Mrs. Jessica Chapa is the Director of Short Term Programs at the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind. Prior to this position, Mrs. Chapa was a teacher at the Alabama School for the Blind where she taught for twelve years as an elementary and middle school teacher. She obtained her B.S. in Elementary Education from Jacksonville State University. Mrs. Chapa went on to obtain her M.A. in Special Education with a concentration in Visual Impairment from the University of North Dakota. During the same time, she became Library of Congress certified in Braille.  Later, she also obtained her UEB (Unified English Braille) certificate. Recently, she obtained her certificate in Educational Leadership from the University of Alabama.

Mrs. Chapa has been married for 18 years. Her husband is the Operations Coordinator for the AIDB North Campus. She and her husband have one daughter. Mrs. Chapa enjoys traveling, cycling, and reading in her spare time.

Mrs. Amy Norris is a school counselor in the Short Term Programs at the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind. She obtained her B.S. in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from The University of Alabama. She worked as an elementary school teacher, while continuing her education, earning a Master’s of Education in School Counseling from The University of Montevallo and an Educational Specialist degree in School Counseling from The University of Alabama at Birmingham. She worked as an elementary and middle school counselor for 6 years. She is currently pursuing a graduate certificate in Vocational Evaluation from Auburn University.

Mrs. Amy Norris is married to her husband of 19 years. She has two sons and one daughter. For many years, Mrs. Norris was a home educator, while working part-time at the Community College level. Mrs. Norris loves summer, being outdoors, and spending time with her family. This past year, she participated in the Alabama Trailblaze Challenge for Make-A-Wish, and found a love of hiking. She is excited to begin in this role, and continuing to learn and grow her skills and experience with the students of Short Term Programs.

Mr. Michael Morris is a teacher aide at the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind’s Short-Term Programs. He obtained his B.S. in Elementary Education from Jacksonville State University in 1991. 

Mr. Morris met his wife, Nona Morris (Short-Term Programs Teacher), while attending Jacksonville State University. They were married in 1989 and have three children and five grandchildren together. They enjoy traveling to visit family. Mr. Morris is also involved with the Christian Motorcycle Association, where he has served as Chaplain in Pell City, Alabama for nine years. 

Mr. Morris says he is looking forward to working with the great students and staff at Short-Term Programs.

Mrs. Savannah Scott is an Independent Living Coordinator of Short Term Programs at the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind. Prior to this position, Mrs. Scott was a Resident Engagement Director at Brookdale Jones Farm where she managed, coordinated, and engaged seniors for three years. She obtained her B.S. in Rehabilitation and Disability Studies with a Minor in Human Development and Family Studies from Auburn University. 

Mrs. Savannah has been married for 4 years and is a proud military wife. She enjoys reading, playing with her dog, arts and crafts, and spending time with friends and family. 

Mrs. Nona Morris is a teacher with Short Term Programs at the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind. She obtained her BS in Secondary Education and Mathematics from Jacksonville State University. She is currently pursuing an M.A. in Special Education with a concentration in Visual Impairments at the University of North Dakota. 

Prior to coming to Short-Term Programs, Mrs. Nona Morris was a home educator for eighteen years. She returned to her educational roots a few years later by becoming a teacher's aide and tutor for the math teachers at Alabama School for the Blind.  Mrs. Nona Morris is a certified Braille transcriber with the Library of Congress and certified in UEB Braille. She has also completed Nemeth Code for middle school and high school through Project Inspire through the University of South Carolina Upstate.

Mrs. Nona Morris has been married for thirty-four years to her husband, Michael.  He is a former educator and manufacturing supervisor.  They have three children: two sons-in-laws and five grandchildren.  Mrs. Nona Morris enjoys traveling to visit her children and grandchildren, playing with her three dogs and cat, and riding a motorcycle with her husband.

Ms. McKay has a deep passion for reading, animals, and spending time with her family. She has been happily married to her best friend for six years and is a proud mother of two sons and grandmother to two grandsons. In 2019, she was diagnosed with Leber congenital amaurosis, a condition that has shaped her journey as a visually impaired individual. Despite this challenge, she continues to live life with strength and resilience.

In 2010, she graduated from Wallace State Community College with a degree in Forensic Science, Criminal Justice, and Private Investigation. Her love for learning and problem-solving is a constant in her life. Outside of her professional interests, she enjoys tending to her small farm, where her love for animals truly shines. Whether spending time with her family, caring for her animals, or diving into a good book, she finds joy and fulfillment in the simple pleasures of life.

Mrs. Jessica Cook serves as a teacher in the Short Term Programs at the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with a Collaborative Minor from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Currently, she is pursuing a Master of Arts in Special Education with a concentration in Visual Impairments at the University of North Dakota.

Before joining the Short Term Programs, Mrs. Cook gained valuable experience as a tutor at a local middle school and as an instructor in the Adult Education Program at Calhoun Community College.

Mrs. Cook has been married to her husband, Derrick, for 17 years, and they have three children. In her leisure time, she enjoys reading and all things crafting.