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

Joanne Bufis, MA, Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, received a bachelor’s degree in Child Growth and Development from California State University in 1980 and also a Master’s degree from the University of Minnesota in 2000.  Joanne has over 20 years of experience teaching in Early Childhood Education, and Special Education in the Robbinsdale School District.

Tanya Gahler, MA, Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, received a bachelor’s degree 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. Tanya worked at St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf (SJI) for 4 years. Since 2003, Tanya has worked with the summer school program at Northern Voices as well as working full-time at Northern Voices since Fall 2006.

Erika King, MA, CCC-SLP, Speech-Language Pathologist, Erika began working at Northern Voices in January 2008. She received her BA from St. Olaf College in English and Linguistics Studies. Before graduate school, she worked as a program coordinator at a child development research laboratory at the University of Minnesota. Erika received her MA in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences with a Bilingual and Multicultural Emphasis from the University of Minnesota in December 2007. Erika is currently pursing certification as a Listening and Spoken Language Specialist through AG Bell.

Robyn Kirk, MA Teacher for the Deaf/Hard-of-hearing, This is Robyn’s first year working at Northern Voices. She graduated from the University of Illinois in May of 2007 where she studied Speech and Hearing Science for her undergraduate degree. She then went on to complete her graduate studies in May of 2009 at Washington University in St. Louis where she studied Deaf Education. Robyn now works as pull-out teacher with the pre-schoolers at Northern Voices.

Sarah Knoll, MA Teacher for the Deaf/Hard-of-hearing Sarah received a bachelor of arts degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from the University of Iowa in May 2006. Then she spent two years in St. Louis, Missouri earning a master’s degree in Deaf Education at Washington University in St. Louis and graduated in May 2008. Sarah spent her first summer as a teacher of the deaf/hard-of-hearing working with the Northern Voices summer school program.

Lindsey Modell, Co-Lead Teacher – Preschool Room This is Lindsey’s second year with Northern Voices. She recently graduated with a BA from the University of Minnesota in Speech-Language-Hearing-Sciences. Lindsey has had the opportunity to work with young children by volunteering throughout her college years. She is currently working towards her masters in Speech-Language Pathology.

Erika Olson, MA CCC-SLP, Speech-Language Pathologist, Erika received her undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Minnesota-Duluth (UMD) in May of 2001.   In May of 2003, she graduated with a Masters Degree in Speech and Language Pathology from UMD.  Since that time she has worked in a variety of settings, including schools (with the 0-3 program) and pediatric clinics.  Erika truly enjoys working with young children, helping them to fulfill their communication potential.

Julie Paschke, Co-Lead Teacher – Preschool Room This is Julie’s first year at Northern Voices.  She volunteered last year as a student at the University of Minnesota.  She recently graduated in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences and is now working toward a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology.  She loves working with the children and continues to learn each day.

Angie Schnellman, Discovery Room Teacher, Program Coordinator, has been with Northern Voices since the opening of the school in 1999. Angie has worked with toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarten. She has a BS in Early Childhood Education with a specialization in Early Childhood Special Education from St. Catherine’s and St. Thomas. Angie has worked with young children for the past seventeen years.

Jan Sutton, MA Teacher for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Jan has worked at Northern Voices for three summers as the pre-school teacher.  This fall she joined the Toddler team as a pull-out teacher.  Recently, Jan attended Hamline University for certification to teach students on the autism spectrum.  Previously, she received her MA from Washington University, Central Institute for the Deaf.  Jan graduated from The University of Kansas with a BA and licensure to teach early childhood education.  Jan has worked with Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals ranging in age from infancy through post-secondary. Jan is grateful to work with the wonderful children and families served by Northern Voices.

Vernon Sowell, Business Manager Vernon joined Northern Voices in May of 2008 and brings with him a vast amount of nonprofit financial accounting experience. He has a genuine love for “crunching the numbers” and is drawn to nonprofit organizations by the invaluable services that they provide to the diverse communities that they serve. He graduated from Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, IL with a BBA in Accounting and an MBA in Finance.

Jacquelyn Shaver, MA, CCC-SLP, Speech-Language Pathologist, Jackie received a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Winona State University in 2004. She then completed a Master’s degree in Communicative Disorders from University of Wisconsin-River Falls in 2008. In 2006 Jackie worked as a teaching assistant for the summer school program at Northern Voices. Fall of 2008 will be her first year as a speech language pathologist at Northern Voices.

Amanda Tocko, LSLS, AVEd., Staff Coordinator, Teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing, has been working at Northern Voices for seven years with children ages two to six. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Communicative Disorders from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in 2001. She then completed her Master’s Degree in Early Intervention in Deaf Education from Fontbonne University in St. Louis, Missouri in 2003.

Ali Van Amber, Teaching Assistant, This is Ali’s first year at Northern Voices.  She volunteered last year as a student at the University of Minnesota.  She recently graduated with a Bachelors of Individualized Studies (BIS) degree with concentrations in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences, Deaf Studies and Communication Studies.  She is currently working toward her doctoral degree in Audiology.

Susan Wong, Teacher, Toddler Room has been with Northern Voices for four years. She has her Associates of Science degree from Inver Hill Community College and is completing her BA degree in Child Development at Concordia University.