| Central Office Staff |
Chief Executive Officer:
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, 972-350-4772
Dana Smith received her Master’s in Social Work from Baylor University. She helped start a non-profit organization in Waco, TX before coming to Communities In Schools of North Texas to oversee the Even Start grant in Little Elm ISD in 2005. She has experience in counseling, program management and grant writing. Dana is responsible for grant research, development and management. As the CEO, Dana manages the overall health of the organization.
Chief Operations Officer: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 972-350-4725 Brian McCauley has a BS in Criminal Justice with a Minor in Sociology. Brian has worked with Communities In Schools programs for the last 16 years. Prior to joining CISNT's team he worked at Communities In Schools Dallas Region as the Senior Program Services Coordinator, Program Services Coordinator and as a Campus Manager. He has also worked for the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, Dallas, as an investigator of Child Abuse Referrals, and the Dallas Independent School District as a Community/Attendance Liaison, and a Department of Public Safety Campus Officer. Brian oversees all CISNT programs and is an active part of developing new programs.
John Minh Nguyen has a BS in Business Administration and a BA in Art & Performance from the University of Texas at Dallas. John has worked with Communities In Schools since 1998. He came to Communities In Schools of North Texas from the Communities In Schools Program in Dallas, where he served as the Database and Website Manager. He is responsible for training staff on the CISNT Case Management Model as well as the use of the CIS Tracking Management System to ensure correct data capture of services and outcomes into the database that provides CISNT with information regarding the student's progress towards achieving the goals established in their individual case management plan. Aside from his duties as a trainer/database manager, he also provides technical support to all staff, maintains the website, designs and produces all CISNT marketing materials, and leads CISNT's social networking engagements.
Lori Fickling is a former president of the Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce and small business owner. She has been a member of the Flower Mound Rotary Club since 1996, the Lewisville Rotary Club for several years before that, and currently serves on the board as its President-Elect. She is a four-year mentor with Communities In Schools of North Texas and a recent member of the board of directors. Lori is responsible for fostering relationships within the community and managing special events for CISNT.
21st Century Community Learning Center Program Director, Cycle 5:
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, 972-350-4724
Ashley King graduated from John Brown University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Youth Ministry. She started working with the adolescent at-risk population right out of graduation as a House Parent for a behavior management facility in Granbury, Texas. She started working with Communities in Schools of North Texas in the Spring of 2009 as a site coordinator in the Cycle 5 21st Century Community Learning Center afterschool program at Navo Middle School in Denton ISD. She is now the program director for the 21st CCLC, Cycle 5 program in eight schools in Denton ISD. Ashley's mission is provide support to the staff, students, and families in the eight schools that she oversees and to build positive community relationships in order to help our at-risk student population stay in school and become successful individuals. Ashley is also fun, vibrant, full of life, and looking for that special someone to come along to mentor her students.
Diana Vargas graduated from the University of North Texas in 2005 with a BA in Spanish Language and Literature. She started working in the non-profit sector as a freshman at UNT and has continued in that path as a professional. Diana has worked in educating young children and adults as a VISTA (Volunteers In Service to America) for AmeriCorps, as well as an ESL Instructor and Parent Educator for CISNT through an Even Start grant. She worked at Calhoun Middle School as a Site Coordinator for the Communities In Schools of North Texas' 21st Century Community Leanring Center, Cycle 5 grant in Denton ISD. Diana is now the Program Director for the 21st CCLC, Cycle 7 grant in 10 schools in Denton and Lewisville ISD. Ms. Vargas' mission is to create relationships within the community through educational strategies that help develop self-sufficient students and members of society.
Wendy Johnson earned a BBA in Accounting from Texas A & M University and is a Certified Public Accountant. She is active in the Lewisville Council of PTAs and the Castle Hills Elementary PTA and contributes both financial knowledge and educational insight Wendy started her career as an accountant in reporting and inventory analysis for Dell Computer for seven years. As the Director of Finance, Wendy allows CISNT to operate at a highly effective and financially transparent level to maximize community resources to benefit the at-risk students we serve.
Kathleen Orr graduated from Dallas Baptist University with a BBA in Management. She has over 15 years of experience in the design and delivery of HR support services and has worked in various industries throughout the DFW metroplex. Kathleen's heart for children and other nations has lead her down the Amazon River where she served impoverished village children and their families and, most recently, to Cambodia where she taught English to World Relief staff members. She joined CISNT in 2011 and is responsible for the Human Resources functions of the organization. Volunteer Director:
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, 972-350-4726
Shannon graduated from Baylor University, earning a BA in Communications. She worked as the Volunteer Coordinator for Baylor Buddies, a mentorship program for at-risk students in Waco, Texas, and went on to serve as Volunteer Coordinator at Valley Ranch Baptist Church in Coppell, Texas. She also has experience writing and reviewing legal contracts at Adair, Morris and Osborn, LLP in Dallas. Shannon joined Communities in Schools of North Texas in 2008 and is responsible for the volunteer onboarding process. |

Chief Executive Officer:

Director of Community Relations:
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, 972-350-4726
21st Century Community Learning Center Program Director, Cycle 5:
21st Century Community Learning Center Program Director, Cycle 7:
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, 972-350-4727
Director of Finance:
Director of Human Resources:
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, 972-350-4712
