Olivia Yancey has been working at SESA since 2014. She has had the privilege of serving Alaskans as an Education Specialist of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Program Administrator for the Low Incidence Disabilities Program, and currently as SESA’s Executive Director. Prior to working at SESA, she taught students who were Deaf/deaf or hard of hearing in Wyoming and Maryland school districts. She earned her B.S. in Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (K-12) from Barton College, and a Master’s in Education of the Deaf (MDE) at Vanderbilt University. A lifelong learner, Olivia obtained a graduate certificate in educational leadership from University of Alaska Anchorage and a certificate in nonprofit management from The Foraker Group. In Olivia’s spare time, she likes to go on adventures with her dog. As an administrator her primary goal is to support SESA specialists as they offer technical assistance to school teams and community members in rural and rural remote locations of Alaska.

Kim Cunningham joined SESA in 2026 as the Program Administrator. She has worked in education for more than 25 years. Her career has taken her from Texas and Alaska schools to schools in the Middle East and Asia, where she has served as a teacher, special education coordinator, principal, and director of student support services. Kimberly previously worked in Alaska as the Director of Student Services for the Haines Borough School District.

Kim earned a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies and a Master of Education in Educational Administration from Texas State University. She holds a Certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard Business School.

As SESA's Program Administrator, Kimberly's goal is to support specialists in their work with schools, students, and families while strengthening relationships with schools across Alaska. She is committed to working collaboratively with specialists and school communities to determine how SESA can best support their unique needs.

In her spare time, Kim enjoys spending time with her young adult children, reading, traveling, and watching Texas Longhorn football.

Katie Groller grew up in Anchorage, Alaska and after spending years living “outside” has returned home and joined the team as an Executive Assistant at SESA in May of 2022. During her travels, Katie lived and worked in Albuquerque, Denver, Seattle, Palm Springs, and Phoenix. She says she learned that she would rather deal with a cold winter than a hot summer anytime. Her background in television news has taught her how to handle any situation and change direction at the drop of a hat. Katie loves being the favorite aunt of her niece and nephew and isn’t above offering bribes to keep the title. She is also an avid reader and film buff who always has a recommendation. At SESA she looks forward to supporting the staff to help children across Alaska.

Abby is originally from a small town in Ohio. She attended Kent State University, where she earned a degree in Deaf Education, followed by a master's degree in Deafblind Education from the University of Utah. Abby has been with SESA since 2022. She advocates for communication access in the modality that best suits each student's individual needs. Outside of work, Abby enjoys traveling, photography, and spending time outdoors.

Amy Topmiller is one of SESA's Multiple Disabilities Specialist that is entering her 9th year with the agency. She grew up in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. Her education includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Eastern Illinois University and a Master of Science degree in Special Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago. In 2016, she obtained National Board Certification for Exceptional Needs. Her teaching experience includes both therapeutic day and public-school settings working with a wide range of students. In her spare time, Amy enjoys walking her dog, working on home improvements, and biking. As a specialist, Amy strives to support the teams that she works with through collaboration, and provide support to help the student succeed.

Originally from Norman, Oklahoma, Angel Black moved to Alaska in June 2016, sight unseen, and now calls the “Land of the Midnight Sun” home. Angel serves as the Vision Education Specialist in the Low Incident Disabilities (LID) Visual Impairment Program and Co-Project Director of the Alaska Deafblind Project. Angel has a mission to support school teams individualize social educational programs for the needs of their students, and a passion for data collection when coaching teams to develop a person-centered education plan.

Prior to her move to Alaska, Angel taught students with a variety of differences: age, grade, class and unique needs including low vision and blindness. Angel holds a B.S.Ed in Cross-Categorical Special Education K-12 and a M.S.Ed in Blindness Low Vision from Missouri State University. She is also a Nationally Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist from Portland State University. 

Angel is a lifelong learner. She consistently seeks new training, input from experts in the field of vision loss and deafblindness, attends conferences, and engages in special projects for the benefits of Alaskans. Angel has a skill for tackling complex cases by integrating knowledge and methods from various professionals and community stakeholders to develop person-centered education plans that benefit the students she serves. As the co-project director of the Alaska Deafblind Project, she strives to connect Alaskans with information on how to access the general education curriculum, communication plans and strategies, information about deafblindness, available resources, intervener training, and resources for stakeholders on transition supports for students exiting school. Since 2019, Angel has connected Alaskan school districts with content, training, and webinar guest speakers from highly acclaimed organizations such as the National Center on Deafblindness, Helen Keller National Center, Portland State University, Northwest Center for Assistive Technology Training, and Perkins School for the Blind.

Christy Eli-Piercy joined the Special Education Service Agency (SESA) in August 2026, bringing over 17 years of dedicated experience in rural education across Mississippi and Alaska. Since 2009, she has served in various educational roles, cultivating a deep expertise in supporting diverse student populations. Christy holds a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and a Master's degree in Emotional and Behavioral Disorders from William Carey University. Committed to continuous professional growth, she is currently pursuing a graduate degree in School Psychology through Mississippi State University. Outside of her professional work, Christy is an avid crafter and cook who loves traveling and spending quality time with her family.

Erin Land is originally from a small ranching community in Wyoming. Erin attended The University of Northern Colorado and received her dual degree in Special Education and Elementary Education with an emphasis in Sensory Regulation. She continued her education and began teaching in Limerick, Ireland for a few years before moving to Anchorage, Alaska to teach. She enjoys reading, gardening, and traveling with her husband in her free time. Erin has been an Autism Specialist for SESA for four years. Erin's goal as a specialist is to create meaningful relationships as she supports sites to determine the best strategies to use with their students in guiding them to success.

Jennifer has been working at SESA since 2011. Prior to working at SESA, Jennifer taught
students with moderate to severe disabilities in a variety of settings in rural Alaska, Kansas,
and Massachusetts. Jennifer is originally from MN and graduated from Winona State
University in 2002 with her Bachelor of Science. She has degrees in both Elementary
Education and Mild/Moderate/Severe Cognitive Impairments. Jennifer also holds a Master's
Degree in Assistive Technology. In her spare time, she enjoys biking, hiking, and reading.

John Barrowman originally came from a small town in the Californian foothills of the Sierra Nevadas. He moved to Oregon to attend college at the University of Oregon where he completed his bachelors degree in psychology and a minor in special education in 2009. It was during his bachelors that he was inspired by a guest lecturer to enroll in a program called Project PASS (Preparing Autism Specialists for Schools). He completed Project PASS in 2010 and completed a licensure program for early childhood special education/early intervention and his masters in 2011. After completing school, John moved to Alaska and remained in the Northwest Arctic region working in schools as an intensive needs special education teacher and traveled to support students in the outlying villages for four years. John has been with SESA since 2015 and enjoys being able to bring services to where they are needed. He enjoys fishing, hiking, and cooking.

Kelly has been part of the SESA team since 2024. She is an Autism Resource Specialist for the Alaska Autism Resource Center, AARC. She has been an educator since 2001 and has her Master of Special Education and Educational Leadership. She has served as a Special Education Teacher, Professional Development Facilitator, Novice Teacher Mentor, Instruction and athletic coach, and School Administrator in Florida and Alaska. In her spare time, she likes to go camping, kayaking, fishing (especially ice fishing), and watching all types of documentaries. Kelly believes in person-first thinking and celebrates individuality to determine the most appropriate interventions and tools to support all persons.

Magdalene Henry joined SESA as an education specialist in 2026.

Raised in the U.S. Air Force, she spent her childhood traveling across the United States and Europe. She attended college in Virginia, graduating from Old Dominion University with a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and a minor in Asian Studies. After college, she completed a year of service with AmeriCorps at the Boys & Girls Club of the Virginia Peninsula. In 2014, Magdalene moved to Baltimore where she earned a dual Master of Science in Elementary Education and Special Education Moderate Disabilities from Lesley University.

Magdalene then spent 11 years teaching within Baltimore City Public Schools. For 9 of those years, she worked as a special education teacher in local middle schools and high schools. She spent 4 years serving as a special education instructional lead at an all-girl's charter school. Most recently, she worked as a high school self-contained math teacher.

Outside of work, Magdalene enjoys crafts, the performing arts, reading, and cooking. She is excited to settle in her new home in Alaska, explore the outdoors, and discover new hobbies.

At SESA, her goal is to forge meaningful relationships with local communities, ensuring every Alaskan student has fair and equal access to education to achieve their dreams.

Meriah Cory moved to Anchorage (started working with SESA) in the winter of 2011 from Kazakhstan, where she served in the Peace Corps. She worked with government and non-governmental agencies to develop life skills programs for youth with mild to severe disabilities. Meriah graduated from Montana State University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science. She has degrees in both elementary and special education. In 2021 she graduated from George Mason University with a master’s in Assistive Technology.

Peggy "GG" Chang returned to SESA in 2026 as an Autism Specialist with the Low Incidence Disabilities program and the Alaska Autism Resource Center (AARC). She previously served at SESA from 2008 to 2010. GG holds a bachelor's degree in Applied Sociology and a master's degree in Special Education from Texas State University. Her professional experience includes teaching in special education settings in Texas, New York, and Alaska. She has also provided individualized in-home support for individuals with Autism. As a specialist, GG is committed to building relationships within Alaska's diverse communities, sharing knowledge, and supporting the state's varied educational needs. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, staying active, and continuing to learn new things.

Raedean Van Werven is from Washington State and has been working at SESA since 2025. She received her bachelor's in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Western Washington University and her master's in Special Education from Grand Canyon University. She has five years of public-school teaching experience in Washington State. In her free time, she enjoys crochet, reading, and spending time with family. Her goal as an Autism Education Specialist is to build lasting relationships with trust and respect as she learns about the individuals and communities she is supporting.

Rob has been a member of SESA since 2024.. Before joining SESA, he taught special education in Virginia and worked as a behavior technician. Rob holds an M.A.T. degree with a special education endorsement from Mary Baldwin University and a B.A. in philosophy from the University of Virginia. In his spare time, he enjoys playing guitar, biking, playing basketball, and reading. His goal as an education specialist is to be a valuable resource for educators across Alaska.

Samantha joined SESA in 2024 as one of the Multiple Disabilities Specialists. From 2015 to 2022, Samantha as one of the Autism Specialists at SESA.  She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Therapeutic Horsemanship from St. Andrews University and a Master of Arts in Special Education K-12 grades from Mary Baldwin College. She has taught special education from early childhood to high school for over 15 years. In her spare time, Samantha enjoys hiking, taking pictures, and learning new Alaska-based skills. Samantha’s goal as a specialist is to support teachers and help students succeed.

Scott has been part of the SESA team since 2025. He has been an educator for approximately 20 years and holds a Master's Degree in both Special Education and Educational Administration. He has worked in Chicago and several different parts of Alaska. His goal is to assist educational teams throughout the state in solving problems and meeting student needs.

Christine Collier has been part of the SESA support team since 2013. Originally from Southern California, she has called Alaska home for more than a decade. When she moved to Alaska, Christine hoped to find work where she could use her administrative experience while also being part of something with a greater purpose. She found that at SESA, where she enjoys supporting the people and programs that make a difference for students and families across Alaska. When she's not working, Christine enjoys spending time with her husband and son, cooking, getting outdoors, and exploring Alaska with family and friends. After more than a decade in the Last Frontier, she still loves discovering new places and making memories with the people she loves.

Claire Agni joined SESA in 2022 after 7 years at Anchorage Public Library. Born and raised in Anchorage, Claire is excited to continue to serve her hometown and state. She earned her Bachelor of Art in Liberal Studies from Alaska Pacific University in 2009, and her Master of Science in Library and Information Science, as well as, an Advanced Certificate in Archives, from Pratt Institute in 2013. In her spare time, Claire enjoys playing with her dog, baking, traveling, and listening to K-Pop.

I have been working at SESA since 2024. I have a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from Georgefox University. I have 8+ years of experience working with preschool children in many different roles, ranging from teacher to office admin. I have been around individuals with a variety of special needs since I was very young. I have worked with Hope as a service provider, and I have worked in the Anchorage School District as an aide in a special education preschool classroom. In my free time, I enjoy watching sports, primarily college football (OU Fan) and hockey (Avs Fan). I also enjoy spending time with my family (Wife: Cassie, Daughters: Penny & Norah, and Son: Eli) and pets (Dog: Gunner and Bearded Dragon: Mushu). As a Program Assistant, it is my primary goal to assist the specialists and programs within SESA to ensure the children in Alaska receive the best service possible!

Kathryn Miljure joined SESA in October, 2024. Her background combines over five years in early childhood development with seven years in office administration, giving her a unique perspective on both the educational and organizational sides of our work. She is passionate about working in roles that uplift her community – especially those focusing on supporting children and families 

Kathryn has lived in Alaska for over 25 years. She has two wonderful daughters, and two energetic dogs. She is an ambivert by nature, which means you can find her either baking something sweet in the kitchen or curled up with a good book (especially during winter, when she likes to go full-on hibernation mode!). 

Kathryn loves being part of a mission-driven team and looks forward to continuing to grow in a field that makes a difference.

I’ve been working for SESA since March 2025. Previously, I worked for the Arc, doing program assurance, and fell in love with the community of those supporting individuals in Alaska. I am an artist at heart, and my goal at SESA is to support our specialists so that they can provide the best support SESA can offer.

Yuya joined SESA in 2012. He studied physics, computer science, and education. Before joining SESA, he served as the Technology Coordinator at Hokkaido International School, where he taught basic computer skills and applications to students in grades 7–9, provided technology training and support to staff, and helped manage the school’s technology needs.

Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family and participating in outdoor activities such as fishing, hiking, biking, and berry picking. He is passionate not only about technology, but also about fostering cultural exchange and promoting mutual understanding between Japan and Alaska.