Michelle McConaghy

Executive Director

Kristy Stellato

Relay Outreach and Communication Technology Specialist

Kristy was born Deaf, raised in southwest NH, and attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania for her bachelor’s degree in Deaf Education. She has a hard of hearing brother and uses American Sign Language, but can code switch for Signed English, speech reading, and written English. She has had multiple roles in the DDBHH community (state wide and nationally) and is applying her experience from such roles to her position as a communication technology specialist and advocate.

Ivan Padial

Community Resource Coordinator

Ivan lost his hearing at the age of 2, and identifies as Deaf. He was raised as an Army brat in the Americas and Europe. Upon returning to the States, he attended a primary and secondary program at Gallaudet University (Kendall/Model Secondary School for the Deaf) in Washington D.C.. He then attended National Technical Institute for the Deaf in Rochester, NY, and Marylhurst University, Marylhurst, Oregon. Ivan is passionate about teaching American Sign Language and sharing his knowledge of Deaf culture. He also is passionate about working with Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, and developmentally disabled people in both Washington State and New Hampshire as an Independent Living Assessor and Employment Consultant.

Sydney Aube, Kiernan “KJ” Johnston & Polly Lorien

Communication Access and Referral Coordinators

Sydney Aube (left), Kiernan “KJ” Johnston (center) & Polly Lorien (right) are the Interpreter Referral Department team. Their shared responsibility is to serve the Deaf/Hard of Hearing communities by connecting freelance ASL/English interpreters and CART captioners with hiring parties (i.e. hospitals, schools, and workplaces), from general requests to Part B funding. In May of 2022, Sydney, KJ, and Polly all graduated from the UNH-Manchester ASL/English Interpretation program; they have all earned NH state licensure and are currently working towards NAD-RID national certification (NIC). This team is passionate about the ADA and communication access rights!

Pamela Lovejoy

Education and Resource Center Program Coordinator

Pam is a licensed Teacher of the Deaf and coordinates education services for deaf, hard of hearing and deafblind students statewide. She collaborates with FCESS (Family-Centered Early Supports and Services) programs and school districts across the state to provide early intervention and school-based services to families and their children who are deaf, hard of hearing or deafblind. 

Kara Crumrine

Education and Resource Center Assistant Program Coordinator

Kara is a DeafBlind Intervener currently working in the elementary, mainstreamed setting,  focusing on environmental and communication access for students with dual-sensory loss. A graduate of the University of New Hampshire’s ASL/English Interpreting program and previous study in Communication Sciences & Disorders, Kara’s specializes in educational implementation for students with CHARGE syndrome. In addition to her direct 1:1 services, Kara assists Pam with events, information referral and programming in the Education and Resource Center, such as the Family Sign Language Program. 

Teacher of the Deaf

Hannah Neild is one of the Teachers of the Deaf working with NDHHS. She identifies as hard of hearing and is a life-long resident of New Hampshire. As a hard of hearing student growing up in NH’s public schools, Hannah’s Teachers of the Deaf had a significant impact on her experience and growth into who she is today. This served as her inspiration to continue her education and pursue a career as a Teacher of the Deaf. She is a graduate of Gallaudet University, the nation’s only advanced education institution for the deaf and hard of hearing, with a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education and Master of Arts in Deaf Education.

Riley Denney

ASL Communication Facilitator

Riley was born down South, but grew up in Sunapee, NH. The first time she was exposed to ASL was during her senior year of high school. Taking this course sparked her interest in the language, culture, and community. She attended Towson University in Maryland and obtained a BS in Deaf Studies. She then continued pursuing interpreter training at Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill, MA, by completing an Interpreter Training Program (ITP). Since graduating from the ITP, she has worked towards becoming a licensed interpreter here in NH. She loves working with children and plans to work towards further national and specialist educational certification.

Chelsea Niles

ASL Communication Facilitator 

Don Borror

Accountant / HR