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Gayla Baldacci - Teacher
Gayla has been a special education teacher since August 2001. She married her husband in 2008 and they reside in Fort Worth Texas. Gayla has two children who love to keep her very busy and active.
"The grass may look greener on the other side, but you never know what is truly going on with someone else and within their lives. Be Kind and take time to understand"
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Tracy Beams -Teacher Assistant
Tracy has been married for 30 years and has 2 children. Her son Jordan works for Oncor and daughter Allison is finishing up her degree at Texas Womens in Education. She has one grandson and another on the way! He is due in December.
Tracy has been in FWISD for 21 years and here at Jo Kelly School for the last 17 years.
"Jo Kelly has the best students. I am very fortunate to be here. And I Love my Job!!"
"For we live by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7
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Michelle Black - Teacher
Shelly grew up in Kansas City and came to Texas to attend TCU. She graduated in 1989 with a degree in elementary education with a specialty in special education. She was hired by FWISD and began teaching at Jo Kelly in the fall of 1989. She is married and has one son who is a graduate from Trinity University.
"I feel blessed to be here at Jo Kelly teaching these students. Not everyone gets the chance to have their dream job"
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Adam Chittum - Teacher Assistant
"Adam came to Fort Worth from the Kansas City area last year. He has been working with the special needs population for over 25 years. His sister-in-law Jayne has Rett Syndrome and is his favorite person in the world! (just don't tell her sister/his wife)
Adam and his wife Jill, have 3 cats- Hank, Bandit, & Taco- that keep them extremely busy and entertained. Adam's hobbies include playing guitar and singing for money, eating chocolate ice cream, and taking naps- although not necessarily in that order.
FUN FACTS: Adam is a preacher's kid and got into a lot of trouble growing up. "He has lived in 8 different states and just completed his 39th (and hopefully last) move this summer.""
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Caress Abrams - Teacher
Caress was born in Chicago Il. he was raised in Arlington Texas, attended and graduated from Southern University A&M College, Baton Rouge LA. Caress Abrams has a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, a Sociology background and a Texas Teacher Certification for K-12 Special Education.
Her future educational goals are a Master of Education in Leadership from UTA. Mrs. Abrams had worked as a paraprofessional in Mansfield for three years prior to joining the Fort Worth ISD team.
She has dedicated her life to her husband, children and community. Mrs. Abrams believes every child can shine with encouragement and promoting a developmental atmosphere.
“When you realize God’s purpose for your life isn’t just about you, He will use you in a mighty way.” DR. Tony Evans.
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Vanessa Swanson - Teacher Assistant
Vanessa has been a part of Jo Kelly School for 21 years, and with FWISD for 28. She has a 22 year-old son. Her mom and son mean the world to her and she is drawn to the children at Jo Kelly School.
"My calling is working with special needs children as well as the elderly."
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Mary McKinnie - Teacher / Teacher of the Year 2021-2022 / Finalist for Elementary District Teacher of the Year 2021-2022
Mary McKinnie started teaching in 2014 and came to Jo Kelly School in fall 2019. She graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Early Childhood Education with a focus in Special Education from TCU. She has volunteered at Jo Kelly since she was a child. She loves purple, the TCU Horned Frogs, arts and crafts, and reading.
"I have always enjoyed the positive atmosphere on campus and it is a privilege to serve the kiddos and staff here.”
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Treasett Horner-Davis - Teacher Assistant / Teacher Assistant of the Year 2020-2021
treasett.horner-davis@fwisd.org
Treasett is originally from Kansas. She has been living in Texas for the last eighteen years with her husband, two sons Kenneth, and Koreyan and her bonus daughter Nikki.
Treasett and her husband have a youth sports organization where she coaches football, basketball and track.
She is currently working on a bachelor’s degree from SNHU and plan to work at Jo Kelly School as a teacher in the near future.
"When you love what you are doing, it’s not work!"
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Kirstie Buggar - Teacher
Kirstie graduated From TCU in 2012 with a Bachelors in Child development but life led her on another path for a few years. She received her CNA certification in 2013 and had been working in the hospitals until she decided to start substituting in 2016. She realized that she had a passion for teaching and loved working with the special needs population so she started the path to getting her teaching certification. She is extremely happy to be here and believes that her medical background makes her the perfect fit to work with the population of students here at Jo Kelly and she plans to be here for many years to come. When Kirstie is not here at school she is a wife and mom to three great kiddos and enjoys spending as much time as she can with her family.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8
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Angela Gaudet - Teacher Assistant
Angela.Gaudet@fwisd.org
Angela has been working with special needs children for the past 19 years and within the school system since 2011. She came to Jo Kelly in 2016 and feels beyond blessed to have found a home here with such a passionate team . Her family includes husband Greg, son Talis, and daughter Rinley. Her fur-babies include dogs Dirk and Lola. Angela has an Associates Degree in Child Development and hopes to finish her degree to become a teacher.
