I succeed.

Faculty and Staff Pre-School – Eighth Grade Interpreters/Paraeducators

Amy Ausdenmoore smiles at the camera in front of a blue background

Amy Ausdenmoore

Amy Ausdenmoore (She/Her) – Float Paraeducator

I am a motivated paraeducator and have worked for couple years on the job. I enjoy exploring places and everywhere I go. I love to shop and visit businesses. I also enjoy acting and modeling when I can. I am pleased to work at Northwest School for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children!

Sign name: Five hand opens and closes next to eye

Other languages: American Sign Language

 

 

 

 

Tracy Hubbell smiles at the camera in front of a blue background

Tracy Hubbell

Tracy Hubbell (She/Her, Ms.) – Interpreter/Paraeducator, 7th & 8th Grades

I am a mother to 5 amazing humans, and Nana to one. I love to travel to new places and explore the beauty all around us. 

I have been signing since 1988 when I took an ASL class and fell in love with the language, community and culture! I have interpreted both S.E.E. And ASL. 

Sign name: “H” like “laugh” with thumb extended 

Other languages: American Sign Language

 

 

 

Angela Laine smiles at the camera in front of a blue background

Angela Laine

Angela Laine (She/Her) – Paraeducator One-on-One, Preschool 2

First and foremost, I am mom of three. I take pride in raising them. I recently relocated to Washington State from New York City. I studied at C.U.N.Y. La Guardia Community College and earned an associate degree in Education K-12. I also attended C.U.N.Y. Lehman College and earned a Baccalaureate degree in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology. I am currently working on my Master’s in Speech Language Pathology. I’ve worked in New York City public schools. I worked with grades K-12. I worked with children in special education and general education. I enjoy working with children. All through college I took ASL as a language. Now I can utilize my sign skills at Northwest School for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children. I am pretty much an outgoing individual. I love to read, travel and roller skate. My most recent discovery is that I like to hike. I hope that sums it all up folks!

Sign name: “L” like reading

Other languages: American Sign Language

Sara Mayfield smiles at the camera in front of a blue background

Sara Mayfield

Sara Mayfield (She/Her, Miss) – Interpreter/Paraeducator, Kindergarten & 1st Grade

Hello, I’m Miss. Mayfield! I was born and raise in Washington State. I am a deaf para-educator and interpreter. I know S.E.E., ASL, PSE and English. I worked here at NWSDHH since October 2022 and I went here as a kindergartner in 2001. 

I’ve worked with kids for a couple of years and love it! Just for a bonus, I am an artist so the kids love when I do art with them and teach them about art! I have an Associates Degree in Fine Art. I look forward seeing the children growing and developing skills over time! 

Sign name: Miss + “M” on the side of the head, start with an upside down “M” on the side of the forehead swirling down to the chest like long curly hair.

Other languages: American Sign Language, Pidgin Signed English

 

 

Ciara Ontiveros smiles at the camera in front of a blue background

Ciara Ontiveros

Ciara Ontiveros (She/Her, Mrs.) – Interpreter/Paraeducator, 5th & 6th Grades

Hello, I’m Mrs. Ontiveros! I was born and raised in Washington State. I am an alumna of NWSDHH and a paraeducator/interpreter, but I have been a part of the NWSDHH community since I was three years old. I am the oldest of seven siblings. I’ve always had a passion for working with children and approaching each child as an individual who I get to help grow. I have found working with children fulfilling and love to watch them grow and learn. I find joy in being a positive mentor in a child’s life. I look forward to working together with you as partners in your child’s growth and development!

I have a variety of hobbies that keep me busy outside of work, and I like to experience everything. I want to look back at the end of my life, and just think, I have no regrets. I love to cook and bake. I have been trying new food recipes. So far, I have learned some cool techniques. I enjoy spending time with family and friends and doing different activities together. They won’t be around forever, so every minute spent with them is precious to me. I also like to read. I believe that they help me to broaden my horizons, and to learn a lot of things.

Sign name: Mrs. + “O” on the side of the head, start with an “O” on the side of the forehead going straight down to the chin, like short and straight hair.

Other languages: American Sign Language

Linda Penwell smiles at the camera in front of a blue background

Linda Penwell

Linda Penwell (She/Her, Ms.) – Interpreter/Paraeducator, Preschool

Hello!  My name is Linda Penwell. I started working at Northwest School for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children in 2008. I began this new career in sign language when I was introduced to Signing Exact English (S.E.E.) at a school I was working at as a para-educator. My original background is in the culinary world.  I am interested in a wide array of things and I love people.

Sign name: “P” like “crazy”

 

 

 

 

Maddi Shinner smiles at the camera in front of a blue background

Maddi Shinner

Maddi Shinner (She/Her, Miss or Ms.) – Interpreter/Paraeducator, 3rd & 4th Grades

Hi, my name is Maddi Shinner! I am a born and raised Washingtonian. I took American Sign Language all throughout high school and loved it! In my free time, I enjoy hanging out with my dog Brandy and doing art projects when I can, as well as visiting with my twin nieces and family. I also love nature and I am learning how to take care of a variety of indoor plants. I got my Associates in Integrated Studies from Cascadia College in 2018. I am very excited to be learning S.E.E. and to be part of the very welcoming NWSDHH team, as well as spending my time with the creative and fun students!

Sign name: “S” like “pretzel”

Other languages: American Sign Language

 

 

Maggie Vandermar-Poor smiles at the camera in front of a blue background

Maggie Vandermar-Poor

Maggie Vandermar-Poor (She/Her, Miss or Ms.) – Interpreter/Paraeducator, 2nd Grade

I am so excited and proud to be a part of the Northwest School for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children family! I started back in October of 2018, and I have seen what a wonderful place this is to be! To be part of a group of dedicated, teachers, assistants, administrators, parents and students.

I was young when I discovered my interest in sign language. My cousin taught me some ASL that she knew, and I attended a summer camp at the Hearing Speech and Deafness Center. I took classes in middle school and in high school where I really took it seriously. I was also part of ASL Club, where we focused more on involvement in the deaf community, and directly experiencing deaf culture. I stepped away from sign for a while in college, and I am so happy to have rediscovered my love for it, here at NWSDHH! I am now able to use it everyday on a whole new level, and combine it with a newer love of working with children.

One of my favorite parts of the day, is watching as the kids come in, ready to learn with people who are like them, in a place they are celebrated for, and encouraged to be who they are. All children should be able to learn in their own unique style, in a safe space.

Outside of school, I enjoy walking around the Green Lake loop, seeing live music and theatre, cooking, travel, and spending time with my friends and family.

Sign name: “Miss” plus “V” like “horse”