Ashley Johnson ~ Youth Staff Supervisor

I was raised on a farm near Delphos, Kansas. When the time came to go to college, I decided to attend College of the Ozarks, in Missouri. Later, I transferred to Sterling College in Kansas, where I graduated with a B.A. in Family Studies: Christian Ministries. After graduation I worked in a group home as a house parent for teenage girls. My husband, and I then relocated back to Kansas. When I heard about Meadowlark Academy, I became very interested. I knew I wanted to work with teenage girls, & Meadowlark was the place.

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Tama Buckles ~ Youth Staff

My name is Tama Buckles. I was born in Abilene, Kansas. I have two sisters, a brother, thirteen nieces & nephews, and seven great nieces and nephews. I graduated from Chapman High School in 1981. I went to Salina Vo-Tech for child care. I married in 1985. We have lived in Delphos for 21 years. We have two daughters ages 18 and 15. I was a paraprofessional for six years at Delphos Attendance Center before it closed. I worked in the Minneapolis High School as an assistant for seven years. When Meadowlark Academy opened, I decided to apply for a position to make a difference in the live of the girls that attended.

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Danielle McClendon ~ Program Director

Melissa Cash ~ Youth Staff

I am the day time receptionist and youth staff here at Meadowlark Academy. I was born and raised in Concordia, KS and continue to live there with my family. I really want to help the girls at Meadowlark Academy change their lives for the better. I look forward to helping you in any way that I can.

For the past four years I have been the Food Service Director at St. Johns Catholic School, in nearby Beloit. My training includes Food Safety, HACCP Training, Production Recording and Financial Record Keeping, and Child Nutrition Analysis. Prior to becoming a Food Service Director I had a child daycare center out of my home. That is where I began my child nutrition training. I have been married to my husband, James, for eighteen years. I am the mother of five children, three girls and two boys, ages six to seventeen.

Gary G. Pingel ~ Teacher

Gary has18 years experience providing care, counseling, and instruction to teenage families and their parents. He has provided leadership and In-Service training to other staff and supervised staff through scheduling and conducting interviews. His experience has led him to this opportunity at Meadowlark Academy. His genuine concern for youth, and desire to see them succeed will guarantee the young women at Meadowlark Academy the opportunity to receive the help they need. Gary has volunteered in many youth organizations, coaching softball, baseball, soccer, and basketball. He has also served as a Sunday school teacher in his church.
He is an avid runner, loves to bicycle, play basketball, fish and travel. Youth are attracted to Gary because of his sincere interest in their success.

We are confident that Gary will have a positive impact on the youth he is responsible for.

Yvonne Vancil ~ Youth Staff

I moved from Manhattan, Kansas to Delphos to work with the youth at Meadowlark Academy. I have worked with youth groups and taught Sunday school. I hope to help and make an impact on these young girls’ lives.

Louanna Frakes ~ Night Watch

I am from Wichita, Kansas, I spent most holidays and summer vacations with my grandparents here in North Central Kansas. They instilled simple values and hard work always helps you in the end. I always looked after my two younger sisters, and that lead to a job as a babysitter after I graduated from high school. I ran a day care for 6 years after my children were born. I enjoy small town life, yet I know what its like to live in a large city. My life has been filled with many young people, and I learn from them as I hope they learn from me. I am on the night shift where I help keep the girls safe. Someone once did this for me and I believe that one good turn deserves another.