DLC Staff and Board of Directors

Board members serve as advocates in the community and help increase public awareness of the critical role education plays in the lives of children, individuals, families, and the local economy.  They also assume the responsibility of governance and policy direction as it relates to DLC programs.  The board develops and champions adopted strategic goals for the agency in the areas of:

• Communications

• Customer Service

• Information Technology

• Fund Development

• Expansion & New Ventures

Responsibilities Shared by the Board of Directors:

• Supervision of and compliance with the fiscal, legal, and moral responsibilities of DLC

• Review of the budget and financial reports

• Involvement in fundraising

• Participation in the creation, implementation, administration, and evaluation of programs, policies, and procedures.

Staff

Sandra Daley - Executive Director of Programs

Sandra Daley is Executive Director of DLC’s day to day operations. She is experienced in providing business, job coaching/placement, career development and entrepreneurial services to corporations and small businesses. Sandra’s professional experience includes, software and systems engineering, quality assurance, and program management. Sandra has extensive management experience and is a manager of managers. She holds a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of California, Irvine and is currently working toward completing a Master of Science in Project Management (MSPM) from St. Edwards University in Austin, TX. Sandra’s prior community involvement includes, serving as a member of the Tustin, CA school district educational standardization project team, commissioned to review, recommend and modify the district’s curriculum. Sandra also served the communities where she lived, by providing afterschool programs to school children and career development and entrepreneurial classes to adults.

Sandy Ervin – Director of Special Needs/Learning Disabilities/General Education

Sandy's 15+ years of educational and professional experience include, her teacher's certification with an endorsement to special education; teaching and accelerated curriculum to children in regular education classrooms; Designing and developing forms and materials used for training purposes; Designing strategies to create a learning atmosphere and motivate others with diverse backgrounds for success; Building effective working relationships with management and staff; Plan multi-age level curriculum to meet the needs of all students; Instrumental in developing an age-appropriate curriculum for school’s accreditation; Individualized accommodations for the struggling student by modifying curricula for children with special needs and learning differences; Obtained a high rate of success on Reading TAKS test, while achieving “Commendable” TAKS test results annually for over 50% of ‘assigned’ students.

Board Members

Katina Bland – CEO/CFO

Katina Bland serves DLC as the Board Member/CFO. Katina is also the co-founder of Isaiah Hope Inc, a nonprofit corporation that services children with developmental disabilities. Katina is employed as CEO of the Dare 2 Care Corporation, which specializes in adult care. Katina has over 10 years administrative or supervisory experience in social work, child care and/or support staff providing direct services to children in an agency or in a community care facility. She has served as a child educational advocate to many children in Individuals Education Plan (IEP) meetings. She also has extensive experience in business management, the creation of policies and procedures, managing organizational budget and expenditures. Katina’s community involvement includes services as a special Olympic coach for summer and winter games. Katina is married and has three children.

Kerry Anne Purkiss – Director

Kerry Anne Purkiss serves as the educational leader of currilum for DLC. Kerry holds a Master of Education degree and is currently working on her Doctorate in Curriculum Development. Kerry brings over 15+ years of educational experience working in the New York and Florida public high schools as a teacher and curriculum administration. She has establised and promoted high standards and expectations for all students and staff. She has also supervised the instructional programs of the school, evaluating lesson plans and observing classes (teaching, as duties allow), Kerry encourages the use of a variety of instructional strategies and materials consistent with research for learning and child growth development. She has worked to nurture both students and teachers to achieve their greatest potential academically, instructionally and spiritually. She ensures an atmosphere of piety, obedience and charity throughout the school day. Kerry works diligently to provide a safe recreation and play period for the students.

Lisa Snyder – Director

Lisa Snyder is married and a mother of two young children. Currently, she is very involved in volunteering at her children's school. Her current school-related responsibilities include volunteering in the library, reading to children, helping with lunch and recess duties, as well as, offering direct support to the teachers. She has a B.S. in Psychology and a Masters in Social Work. As a social worker, she has had extensive experience working with children of all ages in educational and community mental health settings. Additionally, she has worked with adults in community mental health and nursing home settings. Her passion is to help make a difference in the lives of children and youth.

Melissa Walker – Director

Melissa Walker is a consultant with Central Park Imaging and Capital Imaging Centers in Austin, Texas. She has over 15 years experience in business operations and administration across multiple industries. In her commitment to education, she has worked as a substitute teacher in a private school, a volunteer tutor in the public school system, a volunteer with county youth, and a certified personal trainer in health and fitness. She has volunteered in various capacities through the Junior League, Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, the American Cancer Society, and a number of churches. Melissa earned a B.A. in business administration and French from Baylor University and a M.B.A. in business management from St. Edward’s University. She has studied and pursued an interest in global business in Paris, France, Budapest, Hungary, and Dublin, Ireland. She has two adult children.

Julie Hampton – Director

Julie Hampton is the President and owner of Elite R.E. Loan Processing. She has owned her own company since 1998 and has worked in Real Estate for over 25 years. She holds a valid California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology License, working in this field for 14 years. Julie is the founder of Warming Hearts Inc, a non-profit organization making baby blankets for babies born with heart defects; in memory of her son she recently lost. She is the mother of three and the grand-mother of one, with one on the way.  In her spare time, she enjoys attending church, listening to books on audio and seeing movies.