Gainesville State School and Supt. Darryl Anderson hitting positive milestones
By Barbara Kessler, TJJD Communications
Gainesville State School Superintendent Darryl Anderson and his campus find themselves in a happy place this fall.
Anderson visited Austin in August to attend the TJJD Board meeting, where we heard that Gainesville State School, which currently serves about 140 youths, is close to fully staffed with Juvenile Correctional Officers. That wasn’t the case – for hardly any facility -- coming out of the COVID years with their challenging quarantines and volatile schedules, followed by the period of the "great resignation" in 2021-22 that stretched employers everywhere, including TJJD.
Today, though, the numbers at the Gainesville campus, tell a story of recovery. The just-enacted five percent raises for state employees and JCOs (who also got a bump in 2022) undoubtedly helped. This was backed by a mighty team effort by HR recruiters and staff who promoted the campus, improving retention as well as recruitment.
Meanwhile, campus leaders have striven to build a positive culture marked by respect, collaboration, and communication. And at the center of this invigorated campus vibe, adding bonhomie and direction is Anderson, a leader who exudes calm, models respect, and knows how to empower his team.
“He problem-solves a lot,” says Assistant Superintendent Michelle Washington Hawkins. “If there’s a problem, he’s open to all solutions. He’ll let the staff create our own culture. It’s so positive and uplifting.”
Anderson arrived at Gainesville in the fall of 2019 after a two-year stint as assistant superintendent at the Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correctional Complex in Brownwood. He immediately sought out community leaders to address what he discerned was a brewing disaffection toward the campus.
“We had to reestablish ties with the local community,” he said, after some employees who’d been terminated were painting an inaccurate picture of the state school operations. “We met with the mayor, the county judge, the chief of police, the county commissioners. We introduced ourselves and said we had a new administration. They were very receptive and said themselves that this facility is a cornerstone of the community.”
Anderson’s next step was to set a good tone and reach out to everyone on campus, something that Washington Hawkins says appears to come naturally to him. He touches base with everyone on campus regularly, from dorm staff to treatment teams to educators at the school, she said. He does not lead from his office, but strolls the campus, praising the good things he sees and making himself available to help with difficulties.
“He is very firm and fair and consistent in what he does. He has a lot of experience behind him, and you can tell,” she said.
Family Enrichment Specialist Stephen Claybrook echoed Washington Hawkins' assessment, saying Anderson's greatest attribute is his consistent approach to staff and unwavering commitment to the agency, which inspires the staff to want to stick with their work helping youth and their families.
"He is a leader by nature," said Claybrook, who previously worked as a chaplain at TDCJ. "I have worked under many wardens and administrators and I rank him up there with a few of the best."
Community Resources Coordinator Kevin Hill sees Anderson as the glue that keeps the Gainesville team together. "What impresses me the most is that he is a man of the people. Mr. Anderson takes time to know all of the staff and youth at GNS. His job is very demanding, yet he never turns down an opportunity to visit or participate in campus activities." And he apologizes for those events he has to miss.
Anderson's democratic approach seems key to the loyalty he instills. Hill recalled a recent day he was trying to safely move volunteers to a campus event. "I recognized that the Superintendent golf cart would be a great alternative for transport," he said. "I felt like I was asking my dad to borrow the car for a Saturday night date! Mr. Anderson loaned me the cart without any hesitation."
A winning combo of education and experience
A Nacogdoches native, Anderson went to college at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia where he lettered in football, though he completed his degrees at Texas A&M University – Commerce (a master’s in counseling education) and Huston-Tillotson University in Austin (a bachelor’s in physical education).
He boasts three decades of corrections and residential care experience, working with adults and youth in various settings. He was a client care specialist at Promise House in Dallas, supporting activities to help youth reduce stress and build life skills, and served as director of the Austin Transitional Center, a 420-bed facility for justice-involved adults needing substance abuse treatment.
Earlier in his career, he served as a Sr. Warden for several Texas correctional facilities, ranging from minimum to maximum security and up to 1,200 beds. These included the North Texas Intermediate Sanction Facility, Kyle Correctional Center, Lockhart Work Program, and the Willacy County State Jail. Before that, he was a Deputy Warden at the Travis County State Jail and Kyle Correctional Center.
Anderson worked outside of Texas briefly at mid-career -- as a Sr. Warden at the East Mississippi Correctional Facility and as Assistant Facility Administrator at the Florida Civil Commitment Facility for sexually violent predators, a unique 600+ bed facility where he developed expertise in administering the PREA law.
He returned to the classroom to teach criminal justice classes at Remington College and the University of Texas at Austin, and he maintained his Red Cross certification for First Aid and CPR.
Education is a big part of his family’s life. His wife, Denise, teaches education counseling at Texas A&M. Their daughter went to medical school and became a gynecologist. Their oldest son is a computer programmer, and their youngest son is a junior in high school at Gainesville. (Darryl and Denise also have four grandchildren, the latest one, Felicity, was born Sept. 10.)
Anderson himself is a lifelong learner, having honed managerial skills and an engaged leadership style that helped him transition smoothly from adult corrections to the juvenile side.
It’s been a great move, he says, reflecting on how he so often heard adult prisoners say they wished someone had intervened in their life when they were younger and showed them better options.
Now that’s what Darryl Anderson and his team are committed to doing, helping TJJD youth find their North Star, a positive, productive path forward through the treatment, education, and life skills they learn at Gainesville State School. Anderson knows how to inspire youth and staff, says Washington Hawkins. “He teaches, he molds, and he believes in the mission statement,” she said.
“Darryl has done a tremendous job promoting trauma informed correction care at Gainesville,” said Alan Michel, Sr. Director of State Facility Operations. “Under his leadership Gainesville is demonstrating a positive campus culture which is reflected in higher numbers of employed staff, a safer campus and effective treatment.”
A campus on the upswing
The campus has not had a serious disruption to programming – a period in which staffing shortfalls require that youth stay in their rooms part of the day – in over a year. And HR stats show that staff retention has improved.
The campus does still have a few open slots for JCOs, but that's because it has added beds and expanded the numbers of the youth in residence. It also recently launched a canine program, and trained staff especially for that dorm. The campus is now so well staffed that it contributes to a small travelling team that can help at other TJJD campuses when they experience a staffing shortfall.
Another factor that helped lift the campus, is that Anderson assembled a strong leadership team, says Washington Hawkins. Anderson demurs on that, however, saying he “inherited” a strong team because the campus had so many experienced staff ready for leadership roles.
Furthermore, Anderson says, the campus feels embraced by the community and draws on a wide labor pool that extends from just north of Gainesville, into Oklahoma, and sweeps in Sherman, Denison, Denton, and the northern D/FW metroplex. Anderson says they staff members commuting from all those communities.
“We are sitting in a very centrally located area. We compete with the sheriffs’ departments in Denton and Dallas. But we have had the raises and that has made us competitive,” he said. “We’re at the point where we can be selective in hiring.”
That’s a great milestone to reach because corrections work is not for everyone. It takes the right person – someone who’s quick-thinking, collaborative, and compassionate with a strong motivation to help others and serve public safety -- to be successful in the field.
When the job is a good fit, juvenile corrections can be highly rewarding because direct care staff play such a vital role in helping turn young lives around.
“Our kids, they test us daily,” Anderson says with a chuckle, “and staff can be challenging at times too!”
The job requires that employees be disciplined, remain calm in the face of provocations, and keep flexible because new scenarios arise all the time, Anderson explained.
Staff must also devote themselves totally to the work while on duty. “They have to leave personal issues at the gate and for 12 hours, they have to flip the switch and turn off their personal life and the emotions that they’re going through,” Anderson said. “They have to come in and focus and keep their radar up, because every day is different.”
“This place is never going to be on remote control. You’re going to have problems and you must have a plan for how you’ll handle it and not panic,” he said. “And you learn from every situation you go into.”
(Photos: Top, Anderson with TJJD Board Chair Scott Matthew; Lower left, Anderson presents an appreciation award to Gainsville State School staffer Ryan Mayfield; Anderson grabs a treat for Baxter, a dog in the canine program at the campus.)
Two members of TJJD team accepted to Governor’s Executive Development Program
By John McGreevy, TJJD Communications
Emily Anderson
Rachel Gandy
TJJD is proud to announce that two of our own have been selected to participate in the Governor’s Executive Development Program (GEDP) at the University of Texas LBJ School of Public Affairs.
Deputy Executive Director for Finance and Operations Emily Anderson and Chief of Staff Rachel Gandy will attend this program – a three-week intensive educational training for top executives in Texas state agencies and universities. The GEDP is designed for those in executive-level positions and responsibility for charting the strategic direction of their organizations. It brings in experts to help the participants learn more about leadership styles and how to better serve the public.
TJJD Executive Director Shandra Carter nominated Anderson and Gandy for the GEDP. The Governor sends requests every year to each state agency and university chief executive officer for nominations to the GEDP program. After receiving nominations, the Office of the Governor reviews the candidates and makes their selections.
It can be a lot of information and to pack into such a short period of time. Because of this, and because three weeks can be a long time to keep most people away from their families or jobs, the program is broken into three one-week sessions, with breaks of three or more weeks in between.
Anderson brings considerable experience in state government to this opportunity. A graduate of Texas Tech University, she joined the agency in 2014 as the director of fiscal affairs. In August 2018 she became the chief financial officer, and in January 2020 she assumed the additional title of chief operating officer, before being named a deputy executive director. Prior to joining TJJD, she spent 11 years at the Texas Department of Transportation, where she worked as a lead budget analyst and a manager of business operations.
Gandy holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and has received graduate degrees from both the LBJ School of Public Affairs and the UT Steve Hicks School of Social Work.
Her career achievements include winning a state fellowship funded by the Hogg Foundation. In this role, she advocated for reforms to federal, state, and local policies concerning disability and mental health services. She was also responsible for developing, supervising, and executing a targeted legislative campaign to improve the identification of and service delivery to students with disabilities.
That campaign led to important legislative changes, and she received the 2017 Justin Dart Memorial Award for Outstanding Service from the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities.
Gandy also served as vice chair of the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities and co-facilitator of the City of Austin Youth Justice Task Force.
Anderson and Gandy join the ranks of other TJJD staff who have previously participated in the GEDP. Deputy Executive Director Sean Grove, Chief Information Officer Nate Jackson, and Senior Director of Secure Facilities Treatment Services Alan Michel have all completed the program and speak highly of their experiences.
“The Governor’s Executive Development Program is a great experience to further develop our state agency leaders,” said Grove. “I particularly enjoyed the fellowship with peers across different state agencies, and the opportunity to increase my skill set to better support our staff while working towards the highest level of customer service for the people of Texas.”
The Governor’s Executive Development Program was a positive experience, agreed Michel. “The program’s goal is to develop skills and competencies for selected state agencies leaders, which can implement change. The program increased my understanding of basic leadership styles, understanding concepts to lead change and interpersonal effectiveness.”
“During the program, you meet and share ideas with other future leaders,” Michel said. “The program guided me to develop a process, which successfully implements the change model.”
TJJD is proud to have Anderson and Gandy representing the agency in the GEDP and look forward to their contributions in helping to shape the future of juvenile justice service in Texas.
Football coaches team-up for a winning year
By John McGreevy, TJJD Communications
The Lone Star High School Southeast football team is off to a start that’s almost as sizzling hot as the weather. While the young men on the gridiron deserve all the praise they’ve been getting, it seems fitting to give some of the kudos to the coaching staff.
Head Coach Jonathan Wells and Assistant Coaches Nancy Salinas and Martin Rangel have got the Mustangs in position for a great year in the TAPPS (Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools) League, opening the season with a 2-0 start.
Coach Wells enters his third year as a PE teacher and football coach at the Giddings campus. In an impressive career spanning over 30 years that has seen him in the role as teacher, principal, and athletic director, he says coaching is really where his heart is. It’s no exaggeration to say he has a passion for it.
“You’ve really got to want to coach,” he said. “You’ve got to be passionate about it. Coaches are some of the best teachers, because coaching really is about teaching. And these kids really are fun to work with.”
A native Texan, born in Dallas and raised in Brownwood, he comes by his love of football–especially the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Longhorns–honestly. His enthusiasm for football is so powerful that in his free time he’s likely to be unwinding by watching football games at any level.
“I’m always thinking about coaching,” he said. “I’m always thinking about plays. I’m always drawing up new plays and thinking about how I can do better as a coach. I’m always watching game film, always watching games. I love going to high school football games. Watching more football recharges me.”
Coach Salinas is also in her third year at Giddings, but started with TJJD (then the TYC) at the Evins Regional Juvenile Center in Edinburg. Here at Lone Star, she’s been an English teacher and then a science teacher before her current position teaching both Spanish and math. She also coaches the track team.
When Wells asked Salinas to be an assistant, she’d never coached football before. “That’s the first thing I told Coach Wells,” she said. “But I told him I’d do it and he’s been a great mentor. He’s so open to sharing his knowledge and he’s a great motivator. He’s very easy to work with.”
Martin Rangel, the longtime woodshop/construction technology teacher and former soccer coach at Giddings, rounds out the staff. “He has been a godsend to us,” said Wells. “He loves working with these kids and we really needed him.”
The coaching staff make up a pretty good team themselves. “Coach Wells and Coach Rangel focus on the plays and the dynamics of the game and I focus on building the emotional components of the team,” Salinas said. “We huddle up the kids after every practice and I have them tell the player next to them what they saw that the other kid did well today. Between us we account for over a century of experience working with the kids.”
The days leading up to the season weren’t easy ones. Getting the youth into “football shape” safely in the brutal summer heat took some doing. There was another challenge as well. “Giddings doesn’t have a weight room,” Salinas said. “So, we had to get creative.”
Molding the youth into an effective unit working toward the same goal took some time as well.
“When we first started, these kids didn’t know how to work as a team,” Salinas said. “We worked really hard to get these kids to learn to do that. Coach Wells always tells these kids ‘We’re a family now. We have to work together.’ Seeing these kids grow together has been overwhelming.”
The early results haven’t gone unnoticed on campus. “If every kid who wanted to play could be on the team, we’d have fifty kids out there now,” Salinas said.
She said that not all of the kids felt that way when early practices and conditioning sessions were going on. “But as soon as they see the success the team has been having, and seeing the kids on the team wearing their jerseys on game day? Kids telling us they want to be on the team is a constant thing now.”
Salinas echoed Wells’ sentiments when it came to how she unwinds. “Watching sporting events,” she said. “I love the NFL and boxing. I go to Cowboys games every year and follow multiple boxers and UFC fighters.” But it’s not always all about sports, she says. “I enjoy traveling out with my daughter. We have a trip to Europe planned this Thanksgiving.”
The rewarding experience of winning football games is something the coaching staff hopes will be another example of how commitment to a goal and the power of teamwork will serve the youth when they return to their communities.
“I want people to know that even though these kids might have made mistakes, these are still young men that still need an opportunity like anyone else,” Wells said. “I tell these kids that not being very smart got them in here (because they took a path into criminal behavior) and being smart is what’s going to get them out.”
“These kids have earned an opportunity to participate in a sport that not only I love, but they love too,” Wells continued. “I can see it in these kids every day.”
Photos by TJJD Communications. Top, Coach Wells with the players; middle, taking the field; lower, Nancy Salinas and a player watch the action.
Tina Saenz Retires from TJJD after 30 years of invaluable service
By John McGreevy, TJJD Communications
On August 31, Tina Saenz will be calling it a day. Her well-earned retirement will be a bittersweet occasion for the staff and youth at the Evins Regional Juvenile Center in Edinburg.
A TJJD veteran (known as the Texas Youth Commission when she started) since 1989, Saenz is an administrative assistant at the Evins campus. Over the years she’s been a clerk and a JCO before taking her current position and it’s not an exaggeration when her colleagues refer to her as “an institution.”
“She absolutely is,” said Belma Salinas, Business Manager at Evins. “I had the pleasure of working with her for over 30 years. She was always planning functions and events for the staff. Her generosity helped keep morale up.”
Saenz started her career as a clerk at Tamayo House before transferring to Evins in June of 1989. “I was placed as the first clerk for the education department,” she said. “We had one clerk and two teachers and no schoolbooks, so for about four or five months there was old-fashioned teaching going on.” This meant the teachers had materials and lesson plans to work with but everything the youth were taught came from listening to the teacher and reading what they wrote on the blackboard. “The boys enjoyed it,” Saenz said.
When asked about what her favorite part of the job(s) she’s had with TJJD, she said “To be honest, it was working with the kids. I can only speak from my experiences, but the kids have always been very compassionate and very respectful.”
There’s ample evidence to suggest that the youth felt the same way about her. “Over the years, I’ve been at Barnes & Noble, HEB, or other places and I hear my name called out,” she said. “Former residents come up to me and ask me if I am still at Evins because they were here at one time before and remember me and other staff.”
Saenz stresses that the people who work at Evins and the other TJJD facilities don’t get the appreciation they deserve. “Our staff are great,” she said. “Without our staff we wouldn’t be anywhere. They don’t always agree on everything, but in a time of need, everybody comes together to help each other out.”
This is also part of what she tells new members of staff at Evins. “This is a very difficult job,” she said, “but it does have its rewards. You may not think so, but when you see these youths out in the community and they are productive citizens, you realize that they were listening to us. Many times, they will thank you for being there for them and not giving up as many out there in their lives have.”
And that’s the enduring message she has for staff and the public as well: “Don’t give up on these kids,” she said. “It takes time. They’ve been through a lot and you have to earn their trust, but once they get to know you and trust you, you can do miracles.”
She plans to spend her upcoming retirement doing the things she’s always loved, reading books and watching movies. “For the first month I just want to relax. After that, we’ll see.”
We wish her nothing but the best.
Director of Probation Services Amy Miller is retiring, but her heart will always be in juvenile justice
By James Bateman, TJJD Probation Services
Amy Miller began her career with the agency in 2002 as a case manager at the Corsicana Residential Treatment Center working with female offenders with mental health needs.
As the saying goes, cream often rises to the top and it didn't take long for administrators to recognize her talent. She was quickly promoted to a program administrator position in 2004. During this time, Amy celebrated what she now reflects on as one of her proudest career accomplishments: She created a program specifically designed for youth with intellectual disabilities.
Tapping into her years of experience with the Mexia State Supported Living Center, where she served for 10 years before joining the then-Texas Youth Commission, she and her staff developed a program focused on both behavior analysis and behavior shaping. Everyone received additional training beyond what was required by the agency. “This dorm transformed into their home. It became a safe place that they shared with other youth with similar needs and where they ultimately thrived, the true definition of community,” Miller said.
Over the next several years, she served as Mental Health and Rehabilitation Services Supervisor and Assessment and Placement Coordinator. Miller can also be credited with assisting in the creation of the youthful offender program at McLennan County State Juvenile Correctional Facility, at Mart, assisting the Corsicana center in achieving a 96% score on their first ACA accreditation audit, and revamping the state’s intake process to include the first use of the PACT assessment.
Miller left the agency for a short time, only to realize that her heart remained in juvenile justice. She returned in September 2016 as the Special Grants Coordinator for Probation Services, becoming the first ever grants manager. In October 2018, she accepted what would become her final position with the agency, Director of Probation Services.
During her time in this leadership role Miller says, “I have worked really hard to grow a division that can better support our county partners. I knew how very important it was for our Chiefs to have front door access to our agency, and that has remained the focus of the regionalization team today.”
“I am also proud of restructuring the JJAEP team to be more sustainable, revamping title 4E to be more effective and probably, most importantly, building a collaboration with our chiefs centered around a mutual trust,” she said.
“From the beginning, the probation chiefs have embraced me as one of their own, taught me about the probation system, and valued my expertise in both juvenile services and granting. They are varied in philosophy, resources, and approach, but united in their mission to make communities safer and help the kids sent their way. I’m humbled and grateful to have worked with them in support of that mission over the past seven years.”
Miller also praised her TJJD team. Working with and for Lou Serrano, Deputy Executive Director of Probation, Reentry and Community Services, “has been the highlight of my long career,” she said.
“I’ve been privileged to work with many amazing professionals and have had some incredible mentors in my 31 years of public service, most of which are still my friends today. Among them all, Lou has been the best mentor, colleague, and friend. I’m so very proud of the team Lou and I created in Probation Services. Every member of the team brings strong skills and expertise to their role, and more than that, incredible passion, and energy for probation services in Texas. I consider my time working with this team, and with the probation departments across Texas, the pinnacle of my career, and I am glad to retire knowing the system is in good hands.”
Amy Miller’s work has not gone under the radar. TJJD Executive Director Shandra Carter lauded Miller for her “instrumental role” in unifying the juvenile justice system and ensuring counties have the support they need.
“While we will greatly miss her passion for this work, we're also grateful for the time she's invested in building up and mentoring her team so they can take up the probation services gauntlet. They have big shoes to fill, but Amy prepared them well. We're excited to see what they accomplish next for and with the field,” Carter said.
Ashley Kintzer, who has been named Interim Director of Probation Services, said Miller has been her mentor and friend for many years.
“She is an incredible human with integrity and wisdom. As my supervisor, she was my rock. She was the person who always got me what I needed so I could do my best work. I appreciate her so much and always will,” Kintzer said.
Here are some tributes from County Juvenile Probation Chiefs who’ve worked with Amy Miller:
“From my first interaction with Director Miller, it was evident she was a practitioner with broad knowledge and expertise regarding juvenile justice. More importantly, it was even more obvious Director Miller possessed an immeasurable heart for kids and was committed to positively impacting every person she came into contact with. . . (she) became an immediate lifeline of support and consultation.
“Amy has always ensured you truly knew and understood she was there for you, whether for questions surrounding stateside operations and policy or to be a sounding board to help navigate and problem solve local issues; she has always been there. Director Amy Miller is the gold standard for what it means to be called to serve others. I aspire to have a career as impactful and meaningful. I will miss her immeasurably and wish her well in this next chapter of her life.”
-Lynn Hadnot, Director Collin County Juvenile Services.
“You have been an amazing advocate for all those working to improve the experiences and outcomes for young people impacted by the justice system and for the staff working with those children and families. You have a deep understanding of the complexities of juvenile justice and the knowledge of how the many state and county system components fit together. We will miss your tenacious spirit supporting our efforts and helping to guide progress. Thank you for all your hard work, candor, and commitment to doing what needs to get done. Looking forward to hearing about your next adventures!”
- Jill Mata, Chief Bexar County Juvenile Services.
“Three things I will say about Amy Miller, she was my friend, she was always a friend to probation, and she will be sorely missed.”
- Kirk Wolfe, Chief Wichita County Juvenile Services.
“In our personal and professional lives, people come and go, leaving little marks or memories, or lessons. Then there are those that come into your life that make indelible, lifelong impressions; those that have the ability to say one word, show the smallest act of kindness, lend you their ear and their shoulder of support, or provide those words of wisdom that changes the entire trajectory of everything happening in your small piece of the world. For me, that is Amy Miller.Very early on in my tenure as a Probation Chief, also responsible for a pre- and post-adjudication facility, I was challenged with the possibility of facility closure, staff and youth challenges that are inherent in our work. Amy became a sounding board, a coach, and a cheerleader for me. Her years of facility operations and administration experience, coupled with her knowledge of field operations, and that necessary balance between rehabilitation and accountability was and is a very unique skillset. Amy’s ability to meet you where you’re at in the moment is something we all preach but few are fully capable of embodying.
“I have a profound respect for Amy because when she says she is going to do something, she does it. When she asks what you need and you say, ‘I need you to come talk to my Commissioners’ Court,’ she’s there, with the team in tow! In twenty-four years (24) in Texas Juvenile Justice, I have never witnessed someone fight as hard as Amy has during a legislative session to bring the field together and have such a profound positive impact on our funding and our operations. She helped us to find our unified voice…and we are far better for it! Amy is a true leader, and she will be greatly missed.”
- Dawn Owens-Chief-Bell County Juvenile Services.
“I first met Amy Miller at a SNDP – TCOOMMI stakeholders meeting held in Dallas. I was very impressed with how well she facilitated the members present at the meeting, since there were some tensions with “growing pains” amongst both programs.Amy was extremely patient, professional, yet tactful in addressing the concerns and managed to get the group to reach a positive outcome. Meeting Amy that first time, I immediately knew she understood our juvenile justice field and most importantly, she was all about the youth/families we serve. And I especially liked that she was an Aggie! In 2017 during the first few months as CJPO, Lou Serrano and Amy were instrumental in guiding me through a major challenge within the department. Amy came down to Cameron County and provided valuable technical assistance and support. Based on her previous expertise and the current management structure with TJJD, we were able to model TJJD and create an Executive Management Team (EMT), so we could have better internal controls within the organization. What I truly appreciated from Amy was her professional demeanor, guidance, yet non-judgmental with what we needed to correct to move forward. Throughout the years, Amy was our “lifeline” for quick and easy answers. Plus, we could easily chat about family and A&M football, softball, and baseball. She will be missed tremendously. We wish her the best in her new journey.”
- Rose Gomez-Chief-Cameron County Juvenile Services
A note from the author James Bateman: Even though I only worked for Amy Miller for a short time, I have known her through various project assignments with both TJJD and the legacy TYC. I am both humbled and honored that I was able to write about a superior manager and dear friend.
Photo: Amy Miller and her husband Matt Miller