Welcome to the TSBVI Career Education Program
At the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI), we believe that every student deserves a clear, empowered path to independence and sustainable employment. Our Career Education Program combines academic coursework, specialized assistive technology, independent living skills, and real-world work experiences to help high school students explore their passions and build meaningful careers.
Program Overview: Learning by Doing
Our sequential approach to career education moves learning beyond the classroom. Through hands-on experiences, campus-based work sites, and community business partnerships, students gain direct exposure to professional environments while developing essential workplace habits, self-advocacy, and problem-solving skills.
- Work-Based Learning: Students build confidence through on-campus jobs, industry mentorships, and paid community work experiences.
- Essential Life & Career Skills: Money management, travel and transportation navigation, time management, and professional communication are seamlessly integrated into every pathway.
- Assistive Technology Integration: Students master state-of-the-art access tools—including screen readers, digital magnification, and specialized soft/hardware—ensuring they enter the workforce fully equipped to perform at industry standards.
Tad Doezema
Meet Tad, the Assistant Principal who helps bridge the gap between the classroom and the future! Tad oversees our CTE department by coordinating everything from student schedules to exciting new campus initiatives. With over 23 years of experience and a background in transition, he is constantly looking for ways to create opportunities for young adults to have successful work experiences. He is committed to ensuring that every student has a safe, productive, and organized learning environment. Whether he is supporting our staff or helping manage student success plans, Tad’s goal is to keep our programs moving forward and equip our students with the skills to navigate an ever-changing world.
Carlotta Binns
Carlotta supports our teachers in developing exciting, hands-on lessons and is always available to help solve day-to-day programming puzzles. Beyond the classroom, Carlotta is the bridge between our school and the professional world, establishing and maintaining vital partnerships with local businesses. With over 13 years of experience at TSBVI, she excels at refining what you learn in class and opening doors to real-world experience. Carlotta is here to help every student find their path to success!
Kodie Nagy-Montgomery
Kodie is all about building stronger communities, starting right here in the classroom! As our expert in Human Services and Child Development, Kodie teaches students the essential skills they need to navigate life—from mastering nutrition and wellness to understanding the importance of family and community connections. But the learning doesn’t stop when the bell rings! Kodie is a champion for student leadership, serving as the advisor for our local Leo’s Club. You’ll often find them spearheading campus-wide events, such as food and clothing drives, in partnership with the Student Council. Kodie is dedicated to showing our students that they have the power to make a real difference in others' lives, both on campus and beyond!
Mary Grace Eddington
For the past 5 years, Mary Grace has been our campus champion for real-world experience, helping students turn their classroom skills into professional success! As the driving force behind the Wildcat Coffee Shop and a worksite supervisor for Work Exploration, she provides students with hands-on business experience right here on campus. You’ll also find her at the Bistro, where she trains our "front of the house" team to deliver top-tier service. Beyond campus, Mary Grace leads our Career Prep program, mentoring students in off-campus jobs and ensuring they have the professional polish and confidence to thrive in the workforce.
Aaron Mason
Aaron brings a true "farm-to-table" experience to our campus by blending health, nutrition, and hands-on work exploration! As the manager of the TSBVI Garden and the Wildcat Bistro, he gives students the unique opportunity to grow their own ingredients and serve them up in a professional culinary setting. Aaron is dedicated to helping students develop healthy habits and real-world job skills. Behind the scenes, he also leads our Career Education Professional Learning Committee. He serves as our go-to expert for Student Learning Objectives, ensuring our programs always meet the highest standards for student success.
Vianey Salinas
Vianey is our dedicated guide for students preparing to take their next big step into higher education and the professional world! Whether she is teaching the College Transition course for high school and EXIT students or providing vital support for those pursuing dual enrollment at Austin Community College, Vianey ensures our students are college-ready. She also helps students find their voice through Professional Communications and teams up with our staff to co-teach General Employability. From helping students identify tools for navigating digital communications to guiding them through the transition to campus life, Vianey is here to ensure every student has the skills and confidence to reach their post-secondary goals!
Kate Yow
Kate is our expert in the world of travel and tourism, dedicated to opening doors for students in the vibrant hospitality industry! By teaching everything from resort management to the Student-to-Industry course, she provides students with a roadmap for transitioning from the classroom to professional careers. Kate brings learning to life by supporting the Bistro weekly, where her students gain essential hands-on experience, and she co-teaches General Employability to sharpen their workplace skills. Beyond our campus, she serves as a vital liaison with the National Federation of the Blind, empowering our students to shine at state and national events and ensuring they have every opportunity to lead and succeed in the industry.
Sue O’Brien
Sue plays a vital role on our campus by bridging the gap between creative technology and inclusive learning. As our Media Production Specialist, she supports the Digital Communications Program of Study by guiding students through the Audio/Video I and II courses. Beyond the studio, Sue is a statewide Braille specialist who trains educators to make learning materials accessible and supervises the production of Braille curricula for our entire district. Whether she is helping a student master audio production or ensuring a lesson is accessible to all, Sue’s expertise ensures every student has the tools they need to succeed.
Chris Correll
Chris is the driving force behind our campus innovation, serving as our STEM Specialist and lead for the Maker Lab. He provides hands-on training in our Makerspace, where students master 3D printing and laser-cutting technology to bring their ideas to life. In addition to heading the General Employability course—where students learn to design, print, and market their own products—Chris co-teaches the Audio/Video I and II courses within our Digital Communication Program of Study. His multi-disciplinary approach empowers students to blend technical skill with creative entrepreneurship, preparing them for the modern workforce.
Mary Abraham
Mary is responsible for the Wildcat Animal Care classroom. She instructs Work Exploration and General Employability as a Job Coach Supervisor for EXIT and high school Students, and supports learning activities for students in emerging vocational classes.
Mark Ramirez
Mark is responsible for Embroidery at TSBVI, instructing General Employability as a Job Coach Supervisor for EXIT and high school students, and serving as the liaison for the Lighthouse for the Blind in Austin, Texas. Mark serves as the Job Coach/Instructor for this work site.
Ashely Pryor
Ashley serves as the liaison and instructor for both the HEB job site in Austin, Texas, and the Kalahari Resort worksite in Round Rock, Texas. She supports the Career Prep I class as the job coach for student work experiences.
Denise Wertz
Denise works with a large caseload of students on a one-on-one basis in Emerging Vocational Coursework. These students are working on pre-vocational skills such as developing communication systems or managing activities of daily living. As students progress in their abilities, Denise incorporates work-readiness skills and activities that prepare the students for adult life.
