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Exley Elementary > Exley Staff Biographies > Instructional Support
 

 Content Editor Web Part ‭[1]‬

 

Instructional Support Team!

 

 Content Editor Web Part ‭[15]‬

 

Name: Deenaree Voelker

Hometown: Urbandale, Iowa

Education/College: Iowa State University, B.S. Elementary Education with endorsements in Reading and ESL

Years in Teaching: 3 years in a public school district, 2 years with a language company

Places Taught: Des Moines Public Schools (Iowa), Language Direct Inc. (Houston)

Subjects: ESL

Personal/Academic Achievements: An achievement of mine was to attain my Iowa teaching license.  A recent personal achievement includes having the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream by volunteering overseas during the first few months of this year. 

Hobbies: Spending time with my husband, watching movies, reading, eating, traveling!

Personal Note: I am very excited to be a part of the Exley family!  

 Content Editor Web Part ‭[14]‬

 

Name: Natalie Jones        

Hometown: Alvin 

Education/College: Sam Houston State University

Years in Teaching/Education: 6 years  

Places Taught: Spring Branch and Katy     

Subjects Taught: 4th grade and ESOL 

Personal & Academic Achievements: I am a mother to a wonderful son named Connor! 

Hobbies: I enjoying reading, traveling, being outside, and spending time with my family. 

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Name:    Vanessa Pham     

Hometown:   Houston, Texas

Education/College: University of Houston

Years in Teaching/Education:  7yrs. 

Places Taught:       Fort Bend ISD and Katy ISD

Subjects Taught:   1st Grade and ESOL

Personal & Academic Achievements:  ESL Certified

Hobbiesjogging and reading

Personal Note:   No act of kindness, no matter how small is ever wasted.    - Aesop, Greek fabulist    

 Content Editor Web Part ‭[4]‬

 

Name:   Cindi Solis

Hometown:  Richmond, TX

Education/College: Bachelor’s– Stephen F. Austin; Master’s– University of Houston-Clear Lake

Years in Teaching/Education: 22 years

Places Taught:  Fort Bend ISD – Willowridge High; Lamar CISD – Lamar Jr. High; Katy ISD – Mayde Creek High, Golbow Elem., Exley Elem.

Subjects Taught:  Algebra, Health, Library

Personal & Academic Achievements:  Master’s Degree in Library Science!!!

Hobbies:  Shopping, swimming, reading, visiting with friends and family

Personal Note:  I love the color pink!  I own a horse!  I got married in Las Vegas! 

Contact Information:  281-237-8428

 Content Editor Web Part ‭[3]‬

 

Name:          Kris Frederick

Hometown:   Richardson, Texas

Education/College: B.S. Multidisciplinary Studies at Texas Tech University

Years in Teaching/Education:    16

Places Taught:      I have spent my entire teaching career in Katy!   Mayde Creek Elementary (2nd and 4th grades), Nottingham Country Elementary (4th grade), and Jo Ella Exley Elementary (3rd grade and REACH). 

Subjects Taught: REACH, Language Arts in 3rd and 4th grades and all subjects in 2nd grade.

Personal & Academic Achievements: Awarded the Texas PTA Honorary Lifetime membership in 2003, ADK recording secretary for 2 years, membership for 4.

Hobbies: Reading, cooking, traveling, going to museums, and the movies.

 

Personal Note: After 15 years in the classroom I am about to embark on a new challenge serving the students of Exley as the REACH teacher.  Classroom teaching has been my passion and joy for many years.  I now relish the opportunity for a new challenge; one which will allow more individualized, one on one mentoring of my students.  I am happy to be here with great kids, terrific parents, and awesome staff members!

 

Contact Information:  281.237.8458

 

Name:   Debbie Langan      

Hometown:   Akron, Ohio

Years in Teaching/Education:  7 

Places Taught:      Exley

Subjects Taught:   ESOL/Reading/Language Arts

Personal & Academic Achievements:  Married 20 years * three children - Michael, 18, Jonathan, 16, Madison, 8

Hobbies: reading, my cats

 

 

Name:          Gazala Bownds

Hometown:   Katy

Education/College: BIRMINGHAM COLLEGE OF DOMESTIC ARTS,BIRMINGHAM ,ENGLAND

Years in Teaching/Education:    28 YEARS

Places Taught:  ENGLAND, VIRGINIA, MARYLAND, TEXAS    

Subjects Taught:   SCIENCE,HISTORY, LANGUAGE ARTS, CHILD DEVELOPMENT

Personal & Academic Achievements: MONITORED day care centers for licensing

Hobbies: sleeping :)

Personal Note:     I was born in England and travelled to the States in 1987.  I have a  two years college  certificate for early childhood education from England. I have worked with children for 27 years. My experience includes, daycare, preschool, kindergarten. I have also monitored day care centers for DHS. I recently taught 3rd grade at a private school and last year enjoyed teaching a 3 year old class for  Faithwest  Academy. I have three  children of my own. Rachel is 15, Trent is 13 and Sarah is 10.

 

Name:          Carolyn Dean

Hometown:   Orchard, Texas

Hobbies: Reading, camping and enjoying my family

Contact Information:       281-237-8429

 Content Editor Web Part ‭[13]‬

 

Name:       Carole Blanton  

Hometown:   Houston, Texas              

Education/College: BSED University of Houston

Years in Teaching/Education:    25 years

Places Taught:       Alief, Ingram, Kerrville and Katy ISD

Subjects Taught:   1st and 2nd grades

Personal & Academic Achievements: In college I made the Dean’s list several times! I was “Teacher of the Year” for two years in Kerrville, ISD. My greatest personal achievements are my two wonderful children! Curt is 22 and a senior at Texas A&M. He will graduate with a BBA degree in May. Ashley is 18 and a freshman at Texas State University. She has not declared her major yet. I’m not sure how I feel about being an empty nester! My husband, Daryl, and I have been married for 27 years! We are very proud that we have survived and are doing well one year post accident.

Hobbies: I love walking and lightly jogging! I am finding new interests with gardening activities.. I love to read and hang out by the pool or the beach. I also love to get together with friends and family for any social occasion.

Personal Note:      I am excited about working with ESOL students this year! I love working at Exley with our wonderful staff and students! Daryl and I will always be grateful for the love and support you all showered us with this past year! We are continuing our journey feeling thankful and very blessed!

Contact Information:  281.237.8400

 Content Editor Web Part ‭[12]‬

 

Name: Rena Kakodkar         

Hometown:   Goa, India

Education/College: Bachelors in Dental Surgery

Years in Teaching/Education: This will be my 4th year   

Places Taught:       Subbed for 2yrs in the district, Exley Elementary

Subjects Taught:   Math(Kn- 5th grade)

Personal & Academic Achievements:

Hobbies: Travelling, Shopping, Spending time with my Family.

Personal Note:       I am very excited to be a part of this Exley family.

 

Name: Jan Dehner

Hometown: Peoria, Illinois

Education/College: Coe College

Years in Teaching/Education: 26

Places Taught: Aldine ISD, Katy ISD

Subjects Taught: Kg, 1st , Reach/Dyslexia

Personal & Academic Achievements: Masters – Reading Specialist

Hobbies: Shopping, reading, knitting

 

Name: Lisa Knowles

Hometown: Houston, Texas

Education/College: BS in Accounting and Finance (double major) from HBU (graduated Magna Cum Laude)

Certification:  EC-4 Generalist, 4-8 Generalist, ESOL, GT

Years Taught: This is my seventh year teaching in Katy ISD

Places Taught: 2 yrs at Creech, this is my 5th year at Exley

I taught 1st grade for 3 yrs, this is my 4th year of Challenge

Katy ISD 1st year Teacher of the Year (EC-4), Region IV Intern of the Year (EC-4)

Hobbies:  spending time with friends, cooking, shopping, going to museums

Personal Note: My daughter is just beginning her sophmore year in college and my son is a 7th grader at MMJH!

Contact Information: 281 237-8443

 Content Editor Web Part ‭[8]‬

Name: Erin Mills

Hometown: Houston, Texas

College/.Education: University of Houston (Bachelor's in Science: Interdiscipliary Studies), University of Phoenix (Master's in Curriculum & Instruction), University of Phoenix (Master's in Administration & Supervision)

Years in Education: 13 Years

Places Taught: Machel Private School, Cy-Fair ISD,  Spring Branch ISD, Allen ISD, Clear Creek ISD, & Katy ISD

Subjects Taught: Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Technology, & Dance

Personal & Academic Achievements: Graduated Magna Cum Laude (Bachelor's) & Suma Cum Laude (Master's), Level 4 Krav Maga Instructor, Instructor Certificate for Cardio Kickboxing Through Krav Maga, & receiving my principal certification!

Personal Note: I am married to my wonderful husband James and we have three children: Dylan is 4, Garhett is 3, and Mallory is 1. I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, cooking, and being outdoors. My favorite thing to do (when I have the time) is birdwatching with my 96 year old grandfather Robert Moore!

Contact Information: 281.237.8415

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  Name: Erika Berk          

 Hometown: San Luis Obispo, California & Houston, Texas 

 Education/College: Bachelors: Stephen F. Austin State University Masters: University Of Houston Victoria

 Years in Teaching/Education:6   

 Places Taught:Fort Bend ISD, Katy ISD      

 Subjects Taught: Math, Science, Spelling, Health  

Personal & Academic Achievements: In 2006 I won a team grant from the Fund For Teachers Organization that allowed myself and my teammates to travel to France and Italy for 2 weeks.  In college I was named "Texas Residents Hall Association Student of the Year-2000"

 Hobbies: Traveling, snowboarding, crafting and scrap-booking

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