Leadership Team

Steve Connolly  Executive Director

Susie Tiggs Director of Statewide Education and Family Services

Susie Tiggs, Ed.D.,  brings over 30 years of experience with serving students who are deaf or hard of hearing, blind or visually impaired, deafblind, deaf/disabled, twice exceptional, or use adaptive technology for communication. Susie is passionate about building the capacity of professionals and families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing, and she is able to apply that passion as a member of the board for the Council of Exceptional Children Division for Communication, Language, and Deaf/Hard of Hearing. Susie has spent the past 12 years providing professional development and technical assistance to deaf educators in Texas.

Dean Flanagin Director of Operations

Dean Flanagin, MBA, has 25 years of experience as a Director of Operations /Business Manager in public schools. Dean’s experience also includes being part ofschool construction teams to build 4 new schools plus many renovation andenergy projects. He is excited to be working with the State of Maine Bureau ofGeneral Services as facility needs are assessed for the buildings and infrastructureon Mackworth Island. Working with the Maine Department of Education willprovide much needed facility changes, and bring a boost to educational programsat MECDHH. Dean will use his budgeting experience, along with recent changesin State of Maine statutes, to align funding requests to program and studentneeds.

Lori Levesque Director of Human Resources

With Masters Degrees in both Special Education and Business Administration, as well as 30 years of combined experience, Lori has comprehensive knowledge in both education and business.  She started at MECDHH/GBSD as the Preschool Program Coordinator and was able to learn about the programming side of Deaf Education.  Once she moved over to the Business Office, she was able to use that programming knowledge to enhance many Human Resources and Payroll processes.  She has acquired proficient American Sign Language skills since joining MECDHH/GBSD and is thrilled to be able to communicate directly with staff who are Deaf.

Kimberly Matthews-Hermans  Assistant Director of Statewide Education and Family Services

Kimberly Matthews-Hermans received a B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Maine, and an M.A. in Special Education/Deaf Education at the University of Arizona. She has experience working with D/deaf and hard of hearing students and their families from birth to age 22 at both the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind, as well as MECDHH/GBSD. Besides a brief hiatus taken to care for her late husband, Jasan, from Austine School for the Deaf, she has been a Teacher of the Deaf and/or Administrator with MECDHH since 2009. She has worked in all educational departments at MECDHH/GBSD, both site-based and a good deal in outreach. When not working, she can be found spending time with her family of three beautiful children, husband Kenton, two big dogs, and two cats!

Catherine Lushman  Culture and Longevity Consultant

After graduating from Gallaudet University with a Bachelor of Arts in Developmental Drama and obtaining a Master of Science in Deaf Education (TOD) from Western Maryland University, Catherine has dedicated over thirty years to a career in education, working at MECDHH/GBSD for most of the time. Catherine has held various important roles throughout her journey, including Elementary Teacher, Literacy Evaluator, Head Leader, Drama Teacher, Preschool Teacher, ASL Specialist, and ASL Instructor at the University of Southern Maine. She is currently the Preschool Coordinator and is a consultant for the Executive Director and the leadership team.