Stacy Smith is a pediatric occupational therapist with a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy 15 years of experience in school-based practice. Her work has focused on supporting children with sensory impairments, multiple disabilities, complex communication needs, and diverse access needs across educational, clinical, and community settings.

Stacy has dedicated her career to helping students access learning, communication, independence, and meaningful participation in school life. Her school-based work includes collaboration with families, educators, related service providers, and multidisciplinary teams to support inclusive, individualized educational programming for students with complex needs.

Stacy also brings more than a decade of experience with the Institute for Human Development at Northern Arizona University, where her work has focused on assistive technology and access for individuals with disabilities.

As a Certified Health Education Specialist, Stacy brings a public health and community wellness perspective to her leadership. She believes strong schools help build strong communities, and that schools can serve as centers of wellness, connection, and support for students, families, educators, and the broader community.

Stacy brings a collaborative, systems minded approach to her work, combining clinical expertise with experience in program design, implementation, and evaluation. Her leadership is rooted in a commitment to accessibility, inclusive education, family partnership, and meaningful opportunities for blind, visually impaired, deafblind, and multiple disabled students. She believes every student deserves an educational environment where they are supported, challenged, and empowered to thrive.

As a Tucson native, Stacy’s commitment to this work is rooted in her love for the local community. In addition to her work in education and disability services, Stacy serves on the Board of Directors for the Junior League of Tucson as Director of the Finance and Operations Council and owns an inclusive aerial arts business in the Tucson area. 

Dr. Lisa Serino is an Assistant Professor of Practice in the Visual Impairment teacher preparation program within the Department of Disability and Psychoeducational Studies at the University of Arizona. Her work focuses on promoting literacy and access to meaningful educational opportunities for students with visual impairments, including students with complex learning needs. Dr. Serino teaches graduate courses in literary braille, technical braille math codes, and evidence-based practices for teaching reading, math, and science to students with visual impairments. She also supervises practicum and internship experiences across a variety of educational settings, helping prepare the next generation of educators in the field. Through her scholarship and teaching, she is committed to fostering collaboration and ensuring equitable access to literacy and math education for all students.

Born in Arizona and raised in Tucson since the age of five, Dr. Serino proudly considers herself nearly a native Tucsonan. She especially loves Tucson summers and values the strong sense of community the city provides.

Dr. Serino believes working with students with visual impairments is both a joy and a privilege. She is excited to serve on the board of Tucson School for the Blind and looks forward to helping create an innovative and supportive learning environment where students can thrive.

I am a full-time doctoral student at the University of Arizona studying Special Education with an emphasis in Visual Impairment, while also continuing my work as a Speech-Language Pathologist. Over the past 20 years, I have worked in the field of disability and visual impairment education in a variety of roles, including five years in public schools and 13 years at Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind. Earlier this year, I began a new position with the Arizona Deafblind Project, where I continue to draw on my communication background while embracing the exciting challenge of learning and growing in a new role.

Originally from the Chicago area, I have called Tucson home since 1998. What I love most about Tucson is that it still feels like a small town, with a strong sense of connection and community that makes it truly special. Outside of work and school, I am a proud parent of three children, have two dogs, and recently enjoyed traveling to Spain.

What continues to inspire me most about this field is the opportunity to collaborate with professionals from many different backgrounds while building meaningful relationships with families and students. I deeply value learning from students whose unique perspectives shape the way we understand the world around us. I am especially excited about helping start Tucson School for the Blind because it creates an opportunity to reimagine what education for blind and visually impaired students can look like when it is grounded in best practices, centered on students’ individual needs, and strengthened by a close-knit and supportive school community.

Brandon Howell serves as the Assistant Director of Instructional Technology Services at The University of Arizona, where he oversees teams that support classroom technology and learning spaces across the university. His work focuses on improving the learning experience for students and instructors through thoughtful use of technology and collaboration.

Outside of work, Brandon has been married for 29 years and is involved in community theatre in Tucson. He enjoys directing and producing with local theatre companies and helping create opportunities for the arts in the community. He is also a proud father and enjoys spending time with his family.

Brandon has lived in Tucson for most of his life and appreciates the city’s strong sense of community, beautiful desert landscape, and vibrant arts culture.  Working in education technology has been especially meaningful to Brandon because it allows him to help create environments where students and educators can succeed. He enjoys combining technology, problem-solving, and collaboration to support learning in ways that are both practical and impactful.

Brandon is excited about the vision and mission behind starting the Tucson School for the Blind. He believes providing strong educational opportunities, support, and access for students with visual impairments is incredibly important, and he is honored to be involved in efforts that can help make a lasting difference in students’ lives and futures.