Andy Masters, MA, CSP is an award-winning author and international speaker who has written 5 books, earned 4 degrees, and has presented as keynote speaker for over 350+ education and healthcare conferences. He has been featured on several major media outlets, including LifeTime Television, PBS, Investor's Business Daily, and Leadership Excellence magazine. Andy achieved Distinguished Graduate honors at Webster University, earning an M.A.-Human Resources Development, and another M.A.-Marketing. Andy has received the prestigious "CSP" award/designation of the National Speakers Association (NSA), the highest international recognition for professional speakers, in which only 10% of over 5,000+ speakers worldwide have achieved. 

A graduate of Texas Tech University, Mandy has worked as a classroom teacher and school counselor with a focus on Career and Technical Education and instructional technology. She is passionate about partnering with educators to create meaningful, authentic, and student-centered teaching and learning experiences, all developed around research-based instructional practices. 

Ms. Yager joined the Youth Transportation Safety (YTS) Program in 2021 and serves as a Regional Representative for the Teens in the Driver Seat (TDS) program where she supports students and teachers who are active in the program, and regularly participates in community outreach events to promote traffic safety. Her regions include Southeast Texas, Washington state, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Connecticut. Prior to joining YTS, Ms. Yager worked in the Human Factors Group at TTI, where she served as a Principal Investigator, Project Manager, and Researcher on a wide variety of transportation safety projects. With her background in human factors and transportation safety research, Ms. Yager oversees the data collection and analysis activities for the YTS Program’s Annual Surveys, Zero Hero pre- and post-observational activities, You in the Driver Seat smartphone app, and overall TDS program evaluations. Ms. Yager holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Industrial Engineering. 

Andy Masters, MA, CSP is an award-winning author and international speaker who has written 5 books, earned 4 degrees, and has presented over 1,000+ programs for 100,000+ attendees. He has been featured on several major media outlets, including LifeTime Television, PBS, Leadership Excellence magazine, and Investor's Business Daily. Andy achieved Distinguished Graduate honors at Webster University, earning an M.A.-Human Resources Development, and another M.A.-Marketing. Andy has received the prestigious "CSP" award/designation of the National Speakers Association (NSA), the highest international recognition for professional speakers, in which only 10% of over 5,000+ speakers worldwide have achieved. 

Certified/Licensed Athletic Trainer and Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant. I Have been at Coppell ISD for 13 years, and currently teach Health Science Theory and am a HOSA Advisor 

I have been in Dentistry since I was 17 years old. With a name like Shiny, being a Registered Dental Hygienist was truly my destiny! Having a life-changing dental experience myself, I have dedicated my life to impacting others through dentistry. My passion for life and helping others are what drove me to start a career in education. Ever since I was a health occupations student in high school, it has been a dream of mine to educate and inspire students. My health occupations class impacted my entire life through my career, and I am honored to pass that knowledge to the next generation of dental professionals. 

Linda Creech Bio: Linda Creech graduated from Texas State University 1978 with a BS in Home Economics Education. She taught Home Economics at Dulles High School in Ft. Bend ISD. Later, she moved to middle school in the same district. Linda has owned her own Child Development Center which opened the door to another new journey in FBISD. She began the teen parenting program while beginning the child-care program for the teen parents. Linda was the supervisor of this program for the duration of her education career. She, simultaneously, received her Masters in Administration and was, also, the Career and Technical Education coordinator for all CTE programs in Ft. Bend ISD. After 30 years, Linda retired and began working for iCEV Multimedia! Loving every single minute!! 

Clayton Franklin, Chief Product Officer at iCEV, has an extensive background in CTE and has been a part of the iCEV team since 2002. Her passion for CTE inspires commitment and enthusiasm toward her efforts at iCEV. In addition to her role at iCEV, she is actively involved in the CTE community and presents at several CTE conferences, like the national CareerTech Vision annual conference and others across the country each year. 

Rosem Morton, is a Filipina documentary photographer, registered nurse and safety consultant based in Baltimore, Maryland. As a visual journalist, she is a National Geographic Explorer whose work focuses on daily life amidst gender, health, and racial adversity. She documents issues from the effects of gender based violence, the unheard stories of healthcare workers, to the legacies of western colonization that have shaped Filipino culture and migration. Her work has been awarded the Leica Women Photo Award and the Visa d'or Daily Press Award. She has also been recognized by the Pictures of the Year International, the World Press Photo 6x6 Talent and the 30 under 30 list. Rosem has worked at major trauma centers as a registered nurse for the last 10 years. She draws on these experiences alongside the IWMF Next Gen Fellowship to provide holistic safety trainings for journalists. 

Starla brings over 38 years year of teaching and brings a rich background of experience ranging from coaching, athletic training, all levels of Biology, college instruction of Anatomy, and years of on-site medical observation. She has been presenting successful teaching methods with teachers during conferences and staff development workshops for over 25 years. Her teaching experience includes Anatomy and Physiology, Medical Microbiology, Pathophysiology, AP Biology, Pre-AP Biology, and standard Biology. The success of Starla's teaching strategies and increased student understanding of difficult material through the use of hands-on activities and teaching tricks has led her to share with teachers, massage therapists, and medical personnel nationwide. Starla also works with new year teacher mentorship programs to facilitate a successful transition into the teaching profession and staff developments for campus faculty to coordinate a successful and consistent learning environment for students. If you would like to contact Starla about lessons from the modules or to arrange for her to conduct a dynamic workshop for your school or conference, just email her at sewan15@yahoo.com or call her at 806-787-6018. Your instructors will love the time spent in a workshop that gives them fun and successful lessons to take back to the classroom. Massage therapists and medical personnel will love the application of these lessons to their healing practice. 

THOA Board is made up with knowledgeable board members from across the state of Texas. 

Zoë Cook received her BS in Psychology from UT Austin and is now attending Texas A&M School of Medicine and School of Law. While in high school she was a commander with the Austin Travis County EMS Explorer Post 247 and Westlake High School CERT & HOSA. While at UT Austin she worked at Dell Children’s Medical Center and completed research at Dell Medical School. She hopes to one day sub-specialize in pediatrics. Outside of school, she is an avid athlete, enjoys mentorship, and participates in a variety of type 1 diabetes advocacy work. 

Linda Stanhope is a retired Medical Technologist and Health Science Instructor, where she taught for 24 years for the Amarillo Independent School District in Texas. Currently, she works with first-year Health Science Technology instructors in Texas as a new-teacher training specialist and aides’ organizations and districts in staff development and training. In addition, Stanhope works with Texas HOSA (Future Health Professionals) on their competitive event team. Throughout her career, she has earned major awards including the Health Science Lifetime Distinguished Teacher Award and Texas Health Occupations Teacher of the Year. Stanhope holds a Bachelor of Occupational Education degree from Wayland Baptist University. 

Kimberly Turnbull is a Health Science Instructor and the Nurse Aide Training Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP) Director in the Abilene Independent School District in Texas, where she has taught since 2004. Turnbull earned her BSN at Morningside College and her certificate in Applied Technology, Training, and Development from University of North Texas., and has nursing experience in Medical- Surgical Nursing, Skilled Nursing, Intensive Care, and Home Health. She has earned multiple awards for her outstanding achievements in Health Science education, including the Texas Outstanding Teacher in Community Service Award from the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), Teacher Tribute Awards from Abilene High School and Holland Medical High School, and Abilene Education Foundation Science Teacher of the Year. She is a member of the Texas Health Occupations Association (THOA) and Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), and she has served as a board member for HOSA. Kim is also currently working on the Texas HOSA CE Team. 

After 35 years in public education, I am now enjoying retirement by sharing knowledge and skills with new teachers. I definitely believe in sharing - there's no need to re-invent the wheel! After all, a cell is still a cell, and mitochondira are still mitochondria - even after 35 years! (Don't get it?? Check with me later!) 

Dr. LeRoy A. Marklund is a 30½-year U.S. Army Veteran and clinical assistant professor at Texas A&M University College of Nursing. In May 2020, he was recalled out of retirement and served on active-duty in support of the COVID-19 pandemic at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, as a Critical Care Nurse and Director for the Clinical Nurse Transition Program. His academic interests are military healthcare, disaster preparedness, trauma resuscitation, emerging infectious diseases, and team building. Since July 2018, he taught undergraduate Pathophysiology, Evidence-Based Practice Intensive Writing, and Adult Health II Nursing. Dr. Marklund serves on the TAMU Troops to College Committee and Honor Council along with involvement with the TAMU Health Science Center – Interprofessional Education and Research Steering Committees for Disaster Day and Operation Border Health Preparedness. As a Soldier for Life, Dr. Marklund keeps his students front and center. He is faculty advisor for the student organization, Aggie Military and Veteran Healthcare Alliance, and assists with Men in Nursing. He holds national certifications as a Critical Care Nurse Specialist, Critical Care Registered Nurse, Certified Emergency Nurse, Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse, and instructs Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support, Pediatric Advance Life Support, Team STEPPS, and Stop The Bleed. 

My name is Mauro Avila-Martinez. I was born in Havana, Cuba and moved to Texas when I was just six years old. I am a first-generation Aggie and enrolled in the undergraduate school of nursing. I am scheduled to graduate in the Summer of 2024 and my healthcare interests are infectious diseases. Some of my favorite hobbies include going on hikes, playing video games, and visiting new places. 

Miranda Rutledge is a first-year nursing student at Texas A&M University from Fort Worth, TX. A first-generation college student, Miranda has logged hundreds of clinical hours at CHI St. Joseph, held prominent positions in multiple undergraduate clubs, and recently graduated with honors from A&M’s College of Public Health. She describes herself as overjoyed to be a part of such a noble field and hopes to improve the quality of care across the industry through both her research and as a local leader in driving health procedure improvements. 

Renda Songer was born in Dallas, TX and raised in the DFW area. Upon High School Graduation she worked for the family business for some time and eventually ventured out on her own as an entrepreneur. She attended Tarleton State University where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and her Master’s Degree in Public Administration. She ventured into K-12 education unexpectedly as a high school teacher for Mesquite ISD. Family moves propelled a journey through Palestine ISD, Keller ISD, and then Community ISD. While at Community ISD, Renda worked with an innovative, stellar team of school leaders including the Region 10 Superintendent of the year for 2019, to restructure and create innovative CTE programs and College and Career Readiness Strategies that increased CTE funding by more than 1 million dollars, and transformed the once “C” rated district into an “A” rated district over the course of 2 years. Renda left Community ISD to work for the Region 10 Education Service Center as a CTE Specialist and Grant Writer. Finally, her last official stop in K-12 was at Farmersville ISD as the Director of State & Federal Programs. Renda considers herself to be a life-long learner and has spent her entire adult life in school! After becoming a certified educator, she earned a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Lamar University, followed by making a hobby out of taking Texas SBOE Certification Tests! She holds Texas State Board of Educator Certifications in 6-12 Business/Finance, K-12 Technology Applications, 8-12 Trade and Industrial Education, and K-12 Principal as an Instructional Leader. She is about half way through the arduous journey to a Doctorate at Liberty University. Combining knowledge of public administration and education has provided her with the tools necessary to serve as a successful grant writer. She has successfully authored numerous Texas Education Agency, Texas Workforce Commission, US Department of Education, Agriculture, Justice, and Energy grants for a growing number of school districts. Renda is currently employed as the Senior Education Consultant for the GREAT State of Texas with Paxton Patterson College & Career Ready Labs. She is also proud to serve on the Executive Leadership Board of the Foundation for Advancement of Career and Technical Education (FACT Ed). She believes in their simple vision, “It’s a FACT…CTE Changes Lives”. Renda loves being at the Beach, reading and writing, and spending time with her HUGE family including husband Jimmy, 5 daughters, Amanda, Haley, Shelby, Darby and Riley, and son Jackson.She is also tickled to share that she has three grandchildren, Hudson, Madison, and Heldi. She can be reached at renda@paxpat.com or renda@ctechangeslives.org. https://www.linkedin.com/in/rendasonger/ https://twitter.com/Renda_CTE_GURU https://www.facebook.com/rendasonger https://www.instagram.com/renda_cte_guru 

I am a doctoral student at The University of Texas Houston studying Health Promotion and Behavioral Science with a focus on Epidemiology. I focus primarily on racism, health equity, and mental illness. In my current role at Houston Independent School District, I oversee the district's Health Science Program to ensure that teachers are credentialed, curriculum is aligned with TEKS, mentorship, and certifications. 

Current NCHSE Board Chair | Director of Health Science Education | Office of College and Career Readiness | Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education | RN | Former MO HOSA State Advisor | Former NCHSE Treasurer 

Passionate Fitness Education Consultant with over a decade of working experience in the health wellness and fitness market with the industry’s premium certification providers, National Academy of Sports Medicine – NASM and Athletics and Fitness Association of America - AFAA. Always seeking to provide innovative solutions to strengthen partner institution’s fitness education programs, recruitment, and development. 

Linda Stanhope is a retired Medical Technologist and Health Science Instructor, where she taught for 24 years for the Amarillo Independent School District in Texas. Currently, she works with first-year Health Science Technology instructors in Texas as a new-teacher training specialist and aides’ organizations and districts in staff development and training. In addition, Stanhope works with Texas HOSA (Future Health Professionals) on their competitive event team. Throughout her career, she has earned major awards including the Health Science Lifetime Distinguished Teacher Award and Texas Health Occupations Teacher of the Year. Stanhope holds a Bachelor of Occupational Education degree from Wayland Baptist University. 

Kimberly Turnbull is a Health Science Instructor and the Nurse Aide Training Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP) Director in the Abilene Independent School District in Texas, where she has taught since 2004. Turnbull earned her BSN at Morningside College and her certificate in Applied Technology, Training, and Development from University of North Texas., and has nursing experience in Medical- Surgical Nursing, Skilled Nursing, Intensive Care, and Home Health. She has earned multiple awards for her outstanding achievements in Health Science education, including the Texas Outstanding Teacher in Community Service Award from the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), Teacher Tribute Awards from Abilene High School and Holland Medical High School, and Abilene Education Foundation Science Teacher of the Year. She is a member of the Texas Health Occupations Association (THOA) and Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), and she has served as a board member for HOSA. Kim is also currently working on the Texas HOSA CE Team. 

I am the Health Science Instructor of the Physical Therapy program of study at Blanson Career and Technical Education High School in Aldine ISD. During my 5 years as a teacher, I have taught Principles of Health Science, Medical Terminology, Medical Microbiology, Health Science Theory and Clinical and Practicum in Health Science - Physical Therapy. In 11 years of being a Texas - licensed physical therapist, I have worked in outpatient neurology, acute care, and inpatient rehabilitation. I was a part of the committee for TEA Innovative courses for Physical Therapy I and II. I strive to teach students the basics needed to get their foot in the door as a rehabilitation technician and succeed in post secondary education. 

I am the Health Science Instructor of the Dental Assisting program of study at Blanson Career and Technical Education High School in Aldine ISD. During my 5 years as a teacher, I have taught Principles of Health Science, Medical Terminology, Medical Microbiology, Health Science Theory and Clinical and Practicum in Health Science - Dental Assisting. In my 17 years in the dental field, working both as a dental assistant and dental hygienist, I have worked in general dentistry, oral surgery, periodontics, prosthodontics, and orthodontics. I have served as a voting delegate and committee member for the greater Houston dental hygienists association. My goal as a health science teacher is to prepare the students with the knowledge and skills that will help them better pursue a career in healthcare. 

I am the Health Science Instructor of the Patient Care Technician program of study at Blanson Career and Technical Education High School in Aldine ISD. During my two years as a teacher, I have taught Medical Terminology, Health Science Theory and Clinical and Practicum in Health Science - Patient Care Technician, Phlebotomy and EKG. In 20+ years of being a Texas - licensed registered nurse (RN) and 10 years of being a Texas - licensed advanced practice nurse, I have primarily worked in pediatric outpatient care. My favorite part of also being a healthcare provider is teaching families health prevention and health maintenance. As an Health Science High School instructor, I strive to teach students the health care basics needed to become certified and join the healthcare industry as phlebotomists, EKG technicians, or Patient Care Technicians. Thus, giving them a strong foothold as they continue their healthcare career goals in post secondary education. 

Krystal Burnett is a dynamic Admissions Counselor for the Doctor of Chiropractic Program at Life University. She is filled with passion for guiding students toward success. Prior to joining Life University, she dedicated 5 years of her life to shaping young minds as a teacher, educating students from 5th through 12th grade. Currently, she is focused on achieving her ICF certification for coaching and is studying Positive Psychology at Life University. Coming from Houston, Texas, Krystal made the bold move to Georgia in 2021 with her husband, who is pursuing his Doctor of Chiropractic at Life University. With her warm and personable approach, Krystal is committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of those she serves. 

Brandi Sharp is a highly motivated Admissions Counselor for the Undergraduate Programs at Life University. Driven by a passion for education and personal growth, Brandi is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science degree in Biopsychology. With her unwavering dedication and focus, she inspires and guides students to unlock their full potential and achieve their academic and professional goals. Originally from Dallas, Texas, Brandi, and her husband made the decision to embark on a new chapter of their life in Georgia, for her husband to pursue a degree in the Doctor of Chiropractic program at Life University. Along with her enthusiasm and work ethic, Brandi brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her role, making her an asset to the Life University community. 

Kim Smith began her teaching career in 1981 at Alexander Central High School in Taylorsville, North Carolina. After nine years in the classroom, she served as the Health Occupations Education Consultant and HOSA State Advisor at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. In 2001 she was named the Assistant Director of National HOSA and later became a facilitator and instructional designer for the Walt Disney Company® and National Geographic Live®. Kim is the owner of CreativEd Services and the author of Teaching Health Science and ten books in the Learning Games and Brain Games and Puzzles series. She is currently a consultant with Integrated Loyalty Systems, helping to improve the patient and employee experience for multiple clients throughout the United States. Kim is a Registered Nurse with a B.A. in Psychology from Lenoir-Rhyne College and a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Supervision from North Carolina State University. 

Lorie Jones, R.D.H., M.B.A. of Magnolia is a licensed dental hygienist at Dr. Gayle Bradshaws and CEO of DA Prep which focuses on dental assistant training for the high-school student. She is the former Director of Dental Services at TOMAGWA HealthCare Ministries Inc. She is a member of the American Dental Hygienist Association and is a past president and member of both the Texas Dental Hygienists Association and the Greater Houston Dental Hygienists Association. Additionally, she is president of the University of Texas Dental Hygiene Alumni Association, and a member of the Texas Oral Health Coalition. Jones received a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene from The University of Texas at Houston Dental Branch and a Masters in Business Administration with a focus on Small Business and Entrepreneurship from Louisiana State University Shreveport. 

Rebecca Ficken,RDH, BSDH of Conroe is a registered dental hygienist, dental hygiene examiner, and dental educator. Rebecca received her Bachelor of Science from UT San Antonio and has been in dentistry for 30 years in different aspects of the dental office. She has been in dental education for over 11 years at LoneStar College Dental Hygiene Program and 6 years with DA Prep., has been on 8 medical missions to Peru, and volunteered for over 10 years at Interfaith Community Clinic in the Woodlands and many other various dental facilities and events over the past 25 years. She is an active member of the Texas Dental Hygiene Association and Texas Dental Educators Association. 

Dr. Kesli Coffelt, OTR, OTD is an Occupational Therapist with Shallowater ISD & current teacher of the CTE course, Occupational Therapy I at Shallowater High School . She has a Bachelors of Science degree from Texas Christian University, a Masters degree in Occupational Therapy from Texas Tech Health Science Center (TTUHSC) and a Post Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree from TTUHSC with an emphasis in curriculum design & teaching. She has been a pediatric occupational therapist & supervisor for 10 years in various settings. Kesli has experience in treating, management, teaching, and course development in addition to being clinical instructor for OTD students. 

Dr. Aron Strickland is the assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction at Shallowater ISD. He works to develop all CTE pathways at Shallowater ISD and has been instrumental in creating the rehabilitation pathway for Shallowater ISD's Medical Therapy Pathway. 

Anyerit (Angie) Conde, RN BSN MBA MHSM Angie is a clinical nurse leader with 12 years of experience in acute adult care. She has transitioned into the patient simulation world to address the clinical gap disparities she observed during her time as a bedside nurse. As a proud mother of two young boys, Angie is driven to set a high standard and inspire others. 

Abigail Blake has worked in simulation over the past 16 years, with half being at Gaumard Scientific. She was introduced to healthcare simulation at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in her position as the business manager. After a few years, she moved closer to home and became the Operations Manager for McLennan Community College where she helped with the planning, launching, and operations of the newly built lab. She has a passion for simulation as it provides a safe space for healthcare students and professionals to learn. 

Bobbie is an RN with almost 20 years of experience. She graduated from Texas Tech University School of Nursing with a BSN in 2003. She received her professional certification in high-risk inpatient obstetrics, and is certified in limited obstetrical sonography. Bobbie worked for 15 years in Labor and Delivery, and was a childbirth educator for many years. She has worked and volunteered her nursing services in a non-profit STD clinic that included providing patients with sexual health education. This lead her to create and author "Choice360", a comprehensive sexual education curriculum for middle school and high school student that is currently used in many public and private schools. Bobbie has been a certified pharmacy technician for over 20 years and currently teaches pathophysiology, pharmacology, and the pharmacy technician certification course at Lubbock-Cooper High School in Lubbock, TX. 

Dr. LeRoy A. Marklund is a 30½-year U.S. Army Veteran and clinical assistant professor at Texas A&M University College of Nursing. In May 2020, he was recalled out of retirement and served on active-duty in support of the COVID-19 pandemic at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, as a Critical Care Nurse and Director for the Clinical Nurse Transition Program. His academic interests are military healthcare, disaster preparedness, trauma resuscitation, emerging infectious diseases, and team building. Since July 2018, he taught undergraduate Pathophysiology, Evidence-Based Practice Intensive Writing, and Adult Health II Nursing. Dr. Marklund serves on the TAMU Troops to College Committee and Honor Council along with involvement with the TAMU Health Science Center – Interprofessional Education and Research Steering Committees for Disaster Day and Operation Border Health Preparedness. As a Soldier for Life, Dr. Marklund keeps his students front and center. He is faculty advisor for the student organization, Aggie Military and Veteran Healthcare Alliance, and assists with Men in Nursing. He holds national certifications as a Critical Care Nurse Specialist, Critical Care Registered Nurse, Certified Emergency Nurse, Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse, and instructs Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support, Pediatric Advance Life Support, Team STEPPS, and Stop The Bleed. 

Leander John Casenas is a student nurse studying at the Texas A&M School of Nursing. Throughout his time at A&M, Leander John was an active member of Company S-1 in the Corps of Cadets, eventually becoming the executive officer of his unit for the 2022-2023 school year. He also served as the Vice President of the Aggie Campus Community Emergency Response Team (ACCERT) during his senior year. Following graduation in August, Leander John plans to work as an ICU nurse in Dallas. 

Sena T. Gbanaglo, who is currently a final semester BSN student at the Texas A&M School of Nursing, was born and raised in Fort Hood, Texas under a military household. Through her employment at CVS Health Pharmacy, Sena found her passion for healthcare through working with patients. This led her to setting sights on becoming a Registered Nurse. Sena has taken on various leadership roles in her undergraduate years, including serving as Treasurer in the Aggie Campus Community Emergency Response Team (ACCERT). Following graduation in August 2023, Sena plans to work in the pediatric critical care field. 

Kyana Calvo was born in Southern California and moved to Austin, TX when she was in high school. She is a first-generation Aggie that is currently in her second semester at Texas A&M’s nursing school. Kyana is pursuing a professional career to become a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) registered nurse (RN). Her plans are to serve her community by providing specialized care for newborns in various medical conditions. 

Clinical Assistant Professor. Currently she is course lead for the Community Health Course. Suzie is trained in Hospital Emergency Response Training (HERT) and she is a trained instructor for Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) and Stop the Blood. She teaches CERT and Stop the Bleed in the community as well as to students at the health science center. She has also participated in disaster preparedness events such as mass vaccination events and Texas A&M University’s Disaster Day. Suzie Van works with Dr. Leroy Marklund as faculty advisors for the student organization Aggie Campus Community Emergency Response Team (ACCERT). The organization works to prepare students to respond to an emergency. 

Sofia is a Realityworks Account Manager for the state of Texas. She has worked in the education industry for over 10 years in various roles giving her a great appreciation for educators. Through her work she is raising awareness and implementing experiential learning opportunities in the areas of Family and Consumer Sciences, Career and Technical Education, Health and Human Services and Maternal and Child Health. 

same as other one 

This is my fifteenth year as a Secondary CTE Health Science Instructor. I initially started in my hometown of Edinburg, Texas, and was active in my HOSA Chapter (2009-2017). Served as Area 7 Board Member for Texas HOSA for 6 years and Texas HOSA Board President in 2017. During my tenure, I contributed to committee goals in planning, implementing, and working on strategies for the educational needs of students as well as teachers. I was fortunate to mentor a HOSA State Officer (2015-2016) and it was an opportunity to work collaboratively in various aspects of Leadership committee meetings and planning. I relocated and moved to San Antonio in 2021 and have been blessed with greater opportunities in my teaching strategies. I currently teach at Tom C. Clark High School with NorthSide ISD. I teach a Theory / Clinical Rotation and two CCMA classes. I love to search, learn and be creative with ideas to make learning in the classroom fun, life-like, and interesting for my students. I often get asked by other instructors for guidance on the ideas I share on my social media page and I think that's the greatest compliment! I attended THOA conferences as a HOSA Board Member when it was first moved to College Station and this past summer 2022 I had a fantastic time at the conference! 

Susan J McKee, DNP, MEd, RN Susan is a second career nurse of sixteen years after a twenty-year career in higher education administration, pre-professional advising and health career recruitment. She currently teaches pre-licensure BSN students, with experience in associate degree, RN to BSN, and MSN level students, at Texas A&M University School of Nursing, mostly in women’s and mental health. Her educational background includes undergraduate degrees in secondary education and nursing, and master’s degrees in educational psychology from Texas A&M University with a student affairs focus, and an MSN in Nursing Education. She holds her DNP in Leadership from the University of Texas at Tyler. Clinical interests include mindfulness, nursing student stress and anxiety, efforts to improve the nursing student experience, teaching innovation, and postpartum depression. 

Tara Maxa, MSN, RN, RNC-OB, C-EFM, CNE, RNC-IAP, CHSE Tara is a registered nurse specializing in obstetrics for the last thirteen years. After completing her MSN in Nursing Education from Texas A&M University in 2021, Tara joined the nursing faculty at Texas A&M School of Nursing in the pre-licensure BSN program. She enjoys teaching courses in obstetrics, community health, adult health and interprofessional education. Tara’s teaching interests include active learning strategies in the classroom, interprofessional education, and simulation. Her clinical interests include women’s health, including postpartum depression and improving maternal and fetal outcomes. 

Jen Dehn is a Regional Partnerships Manager in the CTE Division for the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). She manages a team of specialists who work one-on-one with secondary Health Science programs across the nation to help them get started implementing NHA’s nationally recognized, accredited certifications. She is passionate about creating opportunity in secondary education—specifically for all the ways CTE programs help students get a leg up before they enter the workforce or go on for additional education. Prior to her role at NHA, Jen spent seven years in post-secondary education focused on helping non-traditional students find a pathway to start or advance their careers. Since making the switch to the CTE field, she has become very invested in ensuring secondary health science students nationwide have equitable access to the incredible opportunities industry recognized training and credentials can provide. 

Hello, my name is Michelle Derr and I am one of our three Health Science Teachers at Westlake High School.Originally from Michigan, I began my career as a Certified and Licensed Athletic Trainer. After working in the Athletic Training field for 10 years, and having my first child, I was able to transition into teaching Health Science. My main goal as a teacher is to provide a safe and fun classroom climate where my students can challenge themselves and be prepared to enter our advanced classes. In prior years, I have taught Athletic Training, Medical Terminology, and Pharmacy Technician. I am currently teaching Principles of Health Science, Kinesiology I and will be teaching Kinesiology II this upcoming fall. 

Sarah Knotts is the Product Manager for Anatomy and Physiology at Carolina Biological Supply Company. She has been working for Carolina for 7 years. Prior to her work at Carolina, she worked at Laboratory Corporation of America as an Immunoassay Technologist. She has a degree in Biology from Peace College. 

Registered Radiologic Technologist; cross-trained in Ultrasound and Nuclear Medicine Employed at Doctors Hospital (1981 to 1993) Health Science Instructor: United South High School and United North High School (1994-2006) Served on the Texas HOSA Board of Directors: Area 7 Representative (2004-2006) Employed as Texas HOSA Executive Director in 2006 with 11,000 members; in 2018-2019, Texas HOSA membership exceeded 38,000 members with more than 1000 chapters 

Since 2012, Jenny Ligon has overseen NCTM’s development of innovative multidisciplinary technical training and continuing education programs to serve the rapidly-growing needs of the biopharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing industry. As NCTM’s Associate Director, Ligon specializes in complex multi-organizational program development and management. She is a skilled business developer with experience in communications, legislative affairs, and project negotiation, and a proven ability to lead collaborative initiatives involving diverse stakeholders. Ligon leads NCTM’s business development and new training initiatives, including marketing, proposal writing and negotiation, curriculum development, stakeholder engagement and contracts administration and management. She has two decades of project management, public relations, and business development and administration experience in both the public and private sectors. 

Synthia Hill, PharmD is a graduate of the UIW, Feik School of Pharmacy. She has practiced pharmacy in both the retail and hospital settings. Prior to entering the field of pharmacy, Synthia was chemist in the pharmaceutical industry. Synthia started her career at the Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TSBP) as a Compliance Program Officer in 2015. She currently serves as the TSBP Pharmacy Officer and manages the student pharmacist internship program . 

Jennifer is a graduate of WTAMU with a BS in Sociology. She has worked in the retail setting for 25 years, 23 of those years were in pharmacy with experience in sterile and non-sterile compounding. She has worked in the independent sector for the 23 with 6 of the years in chain as well. Jennifer has worked for Texas State Board of Pharmacy for 8 &1/2 years as a Compliance Inspector in the West Texas area. 

Registered Radiologic Technologist; cross-trained in Ultrasound and Nuclear Medicine Employed at Doctors Hospital (1981 to 1993) Health Science Instructor: United South High School and United North High School (1994-2006) Served on the Texas HOSA Board of Directors: Area 7 Representative (2004-2006) Employed as Texas HOSA Executive Director in 2006 with 11,000 members; in 2018-2019, Texas HOSA membership exceeded 38,000 members with more than 1000 chapters 

Jay Brim was admitted to practice law in Texas in 1974 and has focused on School Law since 1977 when he became a staff attorney for the Texas Education Agency under State Commissioner of Education Dr. M. L. Brockette. He has represented employees of school districts and colleges since 1980. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyer for the past 22 years. The School Law Section of the State Bar of Texas recognized him in 2013 with its Kelly Frels Lifetime Achievement Award for an exemplary career. He is the senior shareholder of Brim, Robinett & Brim, P.C., the firm he began and in which he has practiced since 1983. He and his wife Jeanine celebrated 50 years of marriage on July 3, 2021. They are the parents of Cari Brim Land, Brandon Young Brim (also a partner in his law firm) and Jessica Brim Schumacher and are grandparents to six. Jay served as the Municipal Judge and Alderman of Rollingwood, TX. He is a past chair of the Travis County Democratic Party and a past president of the Lost Creek Neighborhood Association. He is the Chancellor of the Rio Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church and is a past Lay Leader of that conference, which has elected him to the past six General and Jurisdictional Conferences. 

I am a health science teacher and district lead in a large suburban high school. I came to Texas for a job as an athletic trainer at the high school level. Fast forward ten years, I married a football coach, had one son, and one on the way. There was no way I could keep up the schedule of an athletic trainer with two small children and a head football coach. I knew I was going to teach at some point in my life. Like many of you, I have several advanced degrees. All three of my degrees are in education. I was 36 when I started teaching, but I had the advantage of being around high school student-athletes for years. The transition to the classroom was —interesting. I began teaching Principles of Health Science and Clinical Rotations by myself. I had support from the administration and several core subject teachers, but it is not the same as having an experienced teacher in your subject area. Through the years, I have made my share of mistakes, or what I refer to as miscalculations. I love to incorporate activities, movement, and technology into my lessons. I have evaluated my classroom management techniques, course planning, and teaching resources for over a decade of teaching Health Science. I am passionate about helping new and experienced teachers to progress in their teaching skills and confidence in the classroom. I look forward to sharing my teaching miscalculations and my teaching wins. 

Sheena Shoemaker has leveraged her experience teaching anatomy & physiology, life sciences and love for technology with her work in AR/VR. As an A&P instructor with Wichita State University Tech and Maize Career Academy, she successfully integrated AR/VR into her CTE Health Science pathway attaining significant rise in student achievement. Sheena is now assisting schools across the country with AR/VR technology integration into K12, higher ed, and workforce pathways. 

Dynamic Educational Sales Leader with proven success in educational technology sales, sales leadership, strategic partnerships and strategy development. Focused on delivering results through relationship building and a solutions-based sales approach. Understands the importance of culture with the ability to build, maintain and strengthen relationships both, internal and external to accelerate growth. Committed to building capacity within educational organizations to empower, equip, and engage teachers and students. 

I am a former math educator with over 10 years experience in education, both inside the classroom and as an instructional coach. I obtained my B.S. in Actuarial Science from St. John's University and my M.Ed in Education Administration from Concordia University. I joined Savvas Learning Company (official distributor of Pearson) in the summer of 2021, as a math and CTE specialist. 

Teaching and Positions Dr. Burns comes to us originally from Lincoln, Nebraska where she spent nearly 20 years as a Level III Neonatal Nurse. She came to Texas in 2006 as the Director of Children’s Services at College Station Medical Center to open the first NICU in our community. Joining the College of Nursing in 2013 as a Clinical Assistant Professor, while under the Health Science Center umbrella, she has witnessed and been center to many changes within the College including our move to the A&M University System. Dr. Burns has held many leadership positions including current RN-BSN Coordinator, Undergraduate Curriculum Committee Chair, Faculty of the Whole Chair, University Faculty Senator, and Executive Committee Member to name a few. Education Her education has been focused on Nursing which she received a BSN in 1997 from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, an MSN Pediatric Nurse Practitioner specialty emphasis in 2009 from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, a DNP in 2015 from Loyola University New Orleans, and is currently in a DNP-PhD bridge program from Texas Women’s University. She most recently became Nationally Certified for Effective Teaching Practices by the Association of Colleges and Universities (ACUE). Research Dr. Burns research focus has centered on online best practices, the effectiveness of RN-BSN programs, open educational resources for students, faculty development, academic integrity, and recruiting a diverse student population. Service (college, university, nursing profession, and community) • CCNE Self-Study Contributor • NLN Center of Excellence Re-designation Committee • NSC and CON Strategic Plan Committee • DNP Program Development Taskforce Co-chair • Faculty Search Committee • Association of Former Students Awards Selection Committee • University Disciplinary Appeals Panel • CCNE on-site evaluator for Nursing Program Accreditation Award/Honor (most recent) • 2020 Recipient of Texas A&M University Association of Former Students Distinguished Achievement, Teaching, College Level • 2019 Recipient of Texas A&M University Association of Former Students Distinguished Achievement Individual Student Engagement, University Level • 2016 Recipient Daisy Foundation Faculty Award 

I am the Health Science Instructor of the Physical Therapy program of study at Blanson Career and Technical Education High School in Aldine ISD. During my 5 years as a teacher, I have taught Principles of Health Science, Medical Terminology, Medical Microbiology, Health Science Theory and Clinical and Practicum in Health Science - Physical Therapy. In 11 years of being a Texas - licensed physical therapist, I have worked in outpatient neurology, acute care, and inpatient rehabilitation. I was a part of the committee for TEA Innovative courses for Physical Therapy I and II. I strive to teach students the basics needed to get their foot in the door as a rehabilitation technician and succeed in post secondary education. 

Misty Overfelt has a Bachelor’s of Science in Exercise and Sports Science graduate from Phillips University (1998) and a Master’s of Health Science in Teaching and Learning. Overfelt has 20 years experience as an athletic trainer and 18 years as a teacher at the high school level. In that time she has started and grown 3 athletic training student programs. In 2016, an opportunity opened to teach health science classes and be a HOSA sponsor. It was here that she also became an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). While at Hutto, she helped grow the health science program and establish three health science practicums: EMT, CCMA and Pharmacy Tech. The program grew from 2 health science teachers to 5 teachers within 4 years. Overfelt has since returned to her her home town high school in the Fall of 2022 and was charged with revamping the health science program and establishing a certification program students could complete before graduating. Looking forward to this next school year, we will have health science practicums in EMT and CCMA with the addition of another teacher. In her spare time, Misty enjoys spending time with Jerry and their families and friends. She also enjoys taking part in competitive shooting events, hunting, and working on the family farm/ranch. 

I have a BSN from TCU, a Masters from OU and took graduate level classes at UTA in nursing education. I have been teaching at HSHP since 2013. Before that, I taught at the Pediatric clinicals for an ADN community college program and was a school nurse for many years. 

Medical laboratory Scientist before coming to DISD to teach over 20 years ago. Manages 10 Health Science teachers 

Has worked for 6 years in research and industry in the field of Brain Imaging. Now employed as a Sales Person for Anatomage selling Anatomy & Physiology tools for high school through medical schools. 

Leonardo Stella joined the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center (GCRBC) in 2009. Leonardo is of Italian and Spanish descent. Fluent in Spanish, Italian and English. Leonardo earned a Bachelor of International Business and has a background in marketing, sales and sales management. During his college career, played soccer, took part in the International Business Honors Society and Audubon of South Florida. Starting his career at the GCRBC as a donor recruiter, Leonardo was promoted to Operations Coordinator, and he is now a member of the Donor Recruitment Management Team. Leonardo is an active blood donor and very passionate about educating the community about the importance of donating blood and hosting blood drives. 

Isa Jones is a Senior Sales Associate at Career Uniforms, helping schools, universities, and medical clinics outfit teams and build memorable brand impressions. Specializing in one-on-one customer service, Isa uses her experience and background in sales and customer care to take the stress and worry out of creating a uniform program for clients and other needs they may have. Isa says it’s the joy of interacting with clients and building lasting connections with them that she is most passionate about and that makes her job fulfilling. When not busy at CU, Isa stays active with her side job running her own nail salon business and being a full-time mom to her young daughter. 

Christine Smikal’s healthcare journey started as a CNA in 1987 working in a long-term care facility. She obtained her LPN while in college at Pace University, Lienhard School of Nursing and graduated with her BSN in 1991. Christine's career as a Registered Nurse began at Stony Brook University Hospital in New York as a Pediatric Nurse. In 1993, Christine relocated to Texas and continued as a Pediatric Nurse. November of 2013 she obtained a position as a Health Science Teacher in Splendora ISD and has taught Principles of Health and currently teaches Medical Terminology, Health Science Theory and Health Science Practicum -CNA 

Darcie Henke has worked in various sectors of the healthcare industry for 30 years and has been a Registered Radiographer and Mammographer since the screen-and-film days of the 1990s. She began teaching at her hometown high school in Port Lavaca when Calhoun County ISD started their Health Science Program in 2016. Courses she has taught include Principles of Health Science, Medical Terminology, Health Science Theory with Clinicals, and Health Science Practicum/ Medical Assistant. 

Cheyenne Kirkpatrick has taught health science at Kilgore High School for 11 years. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Athletic Training and a Bachelors of Science in Education from Southern Arkansas University. She also earned a Masters of Science in Sports Management from Texas Woman's University and a Masters of Science in Health Education from University of Texas at Tyler. 

Taught since 1999 in the NASA/Houston area and Seattle. Traveled with his students for many years through EF Tours. Now works full-time locally in Texas creating travel programs for teachers and schools. Works particularly on CTE/STEM Tours like the new Health Sci Tours with THOA teachers. 

Health and Safety provider/trainer (corporate and nonprofit) for 20+ years within the City of St. Louis & St. Louis County homeless networks (Missouri). Previously provided oversight and supervision of clinical partners working within a domestic violence shelter; and as a statewide trainer for the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. Certified to train Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) in the State of Texas. 

Certified Ophthalmic Technician for 20 years locally in Bryan/College Station Health Science Teacher for 6 years at A&M Consolidated High School, College Station ISD Began training to be a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for Voices for Children in January of '23. 

A Health Science Teacher since 2003, a curriculum Coordinator for an inner city school district for 3 years, a post secondary nurse educator for both RN and LVN programs, a Registered Nurse since 1993, and currently serving as the Texas Education Agency Statewide Coordinator for Health Science. 

I am one of the Health Science teachers on the campus of Alief Center for Advanced Careers. I have been a teacher in Alief for almost 12 years. I am a NATABOC Certified and Licensed Athletic Trainer. I am a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. I currently teach Kinesiology and Practicum in Sports Management.