Valerie Taylor Best, born and raised in Greensboro NC, obtained her undergraduate degree in Early Childhood/Deaf Education from Virginia Commonwealth University, in Richmond, Virginia, and attended Georgian Court University to receive her Exceptional Children’s Certification. Valerie attended Western Piedmont Community College to receive her ASL Interpreters Certification with a follow up program at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Valerie holds a teaching licensure in K-12 Education for Hearing Impaired and Special Education: Cross-Categorical.

Valerie began her career at the Central North Carolina School for the Deaf in Greensboro, NC. She also taught Deaf and Hard of Hearing students in the state of NJ and assisted in the development of the Early intervention Programs in PA and South Jersey. Valerie was the staff interpreter for the Food and Administration, EEO, Office of the Commissioner, Rockville, MD. providing interpreting services for the Deaf doctors during the AIDS epidemic.

Valarie has provided interpreting services for schools and colleges through her career.. She has had the opportunity to interpret for Michelle Obama, Stephen A, Mya Angelou and others.

Valerie retired from the North Carolina Early Intervention Program where she served children birth-3 and their families after many years of service and joined Invision in 2022.

Valerie and her husband Mark live in New Bern, NC and together they have 5 children and 5 grandchildren. She enjoys spending much time by the waterfront, gardening, reading, and crocheting. Valerie has her own crochet business, Vals Crowns, LLC. with the goal of empowering women to be their best selves as they wear their designer handmade crowns of elegance. She is an active church leader of Women’s Ministries & Family Life Ministries.

JoEllen obtained her undergraduate degree in Deaf Education at Illinois State University and her Master’s degree at the University of Kansas. Much of her career has been working with children with hearing impairments using sign language. Since moving to North Carolina, she has worked primarily with students whose families have chosen spoken language. JoEllen has worked in many classroom settings, but has been an itinerant teacher for the past 16 years, working with 3-5 year old children with hearing impairments as well as additional disabilities. She retired from the public school system in 2020 and joined Invision in the Fall of 2022.

JoEllen lives in Cary, NC and has been there since 2001. She is married to Arlan and they have 3 grown children. She loves to read, garden, and spend family time together when it’s available.

Since watching “The Miracle Worker” on television as a young child in the 60’s, Dion’s goal was to teach blind people to be independent in a sighted world. He graduated from Appalachian State University in May 1982 with a Bachelor of Science in Special Education. This began a 21-year journey as a teacher of the learning disabled and the intellectually delayed in Goldsboro, North Carolina from 1982-2003. Though he enjoyed working with the learning disabled, his desire was always to work with the blind.

In the summer of 2000 while on vacation in Washington, DC, Dion saw a gentleman teaching a blind client using her white mobility cane. Inspired by this experience, he entered North Carolina Central University and in 2004 graduated with a Masters of Education in the vision impairment and orientation & mobility programs.

Dion’s career in the field spanned work as a TVI in Burlington, North Carolina from 2003-2005 and as a COMS at The Governor Morehead School for the Blind from 2005-2018. After 36 years of teaching, he retired from full time instruction in 2018.

Dion began his part time consultant work with Invision Services in 2005 as a COMS/TVI and continues to enjoy collaborating with what he calls “a fine team of professionals whose goal it is to improve the lives of the visually impaired”.

Mary Kathleen Hall goes by her nickname Kathy since there are lots of Mary’s in her family. She was born and raised in Cambridge Massachusetts, then came to North Carolina with her first husband in 1981 to Fort Bragg. When her children started school she volunteered at the elementary school and then became a bus driver. After she progressed to teacher assistant, she increased her hours by working in the Visual Impairment (VI) resource room where she first began learning to produce Braille materials.

Kathy increased her transcription skill-set by taking classes at Fayetteville Technical Community College and later became versed in the Unified English Braille standard by taking online classes. She added even more layers of responsibility as she started taking inventory of VI equipment, delivering the equipment to the students, working on the student count and roster for the NC Department of Public Instruction and the Deaf and Blind census. She eventually became secretary of the school VI program before retiring from Cumberland County Schools after 22 years of service. Kathy then worked in the Hoke County school system for two years until joining Invision in 2022. She continues to be happy doing something that she loves.

Claire Hakin joined Invision Services in 2022. She discovered Teachers of the Visually Impaired and Orientation & Mobility Specialists at mid-life while serving in an inclusive, toddler classroom at Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center in Chapel Hill, NC. She earned a Masters in Special Education in Vision Impairments and Orientation & Mobility at North Carolina Central University and has worked primarily with students in the K-12 setting.

Claire believes in a student centered, student lead approach to teaching, addressing functional real-life challenges, using fun creative approaches and teaching to the student’s highest level of ability. Teaching and facilitating students’ independence and participation in the community continues to bring smiles.

Claire retired in June of 2021 from Wake County Public Schools, as an Itinerant O&M Specialist. Her career highlights include serving as the O&M Educational Consultant for the Department of Public Instruction and serving in the Governor Morehead School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (GMS) Outreach Program and in their GMS K-12 program. She continues to be a member of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) and previously served on the board of the NC state chapter.

She lives in downtown Raleigh with her husband and 3 dogs where she enjoys walking, knitting and gardening.

Ayla grew up in upstate New York, but left the cold weather to receive her Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education, from East Carolina University in 2017. Ayla then went on to receive her Master’s Degree in Special Education, with a concentration in Low Incidence Disabilities, from East Carolina University in 2019.

Prior to becoming a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments with Invision, Ayla served as a special education teacher in Raleigh, North Carolina for four years. There Ayla worked with students on the adapted curriculum, ranging from Kindergarten to 8th grade. With a passion for special education, Ayla remained active in her school community, and always advocated for an inclusive school environment for her students. She also enjoyed coaching Track and Field at the middle school level.

Ayla is excited for the opportunity to use her experience and knowledge in the area of special education, to serve students with visual impairments.

Dan Palimetakis, a naitive of West Virginia, has been an educator for over 18 years. Dan began his career teaching 5th grade in Columbus, Ohio. Since then he has taught a variety of different grade levels from 2nd through 6th grades in Ohio, Virginia, and North Carolina. He became an assistant principal in 2014 and a few years later moved into the role of principal.

In 2021, Dan found a growth opportunity in his career and began serving students in the role of Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments. He is excited to see where this new branch of service and learning will take him.

Dan holds a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Elementary Education from West Liberty University and a Master’s of Education Degree in Educational Leadership from Salem University. He loves technology and uses an out of the box approach to integrate it into thinking and learning. He holds titles of Apple Learning Specialist, Apple Teacher and is a Google Level 1 & 2 Educator.

Scott Rockafellow, Business Manager, has an MBA from North Carolina Central University and a BA from Gettysburg College with a concentration in Accounting and Finance. He has over 20 years of small business management experience and worked an additional 12 years as a General Business Counselor, Assistant Center Director, and Lead Counselor Trainer with the North Carolina Small Business and Technology Center (SBTDC). His primary responsibilities included counseling small business owner in all aspects of business ownership and management, teaching a Business Planning course four times a year and training counselors.

Scott was recognized for his services to small businesses with the SBTDC Executive Director Award for exemplary service.  He holds a Leadership Enhancement and Development certificate from the SBTDC and an Economic Development Finance Certificate from the National Development Council.

After a successful career as an organic chemist, information specialist, and software product manager in the pharmaceutical industry, Dave switched gears to join Invision and apply his organizational and computer skills to help manage and grow the company. As Operations Manager he currently oversees contracting processes, manages the in-house timekeeping/billing system, invoices and receivables and offers his expertise to any operational issues that arise.

Dave holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Master’s from Appalachian State University, and a Certificate in Clinical Data Systems Management from Durham Technical Community College. He enjoys spending time with his family/friends and many outdoor activities including tennis, hiking, camping, golf, and waterfront recreation.

Angel grew up in Florida and North Carolina and completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Mount Olive. She later went on to complete Master of Education degrees in both Visual Impairments and Orientation & Mobility.

Angel served from 2007-2021 at the North Carolina Early Learning Sensory Support Program supporting learners and families, birth to five years old. She joined Invision full time in January 2022.Angel, who is the parent of children with visual impairments, works to see that children with visual impairments become as independent as possible and see themselves capable of accomplishing any goal they set to achieve.

Angel lives in Rose Hill and enjoys reading, family time, sewing, quilting, and listening to music.

Debora is from South Jersey and obtained her undergraduate degree in Hearing Impaired Education K-12 at Atlantic Christian College, now know as Barton College. She holds teaching licensure in K-12 Education for Hearing Impaired.

Debora began her career in 1989 at Mary McArthur Elementary School in Cumberland County Schools in Fayetteville, NC teaching across all grade levels.

From 1992 until 2015 she worked for Johnston County Schools, NC as an Itinerant Teacher of Deaf and Hard of Hearing, designing and implementing individual educational plans by providing listening, language and academic support instruction for PK-12th grades. She worked as an Intensive Intervention Teacher for Haywood County Schools, NC during the 2015-16 school year before early retiring from the state of NC. She also has been a mentor to teachers and served as a homebound teacher and a substitute teacher.

Debora has two adult children. She currently resides with her husband, Steve in Canton, North Carolina and enjoys traveling, reading, gardening and Biltmore.

Jackie is from eastern North Carolina and obtained her undergraduate degree in Hearing Impaired Education K-12 at Atlantic Christian College, now know as Barton College, and her MAED in Learning Disabilities at East Carolina University.

She holds teaching  licensure in K-12 Education for Hearing Impaired, Learning Disabilities, General Education Curriculum, and Language Arts and Social Studies 6-9th grade.  Jackie began her career at Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf teaching across all grade levels and developing curriculum. She went on to teach developmental college classes, middle school, and preschool in regular education settings and then returned to  the Deaf and Hard of Hearing field.

From 1992 until 2018 she worked in county school systems as an itinerant teacher for hearing impaired students managing caseload, designing educational plans, along with providing listening, language and academic support instruction for preschool through high school.  She currently resides in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina and enjoys the beach, kayaking, paddle boarding, kayaking and hiking.

Molly, a native of eastern North Carolina, started a career as a Special Education Teacher in 2000.  She spent 10 years teaching in New York City, with the remainder of her years teaching in rural North Carolina.  She has worked with various categories of special needs students in various types of settings.

An Americorp Alumni and a New York City Teaching Fellows Alumni, Molly obtained her Masters of Arts in Special Education in 2003 from City College of New York and her Administration and Supervision Advanced Certification in 2009 from Hunter College.  Molly became licensed as a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments in 2019.

She is enjoying serving students with visual impairments and is currently completing a Triple Second Masters in TSVI,  Orientation & Mobility, and Assistive Technology at North Carolina Central University.

Chelsea grew up in the Houston, TX area and graduated with a Masters in Special Education with an emphasis on Orientation and Mobility in 2018 from Stephen F. Austin State University. Prior to becoming a COMS, she taught in a self-contained Lifeskills classroom at the elementary school level for 11 years.

Chelsea relocated to the Mebane, NC area in January 2020 with her husband and 6 children. In her free time, she enjoys going to festivals, traveling, and reading.

Kathy began her career in California as a licensed guide dog trainer for 9 years at Guide Dogs for the Blind, training guide dogs and visually impaired adults in the use of their new dogs.

After completing a Master’s in Special Education at San Francisco State College, Kathy served 3 years as a TVI working with children with visual impairments and other disabilities in public and private school settings in California before moving back to her native New York. There she spent 5 years as lead classroom teacher in a self- contained preschool setting for children with multiple disabilities, including blindness, at Helen Keller Children’s Learning Center.

Kathy has served the TVI and O&M needs itinerantly with Invision since moving to the mountains of North Carolina in 2010 and is entering her 21st year of service to the field.

Michele Neal is from Stokesdale, NC. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Hearing Impaired Education, at Atlantic Christian College, now known as Barton College, licensure in Cross-Categorical from North Carolina A & T University, and a M.A. in Language Development and Learning from Lenoir-Rhyne University.

She holds teaching licensure in K-12 Education for Hearing Impaired, Social Studies 9-12, and Special Education: Cross-Categorical. Michele began her career at the Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf teaching Social Studies and Art. She also taught Deaf and Hard of Hearing students in Durham Co., served as the Lead Teacher/Principal at the Central NC School for the Deaf and taught Special Education in Rockingham and Guilford Counties and at Gate City Charter School in Greensboro. She became an educational consultant for the NC Department of Public Instruction, in the Sensory Support and Assistive Technology section where she served students, teachers and administrators for 14 years by providing technical support and training.

Michele and her husband, Jeff reside in Stokesdale, NC where she enjoys being outside, gardening, reading, painting and being an active church member.

Denise, a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist, received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Thiel College in her native Pennsylvania, and her Master’s degree and dual certification in Visual Impairment and Orientation & Mobility from the University of Pittsburgh. Denise has 37 years of experience in the O&M field.

Prior work experience includes Western Pennsylvania School for the Blind, Governor Morehead School, Raleigh Lions Clinic for the Blind, and Wake County Public Schools.

Denise, Invision’s longest serving COMS specializes in providing O&M evaluations for Invision.

Kelly, a naitive of North Carolina, received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Chowan University. She is a graduate of North Carolina Central University with a Master’s in Education with a concentration in Visual Impairment and a Masters in Education with a concentration in Orientation & Mobility.

She has served the TVI and O&M needs of students in the public schools of North Carolina for the past 15 years.

Kelly joined Invision in 2008 and enjoys working with her visually impaired students, reading, and going to the beach with her family.

Dannese is a UEB Certified Braillist who grew up in Northern California where she studied Horse Husbandry, Equine Science and Management and ran her own facility as an Equine Breeder and Natural Horsemanship Trainer.

In 1995 Dannese moved to North Carolina and changed her career path to Early Child Education and Development in 2008. She became interested in students with visual impairments and became a Certified Braille Transcriptionist working within the public school setting prior to joining Invision in 2019. Dannese is excited to be collaborating with Invision’s TVI team to serve the braille needs of students with visual impairments so that they may be included in the overall classroom environment and reach their goals.

John, a native of Minnesota, received Bachelor’s degrees in English and Religion from Berea College in 1984 and a Master’s degree in Blind Rehabilitation with an emphasis in Orientation and Mobility from Western Michigan University in 1985.

John came to North Carolina in 1985 and was fortunate to fill the first-ever opening for the position of Orientation and Mobility Specialist in a North Carolina public school system, Wake County, where he worked for 10 years.

Owner, President, Founding Director, and COMS, John practices win-win thinking to create an environment where students, parents, instructors, and schools all benefit from each other.

Originally from Ohio, Jill has lived in NC since 2004 and has served itinerantly with Invision for several years.

Jill received her education degree at the University of Toledo in Ohio and is certified in Visual Impairment and Special Education: Mild/Moderate Disabilities.

Jill enjoys seeing a visually impaired child become independent and filled with confidence. Starting her 9th year of teaching as an itinerant Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments, she calls her work “the best job in the world!”

Deanna is from eastern North Carolina. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Hearing Impaired Education K-12 at Atlantic Christian College, now known as Barton College, and her Master’s in Audiology at East Carolina University.

Deanna holds teaching licensure in K-12 Education for Hearing Impaired. She began her career as an itinerant teacher teaching all grade levels in Pitt County Schools, where she taught for 26 years. She now has over 31 years of experience as an itinerant teacher for students that are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. She continues to serve students throughout the eastern North Carolina schools.

Deanna resides in Greenville, NC. She enjoys traveling, church activities and movie/game night with family/friends.

Allison is a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist who grew up in New Hampshire. She graduated from Western Michigan University with her degree in O&M in 2019 and worked as an O&M specialist in Pennsylvania for a year before relocating to the Raleigh area in 2020.

Prior to pursuing a career in O&M, Allison received her BA in Special Education from East Carolina University in 2017 and was a high school special education teacher for a year in Virginia. Allison is very excited to combine her experience as a teacher and O&M specialist to help serve students in the community.

Cheri Benter, a native of North Dakota, earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science Degrees from the University of North Dakota. She holds multiple certifications: Elementary Education, Early Childhood Special Education, Mild to Moderate, and Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments. She was a TBVI for the past 35 years in Northern MN. Cheri retired and moved to St Paul to be near family.

Cheri started working with Invision in the fall of 2019. Cheri was born with Albinism and as a result has been legally blind since birth. This has given her a strong belief that students with Visual Impairments and Blindness need to be afforded the same opportunities as their sighted peers.

Renee is from Wilson, NC. She obtained her degree in Hearing Impaired Education K-12 at Atlantic Christian College, now known as Barton College, and completed an add-on certification for Birth to Kindergarten. Renee traveled eastern North Carolina serving students and families of 3-5 year olds and birth to 3 year olds in homes and daycares for 30 years.

She has worked with some signing children, but most of her years teaching were spent helping children to learn spoken language through listening. Renee joined Invision in 2020 and looks forward to sharing her knowledge and serving older students. Renee is married to Scott and they have two children. She loves the beach, family time, walking with friends, and reading.

Julie has over 25 years of experience in the field of visual impairments. Currently, she supports all of Invision’s instructional staff through policy development, mentorship, and professional development. She has experience as both an itinerant and resource program teacher of students with visual impairments at schools in Florida and North Carolina. She greatly enjoys working with all students but loves the challenge of teaching braille readers. In addition to working with school-aged students, she has developed and taught undergraduate and graduate-level courses for teacher preparation programs at Florida State, West Virginia, and North Carolina Central Universities.

She earned her BS and MS in Visual Impairments at Florida State University where she focused on orientation and mobility and helping students develop the skills needed to transition to adult life after high school. Realizing that her students could benefit from more access to and inclusion in general education activities, she completed the Elementary Education Certification Program at Florida A&M University. Julie has since earned an educational specialist degree focusing on leadership from Appalachian State University and a doctorate of philosophy in special education with an emphasis on personnel preparation and visual impairments from Florida State University. Her research interests are increasing accessibility and academic engagement for learners with visual impairments.

Julie is the author of the Independent Living chapter in ECC Essentials: Teaching the Expanded Core Curriculum to Students with Visual Impairments from AFB Press. In addition to her book chapter, Julie is the author or co-author of multiple peer-reviewed journal articles. Julie has presented at national and international conferences on topics including low vision, academic engagement of learners with visual impairments, braille methods, and using the paper-compatible abacus method.