Region 7 ESC Employee Spotlight
At Region 7 ESC, we're proud to shine a light on the incredible individuals who dedicate their lives to making a difference in education. Our biweekly Employee Spotlight highlights team members whose passion and commitment help shape the future of our students. Through their hard work and expertise, they support both teachers and students across the region. This week, we're excited to introduce three standout employees who exemplify what it means to lead with heart.
Christen is a Specialist in the Curriculum Services Department and has been in education for 17 years.
"Education is extremely important to me because it creates opportunities for students who may not otherwise have access to them. I’ve always felt called to be in education. It has always been more than a job to me, it’s a purpose. I believe in the power of a great education, and I’ve committed myself to being part of that transformation, not just for students but also for teachers and leaders. One of my personal missions has been to close the reading and thinking gap. I came to Region 7 because I saw the chance to extend my impact by supporting campuses and districts at a broader level. Helping others build systems and strategies that lead to stronger instruction and better outcomes for all learners is deeply meaningful work for me."
Gaelen is a Liaison in the Special Education Department and has been in education for 17 years.
"I have always felt called to engage in work that focuses on serving others. While in college, I discovered a natural outlet for this drive in the field of education through School Psychology. Once working in the world of Public Education, I was forced to grow my skills because I needed to find solutions to the challenges my students and I were experiencing. This time spent serving students, staff, and families directly was amazing and very fulfilling. When I learned about the opportunity to work for the Region 7 Education Service Center, I saw it as a way to increase the knowledge and skills of educators throughout our region. It seemed right that I should take what I had learned about effective practices and spread it further as a Behavior Specialist and now as a Special Education Liaison focusing on systems-level change. I am so blessed to be able to help children throughout our communities achieve improved outcomes and greater success!"
Lannette is a Specialist in the Special Education Department and has been in education for 31 years.
"I am a Special Education Specialist in the area of Visual Impairment. This specialization is designed to serve individuals with visual impairments from birth to 22 years of age. Before coming to Region 7 ESC, I worked as a special education teacher at Whitehouse ISD. I taught Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) in Whitehouse for 22 years before returning to college to complete a master’s degree in the area of visual impairments. After transferring into the Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TSVI) role in 2016, I served as an itinerant TSVI in Whitehouse ISD, Arp ISD, and Troup ISD before accepting a position at Region 7 in July 2021. As you can see, I love working with students with special needs. I am very passionate about the field of visual impairments because it is a low-incidence disability that many people forget about due to its rarity. I really enjoy providing training opportunities that raise awareness and provide resources to teachers serving students with special needs across the region. I am also passionate about the opportunity to support our students through various Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) events designed to provide community-based learning opportunities in all nine areas of the ECC. Direct instruction in the ECC is key for students who experience blindness or visual impairment, so it is my privilege to have the opportunity to play a role in such an impactful area of their education. I love my job because I get to work alongside a fantastic group of people and am blessed with the opportunity to help make a difference in the life of a student each and every day!"