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PROGRAM STAFF

 

KIMBERLY STEPHENS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Email: Kstephens@casalctx.org

In January of 2019, Kimberly Stephens became the Executive Director of CASA of Liberty & Chambers Counties. The program has experienced tremendous growth during her tenure, adding multiple staff positions and expanding to serve 100% of children entering the child welfare system in both counties.

With graduate and post-graduate degrees in education, Dr. Stephens dedicated nearly 15 years to serving in instructional and leadership positions with local public schools, post-secondary agencies, and faith-based education programs. A licensed special education teacher, working with at-risk populations has dominated her professional experience.

She served as a school-based foster care advocate, and content expert for school districts navigating due process related to special education services. After moving to Texas in 2018,

Dr. Stephens gained additional experience and an in-depth knowledge of the foster care system and child protective services by leaving the classroom to work as a conservatorship caseworker. Dr. Stephens is passionate about equipping others with tools to prevent child abuse in their communities.

Kimberly and her husband, Eric, are proud parents to Grayson, Bryce, Emilia, and Eliana. Together, they have served as associate pastors in North Carolina, Tennessee, Maryland, Florida, and Texas.

 

 

TERRY PATTERSON
PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Email: Tpatterson@casalctx.org

Terry Patterson joined CASA as the Administrative Assistant after 18 years of staying home and raising her children. Terry resides in Dayton and is enjoying the small town life again. She has two grown children and two grandchildren, and is a member of Crosby Church. Terry has always had a special place in her heart for children. She spent many hours volunteering at her children’s schools and was a member of the P.T.O board of directors. After raising her children, Terry attended Lee College and received an Associate’s Degree in Health Information.After eight months of enjoying learning about CASA as the Administrative Assistant and helping facilitate the office running efficiently, Terry was promoted to Advocate Coordinator. Terry is excited to be able to be more involved in helping not only the children, but also to work with the parents to see if she could help to reunite them with their children.

 

KAREN FOYIL
COLLABORATIVE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR

Email: Kfoyil@casalctx.org

Karen began as an advocate with CASA for two years, where she found another passion in the Collaborative Family Engagement program, and began working with Kathy Dagle in this arena. She has now taken on the roll of being an Advocate Coordinator for CASA. Karen worked for many years in the Public School System, five years with the Head Start Early Childhood Program, and has been heavily involved in ministry for over 25 years. She has been a children’s pastor, youth pastor and with women’s ministry. Currently, she is a teacher and a member of the Board of Directors for House of Destiny, a non-profit substance abuse recovery program for women. She is the founder of Breath of Life Ministries, a ministry for women and families, and works closely with Heart of a Woman Ministries Intl.  Karen is also pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Counseling with Westcoast Bible College and Seminary. “My passion and desire to work with children and families was wrapped up in one beautiful package when I found CASA”. Karen and her husband Kenneth reside in Saratoga,Texas, and together have 5 children, 11 grandchildren and counting, All of which are their pride and joy.

 

CORI DAVILA
FOSTERING FUTURES COORDINATOR

Email: Cdavila@casalctx.org 

Cori Davila is an Advocate Coordinator who also coordinates our Fostering Futures program. She began as a fierce volunteer Advocate and was heavily involved with Fostering Futures the minute she signed on as a volunteer. We are so excited to have Cori’s passion and experience boosting our Fostering Futures program and are excited for her vision for Fostering Futures. Cori has always been lead to work with children. She started working as an early childhood learning teacher as soon as she graduated from high school, while studying for a degree in Social Work. After graduating from Lee College she worked as a certified Pre-k teacher and tutored the 4th through 8th grades, after school while attending University of Houston, Clear Lake. Cori began working as a tutor for low-income high school students under the No Child Left Behind Act, before joining the CASA Family in 2015. She is happily married to her high school sweetheart and considers all the kids she works with as part of her family.

 

 

karen kernohan
advocate coordinator

Email: Kkernohan@casalctx.org

Karen was an outstanding fierce Advocate for three years before joining the CASA Team. She previously worked in an Elementary school for 12 years, then went into retail, becoming a manager for Sears for nine years. Karen was born in Houston, Texas. Her father was in the insurance industry, and the family moved to Puerto Rico for four years, then Alabama for seven years before moving back to Texas. Karen has a very supportive husband, three great children, and two wonderful grandchildren. She loves spending time with her grandchildren and family, and enjoys being outside, working in the yard or sitting on a beach. Karen states, “I have always wanted to do some form of social work and then I heard about the CASA program. I knew right then that this was what I wanted to do. I have been a volunteer for about three years. When the opportunity to work for CASA and become and Advocate Coordinator was offered to me, I was so excited.”

MONICA CROFT
Trauma Care COORDINATOR 

Email: Mcroft@casalctx.org

Monica became an advocate in February of 2018. The more she found out about CASA the more she wanted to move forward and be more involved. July of 2018 Monica got the chance of a life time and now is an Advocate Coordinator. Monica says she absolutely love her job and the people she works with. Children are our future, children are amazing little people whom deserve a chance. Before CASA, Monica worked for the school district back home Nixon/Smiley for 5 years, then  wanted more so she became a CNA/Office Coordinator for a home health company for about 4 years. Monica has lived in Dayton for about 4 years. Monica has 3 boys, 1 step son, 1 step daughter, 1 grandson and 4 granddaughters.  She has been with her amazing husband, Benjy, for about 8 years and married 5 of those 8. He is our rock. He supports her in all she does.

 

TRACI MARTIN
ADVOCATE COORDINATOR 

Email: Tmartin@casalctx.org

Traci joined CASA of Liberty & Chambers Counties team in 2019.

 

 

 

OUTREACH STAFf

 

Sandra tilton
training coordinator

Email: Stilton@casalctx.org

Sandra began with CASA Liberty & Chambers Counties in January 2017 as Training Coordinator. Sandra started a nonprofit academy for children from ages 6 months – 5 years old. She retired after 30 years in education as an administrator and teacher. Sandra graduated from Barbers Hill High School, Lamar University, and University of Houston/Clear Lake. Sandra was born in Arkansas and moved to the Mont Belvieu area as a child. She is married to Chris, and they have three daughters, nine grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Sandra states, “Love being part of this organization where everyone is working for children who need a chance to have a better life. I have never met so many people who are willing to give of their time and talents to help children. It has been an honor to work with and train such dedicated people.”

Gracie Sellers
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT 

Email: Gsellers@casalctx.org

Gracie was an advocate with CASA before taking a couple years off to fight and win a tough battle with breast cancer.  She attributes the cure to God and many praying friends and is a 4 year survivor.  She is the mother of 3 daughters, grandmother of 5 grandchildren, and great grandmother of 1 grandson.  Gracie and her husband have been married for 27 years and reside in Dayton and both are semi-retired.  When the opportunity to return to CASA as the Admn Assistant presented itself, Gracie jumped in with both feet.  She loves greeting special advocates when they come in to the office and talking with people about the great things our Volunteers are doing and what a great need we are trying to fill.  Gracie’s personal family experiences through the past years cause her to be very passionate about the role CASA plays in the lives of the children we advocate for.

 

 

BARBARA CRANFILL
FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT 

Email: Bcranfill@casalctx.org

Barbara joined CASA of Liberty & Chambers Counties team in 2019.

Jenny Murff
Recruitment and Community Awareness Coordinator

Email: JMurff@casalctx.org

Jenny Murff served as a compadre with CASA, working to support new advocates joining the CASA program. She joined the staff in 2023.