Roscoe Overton, Sr.
Executive
Director
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| A
native of Austin, Texas, received his Bachelor of
Science degree from Texas Southern University, Houston, in
the School of Industry and an MS degree from
Tennessee State University, Nashville, in Administration and
Supervision. He received a certificate by attending
a Seminar on National Certified Investigator
Training, offered by the Law Enforcement Training
Institute, University of Missouri-Columbia. He began his
career in Administration as Executive Director of
the Memphis & Shelby County Community Action Agency,
and ended as an Investigator for the Tennessee
Department of Commerce and Insurance. Roscoe
returned to Austin and joined University Presbyterian
Church as an elder, a teacher of the Present Word
Sunday class, a member of the Mission &
Service Committee, Trustee on the National
Presbyterian Foundation Board and a member of the
National Committee on Mission Responsibility through
Investment. Roscoe is the current chairman of the
Austin Center for Peace & Justice, and founder and
Executive Director of the Overton Group — developer
of the HILO™
Curriculum, a “Spanish/English Language
Instruction and Cultural Exchange Program for Teachers”. |
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Overton Staff
The Overton Group is proud to present our professional educators who have been
presenting the HILO™ curriculum for young
students in after-school programs in Austin Texas since
December, 2009. These professionals are also engaged
in promoting the ideals of the HILO™ vision throughout
Austin, Texas.
Mary Castilla
Director:
Data Systems
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Mary Castilla brings many years of experience
from the University of Texas at Austin's Testing
and Evaluation Centers. Her role as
Director of Data Systems involves conducting
student assessments and preparing annual reports
for each division of the Overton Group, namely,
the Early Childhood division and the After
School division. Mary's ability to
communicate in both English and Spanish gives
her the best of both worlds. Mary feels
fortunate to be a part of the Overton Group's
mission of helping students to expand their
opportunities through language acquisition. Mary
says, "I plan to help carry out the Overton
Group's exceptional education program by
presenting data to reflect the students
developments in language acquisition. I
also plan to provide avenues for improvements in
the HILO™
program. I believe that the Overton Group
can make a major difference in the lives of the students
we encounter. I look forward to working with
this dedicated staff.” |
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Leona Heikkala
After School
Coordinator
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Leona is
fluent in the Spanish language through intensive
studies in language schools in Guatemala during
her teens. She also enjoys Spanish music
classes with her daughter at 'Heart Song Music.'
Leona recently finished a two-year tour-of-duty
at 'Any Baby Can' as a bilingual Parent Educator
and Case Manager with teen moms as well as
families with young children ages 0-5. She also worked as a bilingual Pre-K teacher in
AISD. Leona has a passion for volunteering
and is active in community affairs. For
two years she served as an Operations
Coordinator for Casa Marianella, an Austin
Shelter serving Spanish-speaking immigrants.
Leona received a BA in Liberal Arts from
Evergreen State College in Washington State and
an AA in Dance from ACC. She is currently a
member of the First Unitarian Universalist
Church of Austin and sings in the choir. Leona
loves the arts, language and culture and is
happy to join the Overton Group to be able to
promote cross-cultural awareness and
communication in Austin using the HILO™
program.
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Daniel Llanes
HILO Teacher
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| Daniel is an artist, teacher, activist and father
in Austin. Daniel composes songs in English and
Spanish and has been a teacher in Austin since
1975. In 2004 Daniel won a Webber Foundation
Grant to create an educational program entitled,
“Learning and Living with Mother Earth”, an
Environmental Awareness program using music,
poetry and dance with a children’s workshop and
a performance presentation that combines Public
Service Announcements with theater. Daniel
continues to teach children’s performance
workshops. In his long history of Austin
activism since 1980, Daniel is now the
Chairperson of the River Bluff Neighborhood
Association, and a Coordinator within the
Southwest Key Programs Community Empowerment
Initiative. Daniel is also one of the Keepers of
the Roy Guerrero Colorado River Park and Oak
Springs Preserve. |
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Alma Garcia
HILO Teacher
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| Alma is an English/Spanish
Bilingual Certified teacher -- fluent in Spanish with
over 14 years working with children and families. Alma
says,
“My tenure with the Overton Group has allowed
me to use my experiences in the HILO™ language program
that is greatly needed at this elementary school
level -- where students are beginning to learn to
communicate." Alma received her Bachelor of
Arts in Social Work at St. Edwards U., Austin.
She received her Associate of Arts in Psychology
from ACC,
and obtained her Texas Educator Certificate in 2007. |
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Jessica CenterHILO Teacher
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Jessica Center
joins the Overton Group from New Mexico. She
received her BA degree in Sociology from New
Mexico State University which included a
full-immersion Spanish language program in Costa
Rica. Jessica has already worked within diverse
cultures and diverse age groups. For example,
her most recent work involved a 'developmentally
appropriate progression' program at the
Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation in Ruidoso
New Mexico. This program involved interaction
with parents and children in their communities
and family homes. Jessica looks forward to
working with HILO™
students and to become
involved in the Austin community. She is pleased
to join the Overton group and is excited at the
prospect of making a difference in the future of
Austin children.
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Marva Overton
HILO Parent
Coordinator
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Marva serves as a Parent
Coordinator with the HILO™ program while also
serving as Executive
Director of the Alliance for African American
Health in Central Texas. Marva approaches both
of these roles with her passion for engaging
people to help communities develop and
implement strategies that can address issues that they
feel are important and that can impact their quality
of life. Prior to her current focus on
community engagement, Marva held professional
experience in the fields of Human Resources and
Information Technology, including work for IBM
as an SAP systems consultant. Marva
received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Vanderbilt University, and her
Master of Business Administration from UT
Austin.
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The
Overton Group Board of Directors
The Overton Group Board of Directors has supported the
vision of Roscoe Overton for many years. We are
proud of our current accomplishments and we look forward
to an expansion of venues in which to present the HILO™ curriculum..
Kara ArdisPresident
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Kara Ardis is
an innovative thinker who specializes in operational
strategy. She is skilled in adapting efficiencies,
project implementation and long term growth planning.
Ms. Ardis has extensive leadership experience in building
collaboration and overall organizational improvement.
She has successfully educated Superintendents and CFO's
on investing alternatives, implemented an enormous software
change for a nationally ranked insurance agency, helped many
companies increase efficiencies and performance, and served
on a core team for multiple acquisitions. She used her
investment and legal background to support companies in
successfully delivering expertise and operations with the
right tools. She’s led cost benefit analysis in all facets
of company services, contracts and budgeting.
Ms. Ardis earned her B.A. degree from Drake U. and attained
her FINRA licenses including the Series 7, 63 and 24
(Designated Supervisor).
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Florence O.
Black
Vice President
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| Florence Black has been involved with The Overton Group since its inception. She is Executive Administration Assistant for Emerson Process Management, Austin, Texas. Previously, Florence worked with the Travis County Government and tried her hand in the private sector. Florence earned her Bachelors of Science in sociology from the University of Texas at Austin a with concentration in Social Welfare Studies. Her community involvement includes serving as a board member of the Volma Overton U. V. Christian Scholarship Foundation. She is a member of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church. |
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Kathy Barrett
Treasurer
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Kathy’s professional background is in workforce development and career counseling. As a Licensed Professional Counselor, Kathy practices at the Samaritan Center for Counseling and Pastor Care. Kathy received her Bachelors in Sociology with minors in Psychology and Religion from Southwestern University. Her Ed.S in Career Counseling and her Masters in Counseling are from Florida State U. She is an active member of University United Methodist Church and the Kaleidoscope Village co-housing community. Kathy enjoys ballroom dancing.
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Kenneth Thompson
Board Member |
Kenneth D.
Thompson Sr. is the lead host for “The Dad-Show”
radio talk-show in Austin, Texas, and the
featured facilitator for “Focus on Fathers”. He
also hosts the "Wake-Up Call" each Wednesday
morning on KAZI radio 88.7FM in Austin. A
parent, educator, facilitator and mentor,
Kenneth is also a former President of the Board
of Trustees for the Pflugerville Independent
School District, and was the first
African-American elected to political office in
Pflugerville. He is also a former Vice President
of the Texas Caucus of Black School Board
Members.
Kenneth served as Director of “All American
Mentoring Project”, with its emphasis on
children from single parent homes and low social
economic status. Today, as Director of the East
Austin Youth Foundation; he helps provide sports
activities to about 200 youths, while promoting
high academic achievement. Kenneth also serves
on the Board of, “ANewEntry LLC”, a program
providing counseling and transitional housing to
formerly incarcerated men. Kenneth was appointed
to the National Advisory Board by the Quality
Improvement Center on Non-Resident Fathers in
the Child Welfare System. He is a graduate of
Southwest Institute of Technology.
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Melinda Wofford Board Member
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Melinda Hornsby
Wofford is a native Austinite and a retired
lawyer who has worked for the State of Texas in
several capacities. In retirement she has
volunteered widely in the Austin community,
including the Dripping Springs Community
Library, Dripping Springs Schools’ booster
clubs, Outreach Assistance program at University
Presbyterian Church (UPC) where she also served
as deacon, elder and participant in mission
projects, helping to build homes for families in
Mexico. Along with members of the UPC Choir,
Melinda has staged musical fundraisers for UPC
assistance and food pantry programs operated by
eleven UT area churches. Mr. and Mrs. Wofford
are members of the Pairing Committee of Corinth
Missionary Baptist Church and UPC to plan
periodic joint services and projects to
diversify church experience for both
congregations. She received her BA and Legal
degrees from UT at Austin.
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Paul E. Trejo
Board Member |
| Paul Trejo is a
published author and a certified ESL instructor.
He has more than 30 years experience in the
computer industry, with two decades of
experience working with international corporations in
which diversity was emphasized.
Paul grew up in a large extended family with
members in three sides of the neighborhood and
in three cultures. He received his BA from USNY and
his MA from Cal State U. at
Dominguez Hills. Emerging from a home in which Spanish alone was spoken by the elders, Paul cares strongly about language barriers and bridges. Paul currently works
at UT Austin, McCombs School of Business, is an active volunteer at University United
Methodist Church, and maintains this web site. |
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