Our Board

High Point Village Board Members

Melynn Henry

President

Melynn Henry

Melynn Henry is a native of Amarillo and graduate of Texas A&M University. She is an Instructional Coach for Lubbock ISD in the language arts department.

She has been a dedicated High Point Village volunteer for the past several years. Her involvement at High Point is dedicated to her late “sister-friend”, Carey, who had Down syndrome. Melynn is married to Ryan Henry.

Kerry Miller

Vice President

About Me

Kerry Miller

Kerry is the Office Manager for the Kimley-Horn Lubbock office where he offers 32 years of experience in transportation planning and design. After graduating from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering, Kerry began his career with the Texas Department of Transportation in Dallas. In 1996, Kerry returned to Lubbock as the Area Engineer for the TxDOT Lubbock District. One of his key projects was managing the schematic design for the Marsha Sharp Freeway. In addition to other job duties, Kerry served on the Advisory Board for Keep Lubbock Beautiful, Inc.

Kerry is married to Lynn, a real estate agent with Westmark Realters. Lynn is also a former school teacher with Frenship ISD. Kerry and Lynn have three children, all of whom graduated from Frenship schools. Their daughter, Haley Balko, and their son, Jarrod, each graduated from Texas Tech University. Their middle son, Bradley, is a student in the Reach High Program at High Point Village.

Dr. Bob Freeman

Treasurer

About Me

Bob Freeman

Bob is a CPA and a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Accounting at Texas Tech University. Bob has also served on the National Council on Governmental Accounting and the Governmental Accounting Standards Board. Bob also coauthors a leading government accounting textbook, leads CPE seminars nationally, and often serves as a consultant and expert witness.

He and his wife, Beverley, have five children, two of whom have Down syndrome.

Debra Salley

Secretary

About Me

Debra Salley

Debra Salley is a Family & Consumer Science teacher at Levelland High School. She currently teaches Nutrition & Food Science, Preparation for Parenting, Apparel and Child Development. Although she does not have a degree in special education, she enjoys including children with disabilities in her classroom.

She has a Bachelors degree from Texas Tech University with a double major in Home Economics Education and Clothing & Textiles. She also has a Masters degree from Texas Tech in Home Economics Education.

Debra’s daughter, Jennifer, has Down syndrome and is her inspiration for High Point Village. Jennifer is blessed with many friends with special needs in the Lubbock area. High Point Village allows her to keep these friends for a lifetime and allows Jennifer to achieve the independence and have an adult life. Debra also has an older daughter and three wonderful granddaughters.

Jim Bertram

About Me

Jim Bertram

Jim and his wife Charlotte have a blended family of six grown children, twelve grandchildren and two great grandchildren. A son Christopher, who had Down Syndrome, passed away in 2007.

Jim is a graduate and Distinguished Alumnus of Texas Tech University. He retired in 2001 after serving thirty years as Director of City Planning and Assistant City Manager for the City of Lubbock. He is a past Board member of the Lubbock State School Volunteer Services Council and the Lubbock Regional MHMR.

Jim and Charlotte volunteer regularly at High Point Village.

Jill Jacobus

About Me

Jill Jacobus

Jill is the President of Scarborough Specialties, Inc. one of the largest promotional agencies in Texas. Jill and her husband of 19 years, Jay, have been blessed with three amazing adopted sons.

Brad Pettiet

About Me

Brad Pettiet

Brad has served as the attorney for High Point Village and as a Board member since February 2008. Brad has been a practicing attorney for 28 years. He is a graduate of South Plains College, Texas Tech University and Oklahoma City University School of Law.

Bradley and Karon have been married for 38 years and are the parents of three daughters. Karon is a Special Education Teacher for Frenship ISD.

Jennifer Rojas-McWhinney

About Me

Jennifer Rojas-McWhinney

Jennifer Rojas-McWhinney was born and raised in Lubbock and earned her degrees from Texas Tech University. She is a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies where she seeks opportunities to enhance learning to positively impact the lives of students and community members. With a passion for education, she works with groups of people in a range of settings and from a variety of backgrounds. Jennifer believes education should extend outside of the university classroom and works with parents and educators within the community to address strengths as well as challenges within families. As a Certified Family Life Educator, Jennifer aims to alleviate family concerns with families while promoting healthy interactions. As a Mental Health First Aid instructor, Jennifer facilitates trainings with school and church leadership, community organizations, and university personnel. Jennifer uses Mental Health First Aid as a tool to help increase understanding, reduce stigma, and recognize potential risk factors and warning signs for mental health problems. She aims to help individuals in crisis connect with appropriate professional help.

Jennifer and her husband, Keino, have two children. They are active members at Sunset Church of Christ.

Paul Wilson

About Me

Paul Wilson

Paul graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelors degree in Agricultural Engineering. He worked as an Engineer and later as Vice President of U.S. Sales for Continental Eagle Corporation in Prattville, AL and later for Consolidated Gin Company in Lubbock, TX. Paul has built and managed cotton gins in Georgia and Texas and currently is the General Manager of United Cotton Growers Cooperative in Levelland, TX.

Paul serves as a trustee and director of TACT, a health insurance trust serving agricultural cooperatives. He also serves on the Cotton Chair Advisory Council for Texas A&M University and serves as a board member of numerous state and regional Agricultural Associations.

Paul has 3 daughters. The youngest, Amy, born in 1993, has Down Syndrome.

Sam Scheef

About Me

Sam Scheef

Sam is a lifelong resident of the South Plains. After graduating from Texas Tech in 1980, he was involved in the hardware and software industries. In 1985, Mr. Scheef started a software development firm for crop insurance clients, as well as other nationally recognized companies in various industries. The company grew, merged, and transformed into what is now the fifth largest crop insurance company in the United States, ARMtech Insurance Services. Sam serves as Vice Chairman of ARMtech.

Sam is married to Jana, and together they have a blended family of five adult children, a daughter-in-law and one grandson. Sam’s son, Alex, was diagnosed with autism at the age of 7. After graduating from Frenship High School, Alex began attending the Dream Big program at High Point Village. This program has been a blessing in Alex’s continued development and socialization.

Joel Tankersley

Emeritus

About Me

Joel Tankersley

Joel holds a Bachelors degree in Agriculture from Texas Tech University. He is a former partner in Hybrid Seed, where he was involved in production, operations, management and marketing for domestic and international clients. He was appointed to represent the ASTA on a fact-finding mission to India and Pakistan and was awarded the TSTA distinguished service award in 1998.

Joel and his supportive wife, Sallye, have three children, Dean, Jeff, and Krista. Joel is a deacon at Bacon Heights Baptist Church, he is a former Scout Master and past President of the Rotary Club.