NORINE JALOWAY-GILL PRESIDENT

Norine volunteered to serve as the Interim Executive Director of The Arc of the Gulf Coast in 2015-16. She is a family member and currently her brother, Ed with an intellectual developmental disability, resides with her family in Seabrook. She is the Executive Director of Imagine Enterprises, a non-profit that provides Benefits Planning for SSA beneficiaries who go to work and Financial Management Services for HCS-CDS Medicaid waiver services. Her knowledge includes Medicaid, SSA Benefits, employment, housing, transportation, and education services that directly impact the quality of life of people with disability and the coordination of service delivery. Her career combines organizational management qualifications with knowledge, expertise and creative strategies for Texans with disabilities and their families, as well as community organizations, agencies, legislators, and policy makers. Excellent consensus–building and negotiation skills. Confident, articulate and persuasive.

SHIRLEY BROTHERS VICE-PRESIDENT

Shirley is the former Director of Public Information for the City of Alvin and is a 44 year resident of Alvin. She retired in 2012 after 40 years with the school district. Prior to her public information position, she was a special education teacher serving children of all ages who have special needs. Shirley graduated from Sam Houston State University with a degree in education and previously served on the board of The Arc. Shirley is a member of the Alvin Noon Lions Club, the Aglaian Study Club, the Chocolate Bayou Community Advisory Panel, the First United Methodist Church of Alvin and serves on the Board of Directors of both the Alvin ISD Education Foundation and the ACC Foundation. Shirley is the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of seven grandchildren.

(Special talents: community networking, communications, education)

GEORGEANNA SANTARELLI SECRETARY

Georgeanna has been a Special Education teacher for over 25 years. She has worked for Dickinson Independent School District for 13 of those years. For the past 4 years she has been the Transition Coordinator for Dickinson ISD, focused on supporting young adults with disabilities to enter into the adult world through community work, transportation and independent living goals. She works with the stu- dents and their families to ensure they receive the full benefit of educational services as they mature and age out of school services. She is intimately aware of the challenges that students with disabilities face through both her personal and work experiences. Her students always seek her out – even after they leave the school system – to help with problem-solving and staying in the community. Recently, Ms. Santarelli moved her transition classes to the College of the Mainland in Texas City to ensure teach and community training go hand-in-hand.

LORIN FURLOW TREASURER

Lorin is the Director of Special Services in Brazosport Independent School District in Texas where she supports students, families, and campuses with Special Education or 504 services. Lorin also serves as a Restorative Discipline Coordinator, training with the University of Texas Institute for Restorative Justice and Restorative Dialogue and volunteers actively at The Brazosport Center for the Arts and Sciences. Lorin and her husband Chris are lifelong residents of Lake Jackson, Texas, where they have raised their two children, Chance (20) and Hope (18). Lorin has not only participated as a professional in ARD and 504 meetings, but also participated and advocated as a parent for Chance who received special education services from the age of 3 until graduation and Hope who is now a senior and has received 504 services for dyslexia since 2nd grade. Lorin believes in supporting collaborative relationships that embrace all learners to successfully achieve their full potential.

JUDY ZAVALLA PARLIAMENTARIAN

Judy, an Alvin resident, is a retired newspaper reporter. She is the mother of a daughter who works hard to keep her in line (Amanda) and a son, Matthew. She holds a Associates Degree in Management Development from Alvin Community College, a Certified Professional Manager designation and a Certified Volunteer Administrator certification. Her hobby and her passion revolves around volunteering.

ERIN MARKS

My name is Erin Marks I am currently a consumer service director for All the Little
Things Count, LC, President of the board for All the Little Things Country, and I am
on the board and Vice President for Special Friends. I have a certificate in
Employment Services from the University of North Texas. I also am the program
director for All the Little Things Country Horse Program. I have taken a team to
the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Special Children’s Committee Top Hand
Show for many years. I am the guardian for several folks, two of which live with
me. I have worked in the past for Richmond State School Community Services,
Texana (before it was called Texana), The Gulf Coast Center before going to the
provider side. I started my career in this field as a van driver thirty years ago and
have moved up in my field by educational trainings put on by the ARC, SSA, UNT,
and local authorities. My husband and I have been together for nearly 27 years,
we have a blended family with 4 adult children, 10 grandchildren and 4 great
grandchildren and then we became a foster care provider. We have Matthew who has lived with us for 16 years, Gavin has been with us for 14 years, and Ahlia has been with us for 13 years.

KIM HEGWOOD

Focusing on elder law, asset protection planning, estate planning and related practice areas, Kim’s passion for family and care giving come through in her enduring relationships with her clients. Kim’s personal experiences with a daughter with a disability, together with her mastery of the law, make Kim and the Hegwood & Associates family of attorneys uniquely qualified to help families and individuals with special needs plan for the future and cope during times of crisis. Kim understands what her clients are going through and dedicates herself to treating every client with the compassion and respect he or she deserves.

AMANDA MILES

PATRICK MONAGHAN

Hello everyone! My name is Patrick Monaghan and I am the father of two wonderful boys (Will and Wade), and married to the greatest person I know, Heather. I have been working with individuals who have special needs for eighteen years. I started as a camp counselor at the Texas Elk’s Camp for Special Needs Children, and have been a house parent for CPS, direct care professional in residential treatment facilities, and a member of the Alvin ISD family for the past twelve years. With Alvin ISD, I have served as special education teacher at E.C. Mason Elementary, Manvel High School, and Passmore Elementary, and as an administrator at Disney Elementary, Marek Elementary, and Harby Junior High. This past December I reached personal goal and became a Special Education Coordinator for Alvin, and have never been happier!

ROGER STUKSA

Roger first came to the Alvin community from his hometown, Cleveland, Ohio in, 1953 where his father was the owner of a heating/air conditioning company. Because of his dad’s health, the doctor made a recommendation to his father that he should consider moving to a warmer climate to help him improve his health. His mother’s sister, who owned Heller’s Nursery, lived in Alvin, so the family decided to relocate here. When arriving in Alvin, Stuksa and his father opened an air conditioning/heating company. Following that, he went to work for Trane and continued there for 23 years. After retirement, he has taught air conditioning/heating classes to employees of other air conditioning businesses. Stuksa has served on the Alvin City Council for eight years. He is currently in his first year as a Reagent for Alvin Community College. He is a member of several service groups in Alvin and would enjoy the opportunity to serve on The Arc of the Gulf Coast board.