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Operation: SPIRIT Board of Directors

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Jean Schumm President	"Two years ago I was struggling as the mother of teenagers. For the first time in my life I felt incompetent and unsure of myself as a parent. I eventually realized I could either continue to be a naive and reactive parent, or make an effort to understand today's culture and become a proactive parent. I also learned that I was not the only parent who felt insecure when it came to raising teenagers. Operation: SPIRIT has been an incredible blessing to me because I no longer feel insecure or alone standing up to today's culture. I believe awareness and education will make the difference for all of us. I want to help parents restore their confidence, connect with other parents and create momentum that will change the culture for generations to come!"
Richard Brooks, M.Ed., LFMT, LPCC Vice President	Richard completed his undergraduate work at EKU in Psychology. He received his graduate degree with concentrations in counseling and Family Therapy at University of Louisville. Richard also completed a post graduate Family Therapy certification program at U of L. Richard is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in KY & IN, and holds a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in KY. He has worked in community mental health, and most recently for the Oldham County School system as a Mental Health Consultant. Richard and his wife Lisa have been married for 22 years and have two teenage daughters Abbey and Hannah. Given his 20+ years of working with children and family systems, Mr. Brooks supports OS understands the need to connect parents and teens and its mission to connect families to community-based supports.
Mary White Secretary/Treasurer	"I am the parent of three grown children all of whom graduated from Oldham County schools, and grandparent of two girls and three boys. My contribution to Operation:SPIRIT is in the areas of administration and accounting. I see my contribution in OS as an investment in future generations of teenagers, hoping that the tools that are being developed for parents today will point the way for teenagers who come after. The possibilities for this program are awesome and I am excited about being a part."

BOARD MEMBERS

"I am a mother of two teens attending school in Oldham County. I became involved with Operation: SPIRIT in 2005 during its conception working with Jean Schumm, Cynthia Talley and Devan Gunderson. My education is in early childhood education and business with my profession primarily focused in sales and marketing. Raising my children as a working mother I realized the importance of my husband and I being connected with the parents of our kid's friends. As my children entered their teenage years I realized that being connected with parents while staying connected with my children was even more important. After reading "A Tribe Apart" by Patricia Hersch I discovered the deep necessity in our society for the Operation: SPIRIT Mission; to educate, equip, encourage and engage parents in raising incredible teens. I am truly enjoying being a part of this program and being a mom to teenagers and their friends!"	Lisa Perkins
"I feel that having graduated from Oldham County High School in 1999 I am aware of the issues teens in our community currently face and how they are affecting them. Teens are doing their best to survive, but are creating their own values and support systems in the absence of guidance. Let's re-energize our community to reconnect with our youth and raise incredible teenagers together! My personal goal as a board member is to create positive relationships with teens in our community, and as a graphic designer I strive to keep the Operation: SPIRIT message consistent and professional, reaching as many families as possible."	Devan Gunderson
"I am a lifelong resident of Oldham County and a graduate of Oldham County High School. I also taught in the Oldham County school system as a middle school math teacher. My area of involvement in Operation:SPIRIT is small group facilitator. As a parent of three grown sons, my experiences will hopefully help other parents through teenage issues. This is a wonderful program and I am delighted to be involved."	Cynthia Talley
"I am in my 26th school year as an educator - 13th with Oldham County and 13 years in Jefferson County Public Schools - and Operation:SPIRIT is one of the most exciting and promising partnerships with which I have had the opportunity to be associated. I have been blessed with a job that takes me to every school in Oldham County. I am married to Paige, a principal in Jefferson County, and we have a blended family of five between the ages of 11 and 18."	Dan Orman
"As General Counsel for the Oldham County Board of Education I am frequently in contact with school administrators and parents struggling with difficult student issues. Having a resource like Operation: SPIRIT in our district has the potential to dramatically change the lives of these students and their families through education, encouragement and engagement. I have been an attorney for 16 years and have lived in the Jefferson/Oldham County area for 13 years. My husband, Jim, and I are raising two young daughters (and an old dog) and look forward to implementing the strategies and insights I've learned through Operation: SPIRIT as they grow into young adults."	Anne Courtney Coorssen
"My name is Ted Pearce. I presently serve as an associate principal at South Oldham High School. I'm in my 36th year as an educator. For 26 of these years I have been a high school administrator. I have been the principal of three different high schools and have served as a Highly Skilled Educator for the Kentucky Department of Education. I have two grown children. My interactions with high school students are rewarding, stimulating and, at times, challenging. I strive to be a positive presence for our students and faculty as they grow and develop. I am proud to be on the Board of Directors for Operation: SPIRIT!"	Ted Pearce

LIASON MEMBERS

Heather Watkins
SOHS Academic Counselor

Ethan Moore
SOHS Faculty

STUDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Operation: SPIRIT recognizes our success depends on the relationship between our organization and our teenagers. The 2007/2008 Student Advisory Board is currently in the planning stages. Check back for more information after the school year gets underway!

Operation: Spirit looks forward to projects such as creating a Teen Handbook which will be written for the teens, on issues they're concerned about.