Department Staff

Kisha Norris, VP for Education

Dr. Kisha R. Norris serves as Vice President for Education for the Southwestern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in Burleson, Texas. Previously, she served as Vice President of Education and Superintendent of Schools for the Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Dr. Norris has also held advancement and development leadership positions at Southwestern Adventist University, Loma Linda University, and Oakwood University. An educator at heart, she began her career as a high school chemistry and Spanish teacher and later served as an adjunct professor. A graduate of Southwestern Adventist University, Dr. Norris holds a bachelor’s degree in biology, a master’s degree in educational leadership, and a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in management and leadership.

Mike Furr, Director of Secondary Education

Mike attended Adventist schools from grade 1 through 16. He received his undergraduate degree from Southwestern Adventist University and his graduate degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. He has been an educator at Adventist schools and conferences in Texas, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Kansas, Washington, Arkansas and Louisiana. He has been a teacher, principal, conference superintendent and currently is the Director of Secondary Education for the Southwestern Union Conference. Mike is married to Peggy, the registrar at Chisholm Trail Academy, and they have one daughter, Michelle, who is a physical therapist. Mike’s hobby is birding, and he also enjoys camping, travelling, going on mission trips and learning more about Jesus. Mike firmly believes in the following quote taken from Steps to Christ page 90: “There is nothing more calculated to strengthen the intellect than the study of the scriptures.” He feels that if students would spend more time reading and studying their Bibles that they would have a stronger intellect in all subject areas. It would broaden their minds, elevate their thoughts, and strengthen their characters. Students could become the Daniels, Shadrachs, Meshachs and Abednegos of today. He believes that teachers should encourage students to prayerfully study their Bibles and set a positive example by doing so themselves. If we would do this we would truly be “educating for eternity” and educating for “Heaven not Harvard.”

Renee Whiting, Associate Director of Education

Renee Whiting serves as an educational coach for Southwestern Union teachers. She coordinates professional learning communities to promote continuous school improvement and standards-based learning. Renee has worked in education for more than 20 years and has taught kindergarten through twelfth grades. She has served as a principal, school counselor and conference associate superintendent. She holds a master’s degree in school counseling. She is a product of Adventist education and attended Oakwood University and Southern Adventist University. Her father was a pastor and her mother is a retired Adventist educator. Whiting is the mother of three daughters and has three grandchildren.

Kristi Amparan, Registrar/Administrative Secretary

Tim Kripps, Superintendent of Schools

Arkansas-Louisiana Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Tara Bailey, Superintendent of Schools

Oklahoma Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Lawanna McCoy, Office of Education

Southwest Region Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Robyn-Anna Grimsley, Vice President for Education

Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Levi Whitcomb, Associate Superintendent of Schools

Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Smith Castillo, Associate Superintendent of Schools

Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Sandra Patterson, Superintendent of Schools

Texico Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Rosa Arizaga, Associate Superintendent of Schools

Texico Conference of Seventh-day Adventists