Click on the name of your teacher below to connect to our classroom blogs!

Betsy De La Rosa, Teaching Assistant

Betsy joined the Northern Voices team in November of 2010 as a Teaching Assistant. She graduated in May of 2010 with a B.A. in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences from the University of Minnesota. Betsy also obtained a B.A. in Spanish Studies. She plans to attend graduate school to obtain a Masters degree in Bilingual Speech Language Pathology. As an undergraduate student, Betsy participated in a Study Abroad program in Bogota, Colombia where she tested for hearing loss in children. She enjoys spending time with family and friends and is passionate about teaching children language and life skills.

Linda Barrett, Business Manager

Linda joined Northern Voices in January of 2011 as the Business Manager. She has a proven track record of success with a leading management consulting firm in the Twin Cities and brings expertise in the areas of financial management, payroll and benefits administration, quality control, database management, customer service, and operations. She is passionate about our mission and looks forward to helping us grow.

 

Lauren Clauson, Teacher of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing

Lauren has been with Northern Voices since the Fall of 2010 as a Small Classroom Teacher. She has also received her Masters degree in Deaf/Hard of Hearing Education and her certification in Autism Spectrum Disorders from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities Campus. Lauren designed her own major at the University of Minnesota and graduated with a B.A. in Deaf Studies. Before accepting the teaching position at Northern Voices, Lauren was a preschool teacher at a school in Minneapolis where she worked with students ranging from 16 months to 6 years. Lauren was also an Itinerant Deaf and Hard of Hearing Teacher in the Minneapolis and Owatonna public school districts. Lauren has a passion for diversity and believes in educating students to be open-minded individuals! In her free-time she loves to cook, grow an organic garden (in her all-too-urban, a.k.a. small, backyard), listen to Billie Holiday with friends, and most importantly spend time with family. Something quirky about herself is that she absolutely adores and is fascinated with ocean creatures! The Shedd Aquarium in Chicago could very well be her second home!

Tanya Gahler, MA, Teacher of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing

Tanya began working with the Northern Voices Summer School Program in 2003 and became a Small Classroom Teacher in the fall of 2006. She received her B.A. in Communicative Disorders from the University of River Falls in 2002. Tanya also has a Master’s Degree in Early Intervention in Deaf Education from Fontbonne University in St. Louis, MO. Prior to coming to Northern Voices, Tanya worked at St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf (SJI) for 4 years. Tanya enjoys reading, jogging, traveling, trying new restaurants, and spending time with friends and family.

Robyn Kirk, MA, Teacher of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing

 Robyn began working as a Small Classroom Teacher in the fall of 2009. She graduated from the University of Illinois in 2007  with her B.A. in Speech and Hearing Sciences. She then went on to complete her graduate studies in 2009 at Washington University in St. Louis where she studied Deaf Education. Robyn enjoys running, cross country skiing, yoga, trying new restaurants, working at a summer camp in Hayward, WI, and visiting family back home in Chicago.

Kelli Lenart, MEd, Teacher of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing

Kelli began at Northern Voices in the fall of 2010. She attended the University of Minnesota where she received a B.A. in Speech- Language- Hearing Sciences along with a Master’s degree (MEd) in Deaf/Hard of Hearing Education. She has worked as a teacher’s aide in Early Childhood Special Education classrooms. Before coming to Northern Voices, Kelli student taught in the Elk River School District. She enjoys reading, scrapbooking, and spending time with friends. She is very excited to be working with the wonderful children at Northern Voices.

Sara Linstedt, Teaching Assistant

Sara began working at Northern Voices in the Fall of 2010. She recently graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.A. in Speech-Language-Hearing-Sciences and is working towards her masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology. She had the opportunity to volunteer with young children throughout her undergraduate career.

 

Jennifer (Jenny) Little, Lead Teacher – Learning Center

 Jenny has been working as the Head Learning Center Teacher since the fall of 2010. She attended the University of Minnesota – Morris where she earned her B.A. in Elementary Education with a minor in English. Prior to coming to Northern Voices, she student taught in the Osseo school district during the spring of 2010. Jenny enjoys camping, traveling, spending time with friends and family, and hanging out with her dog Charlie!

Sasha Moen, Teaching Assistant

Sasha began at Northern Voices in the summer of 2010 as a Teaching Assistant in the Discovery Room after volunteering as a student from the University of Minnesota. Sasha completed her B.A. in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences in May of 2010 and plans to continue her education and work towards a Master’s Degree in Speech Language Pathology.

 

Angie Schnellman, Discovery Room Teacher

Angie has been with Northern Voices since the opening of the school in 1999. Angie has worked with toddlers, preschoolers and in kindergarten settings. She has her B.S. in Early Childhood Education with a specialization in Early Childhood Special Education from St. Catherine’s University and St. Thomas University. Angie enjoys reading, thrift-store shopping, and has enjoyed working with the Northern Voices’ families and children since the beginning of this school. It brings a smile to her face to see the accomplishments these kids make towards their future.

Jan Sutton, MA, Teacher 0f the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing

Jan has taught summer school at Northern Voices since 2006 as a Large Classroom Teacher. In the fall of 2009 she began working as a Toddler and Small Classroom Teacher. Jan graduated from the University of Kansas with her B.A. in Early Childhood Education and continued on at the Central Institute for the Deaf to receive her M.S. in Education of the Deaf. Recently, Jan attended Hamline University to obtain her certification to teach students who are on the Autism Spectrum. Jan enjoys living on her hobby farm, raising an organic garden, picking berries, and harvesting honey from the bee hives. She is passionate about living a healthy lifestyle and sharing her knowledge with others.

Amanda Tocko, LSLS, AVEd., Teacher of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing, Coordinator

Amanda has been working at Northern Voices since 2003. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Communicative Disorders from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in 2001 and went on to complete her Master’s Degree in Early Intervention in Deaf Education from Fontbonne University in St. Louis, Missouri in 2003.

Susan Wong, Lead Teacher - Toddler Room

Susan began at Northern Voices in the fall of 2001 as a Teaching Assistant and returned in 2006 as the Lead Toddler Teacher. She received her B.A. in Child Development from Concordia University – St. Paul in 2010 and is currently completing her coursework through CSP to obtain her Birth-3 Teaching Licensure. Susan enjoys reading, going on long walks, and is passionate about being a part of the unlimited possibilities the children at Northern Voices have.