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Meet the Staff
Below is a listing of the Visual Disabilities Department Staff:
Pam Hudson
Exceptional Education Director
Pam Hudson is the Director of the Exceptional Education Department. Pam earned a
B.S. in Special Education and Elementary Education and M.Ed in Administration and
Supervision at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She completed additional
coursework in Educational Leadership and Special Education through UTC and U.T.
Knoxville. In 1980 Pam officially began her career in special education as HCDE's
first preschool special education teacher at what was then known as Dawn School.
After a variety of special education teaching and consulting experiences in public
education in Tennessee (Central High School, Calvin Donaldson, the State Department
of Education, and Bradley County), Pam returned to her roots in the HCDE. The Blind/Vision
Impaired Department is an area of which we are proud. The staff works hard to ensure
appropriate inclusive education opportunities and successful outcomes for all.
Vanessa Higdon
Exceptional Education Supervisor
Vanessa has been with Hamilton County Schools
since 1986. She joined the Department of Visual Disabilities in 1993 and then became
Exceptional Education Supervisor in 1999. Vanessa received her B.S. from MTSU, and
has since received Masters degrees from East Carolina University, Alabama A &
M University and Vanderbilt University. She has also received Assistive Technology
Certifications from the University of California at North Ridge and University of
Miami. Vanessa supervises the Vision Department influenced by favorite quote, “Status
Quo has to go!”
Deborra Stout
Lead Vision Specialist
Deborra received a Bachelor of Science in Education
from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and became Visually Impaired Certified
from Middle Tennessee State University. She taught in the classroom setting for
three years and has been with the Department of Visual Disabilities for 11. She
has served on committees with the Tennessee School for the Blind and State Testing
Coordinators to review Braille and Large Print Test items to make it possible for
students with visual impairments to demonstrate their skills with their peers on
state-mandated assessments. According to Deborra, her most rewarding experience
working in this field has been teaching a student to read Braille and become one
of the top readers in his 1st grade class.
Susan Crowder
Sue graduated from the University of Tennessee
with a Liberal Arts Bachelor of Science, and a teaching certificate in History.
She received her vision certification from Middle Tennessee State University and
her Special Education certification from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Sue has worked with Knox County Schools, the Adult Basic Education in Nashville
and Lawrenceburg. In 1973, Sue moved to Chattanooga and worked again for Adult Basic
Education as well as Kids on the Block and was hired by Chattanooga Public Schools
as a vision teacher. Sue has been working with our visually impaired students for
over 23 years and is retiring in 2006, but will continue to work with the department.
As Sue stated in her retirement letter, “This career has demanded flexibility and
constant change. For me it has been a perfect fit and I have learned more than I
have taught. I am grateful for having this opportunity.”
Brad Elliott
Brad received his undergraduate degree from the
University of Toledo in Education, and taught English and Language Arts in North
Carolina before entering the graduate program at Florida State University. After
graduating from FSU, Brad moved to New Orleans and worked in the public school system
as a Teacher of the Visually Impaired. Prior to accepting a teaching position with
Hamilton County, Brad bought and renovated old homes in New Orleans.
Sherry Tilley
Sherry received her Bachelor of Science in Education
from the Clarion University in Clarion, Pennsylvania and then received her Masters
Degree in Special Education with a Vision Concentration from Middle Tennessee State
University. She has taught Kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade, PMR, One Room Church
School and now considers herself privileged to be a part of the Vision Department
with Hamilton County Schools. According to Sherry, “Vision is a field where I can
be constantly learning and making a difference in children’s lives. It is the best
job I’ve ever had because I can work with children one-on-one and collaborate with
other teachers.” Sherry and her husband, Barney, have one daughter and two grandsons.
Suzanne Goodemote
Suzanne has worked in the field of visual impairment for 18 years – 14 of those
in New York and the latter in Tennessee. She has a Masters in Rehabilitation Teaching
of the Visually Impaired and has worked with all ages from birth to seniors. According
to Suzanne, she “can make a difference in the lives of children with visual impairments
and their families”.
Paula Patterson
Paula has taught in public, private and home
school settings. Before becoming a Vision Specialist, she taught elementary school
subjects as well as remedial math and reading. She graduated from Middle Tennessee
State University with a Masters Degree in Special Education with a Visual Disabilities
Concentration. Paula states, “As a Vision Specialist, I have the opportunity to
be creative, to work one-on-one with my students, and to meet the challenge of mastering
the ever-changing adaptive technology products!”
Amber Smithson
Amber received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education from Tennessee
Technological University, and she is attending MTSU to obtain her Masters Degree
in Special Education with a Visual Disabilities Concentration. Amber states,
"Being a part of this department has provided me with so many opportunities.
I learn something new each day, and I enjoy working one-on-one with students.
Other teachers in this department are so knowledgeable, and it is wonderful to learn
from so many experienced teachers."
Emma Wilkerson
Emma received both her B.S. and M.Ed. degrees from the University of Tennessee at
Chattanooga in Exceptional Education. Over the past thirty years she has
taught various areas including resource and gifted and in a variety of grade levels.
She recently received her certification in the area of Visual Impairment
from the Middle Tennessee State University and joined the Office of Visual Disabilities
in 2006 where she now serves visually impaired students. Emma is the mother
of two sons.
Laura Martin
Laura received a Bachelor of Science in Early
Childhood Education from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and a Master’s
degree from Lincoln Memorial University. She previously taught in Mississippi
and New Orleans, and has been with Hamilton County Schools since 1999. Laura
enjoys her new adventure as a vision specialist and loves being able to work one-on-one
with her students.
Jimmye Kay Basham
Kay, originally from Florida, moved to McMinnville,
Tennessee at the age of two. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Music
Education from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1980, where she was a
member of the Pride of the Southland as well as a variety of other musical performing
organizations. Kay earned a Master’s of Music Education in 1996 from the University
of Tennessee at Chattanooga and has served as a band director, private instructor,
and Minister of Music in the Chattanooga area. She entered the vision program
at Middle Tennessee State University and is currently a Vision Specialist with the
Hamilton County Department of Education.
Indu Eapen
Indu came to the United States from Bombay (Mumbai) India in 1993. While in India,
she completed her undergraduate studies and earned a B.A. in Sociology and in Economics
as well as a B.Ed and LL.B. She obtained a Masters in Special Education from
the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1996. Indu began her special
education career at Orange Grove Center in 1996 then joined Hamilton County Schools
Department of Special Education in 1997. She received a Visual Disabilities
Certification from the Middle Tennessee State University and transferred to the
Office of Visual Disabilities in 2006 where she serves visually- impaired students.
Beth O’Bryant
Educational / Clerical Assistant
