Board of Directors
We are so grateful to the talented group of individuals who serve on our Board of Directors! Our board and staff include parents, professionals, and Deaf and Hard of Hearing adults from all across Texas. We strive for board representation that reflects diverse perspectives, unique family experiences, a variety of communication modalities, and unwavering commitment to unbiased support. In alignment with our mission, parents make up 51% or more of any H&V chapter board to ensure we are offering authentic parent perspectives in all of our programs and support.
Interested in being on the Board of Directors?
Applications are being accepted for the 2025-2026 term. Current openings for Vice President and Member at Large. Download the application and email it to office@txhv.org.
Officers: 2025-2026
Dori Butts
Interim President
Parent/Professional - DButts@txhv.org
Dori Butts lives in the Coleman area on a ranch with her husband and two children. Dori lived in Midland for 11 years before moving to the ranch in 2022. Both of her children are also deaf. She worked as a NICU nurse and later became a Deaf and Hard of Hearing teacher after starting the journey through hearing difference with her children. Dori is passionate about advocating for children and their needs and creating a community for families to grow and support each other. While in Midland, she was a reading intervention teacher and a parent infant advisor for the local RDSPD program. Dori joined the TXH&V board in 2024 and looks forward to finding ways to enhance resources and support for West TX and rural families. In her free time she loves spending time with family, her many animals and in the garden.
Edgenie Bellah
Interim Treasurer
Professional - EBellah@txhv.org
Edgenie Bellah joined the Texas Hands & Voices Board in 2023. She lives in the Central Texas area with her husband, Robert. Together, they have three sons and two daughters-in-law who share their love for adventures, food, and service. Edgenie is part of the Texas Deafblind Project team, serving as the Family Engagement Coordinator since 2002. In this role, she has had the honor of collaborating with families who keep her passionate about community and family leadership. Her partnership with Texas Hands & Voices through the years has given her multiple opportunities to witness how the organization consistently lives out the mission and vision through the variety of services offered. She is excited to serve on the board and is eager to discover ways she can contribute to the ongoing success of Texas Hands & Voices!
Sara Smith
Secretary
Parent - SSmith@txhv.org
Sara Smith lives in Houston Area with her husband and four children, two of whom are deaf. She has been involved with TXH&V since 2017 as a Parent & Outreach Guide and transitioned to the Board in 2023. She finds joy in connecting with and supporting other parents as well as professionals encountered on the journey and through her roles with TXH&V. Most days you will find Sara substitute teaching or facilitating communication in deaf ed classrooms. Her family enjoys outdoor activities, accessible community events, and game nights.
Rachel Rakunas
Parent - RRakunas@txhv.org
Rachel Rakunas lives in the Houston area. She is the mother of two children, one of whom is deaf. She found a Parent Guide through Guide By Your Side when her daughter was born and diagnosed with hearing loss. Rachel found the support from the Parent Guide to be incredibly helpful! She is now using her background in finance and accounting to give back to other families touched by hearing loss. Rachel works in corporate tax, owns a small business, and joined the Texas Hands and Voices board in 2022 as Treasurer. When she’s not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and traveling.
Sara Covert
Member at Large
DHH Adult/Professional - SCovert@txhv.org
Sara Covert lives in Montgomery with her husband Timothy of 15 years, along with their dog Yuko and cat Oscar. Sara became Hard of Hearing at the age of 14 months due to meningitis. Sara has been an Itinerant Teacher of Deaf and Hard of Hearing for 12 years. As a teacher, Sara also advocates and guides her students in their education. She revels in working as a team with families and school professionals to better support the child. Sara’s favorite quote from Helen Keller is “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.”. Sara started out as a Deaf/Hard of Hearing (DHH) Guide from Texas Hands & Voices' Guide By Your Side program. After being a DHH Guide for two years, Sara became a Board Member for Texas Hands & Voices. Sara believes families and professionals should have access to resources to help the child have a positive experience along their journey.
Mari Hubig
Member at Large
Professional - MHubig@txhv.org
Mari Hubig lives west of Fort Worth in Parker County with her cats Oreo and Shadow. She returned to live in North Texas in 2022 after living in the Austin area for 28 years. She joined the board of Texas Hands & Voices in 2023. Mari has been a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing for over 30 years, and the majority of her years of service have been focused on working with families of infants and toddlers who are deaf or hard of hearing. Currently, Mari is the Texas Sensory Support Network Early Intervention Specialist at Education Service Center Region 11 in Fort Worth. In her current position, Mari supports, trains, and coaches teachers of the deaf and hard of hearing, teachers of students with visual impairments, and certified orientation and mobility specialists who are working with families through early intervention. Mari joined Texas Hands & Voices so that she can continue to support families and their children with hearing differences. In her spare time, Mari gardens, reads, crochets, and spends time with her two nieces who live nearby.
Corrina Calzada
Member at Large
Parent - CCalzada@txhv.org
Corrina Calzada lives north of Austin with her husband, Patrick, and their blended family. They have 6 children, one of whom is Deaf. Corrina is a pediatric critical care registered nurse who has worked in the ICU of nationally recognized children’s hospitals. She recently took time off from nursing to stay home with their children. Corrina earned an ASL certification from Austin Community College and recently entered the ASL interpreter program. She is an active parent who volunteers in her children’s schools, recreational programs, and faith services. She is passionate about supporting families through resources and advocacy. Her commitment to knowledge sharing and parent empowerment led her to join the Board of Texas Hand & Voices in Spring 2024 to support other families with children who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing. Corrina is a lifelong learner who enjoys being outdoors, reading, and eating a delicious pizza.
Open Position
Vice President
Open Position
Member at Large
Staff
Michaela Hamaker, Executive Director
Parent/Professional– MHamaker@txhv.org
Michaela Hamaker lives in the greater Austin area with her husband and their children, two of whom are Deaf. Michaela became the Texas Hands & Voices Guide By Your Side Coordinator in 2016 and served in that role until 2023. She also served as Special Projects Manager, leading TEHDI-focused initiatives to strengthen family and professional connections across Texas. In addition to her staff roles, Michaela has served as Board President for Texas Hands & Voices, helping guide the organization’s mission and strategic direction. Before becoming part of the TXHV team, Michaela worked as a teacher and as an assistant director for a youth soccer program. She loves the mission of Hands & Voices and is passionate about providing families with resources and support so they can help their children thrive! Michaela enjoys seeing families connect, come together, and build support networks in their own communities. In her free time, she enjoys reading, gardening, and spending time with her family.
Teresa Dang, Program Coordinator, Guide by Your Side
Parent/Professional - TDang@txhv.org
Teresa Dang is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and resides in the Austin area with her husband and their two children, one with a hearing difference and one hearing. Before joining the Texas Hands & Voices team, she was a science teacher and AVID program coordinator at Round Rock Independent School District. With one of the most enjoyable aspects of her life being building connections within a community through shared experiences and transference of knowledge, Teresa is excited to further TXHV’s mission and vision to provide unbiased support to families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing. You can find her enjoying life with her family, traveling, practicing calligraphy, playing the piano, and reading books well past midnight.