Leadership Team

Bobbie Hurd, MBA

President/CEO

Helping and giving back has always been a passion and goal for Bobbie. Coming from a corporate background she was in search of a career placement that gave her the opportunity to give back while also utilizing her assets as an accountant.  Bobbie ran across an ad for Communities In Schools of East Texas and immediately applied. She knew of CIS from high school, as there was a CIS program on her campus. She knew that this position would be ideal for her as it's mission and core values aligned with hers.

In 2009 she started with CIS as Fiscal Director. In 2013 she took over as Interim Executive Director and was ultimately promoted to President/CEO. Bobbie states that she absolutely LOVES CIS and our mission and she is humbled and blessed to be in the position that she's currently in. Although she is not in the field, she takes every opportunity that she gets to visit campuses and interact with students. She can relate to many of the challenges and struggles that most of our CIS students face.  According to Bobbie, Communities In Schools is an amazing organization, and she gives all credit of growth and success to her amazing staff.

 


Vickee Arledge

Data Entry Coordinator

In December of 2009 Vickee started another job but before she went to work she saw an ad on the workforce website that was really more of what she was looking for. After a month long wait she was called for an interview. A couple of weeks later she got the job! Vickee went to work for Communities In Schools of East Texas in January of 2010 as a part time data specialist. A few years later she was promoted to full time Data Coordinator.

As Data Coordinator she manages 2 part time data specialists. The data team audits and enter school services and events for 43 schools. This year Vickee started her 12th year with Communities In Schools of East Texas and she states that she loves her job and she is humbled to be a part of this amazing organization.

 


Vanessa Bell, MSW

Program Coordinator

Meeting the needs of others has always been a driving force for Vanessa’s career path. Vanessa has worked in the human services industry for 30+ years, always seeking additional methods to help others who need assistance while improving their quality of life.

Vanessa has an Associates of Arts in Mental Health from Southern University-Shreveport (SUSLA), a Bachelors of Science in Human Service/Management, a Masters of Management/HR Management and a Master of Social Work from University of Texas in Arlington, Texas.

Vanessa has been employed with Communities in Schools of East Texas for seven years with her initial position being a Site Coordinator. As a Site Coordinator, Vanessa was able to further experience and gain firsthand knowledge of what students and families needed to thrive in their school and community. Have you ever heard the phrase "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach him to fish and you feed him for a lifetime?" 

Not only does Vanessa believe in motivating students and families while assisting them, she believes in giving students and families the tools and resources needed to maintain their independence by teaching them to access community resources and advocate for themselves.

 


Kim Gonzales

Programming and Quality Assurance Director

Kim joined the Communities In Schools team in 1999 as a Site Coordinator at Pine Tree Jr. High and then moved to the Jefferson High School campus. She is currently a Master Trainer, and Program and Quality Assurance Coordinator. She takes an active role in managing staff and visiting campuses to ensure that the programs are intentional and effective. She also is very involved with local colleges and universities to recruit and train interns and volunteers. One of her favorite parts of her job is visiting CIS programs and meeting students. Her goal in life is to use her gifts and talents to serve others. Along with working for CIS, she is a wife, a mother of two boys, and a foster parent. When she is not at work, you will find her at church, or outdoors camping or hiking with her family.

 


Patricia Harbin

Development & Marketing Coordinator

Trish began her journey with Communities In Schools of East Texas in August of 2020 as a Site Coordinator at Wilkerson Intermediate in Conroe ISD.  During her first year with CISETX Trish excelled on her campus and by December of 2021 she was promoted to Development and Marketing Coordinator for all of Communities In Schools of East Texas.  Trish has an Associates Degree from Lone Star College and a Bachelors of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Sam Houston State University. 

In her current role, Trish currently creates, develops, and oversees the organization's marketing and social media strategies advancing the organization's brand in the community. She creates and/or approves select print materials and written communications, both internally and externally, including digital newsletters, and marketing materials.  She promotes the organization's message through all media platforms including website and social media.  Trish supports fundraising events through the creation of marketing timelines, promotions and printed material.

 


JaDana Hygh

Program Coordinator

JaDana Hygh serves as a Program Coordinator for Communities In Schools of East Texas. She is a native of Marshall, Tx, and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Education from Wiley College. She joined Communities In Schools of East Texas in August of 2016.

As a Program Coordinator, she is responsible for providing effective leadership, training, supervision, and coordination to CIS project sites. 

JaDana enjoys spending time with family and close friends.

 


Trezlyn Lamb, MHS

Field Operations Director

Trezlyn became a site coordinator in 2017. Her ambitions only allowed her to be a site coordinator for one year before the opportunity to become program coordinator presented itself. In her second year she was promoted to Program Coordinator while also being site staff with a full caseload. Although, challenging Trezlyn has stated that she would change nothing about that year. She firmly believes that she was destined to work with the youth in some capacity. As a child she wanted to be a juvenile probation officer. She attended Tarleton State University and obtained a bachelor of science in criminal justice. Her dream of being a juvenile probation officer did not come true however, she did the next best thing, and became a high school Social Studies teacher. After teaching for 10 years at a Title I campus, she decided that students needed more of her.

She resigned from teaching and pursued a Masters of Science in Human Services. Her calling remained working with at-risk students only now, she would service not just student needs but their families as well.
Her dream is to one day have her own non-profit, and a mentoring and counseling center for teens and young adults.

However, she is elated to be a part of Communities in Schools of East Texas as it is a part of her now. Trezlyn is proud to be a leader with an agency that has a strong mission statement for a culture that she is so passionate about. 

 


Tara Stanley

Administrative Assistant

Tara began her Communities In Schools journey in 2021 as a Site Coordinator at Foster Middle School in Longview ISD. Shortly after completing her first year, she was promoted to Administrative Assistant. As the Administrative Assistant, she handles all financial matters as well as clerical responsibilities for Communities In Schools of East Texas. Tara is a proud mother of 2 children and 2 dogs. Outside of work, she enjoys church, time with family and traveling.