Enjoying the Little Things in Life!
About Me
Volunteer
Since my early days as a 4-H secretary in elementary school to my current service on the Mansfield Library Advisory Board, my spirit of lending a helping hand is one of my longest commitments. Recent and/or current volunteerism:
- Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Board Member (Donna Shepard Intermediate; Erma Nash Elementary; Council of PTAs-Clothes Closet Chairperson)
- Mansfield Historic Preservation Board
- Mansfield Public Library Advisory Board
- Marsalis Avenue Church of Christ Life Center
- Mansfield ISD Growth and Attendance Committee
- Mansfield ISD Superintendent's Advisory Council
- Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.
- Arlington NAACP Education Committee
- Mansfield Pickle Parade & Palooza
- Mariposas de Mansfield
- Mansfield Women's Club
- Mansfield Citizen's Fire Academy Alumni Association
- Wellbeing Mansfield Initiative (w/Mansfield Mission Center/YMCA)
- Feed the Kids (w/Common Ground)
- Mansfield Founder's Day Committee
- School Health Advisory Committee (MISD)
Social Worker
I had the values of the social work profession long before earning my social work degree at Florida State University. Dignity and worth of individuals, social justice, and integrity are a few of my core personal values that are also core values of our profession. After earning my MSW at Florida State University, I practiced social work within and with K-12 schools for 8 years as an LCSW. I still remember my clients and colleagues in schools fondly and thank them for giving me the high regard I hold for teachers and leaders in schools. Building coalitions with families, teachers, students, and leaders was some of the most rewarding work of my professional career.
Speaker
For teams in non-profit case management or Lcsw services or for employee resource groups of for profit banks to university and community panels, and keynote addresses at conferences, including the 2023 National Association of Social Workers TX conference. I offer speaking and training that introduces concepts to teams at various levels in a way that increases understanding and progress towards goals. I have also spoken at local celebrations including the Mansfield ISD Council of PTAs 2023 annual luncheon and City of Mansfield Juneteenth celebration (2023). Topics of expertise in speaking and training
- School social work practice
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Mental Health
- Closing racial gaps in education (increasing accountability ratings)
Professor
After earning my PhD in social work from Louisiana State University, I committed to training future generations of social workers to serve effectively in schools and to produce research that improves the way these social workers and other helping professionals serve clients. I currently teach School Social Work and Diversity Courses at UT Arlington's School of Social Work. Click to read some of the research related to improving the social work profession: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Y_dUIY4AAAAJ&hl=en