Kanga-Hey! 

        I am so excited to be back here in Killeen where so much influence during my high school years occurred! As an Army dependent-I was born in Stuttgart, Germany. However, coming from a long line of military lineage, my parents were also born in Germany. This is where the majority of my educational years were spent. My parents were thrilled to be stationed in the city their parents retired from with the United States Army. They would not only graduate from, along with their brothers and sisters, but fall in love and marry shortly upon graduating from...that's right, Killeen High! Talk about a long line of Roo pride right?! I spent my high school years here in Killeen. 

        Upon graduating from Killeen High myself after my two older sisters and brother, I decided to follow in my parents and big sister's footsteps and join the military myself. However, wanting to make my own way. I did not join the Army like my parents or the Navy like my sister, but I became an active duty service member of the United States Air Force! My career took off, deploying in 2008 less than a year after graduating from high school! My Air Force service member duties ended with military honors following a deployment injury. Hoping to retire as my parents and sister did, there was another plan for my life that included my first son, Jayden Maurice, in 2009. 

          Following my military career and my desire to continue being "fit to fight", I got my personal trainers license and taught Zumba class for my final base out of Oklahoma, where I got my associates from Western Oklahoma State College. Ready to make my transition to my forever family home, I moved to Arlington, Texas and joined the sophisticated women of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Incorporated while retaining my Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Communications. At the birth of my second son, Michael Javian, and my first born, entering teenage years, I longed for him to have the same close family community that I grew up with (grandparents down the street, taking you to and from practice and seeing aunts on the wekends), I knew my forever family home had to be in the same city as my parents and my grandparents....Killeen! 

          As a parent of two neurodivergent boys, I wanted to, like any parent, understand how my children love, feel love, learn and progressively grow, so back to school I went for a Masters in Special Education from my Alma Mater University of Texas at Arlington. The world of neurodiversity is one with a plethora of paths to explore and has a simplistic purity that enamors me as a mother, a mentor and a person that truly has a goal of being a part of something bigger than myself and leaving impactful bliss to all that I encounter. In joining Killeen Independent School District, I wanted to be a bridge for parents that want to help and be there for their students but are overwhelmed with the information, not sure where to start, or like some of my fitness clients have tried to be involved and had less than productive experiences in the past. Let me be the bridge that brings you back to the campus and serves your students to launch them into their purpose! As your Parent and Family Engagement Liaison, I plan to give parent workshops so you are knowledgble of decisions your students will be making during their high school years, such as college applications, scholarships and mentorship programs. However, I am also here for you to be able to work with our educators on how you can assist with their educational needs in finding resources within the district to maintain or improve their academic growth. As your volunteer coordinator, I want to respect and acknowledge the role you play in the success of our campus and provide opportunities for you as well as your students to give back to the community and serve alongside the educators right here on campus. I look forward to serving you!