"Our public schools should be the central Hub of a community. Re-establishing the Gold Standard of Academics and true parent ownership creates the blueprint back to Excellence and Relevance. Restoring Transparency and Trust with stakeholders repositions our school to its rightful place: the central Heart and Hub of our community."

Teresa is in private practice as a licensed professional counselor of 23 years focused on the systemic evaluation and integration of families and community through her extensive experience in counseling individuals, families, and groups. She is a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist and also uses Solution Focused theory emphasizing the forward movement away from trauma and assisting in creating impactful solutions to be successful and integrate back into community and life.

Teresa holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management\Business Law from the University of Maryland at College Park. This led to the opportunity to serve as the Independent Living Coordinator for the Department of Human Services for the foster care program in six counties in Maryland and Virginia.  The focus was to create programming for variety of youth including assisting as an art teacher with the Eckard Youth Program of juvenile males who were incarcerated.

Teresa obtained a Master’s degree in Community Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy from John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Prior to private practice, Teresa founded and managed multiple licensed pre-schools of over 250 students. This enabled her to provide true community outreach and assist with the transition of students to kindergarten. Teresa also held supervisory roles in Vista Health Psychiatric Hospital in Northwest Arkansas as a child unit therapist, therapeutic day treatment program, school-based counselor, and Intensive Home Services. She has conducted over 5,000 process groups for children and teens.

Teresa moved to the wonderful state of Florida eight years ago to raise her 9-year-old beautiful twins. The twins attended Southside Elementary. Teresa participated in the SAC Committee and served on the Superintendent Committee. She participated in the local chapter of Moms for Liberty and conducted community research for the Sarasota School Board which resulted in a role in auditing a variety of academic programming. Teresa organized a true grassroots parent effort of research to increase community effectiveness and obtain evidence-based results. Teresa transferred that research to the Leadership Institute in Sarasota to conduct workshops for school board members and legislators across 29 states.

Teresa and her family attend Bayside Church which she volunteers as a teacher for 2-3 grade girls. She is currently expanding to providing life coaching, training for children and families, consulting, community outreach, and obtaining her dual license for Florida through the Counseling Commission Program for out-of-state therapists.