The Council's Voting Board Members...

1.  Member who is deaf and who represents an organization of persons who are deaf

Steven G. Stubbs (3rd term) CHAIR 
Term Expires 7/1/2009

Steven G Stubbs grew up in Maine, attending both the Deaf School and the public school at the same time.  He then continued his education at Gallaudet University (Jan 1992 – Dec 1993) and finished his degree at the University of Maryland – College Park.  Steven studied computer science with an emphasis in mathematics.  As his wife is from Idaho, they moved to the state immediately after graduation.  The Stubbs now have six children—three boys and three girls—whose ages range from 12 years old to 15 months.  Over the years, Steven has served in various leadership capacities in schools, church, careers and communities.  He has been with the CDHH board for four years and expects to continue serving the Deaf and Hard of Hearing citizens of Idaho in his present capacity.

2.  Member who is hard of hearing and who represents an organization of persons who are hard of hearing

Russ Patterson (1st Term)
Term Expires 7/1/2009

Russ Patterson is a hard of hearing individual born to Deaf parents.  Mr. Patterson stands as an expert in a number of roles:  President of the Kootenai chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America; Vice President of the Board for Eastern Washington Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing; Advisor to the North Idaho Deaf Club; Advisory member for the Aging and Disability Resource Center Project; Member of the Idaho Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf; and a Member of the Idaho Association of the Deaf.

Mr. Patterson has also been a professional interpreter for the past 25 years servicing high profile individuals such as the President of the United States, the Governor of Oregon, and several mayors.  He has served in deaf education positions such as Dorm Counselor and Dean of Students at the Washington School for the Deaf.  He is a veteran of the Vietnam War.

An eight-year resident of Coeur d’Alene, Mr. Patterson currently works as the Coordinator of the Learning Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing housed at the public library.  This Center serves as northern Idaho’s information and referral portal.

Russ’s hobbies and interests include painting in oil and water color, bow hunting, fly fishing, Japanese water gardening, bonsai, bowling, golf, and tinkering on his “94” Cobra Mustang convertible.

3.  Member who is an interpreter

JoAnn Dobecki-Shopbell (4th term) 
Term Expires 7/1/2009

Jo Ann Dobecki Shopbell, M.A., CSC; SC:L; Level V Master is currently retired as an educator of 40 years, 23 of which were spent as an interpreter educator and sign language instructor at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls.  Nationally certified in 1978, she operates a small interpreting business, MICA SERVICES, and works half-time at the Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind as an interpreter and coordinator of a state-wide project to improve and make accessible training for currently employed educational interpreters.  Jo Ann is completing her third term as representative of the interpreting community to CDHH and serves on the Executive Committee.  In her spare time, she enjoys travel, reading mystery novels, listening to music, cooking, and spoiling her newborn granddaughter, Laney Jo.

 4.  Member who is the parent of a child who is hard of hearing

VACANT* *If you are interested, please download the following application and return it to Steven Snow.

5.  Member who is the parent of a child who is deaf

Nancy Henry (1st term)
Term Expires 7/1/2007

Nancy Henry has been a member of the Council since Dec. 2004.  She is the parent of a Deaf son.  She has been a Teacher of Deaf and Hearing Impaired in the public school system for 21 years.  Nancy has a Bachelor's in Deaf Education, a Masters in Counseling, and an Educational Specialist Degree in Deaf Education.   She also teaches ASL classes in Community Colleges.  She consults with other school districts in developing Deaf Awareness and student IEP's and 504 Plans. Lastly, she is a member of the Idaho Deaf Association (IAD) and the National Deaf Association NAD.  

 6.  Member who is a physician - VACANT*
Term Expires 7/1/2007

*If you are interested, please download the following application and return it to Cindy Schreiner.

 7.  Member who is deaf

Walter Jastremsky, Jr. (5th term) 
Term Expires 7/1/2008

As a deaf individual, Walter Jastremsky is an active deaf community member who has served on the Council since its inception.  Walter enjoys testifying to legislative committees about the need for improved services.  Walter is retired from his professional career.  He has several daughters and grandchildren.

 8.  Member who is an audiologist

Dr. Ron Schow (5th term) 
Term Expires 7/1/2008

Dr Ron Schow is a professor of Audiology at Idaho State University where he has taught for the past 30 years.  He represents the Audiology profession on the Council.  Dr. Schow has written numerous journal articles on the rehabilitation of deaf and hard of hearing persons.  A book he co-edited, INTRODUCTION TO AUDIOLOGIC REHABILITATION, is about to be published in a 5th edition by Allyn and Bacon.  It is used in Audiology training programs across the country.  He helps manage the universal screening program for infants at Portneuf Regional Medical Center in Pocatello and was involved in helping Idaho obtain funding and develop screening in all the hospitals throughout the state.  Currently he is working to help school districts that do not have audiologists to provide more complete services for hard of hearing children with the help of a $10,000 grant from the State Department of Education in conjunction with CDHH.  Ron likes to hike in the Tetons and elsewhere.  He also is the father of 5 children and has 11 grandchildren. 

9.  Member who is hard of hearing and is over the age of 60

Rod Howells (1st term) 
Term Expires 7/1/2008

Rod Howells is the Director of Student Services at the Idaho State School for the Deaf and the Blind.  Rod has been in education for the past 18 years (ID & UT).  He has Bachelors in Deaf Education and a Masters in Audiology.  He has been a licensed audiologist (CA & OR).  He is a late-deafened adult who successfully utilizes a cochlear implant.  He has first-hand knowledge of hearing loss from both a personal and professional perspective.  Additionally, he has business management experience (ID, UT, NM, TX, & CA).  He and his wife Cindy, a Speech-Language Pathologist, were married in New Zealand.  They enjoy their children, grandchildren, camping, boating and winter sports.