American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
Future Reflections Winter 2026 PROGRAMS
NFB Teachers of Tomorrow: Preparing the Next Generation of Educators Who Believe in Blind Children
by Mya Taylor
From the Editor: The National Federation of the Blind is deeply committed to ensuring that blind children receive quality education and have access to a full range of opportunities. In this article project manager Mya Taylor introduces the 2025-2026 cohort of participants and explains the program’s philosophy and goals.
Introducing the 2025–2026 Cohort
For more than a decade, the National Federation of the Blind Teachers of Tomorrow program has worked to ensure that blind students across the nation receive high-quality instruction. The program helps professionals gain a deeper understanding of blindness by partnering with the blind community. Teachers of Tomorrow provides educators with more than information—it gives them mentorship, hands-on experience, and direct engagement with blind adults who serve as experts in literacy, technology, mobility, STEM, and independent living.
Funded through the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute with support from the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults, the program combines monthly virtual seminars, specialized training in Braille and access technology, workshops led by blind professionals, and a culminating in-person learning experience. Participants leave the program equipped to teach skills, encourage independence, and foster confidence—the true foundation of a successful education for blind children.
As we begin a new program year, we are proud to introduce the 2025–2026 Teachers of Tomorrow cohort. These educators represent schools and communities across the country and bring a diverse range of experiences, specialties, and passions. Most importantly, they share a common belief that blind students can and should live the lives they want.
Meet the 2025–2026 Cohort
Rachel Bodek: I have been a teacher of blind students [TBS] for almost five years. I co-run a support group for Jewish families with blind members called Insight Beyond Eyesight. I’ve been involved in various NFB programs, including the NFB BELL® Academy, and I have held some positions on the board of the NFB of New York At Large Chapter. I am a parent of twin boys (fun fact).
Jasmine Brown: I am Jasmine Brown, a TBS in Bloomfield, New Mexico. I am passionate about empowering learners to build independence and confidence through accessible education. My work blends technical expertise, creative problem solving, and a deep commitment to equity in learning. Fun Fact: I enjoy creating art in my free time, especially pieces that combine texture and color to tell a story.
Caitlin Brown: Hello, my name is Caitlin Brown. I am a special education teacher in Washington, DC. I love cooking and baking, painting my nails, reading, and tackling DIY projects. A fun fact about me is that I love to travel and I have been all over the US and Canada, yet I have never been on an airplane!
Jenilee Charley: Hello, my name is Jenilee Charley. I’m a member of the Osage Nation Born for Water Edge of the Navajo Nation. I’m from Gallup, New Mexico. I have been in education for eighteen years. Of those eighteen years, sixteen have been as a TBS. Before that I was a special education teacher at an elementary school named after my great-grandfather. Currently I work for New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (NMSBVI) as an itinerant teacher and mentor. I’m the Alumnae President of the Delta Gamma Fraternity Chapter of New Mexico-El Paso, and currently I’m the Advisor for the Delta Lambda New Mexico State University (NMSU) Foundations. Our philanthropy is called Service for Sight, and we support five schools in the US. I am also on the board of Camp Abilities Four Corners. Fun fact: I was my cousin’s TBS for most of her education.
Lynn Colburn: My name is Lynn and I am an itinerant TBS in Utica, New York. I love my job! I get to work with a variety of students, from infants to adults. I am also a certified water aerobics and water spin instructor!
Elizabeth Ellis: Hi, I am Libby Ellis, and I am a recent Certified Orientation and Mobility Instructor and TBS. I live in Washington state, and I have three dogs, one turtle, and guppies aplenty! I like to read sci-fi/fantasy books in my free time, and I am part of a wonderful little book club that meets monthly.
Brandy Firkins: Hi, I’m Brandy from East Texas. I work in Desoto Parish in Louisiana with students who have moderate to severe complex needs. Several of my students have Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI). I’ve been married for twenty-three years, and I have two amazing kids, ages twenty-one and sixteen. I love spending time in my garden and on my farm. I dream of creating a fully functioning orchard that can provide meaningful jobs for individuals with special needs.
Hannah Geller: Hi! My name is Hannah Geller, and I am so excited to be participating in the Teachers of Tomorrow program. I am a TBS in Arlington Public Schools (APS). This upcoming school year will be my fourth year as a TBS and my sixth-year teaching in APS. I enjoy spending time with my husband and our dog, Boomer! I also love theater—I attended forty-eight shows in 2024!
Sarah Hammett: My name is Sarah Hammett; I am going into my ninth year of teaching special education. I am a collaborative teacher at Whitesburg Elementary [in Alabama]. I recently completed my master’s in differentiated instruction and received a TVI certification. I have a large extended family, and I love being an involved aunt. I am a volunteer coach for my city’s Miracle League youth teams. Fun fact: I learned how to make balloon animals during the COVID quarantine.
Gretchen Ivers: Hi, my name is Gretchen! I recently graduated from Northern Illinois University (go Huskies!) with my master’s in TVI and O&M. I am especially interested in learning about the legal advocacy side of being a teacher. I enjoy unicycling and rock climbing.
Danielle Jensen: My name is Danielle Jensen, and I have five children. I love my job as a TBS, and this summer I went on a cruise to Alaska.
Summer Kaurin: Hello, my name is Summer Kaurin. I live in beautiful Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, with my husband and our youngest of three sons. We love where we live, and we enjoy spending time in the surrounding mountains and lakes or playing cards at home on our back patio. As a newer TBS in North Idaho, I am eager to expand my knowledge and improve the support I provide to my students.
Melinda Lance: I am Melinda Lance, a Teacher of the Visually Impaired in Giles County, Tennessee, with eleven years of experience in special education. As someone who is blind in my right eye and completely deaf in my right ear, I often startle when approached from that side. This leads to some humorous moments when I turn in circles, trying to locate the source of my name being called. I find joy in teaching Braille and empowering my students to overcome their disabilities. I also serve as the Special Olympics Giles County Area Director, celebrating the achievements of these remarkable kids. I love spending time with my family, traveling, and reading Christian fiction, particularly mysteries or end-times stories, with the “YADA YADA Prayer Group” series being one of my favorites.
Erin McCormack: Hello from Arlington, Virginia! I’m so excited to be part of the 2025-2026 cohort and to learn alongside such a dedicated group. I’ve been a TBS since 2019, teaching in Oklahoma, Georgia, and now Virginia. Advocacy for the blind and visually impaired community is at the heart of my work. I’m eager to grow my Braille teaching strategies while gaining insight and inspiration from blind mentors and fellow educators.
Leslie McNeil: I’m Leslie McNeil, a TBS with over seventeen years of experience and a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist for the past year. I’m passionate about empowering individuals with low vision to gain independence and confidence through tailored education and mobility training. I’m also a lifelong learner. I currently teach students in the CSRA RESA program (Georgia), and I also work for a company called Luxient, where I support expanded learning and accessibility services across diverse communities. Fun fact about me: When I’m not teaching or supporting students, I love going on geocaching adventures. It’s like a modern-day treasure hunt that keeps me exploring and thinking creatively, both on and off the job.
Danielle Petsch: My name is Danielle, and I am so excited to be a part of this program! I have been a TBS for fifteen years, and I look forward to this amazing professional development. I also run our local camp for blind students twice a year.
Lori Rudolph: I am a TBS in Howard County, Maryland. Prior to my entry into this field, I worked in women’s and children’s health policy research, as an event manager in a large convention hotel, and for eight years I worked as a paraeducator in a multiple intense needs preschool classroom. I received my master’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado in May 2023. I have learned and provided instruction in Music Braille Code (music literacy is necessary to continue into high school performance programs). I am most proud of the development of a comprehensive after-school cooking program, addressing all nine ECC (extended school year) areas, for which I was awarded a grant. The program included a Q&A session for our students to speak with an award-winning chef with a visual impairment. Despite all of my engagement and studies, I am reminded on a daily basis of how little I actually know with regard to access technology, accessible STEM instruction, and the perspective of the blind community in totality. I am excited to meet and collaborate with other professionals in this field. In my free time I like to read, listen to music, travel, and spend time with family.
Annika Ryan: My name is Annika Ryan, and I am in my second year of teaching at the Georgia Academy for the Blind. I have lived in Georgia my whole life. I am a Christian, and I’m very involved at my church. I love to do anything with friends, anything outdoors, and I love to be active! My favorite hobby is going to antique and thrift stores.
Kelli Smith: My name is Kelli. I am a TBS at the Virginia School for the Blind. I have been legally blind for twenty years. I am very excited about the journey that led me to educate blind students and the ability to continue my passion, which is teaching. I am a singer, and I am known to make up random songs on the spot.
Alexandria Sykes: Hi! I’m Alexandria Sykes, a TBS from McKinney, Texas. I love what I do, and I support kiddos as they discover their passions. I believe the bar is never fixed...raise it and kids will rise to meet it, lower it and they’ll meet that, too. Fun fact: I once tried to “quickly organize my teaching supplies,” and three hours later, I was wearing a puppet on one hand and bubble wrap on the other.
Looking Ahead
The 2025–2026 Teachers of Tomorrow program year will include virtual seminars, mentorship from blind professionals, training in accessible STEM, hands-on Braille instruction, and participation in Washington Seminar, where teachers will learn firsthand how advocacy and policy shape the lives of blind students.
Graduates of Teachers of Tomorrow describe the program as transformative, reigniting their passion for teaching while equipping them with the tools to set higher expectations in every classroom they serve.
Applications Opening Soon
Educators interested in applying for the 2026–2027 Teachers of Tomorrow cohort can learn more at https://nfb.org/programs-services/education/teachers-tomorrow. Applications are expected to open in Spring 2026.
Individuals in the United States who are currently preparing to become teachers of blind students, as well as pre-K-12 teachers who are already working with blind or low-vision students, are encouraged to apply.