Madison Region...our team in south-central Wisconsin

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Cortney holds dual certification as both a Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI) and a Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist (COMS) — a combination held by a small number of professionals in Wisconsin. She earned her B.S. Ed in Visual Impairments in 2013 and her M.S. Ed in Orientation & Mobility in 2017, both from Northern Illinois University, one of the most respected TVI/O&M programs in the country.

As Director of Operations, Cortney works across every dimension of LINCS — directly with students, alongside teachers in a supervisory and mentorship role, and behind the scenes keeping the organization running. Her particular strength is helping districts with staffing challenges find workable, sustainable solutions while building up the teachers already on the ground. She believes that anything worth doing is worth doing with genuine passion, and that conviction shows up in how she approaches every part of the work.

"Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never work a day in your life." -Mark Twain

Petrecia brings more than 15 years of public school teaching experience to her work with students who have visual impairments — and a background that spans more roles than most educators accumulate in a career. She holds a Bachelor's in Business, a Master's in Education, and her TVI licensure from Western Michigan University's nationally recognized program.

Her path to vision services wound through ESL instruction, general education, and years of working alongside special education teams in her schools — which means she arrived at this work already fluent in the collaborative, IEP-driven world that TVI services require. She's drawn to the one-on-one nature of itinerant work and the creative problem-solving it demands, describing it as the dream she didn't know she was working toward.

Petrecia is a proud mother of 7 and grandmother of  — her greatest accomplishment, by her own account, and a fact that quietly informs the warmth she brings to every student and family she serves. In her free time she walks, swims, listens to audiobooks, and pursues anything creative and mind-engaging.

Laurie has over 10 years of experience as a Teacher of the Visually Impaired and a Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist. Prior to specializing in vision, she taught Kindergarten and 2nd grade in Illinois — a foundation in child development and classroom collaboration that continues to inform her work with students and IEP teams today.

Her connection to this work is both professional and personal: Laurie has a daughter who is visually impaired, and that experience has given her an understanding of what families navigate from the moment of diagnosis that no training program alone can provide. She brings that perspective into every conversation with parents and every IEP meeting — not as a script, but as genuine insight. Her core belief is that a visual impairment does not define what a student will become; it simply means the route there looks a little different.

Laurie's happy place is anywhere with her family — as long as they're together, she's content. She also enjoys baking, reading, and exploring different kinds of arts and crafts. She feels truly lucky to do work she loves, alongside students who inspire her every day.

 Holly has more than 20 years of classroom experience and holds an MA in Bilingual & Multicultural Education as well as an MA in Special Education: Deaf/Hard of Hearing. Holly is passionate about supporting students’ communication access and language development and works to support teams to better understand the challenges of learning with hearing loss. 

Holly centers a focus on self-advocacy. Her goal has always been to help students find their voice and use it with confidence. She believes every learner must feel safe, seen, and included, and she brings that conviction into the IEP process and into every relationship she builds with students, families, and teams.

Outside of work, Holly is most likely gardening, knitting a pair of socks that will take longer than expected, snuggling with her two dogs, riding her bike, or planning her next camping trip.

I have worked in special education since 2003, supporting students with a wide range of learning needs,

including students with visual impairments. My passion for helping students access learning and feel

successful has been a rewarding part of my career.

I became a Certified Literary Braille Transcriber in 2018 and continue to pursue ongoing education in braille

transcription and accessibility. I also hold a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, which has provided me with an

additional perspective when supporting students and working as part of a team.

My husband and I live in Madison, Wisconsin, and we have two adult daughters. Outside of work, I enjoy

traveling, crafting, and spending time with family and friends. I’m excited to bring my experience,

compassion, and love of learning to my new role.