Meet our High School Teachers and Assistants!
Kimberly Ellis - Teacher
Kimberly.Ellis@fwisd.org
As of August 2019, Kimberly Ellis has rejoined the staff of Jo Kelly School for the second time around. She started her roots in education as a first-year teacher here during the 2009-2010 school year. Afterwards, she spent the next five years serving at Meadowbrook MS as a self-contained teacher in the Special Education’s LINC department for Fort Worth ISD. From 2015 until 2019, she taught Reading Resource/Content Mastery in the Mansfield ISD at Rogene Worley MS.
Kimberly is a wife, mother, and servant-leader at home and her community. She has an undeniable love for children and to see their success. She often can be heard saying that “children help to keep you young at heart”. She has had the blessing to mother five children at home and teach so many others in schools, daycares, and day centers. She loves observing nature, animals, and children at play.
She is a 1991 graduate of the North Carolina Central University (BS in Home Economics/ Child Development) and a 2017 graduate of the University of Texas in Arlington, TX. (M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction).
Is: Servant-leader, Friendly, Lifetime-learner, and Observer of nature
Sibling of: Two vibrant and like-minded sisters, Valerie and Jacqueline
Lover of: Chocolates, Coffee, and Food! I LOVE to read non-fiction, How to's, etc.
Who feels: blessed to serve as a Wife, Mother, Teacher, and a Good Neighbor
Who gives: attention to details and love for my work
Who fears: failing those who depend upon me to come through for them
Who would: like to see the most beautiful islands and lands of the World
Who lives: in the rural area Mansfield, Texas
“With God, nothing is impossible” –Luke 1:37/ Matthew 19:26
Norma T Herrera - Teacher Assistant
Norma is the mother of 4 wonderful kids. She has 3 boys and a girl. Norma was born and raised in Los Angeles California.
"Working at Jo Kelly has been a blessing. I love the students so much like they where my own."
"Where there is a will, there is a way."
Bob Chochola -Teacher
Bob Chochola has been a teacher on the Jo Kelly staff since August of 2015. He began his teaching career with Fort Worth ISD as a substitute teacher in 2007. Bob's first year as a full time teacher for students with special needs was at Forest Oak Middle School in 2010. Bob moved-on to Daggett Middle School (2011-2015), where he continued to teach students with special needs and served there as the Special Education Department Chair and PLC Team Leader for two years.
Prior to 2007, Bob worked in network television as a writer, producer, and editor for more than twenty years (CBS, FOX, ABC, independent production, music videos, and travel-related films). He is also an author (Under a Glass Moon, 2021 Covenant Books), published writer, and photographer and has been a professional musician since 1980. Bob has a Bachelor's Degree in Music Composition from Columbia College and a Master's Degree in Journalism from Roosevelt University, both in Chicago.
"Teaching special needs students has been a call to service for me and I approach it every day with the gratitude and humility it deserves. The opportunity to serve students and their families at Jo Kelly School is an honor and a privilege. I look forward to these new challenges always."
Theresa Mack - Teacher Assistant
Theresa loves working with her kids at Jo Kelly. She has been with the Jo Kelly Staff since 2000 and has thoroughly enjoyed herself working with this special population of students!
"Jo Kelly Kids are the best! There are days you will laugh and days you might cry, but most of all, you give them love! And they will give it back to you!"
Sherri Merchant -Teacher
Sherri joined the Jo Kelly School in 2013. For her it has been a true blessing working here. She loves her students with all her heart. She began working in SPED in 2001 and each year since then has been a blessing.
"I love to look back at all the doors that God opened that led me to Jo Kelly!"
Bridgette Miles - Teacher Assistant
Teacher Assistant of the Year 2018-2019
Prior to becoming a Teacher Assistant in 2016, for 3 years she drove a school bus for FWISD. While she had several routes that were special needs, Jo Kelly was her preferred school. Before coming to FWISD Bridgette worked refurbishing phones and other electronic devices.
"It takes a special group of people to work with a special group of children. I'm glad to be a part of this group. To all the caretakers, thank you for all that you do in your positions. This goes for Special Education, Regular Education as well as the Caretakers outside the School District."
Darrell Sessums - Teacher
Darrell started serving Jo Kelly School in 2015. Before he started his teaching career here at Jo Kelly, Darrell was a teacher and a coach at Eagle Mountain Saginaw School District. He taught RTI Math and coached Football, Basketball and Track. Prior to that he was the Warehouse Manager for a Franchise and Corporate Domino's Pizza Distribution Center.
"I have been blessed with the opportunity to teach at Jo Kelly. It is an honor working with such special students. The staff at Jo Kelly is second to none."
Robyn Irizarry - Teacher Assistant
Robyn joined the Jo Kelly staff in August 2014. She has three sons (one with Down syndrome), and one daughter. Robyn has a grandson and three granddaughters!
She loves Jack in the Box tacos, sweet tea with no lemon and anything chocolate. She cheers for the Dallas Cowboys, likes to play bingo and her favorite color is purple.
Her two most favorite poems are, 'Welcome to Holland', and 'Cause I Ain't Got a Pencil'.
"Potential is not dependent upon IQ." -Special Olympics
Kim Lowe - Teacher Assistant
Kim grew up in Anchorage, Alaska. She graduated with her Associates of Applied Science in Human Services from the University of Alaska Anchorage. Kim is continuing her education and presently working on her Bachelors in Human Services from Columbia College.
The 2022-2023 school year is her first year with the Fort Worth ISD as a Teacher Assistant at Jo Kelly School.
When I am not teaching or crafting and planning awesome things for students, I love spending time with my family, reading, traveling and exploring new places.
You will face many defeats in life, but never let yourself be defeated. -Maya Angelou