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Marie earned her Masters degree in Special Education in 1992 after having started as an instructional assistant in 1989. This began the "formal" aspect of her experience, but in reality, it started much earlier. Marie's mother ran a babysitting center starting in the early 1970s and cared for a few different children with disabilities during that time. In high school, Marie worked as a peer tutor in a classroom serving children with multiple and significant impairments. She also worked as a volunteer with the Special Olympics during her high school and college years. Her professional experience includes eight years in the Sherwood School District. Marie split her time at the Middle School before moving to the High School, where she worked with the district's most fragile and high need students. Despite this, Marie initiated a community training program for her students, allowing them to experience valuable community lessons, like safety, appropriate social behavior, money management, and other functional skills. She also started the Middle School's first peer tutoring program, which had high risk students working with children in her classroom. She had demands of her tutors as well -- "keep a C average, be sure you are doing our best or don't come back". All Peer Tutors were expected to be positive role models at all times, regardless if they were with the SpED students or not. The tutors were motivated and this program was very successful. The rest of her time before venturing off on her own was working for Northwest Regional Educational Service District (NWRESD), a large educational organization servicing four counties in Northwest Oregon, as an Autism Spectrum Disorder consultant. Marie earned a reputation as the "go to" and was brought in on difficult cases. Marie is a highly skilled mediator, an accomplished (and entertaining) speaker, and a passionate supporter of children. She combines experience, passion, knowledge, and a tireless work ethic to her private consulting business. You can be assured that you are getting everything you expect and more from Empowerment Services.
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Todd possesses an extensive background in Special Education. Todd's career started in 1995 after graduating with a degree in Psychology from Portland State University. Todd worked with some of the most difficult populations in residential settings (including Hillcrest, an Oregon Youth Authority facility in Salem) before becoming an instructional assistant with the St. Helens School District in 1997. He worked in the Behavior Intervention Program at the elementary level for five years before moving to the middle school in a similar capacity. While there, a coworker was unexpectedly unable to work due to a medical disability. Todd approached the principal about getting an emergency license to take over the 7th grade resource room, drove to Salem to process the paperwork and thus began the journey of earning his Master's Degree in Special Education from Pacific University in 2003. Todd worked in St. Helens for two more years before moving on to join the staff at NWRESD. He has just completed his third year at a day treatment program operated by Lifeworks NW as a classroom teacher. Todd was instrumental in designing the program and has taught numerous children with a wide variety of disabilities. Todd's primary role with Empowerment Services will be advertising and marketing and being the liaison with Empowerment Services business partners, but may also work directly with clients when needed. Todd and Marie live in SW Portland along with their three wonderful sons, Spencer, Noah, and Ian.
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TJ has a diverse thirteen-plus year history in providing service for people with disabilities. Formally beginning with a six year run of peer tutoring in the Sherwood School District, TJ took this experience and worked as an Instructional Assistant for Sherwood and Tigard/Tualatin School Districts for the next two years. Additionally, TJ has been involved in many private and team projects involving clients and students with a wide range of abilities in vocation, life skills, residential treatment, behavior management, academic tutoring, and recreation planning. TJ has extensive experience in the areas of severe aggressive/self-injurious behavior, positive behavior support, and clients on the autism spectrum. He is proficient in American Sign Language, and is highly skilled in both hardware and software fields of computer science (including adaptive technology and augmentative communication applications). His educational background includes undergraduate work in the area of psychology (with a focus on bio-psychology, abnormal psychology, psychopharmacology, and child/adolescent psychology), and in 2007 earned a Special Education teacher license through Portland State University (Master's Degree currently pending).
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Lisa has worked in Special Education for the past four years in a private school, as well as with Marie on weekends and during the summer. Marie recruited Lisa after having witnessed the calm and consistent demeanor she exhibited for her two very busy and active pre-school aged children. Since that time, Marie has directly trained Lisa in the utilization of commonly used strategies and methodologies of Special Education, as well as Marie's own personal successful techniques. Lisa was instrumental in the transition of a very ritual bound 55 year old man with Autism from living with his critically ill father to flourishing in an assisted living facility. Lisa's strong common sense paired with her pro-active approaches make her an asset to not only the clients she services, but also to Empowerment Services.
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Donna has a rich and extensive background in Special Education that spans 35 years. While in high school, Donna was one of the first peer tutors in a new classroom serving students with physical disabilities. She later worked in one of the first trial classrooms in California that supported students with Autism. Her training and experience of working with children includes students with Autism, Mental Retardation, Emotional and Behavioral Challenges, and Learning Disabilities. For the past 18 years, Donna has primarily worked in classrooms supporting children with multiple and severe handicapping conditions. Donna is highly skilled as a job coach and in teaching functional and essential skills (such as riding public transportation, street safety, interviewing techniques, and money management). She is proficient in sign language, knowlegable about medical issues (having worked for seven years as a CNA), trained in numerous research based reading programs, and maintains certification in first aid/CPR and is epi-pen trained. Empowerment Services is extremely fortunate to have such a valuable, positive, strong team member.
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Robert Hughes is a hard working member of the ES team. He helps with shopping, cleaning, and teaching sign-language to our clients and Team Members. He also acts as groundskeeper at ES, keeping our yard beautiful. Bob lives in the Beaverton area, and can be seen at any of the area Starbucks daily.
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Mike Mckernan, besides being Marie's brother, works hard every week keeping our office clean and assisting with clients. He is also the activities director for the kids during our Summer Program, keeping recess fun and safe for everyone. He enjoys nature, sports, and sunshine. Mike graduated from Central Catholic High School, and has attended Portland Community College (which he plans on attending again and earning a degree).
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Norma's life journey is one filled with inspiration, courage, and perseverance. She is the mother of an adult man on the Autism Spectrum. She has been through countless programs, adult and school services, clinics, and Doctors, yet she has never wavered in her undying love for her son or her pursuit for his overall welfare.
Norma Jean has many things to offer ES. She has dedicated countless hours in the marketing of our business. She is also heading up our fund raising team, which will set in motion in full force when we are officially non-profit. Norma, as a volunteer, has worn many hats since being a part of our team. She currently sits on our Auxiliary Board of Directors, provides experienced business insight, and her toughest job overall: she tries to take care of the ES team and clients by providing support for healthy eating and remedies, along with well educated guidance.
For many years, Norma has been a clinician for Dr. Crofoot, a Bio-Medical Doctor. Their Bio-Chemical Analysis is unique, with a system that helps each person identify organ stress, glandular stress, body chemistry and nutritional needs. She is also very experienced in Gluten free/Casein Free (GF/CF) diet management.
ES is very grateful to have such a highly brilliant, ethical, dedicated team member.
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Empowerment Services wants to acknowledge our fabulous Karate Teacher and volunteer. Louie started with us in April 2008. He is a very cheerful man, dedicated to supporting ES.
Louie has many things to offer ES. His experiences as a Black Belt in Karate, along with his teaching a Karate class here at ES, have significantly helped many of our clients. Louie offers his class twice a week. it has been amazing to see the beneficial results to many of our clients in the very areas they are struggling with. For example, he teaches them to breathe correctly, secure strong footing, and cross midline. Anyone with gross motor coordination struggles can benefit! As well, we have witnessed clients advancing to new levels of awareness and regulation in their proprioceptive and vestibular sensory systems. It is funny, many people have asked Marie (the director of ES) "why are you having someone teach potentially aggressive clients physical aggression?". Well, just as any superb teacher, Louie uses his Karate class to help build self-esteem and keep each person safe, not to be more aggressive. His class helps establish good judgment and helps in environmental awareness: noticing other people and surroundings. Not only that, Louie readily and enthusiastically greets everyone new to ES to join Karate class, not only the clients but the staff and families as well.
In recent years, Louie sells air cleaning systems. At ES we were so impressed with it that not only did we buy one for the office, but a team member also bought one for her home. It is an amazing product which we firmly believe has helped rid our old office of molds, mildews, and allergens.
To date, Louie is also a spokesperson for "Prepaid Legal" which is ultimately a legal insurance plan. So if ever you are interested in hearing more about it, just ask him. Not only that, Louie assists in the marketing of our business, and is our main contact regarding our new non-toxic vegetable based cleaner.
ES is very thrilled to have such a highly motivating, genuinely kind man as a team member.
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Jennifer Bacon works as a representative for a medical device company. In her spare time she is very committed to her horse and volunteering at ES. Her wonderful spirit and bright mind immediately enables the clients to feel welcome and safe. Thanks Jen for your many hours of support and your warm heart, not to mention the delicious treats she fills our office with!
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Cindi is Marie’s fabulous neighbor who has been coming and volunteering her time at Empowerment Services for quite some time. She loves coming and helping others and sharing her many skills. While volunteering, she has learned that ES is a wonderful place and she really looks forward to coming and helping out. In her younger years, she enjoyed riding horses. Currently, she loves riding around with her loving husband Marty on their Vespa. She is also a proud grandmother Asher, now a toddler.
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