Board Members

Lu Ann Faulkner-Schneider
She received a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from the University of Oklahoma and master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Oklahoma State University.She began an eight year teaching career in the Child Development Center at Oklahoma City Community College. Most of her teaching career was spent teaching preschool at West Nichols Hills Elementary in Oklahoma City Public Schools.Summer vacations were spent working with school-age children at the child care facility at West Nichols Hills.

The last 19 years, Ms. Faulkner-Schneider has worked for Oklahoma Child Care Services.She began as a licensing specialist and now works as the state coordinator of school-age initiatives, the Oklahoma Better Baby Care Campaign, facilitates workgroups for the OK Early Learning Guidelines and Core Competencies for Early Childhood Practitioners, and manages contracts for Registry/REWARD and the child care conference voucher program.

Eileen Van Kirk
She has served as an OKAA board member since 1993.During that time she has held the office of secretary (1996-7) and president (1999-2000).Eileen joined the Oklahoma Afterschool Network as project coordinator in September 2007. Some of her projects at OKAN include: providing leadership to the annual “Lights On!” Event, managing the Quality Advisors Technical Assistance project, “Spotlight Afterschool”, and assisting with the “Ready by 21” Quality Counts Initiative.

Prior to that, she spent 14 years as the coordinator of “School’s Out!”, a community partnership between the City of Muskogee and Muskogee Public Schools that offers before and after school care in ten elementary schools, as well as full day out-of-school time programming during the summer and holiday breaks. She has presented workshops on a variety of topics to administrators, directors and direct care staff members and is NIOST trained as a Quality Advisor.

Sybille McKay
Born and raised in Wiesbaden Germany, married a US Serviceman and moved to Lawton, OK in 1992. She has a son that is married and has a five month old daughter. She received my Bachelor Degree in Human Ecology (Family Science and Early Childhood) from Cameron University and a Master in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma. She has been inchildcare for 21 years. She has worked for the Army as a Family Child Care Provider and then as a Lead Education Technician in a preschool room in the military CDC in Baumholder.

When she moved to Lawton she worked as in a privately owned center as Director and was responsible for the school age program. In 2003 she accepted a position on Ft. Sill as the Training Specialist for School-Age Services, Youth Services, and Family Child Care. She has been a trainer with the CECPD since 1993. She is a CDA advisor and a CDA representative since 1994 and a Representative for the Military School-age Credential (School-age CDA) since 2005.

Lea Nance
She is one of two Team Leaders for the Tulsa Public Schools Before and After Care Program. The program serves K-5th graders at over 25 elementary schools in the Tulsa Public Schools District. As a Team Leader Lea's favorite duties are helping Supervisors of each program realize their goals and potential, which in turn makes the environment a more enriching place for the children to spend their afternoons.

Also, she enjoys watching the spark of learning that takes place when exciting activities are taking place. Lea is the proud mom of a 10 year old daughter and infant son.In her spare time she loves to spend time with her husband and children, hunting, and reading. Lea is excited to be part of the growing community of after school leaders and workers dedicated to making a difference.

Martha McCartney
She has been taking care of kids since her very-much-in-demand babysitting days at the age of 12. She is married to Pat and has two married children and two grandchildren. Her love of children and her love of music and the arts—her college major--have shaped her professional career.

That career started in 1975 as a part time music teacher at the Fort Sill Preschool that led to teaching a half day three year old class and teaching music half a day for all other pre-school classes. Teaching and serving as assistant director of a preschool in the following years was the catalyst to owning her own business.

In 1984, Martha purchased Play To Learn Pre-School and was owner/director of a pre-school that became one of the best-known and respected in Lawton.

In 1989, she formed a partnership with Pam Kerr and established PLAYCARE, INC., consisting of five licensed child care centers which also served school-age children.

In 1992, Martha and Pam, seeing the lack of programs designed for the needs of school-age children, researched the School-Age Program grants that were offered through DHS. The love of school-age programs blossomed and grew to 7 programs conducted in shared space provided by Lawton Public Schools with Martha as Managing Supervisor. As these programs were later discontinued by the Lawton Public School system, Playcare realized that the need for school-age care was a real issue. In 1999, The Lawton School-Age Clubhouse became a reality.

Martha has served on the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma Afterschool Association since it began in 1993 and has served as Association President for two different terms of office. She is also a frequent presenter of caregiver classes at state and national school-age and pre-school childcare conferences and is a national School-age program and credential Endorser accredited by the National After-School Association.

Debbie Sekel
She brings 17 years of experience in the areas of school age care, early childhood education, administration and training to the OKAA Board of Directors.  She is currently the Coordinator of the Tulsa Public Schools Before/After Care Program. Debbie has had the incredible opportunity of working with a great team to develop the Tulsa Public Schools Before/After Care Program from an idea to a program that serves over 900 children in over 25 elementary schools.

In addition to her regular duties, Debbie is adjunct faculty at Tulsa Technology Center, where she provides training to professionals in the field of school age care. Debbie serves on several committees and boards such as Youth Development/Out-of-School-Time Committee, Community Schools Committee and the Tulsa Technology Advisory Board. Debbie is very passionate about children receiving quality care during the out-of-school-time hours and she is equally passionate about school age professionals having opportunities to participate in quality training activities.

Lisa Fry
She is currently serving as Resource and Referral Coordinator of Rainbow Fleet, an innovative early childhood education project whose goal is to enhance the quality of life for children, families and child care professionals by providing continuous support for early childhood and out of school programs. Lisa earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Family and Child Development at the University of Central Oklahoma. Lisa has over sixteen years of experience in the field of early care and education and out of school time programming.  Lisa has served in the following capacities:

  • Resource and Referral Specialist
  • Community Outreach Specialist
  • Assistant Director/Director of Child Care Facility
  • Director of School Age Facility- 1st-7th grade
  • Head Start/Early Head Start Staff

These opportunities have allowed Lisa to work with and advocate for children and youth, along with their families. Lisa enjoys working with the community and providing outreach services.

Nia Stokes
Nia Stokes has an Associates degree in Middle Childhood from Tulsa Community College. She also has her National Administrators Credential and Directors Advanced Training. She has been an employee of Jenks Public Schools since 1998 and is the District Program Coordinator for the Before / After School and Adventure Club Programs.

In 2004 Nia won the Vision of Excellence Award given by the Jenks School District. She is currently a member of the advisory board of Tulsa Technology.

Karen Henderson
Karen Henderson has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northeastern State University of Oklahoma. She is currently working towards her Associate degree in Child Development.

She has been an employee of Jenks Public Schools since 1999 and is the site director of the Jenks West Elementary Before and After School Enrichment program.

Terri Craig
She is the Executive Director of the Community After School Program, Inc. in Norman, Oklahoma. CASP is a local, nonprofit agency that has been providing before and after school care to children in the Norman Public Schools and Robin Hill Public School districts since 1974. Although Terri did not officially join the CASP Team until May, 2005, she has a long history with this well-respected agency as a former CASP parent.

Terri received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma in 1985 and began her professional career with the University of Oklahoma Foundation, Inc. in 1986. That experience combined with her personal volunteerism paved the way for her career change in 2005. Terri has been active in numerous nonprofits and organizations and is currently serving on the Oklahoma Afterschool Association Board of Directors, Norman Public Schools Health Advisory Council, and the Moore-Norman Technology Early Care and Education Advisory Committee. She is also involved in a number of collaborative efforts and partnerships that seek to benefit and improve the lives of the children in the local community.

Terri has been married to her husband, Pat, for 25 years and has one son, Tucker, 16. She and her husband moved to Norman in 1982 and consider it a privilege to live in a community that gives more than just “lip service” to important social issues. “Through its many wonderful social service agencies and caring volunteers, Norman has become an example to other communities. When you combine a caring community with the wealth of talent and programs offered through the University of Oklahoma, you truly have the makings of a magical partnership.”