Family Conversations

Jill Y. Bargones, Ph.D., CCC-A (She/Her) – Program Lead

I am delighted to be part of Family Conversations and the Northwest School for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children school community. It warms my heart to work with all the collaborative and passionate people who make up this community – teachers, administrators, staff, students and families. I started working and playing with Deaf and hard-of-hearing toddlers when I was in high school – at that time 2-year-olds would take a school bus every morning to the program in California.   We now know that infants and toddlers learn best at home with their own caretakers, so I was eager to begin work with families with young children with a variety of hearing levels while I completed my Master’s degree in Audiology at the University of Washington. I went on to study the development of auditory attention in babies as part of my PhD study. Over the years, I have enjoyed doing research in the development of the auditory system, hearing and listening, helping to collect data that led to Universal Newborn Hearing Screening, and to study how children with a variety of hearing levels who receive early support with their families grow and learn. I helped to start the Cochlear Implant Program at Seattle Children’s Hospital in 1994, and later spent a year in the bilingual (ASL-English) program in Anacortes, before returning to Seattle to join the Family Conversations team.  I’m inspired to work with and support families and their Deaf or hard-of-hearing infants and toddlers as they engage and build strong and healthy relationships during their everyday routines and play  with language and communication  as the foundation.  

I love the outdoors and you’ll often find me on my bike, paddle board or with a pickle ball paddle in my hand.

Sign name: “J” to “L”

Brandie Fisher, M.Ed. – Communication Coach

I am thrilled to begin my journey in birth to 3 services with Family Conversations, Northwest School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children. I was diagnosed with  bilateral sensorineural moderate to severe hearing loss when I was 19 igniting my passion for this career path. I received my bachelors of arts from Washington State University in Speech and Hearing Sciences  and concurrently completed my Master of Education in Deaf Education from Lewis and Clark College. I began teaching Deaf and Hard of Hearing in 1999 and have worked with ages preschool through 21 in a variety of settings. The bulk of my years teaching have been spent specifically in early childhood deaf and hard-of-hearing preschool. I am excited for this journey of working more directly with parents and families.

Sign name: “B” instead of the “V” in the sign “dance”

Shyla Geck, M.S. (She/Her) – Communication Coach

I began my journey as an Elementary teacher, but soon learned that I wanted to specialize in teaching children with differing hearing levels.  I have been involved in Deaf Education for 18 years. I earned my Master’s degree in Deaf Education in Idaho and returned to Washington, specifically Seattle, to begin my career as a Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. I worked at Northwest School for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children for 7 years, first as an assistant, then as a teacher for grades K-3. My career then transitioned to working in Birth to Three Support as a Communication Coach with Family Conversations, housed at Seattle Children’s Hospital. I wanted to support families who had babies identified as Deaf or Hard of Hearing. I worked with Family Conversations at Seattle Children’s Hospital for over four years. It was in celebration that in 2017 Family Conversations became a part of Northwest School for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children and I happily returned back to the place where it all began! 

I love family, a good book, and definitely a good meal!

Sign name: “Shy” then letters “l” and “a”

Amy McCall, M.S., CCC-A (She/Her) – Communication Coach

I was raised in western New York and slowly moved westward as I obtained my education. I received my Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of Iowa and Master of Science in Audiology from the University of Washington. While in graduate school I discovered my passion for working with deaf and hard-of-hearing infants, toddlers and their families. After over 30 years of working as a Communication Coach for Family Conversations, I feel so fortunate to say I still love what I do! It is a privilege to join families on their journey as they learn about their child’s strengths and all they can do to help them learn and grow. Family Conversations strives for excellence in every way possible to meet each family’s unique needs.  Children who receive early support are at such an advantage and being part of a quality and committed early support program that continues to evolve with the times, is very rewarding. 

To expand my work with deaf and hard-of-hearing children, I started a private practice in Gig Harbor where I am contracted by school districts as an educational audiologist and aural habilitation specialist. My birth-to-three work taught me to appreciate the challenges children face in the school setting and my work in the school has taught me how to better prepare toddlers for their school experience. 

Sign name: 2 taps of “A” to “Y” on cheek

Ninalynn McGruder, M.Ed. (She/Her) – Communication Coach

Having spent most of my life in Washington, I consider the PNW “home.”  I earned my Bachelor’s in education from St. Martin’s University, and several years later, my Master’s in deaf education from the University of Northern Colorado. I have taught kindergarten and high school, and later supported a district deaf and hard-of-hearing program as manager. During my time as an educator, I’ve truly enjoyed my work with students and their families. Growing up with sign, I bring a unique perspective and am excited to laugh, play, and engage with families from the very beginning. I am thrilled to join the Family Conversations team at Northwest School for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children. In addition to doing this rewarding work, my husband and I are raising three delightful and adventurous children.

Sign name: “N” on dominant hand taps twice underneath the opposite shoulder

Kim Pygott

Kim Pygott (She/Her) – Program Assistant