Phyllis Venghaus

Program Director

Phyllis is full of passion and energy that she loves to share with her families and with the PAT Educators. Through her leadership, that same passion and energy is multiplied within the program and the community. She emphasizes reading with your children everyday from an early age and has seen first-hand the impact that can have on a child's life.

Phyllis joined PAT in 2006. She previously worked in area schools for 24 years and in the healthcare system before that. Phyllis completed her BA in Biology with Medical Technology Certification at the University of St. Thomas and her Teacher Certification from the University of Houston at Victoria.

She is married to Dennis and they have three sons and four grandsons and one granddaughter.

Lucy Stanzel

Lucy helped to found the PAT program in 2002. In the time since then, she has witnessed many families positively grow and transform and as a result - the community grow and transform. Lucy is immensely successful at building relationships out in the community.

Prior to 2002 she spent her time in education as a special education teacher, elementary teacher, language and learning teacher, and primary and basic skills teachers. Lucy holds a BA in Elementary and Special Education from Incarnate Word University. She attended Virginia State Petersburg and completed some graduate studies from Lamar University.

Lucy and her husband Bob have three children and five grandchildren.
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Nettie Cernosek

Nettie enjoys visiting with families during personal home visits. She genuinely feels she is a part of each family, celebrating the good times and working through tough times. Nettie joined PAT in 2002, as the first educator with Schulenburg/ Weimar Area PAT.  She was awarded Parent Educator of the Year in 2015 at the PAT National Convention in Dallas.

Prior to coming to PAT, Nettie spent over 34 years in elementary and early childhood education. She holds a BA and Masters of Education from Sam Houston State University.

Nettie is active in multiple agricultural-based organizations and volunteer work.  She and her husband Frankie Joe have two children and seven grandchildren.

Brooksie Fuchs

Brooksie enthusiastically engages with parents to set goals and successfully work to achieve them. Her generous nature is contagious. She is confident in her ability to work with both children and adults.

Before joining PAT in 2004, Brooksie enjoyed her time as an elementary educator and friend to children for over 38 years. Brooksie completed her degree in education from Texas A&M University  at Kingsville. She discovered she was destined to be a teacher when she began her career at the King Ranch in Kingsville where she taught two grades in one room.

Brooksie dearly loves her two children and four grandchildren.


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Jan Whitten

Jan is incredibly poised and patient while she works with her families and children. She finds great thrill in learning and applying all of the latest research and best-practices in early childhood development. She has found her calling with Parents as Teachers.

Before coming to PAT in 2019,  Jan served as Children's Program Director at a shelter for women and children of domestic violence, Admissions Director for a private independent Catholic school, and Assistant Manager for a conference center. Jan holds a bachelors degree in Child Development and Family Relations from the Southern Illinois University.
 
Jan is married and a mother of 9 and a grandmother of 9.

Windi Raphael

Windi gives her heart and soul to her families and to the PAT program.
She works hard with her families to provide them with promising and realistic ideas and solutions.

Windi joined PAT in 2019. Prior to this she spent 30 years in elementary education including working with children who qualified for special education services. She holds a Masters Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Houston.

Her and her husband Gerard have two children.

Erica Steinhauser

Erica is a true team player and works hard to ensure that her families are getting the resources they need. She comes to visits organized and assuring which helps her families feel confident in their parenting practices. One of the many strengths Erica brings to the PAT program is her bilingualism. 

Erica came to PAT in 2017. She has since grown into the role as Deputy Fundraising Coordinator. She continues to work in elementary education.

Erica and her husband Kevin are very involved with their two children and St. Rose of Lima Catholic School.
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Kelli New

Kelli's friendly personality makes it easy for her to build rapport with her families and their children. Her eagerness to learn and energy to do makes her a great resource for the PAT program.

Kelli joined PAT in 2018. She has been working with youth since she graduated high school: from counseling to working with at-risk youth, she has over 10 years experience working with children and their families. Kelli holds a Masters in Counseling from Sam Houston State University.

She and her husband Ryan have two fur-babies that they enjoy coming home to every day.