News

NDVS/SB Houseparent

Because it’s part-time work and often filled by college students, there is quite a bit of turnover amongst the houseparents. “Schedules change, students graduate, they need to fulfill internships or are looking for more hours,” explains Cindy Williams, Student Program Coordinator at NDVS/SB. “All of these things mean that we are often hiring and training in new houseparents, and that we are very grateful for the houseparents who do stick with us year after year.” One of those current veteran houseparents is Teagan Weber. While she’s only been on staff for three years, her experience – and her attention to detail – is a huge asset. Teagan, Cindy explains, “is very organized with our Sunday check-in/drop-off of students. I feel confident having her make sure all the necessary paperwork is completed.” Teagan’s experience working in childcare, as well as her future plans to be an occupational therapist, have also served her well as a houseparent. “Her skills shine through,” Cindy says. “She has even requested resources in order to present to her classes on working with individuals who are blind or low vision.” While Teagan will one day move on from NDVS/SB, she feels confident that what she learned while working here will stay with her. “I will be able to use my knowledge about visual impairments when working with future clients who may be experiencing the same challenges as the clients I have worked with at NDVS/SB,” she says. Read on to learn more about Teagan.

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NDVS/SB Houseparent

The role of houseparent attracts a wide variety of individuals. Most houseparents are college students at UND, since NDVS/SB is so close to campus and their students may find out about open positions from simply walking by the building or through volunteering opportunities. UND’s Delta Gamma Sorority, whose philanthropic focus is Service for Sight, has provided countless volunteer hours over the years during short-term program weeks. “Delta Gamma Girls,” as they have come to be known at NDVS/SB, spend one evening each program week with the students. Delta Gamma has also provided NDVS/SB with quite a few houseparents over the years. “The Delta Gamma girls get to know our students and come to really appreciate what we do here,” explains NDVS/SB Student Program Coordinator Cindy Williams. “Many have become houseparents over the years because they know how much fun it is and how much they can learn and grow from the position.” Currently, houseparent Erika Lewis is a member of Delta Gamma. Erika “is always willing to learn new tasks,” houseparent supervisor Erin Storhoff explains. “She is great with communication with the students and adults.” Erika said one of the reasons she applied to be a houseparent was because “I felt comfortable being at the school through my time volunteering.” She already knew many of the students and even some of the other houseparents. Erika, who is studying to become a pilot, may never have even heard of NDVS/SB if it wasn’t for her sorority’s connection to NDVS/SB. Luckily, Erika, NDVS/SB, and all the students and adult clients she has met along the way will now be connected. “I am very grateful to be working at a place that values everyone no matter what,” Erika says. “This is genuinely what keeps me excited about my job at NDVS/SB.” Read more about Erika by clicking the link below.

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NDVS/SB Houseparent

Safety and fun. Houseparents bring both of those things to their work at NDVS/SB. Since they are the staff members “in charge” during the evenings and overnights, they need to know all safety protocols and what to do in any type of emergency. As for fun, well, that is also a must. “The students especially really enjoy getting to know our houseparents,” NDVS/SB Student Program Coordinator Cindy Williams explains. “For our teens, houseparents are sometimes not much older than them, and with all the students, they often see the houseparents as ‘cool’ role models.” Houseparents are definitely “cool” in the eyes of the students who attend short-term programs, but that is often because of the deep connections that are made between the students and the houseparents. “We know a lot of bonding and sharing goes on between the houseparents and students,” Cindy says. “Many times, students seem to open up more to houseparents than to their teachers or instructors.” But that means communication is also important. “The houseparents are expected to share any concerns with daytime staff,” Cindy explains, adding “this ensures that everyone is safe and that all staff is aware of anything that may be affecting a student’s time at the School.”

Grace LeFevre may be one of the newer houseparents on staff, but that doesn’t mean she hasn’t made an impact already. “She has done great learning her role,” houseparent supervisor Erin Storhoff says. “She has worked a lot of the evenings the students go swimming and is wonderful about getting things organized when she arrives for her shift.” Like many other houseparents over the years, Grace started out volunteering at NDVS/SB. During her volunteer hours, she made connections with staff and got to know the inner workings of NDVS/SB. Since becoming a houseparent, she has formed even more connections. “Students and adult clients all enjoy having conversations with her,” Erin says, which makes those students and adults feel safer – and have more fun. 

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NDVS/SB Houseparent

NDVS/SB is somewhat of a second home to Dietrich Schlichtmann. He attended short-term programs at the School throughout his K-12 education and, with his friendly and outgoing personality, got to know the entire staff, from the houseparents to maintenance. So, when he was finally old enough to become a houseparent, he jumped at the chance. For the last few years, he has found himself back at one of his favorite places in Grand Forks during STP weeks, only this time he’s got a lot more responsibility. Luckily, he knows what really makes a difference when he’s working as a houseparent: the connections he makes with the students and adult clients, just like the ones he made with staff when he was a student that had a lasting impact on him. Another plus? Dietrich is good at math, which makes him a huge asset in the evenings during student weeks. “He will sit with students and work step-by-step so they can understand the concept,” NDVS/SB Houseparent Supervisor Erin Storhoff explains. Find out more about Dietrich by reading on.

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NDVS/SB Houseparent

When you ask students or adults who attend short-term programs at NDVS/SB about their “favorite” staff member, you will often hear a houseparent’s name (much to the chagrin of our instructors!). Houseparents, part-time employees who work evenings and overnights during STP weeks at NDVS/SB, are often college students or young adults who form deep connections to the students and clients. They ensure that those students and clients are “safe and occupied in the evenings,” explains Erin Storhoff, who serves as the supervisor for the houseparents. “They help students complete homework, go on outings, and do other activities in-house, like play board games or in the gym.” They also make dinner and eat with the students and clients, which allows them time to talk and get to know each other. Because their time together is often unstructured, houseparents must be creative and responsible, as well as friendly and helpful. Because they only work during STP weeks, “houseparents don’t work many hours,” Erin explains, but they get a “rewarding experience.” Having experience working with individuals who are low vision or blind is not required, but houseparents must have the desire to learn about visual impairment, Erin says.

Over the next few weeks, we will be featuring some of our current houseparents on our Facebook page and on our website. First up is Cylee Walton. “Cylee is very outgoing, always cheerful, and very creative,” says Erin. She also has a visual impairment herself, which means “she is able to relate to our students and adults,” Erin explains. “She is always willing to jump in to help in any way that is needed.” Find out more about Cylee by reading on.

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The 2025 North Dakota Legislative Session is in full swing. Every odd-numbered year, starting in January, the North Dakota Legislature meets for a maximum of 80 days to pass new legislation and approve the state’s budget for the next biennium, which begins July 1.

Legislative activities are followed closely by state agencies, including North Dakota Vision Services/School for the Blind, as agencies’ budgets for the next two years are set by appropriations bills. Each agency plays an active role in the budget bill process, with the leader of each agency often making multiple trips to Bismarck, either virtually or in-person, over the course of the 80-day session to propose and defend their agency’s budget request. But preparations for the legislative session begin months before the legislature convenes in January.

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NDVS/SB Financial Assistant

Capable. Kind. Flexible. People who end up working at ND Vision Services/School for the Blind seem to always possess these traits. Our newest hire, Tallena Thom, is no different. Tallena is the Financial Assistant at NDVS/SB, but her duties go beyond accounting. Her title, she says, “doesn’t justify everything I’ll be doing. I’m excited to learn different roles and wear many hats like everyone else.” Her supervisor, Business Manager Paula Solheim, has full confidence in Tallena’s abilities. “She is very adaptable. She is not afraid to take something on to help make sure everything will run smoothly,” Paula says. Paula and Tallena have worked together before, which made them both even more certain this job would be a perfect fit. “Tallena is always willing to help with whatever anyone needs,” Paula says. “If she doesn’t know something, she will certainly find out and make it happen. I am so glad she is here with us!” Read on to learn more about Tallena.

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NDVS/SB Maintenance Supervisor

Arik Solheim wasn’t expecting to change jobs this winter. And he certainly wasn’t expecting to end up working alongside his wife, Paula Solheim, Business Manager at NDVS/SB. “When you’re happy at your current job, you’re never really looking for a new job,” he said. But when Paula told him that the Maintenance Supervisor position would be opening at NDVS/SB, he knew he better jump at the chance. “I knew some of the people there and the dynamic of the team, and that really appealed to me. I applied, and here I am,” he said. In just a few short weeks, Arik has made himself right at home at NDVS/SB and has kept up its reputation for its well-cared for grounds. “I oversee our maintenance and housekeeping, which means making sure we keep up this building’s great appearance inside and out,” he explains. With Arik’s experience in facility management and his hobby as a DIY-er, the building is sure to shine. Find out more about Arik by reading on.

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by Tracy Wicken, Project Chair, NDVS/SB Technology and Lions Club Member

There is an exciting project underway, and your support is needed to make it happen. We hope to be able to install a life-size bronze statue representing the service and support that NDVS/SB provides to persons of all ages with vision loss throughout North Dakota. The statue also represents Lions Clubs and their members and the service and support they give to vision-related projects as well to people with vision loss in North Dakota and around the world. We are calling this project “Statue of Service.”  This bronze statue, along with a resting area, will be placed on the grounds of NDVS/SB in Grand Forks to represent that service as well as inform people of the location of NDVS/SB.

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by Cindy Williams
NDVS/SB Coordinator of Student Programs

The first semester of the school year seemed to fly by faster than usual. During this time, we had a full house for our numerous student programs. This included our middle school program in September, “The World Around Us – Learning Through Exploration,” themed around exploring the community; our elementary program in October, “Falling into the ECC,” themed around all things fall; and our teen program for 10^th - 12^th graders focused on career exploration and skills of independent living. Our last program of the semester, for our 7^th - 10^th grade students, included venturing to the Metigoshe/Bottineau area where we collaborated with Annie's House at Bottineau Winter Park. While there, our students participated in some outdoor fun and adventures the first weekend of December.

What exactly happens when students attend our short-term programs (STPs)? Well, read on, and I will explain! 

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