforce, The Utah Council of the Blind (UCB) Board of Director, The UCB Credit Union Board of Trustees, the Legislative Coalition for Persons with Disabilities, and several other committees.  Ms. Weed is deeply passionate about getting services for children and adults and does her best to meet that goal.