Fritzi Cates – Executive Director
Fritzi Cates is a Texas Tech graduate with over 23 years experience in non-profit work, and served as the Executive Director of Women’s Protective Services of Lubbock, Inc for 13 years, prior to joining High Point Village.
Fritzi enjoys outdoor activities, gardening, traveling and spending time with family and friends.
Kyle Dungan – Communications Coordinator
Kyle Dungan is a Texas Tech Graduate with a major in Electronic Media and Communications. He co-directed a youth worship and arts ministry at First Lubbock for two years during his college career.
Kyle has experience in social media marketing, event planning, community relations, and online software. Along with his devotion to help others, Kyle’s interests include music, sports, dogs, and church events.
Traci Ysasaga – Program Director
Traci Villanueva is a Lubbock native who graduated from Texas Tech with a major in Human Development and Family Studies in 2011. Traci was a cheerleader at Tech her freshman year and enjoyed being involved with and representing her school.
During her time at Tech, she was a coach and coordinator of a dance program at a local cheer and dance facility. Traci’s last semester was spent interning for another local non-profit organization where she assisted in directing an after-school mentoring program for at-risk students.
She feels blessed to be a part of such an amazing organization.
tvillanueva@highpointvillage.org
Megan Rieff – Reach High Director
Megan Rieff graduated from Wayland Baptist University. While double majoring in Art and Religion, she began exploring how she could make a positive impact on the world through art and building relationships.
She was able to find one such outlet when she began working with an inspiring young lady with special needs, who ignited a passion for helping in this particular field. This passion was further kindled while caring for a small boy with down syndrome who she says would “melt your heart.”
She is excited to be serving alongside the amazing people at High Point Village, and feels incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to help make a difference in peopleʼs lives. Meganʼs other passions include photography, her pets, and her family.
Tawny Mills – Reach High Teaching Assistant
A native of West Texas, Tawny Mills graduated from Texas Tech University in 2012 with a major in General Studies and an emphases in English, Art History, and Sculpture. In addition to acting as Student Senator for the College of Visual & Performing Arts, she enjoyed serving the Lubbock community through charitable and cultural activities alongside fellow members of arts and honor societies during her time at Tech.
Tawny is overjoyed to be given the opportunity to be a part of High Point Village, and looks forward to beginning her journey in such a positive and genuinely caring environment. She feels that each day she is allowed to be involved in the lives of students with special needs in the Reach High program is a blessing and a gift.
She enjoys making art, cooking meals for friends, playing her banjo, and playing with her dog.
Becky Critz – Curriculum Coordinator
Becky graduated with a degree in Elementary Education from Texas Tech and has many graduate study hours in learning disabilities, dsylexia, mental retardation, administration, and autism. After teaching special education for two years, and working for Region IX Education Service Center in Wichita Falls for two years, she “retired” from education to be a stay-at-home mom.
She and her family moved back to Lubbock in 1983 and she began teaching in LISD in 1988. Becky has taught at Rush, Mahon, and Whiteside. For the past 13 years, she have been the autism specialist for LISD. The population of special needs individuals is her passion. She finds it so exciting to be a part of High Point Village.
“The future for this organization and our young people if brighter than anyone can imagine. I feel very blessed to be here! What a great group of people!”
Sharon Donnell – Behavior Consultant
A Native of Amarillo, Sharon attended Texas Christian University and Texas Tech. She Married Bill Donnell and blew into Lubbock with the tornado in 1970. Their daughter, Ann, and her husband, John, live in Cypress, Texas with their three grandchildren.
Sharon worked for the Lubbock schools for 35 years; 29 of those years as a special education teacher and 6 years as a behavior consultant and curriculum materials developer for the Star Program. She was Area 17 Director of Special Olympics for 7 years and served on numerous local, state, and national committees for education and sports opportunities for those with special needs. She was also a local and state Bible Drill Judge for 20 years.
Sharon says the most humbling award she ever received was the Johnny Lam Jones Award presented by Coach Tom Landry from International Special Olympics. She says, “I owe a special thanks for all of those with LISD that taught our students to embrace life with humor and bravery. I am always reminded of the Special Olympian’s Oath ‘Let Me Win But If I Cannot Win, Let Me Be brave in the Attempt.’ As I begin a new venture with High Point Village, I realize that I am surrounded by a Board, staff, and volunteers with such devotion and giving spirits. I look forward to being a part of the development of academic programs for our participants.”
Diana Henderson – Business Manager
Originally from Lake Jackson, Texas, Diana came to West Texas in 1978 to pursue a degree at Wayland Baptist University. After earning a degree in Business Administration at Wayland, she attended Texas Tech for her MBA.
As Diana followed her husband’s career throughout many states, she worked for several businesses in various accounting departments. She also spent several years as a stay at home mom and music teacher! Diana has spent the past ten years helping small businesses manage finances and maximize profits.
Diana has three grown daughters and one son-in-law. She enjoys traveling to see her family who live in Houston, Dallas, and North Carolina.
“I feel very blessed to be a part of this organization,” Diana says. “It is an honor to work with such a passionate staff and Board of Directors.”
