Personal Biography
Education: I am a 1983 graduate from Nederland High School. From there I attended Lamar University where I received a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with specializations in Psychology and History. I taught American History for 16 years starting at Marshall Middle School in Beaumont from 1990-1999. My family moved to Buna in 1997 and I began teaching at Buna Junior High in 1999. In 2006 I left education to work with my husband in his remodeling company, Imagine Kitchen and Bath. What I learned in 2 years of working by his side I'm sure it would have taken years to learn in a classroom. There is just no substitute for on the job training. In 2008, I returned to the classroom, though not a conventional one. I began teaching a GED prep class and a Cognitive Behavioral Class at Larry Gist Stat Jail. I became the school counselor there in 2010. I worked closely with men struggling to overcome addictions, anger management, parenting and career placement. I received my Master of Education in Counseling and Development in 2012 from Lamar University.
Personal Background:
I have been married to my man, Troy, for 27 years. Troy is a storm chaser and travels 6-8 months of the year as an independent insurance adjuster. We have 5 children, one daughter-in-law, three son-in-laws three granddaughters and three grandsons. It has been my dream to have a house full of children, laughter and love well into my older years. Our son, Joshua and his wife Chelsea have given us precious gifts, Tessa age 14, Annabeth age 7 and Jase age 3. If we weren't worn out from raising 5 children of our own, watching this couple chase after three of our beautiful grandchildren would surely do it. Rachel, our oldest daughter graduated from Lamar University with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication and is working with Adult Probation in Jefferson County. She and her husband, Zach, have blessed us with Gabriel who is almost 2. Kaitlin graduated from SFA in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science and is currently working as Supervisor of Investigations with Child Protective Services in Hardin and Tyler Counties . Kaitlin and Hunter, the welder in the family, operate a small ranch in their spare time have added Russell age 3 and Everlee, the youngest granddaughter to our cup which runneth over. Madison graduated from Lamar University, Beaumont with a degree in Sociology and married her best friend Colby in the same semester. Our youngest daughter, Jillian is a junior at Lamar University and is in pursuit of a degree in Elementary Education and hopes to teach kindergarten. To say I am proud of my family would be an enormous understatement. I doubt there is a word to match what I feel for these amazing gifts.
Personal Philosophy:
Saying that I love what I do , would not do justice to this dream come true. At the age of 16 I decided I wanted to help people who were broken and hurting. It took me 30 years to get here, but I wouldn't trade one minute of the journey. Each set back, each obstacle, each bend in the road provided me with experiences that have given me a greater understanding of people and the way we feel. To keep the healing I have received in my lifetime to myself would be selfish. I have finally found a calling that if I could do it for free, I would. My father, would be very proud of me for taking his advice.
I am truly blessed to work with other Counseling Christians. We are often asked, "What's a counseling Christian?" This is someone who counsels like Christ. Christ was very empathetic, but he was not afraid to confront when necessary. If you would like to include Christian principles in your sessions, don't hesitate to let me know.
Matthew 22:37, 39
" Love the Lord, your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind." 'Love your neighbor as your self". In other words... Love God, Love People!