Meet The Team
Lora Thomas
Project Director
Lora’s background in education and experience in the mental health profession run parallel to Project FRONTIER. She began her career teaching Head Start, but later moved away from formal education settings to focus on community-based organizations that impact and expand services for youth, families, and communities. Lora served as a management consultant with Girl Scouts of the USA before becoming director of the National Runaway Switchboard. Most recently, Lora was director of Project EVERS [Ending Violence and its Effects in Rural Schools], which was developed to meet the needs of students living in rural areas in Northwest Kansas that have been affected by trauma or violence in their homes and communities. She also served as executive director of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Illinois and worked on contract with the Illinois Division of Mental Health. She has been a consultant on mental health for the past several years for Innovative Strategies for Out-of-School and Secondary Youth (iSOSY).
Email: lthomas@nkesc.org


Emily Faulkender
District Liaison
Emily graduated from Kansas State University in 2019 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development and Family Sciences. In 2022, she graduated from Wichita State University with her Master’s Degree in Special Education. Emily has worked in education serving different roles including a Paraeducator, Autism Director Assistant, trainer for paras to work with students diagnosed with Autism, and Special Education Teacher. Emily will now be serving on the Project Frontier team as a District Liaison. Emily has completed the PREPaRE training through the National Association of School Psychologists.

Jenny Mitchell
District Liaison
Jenny graduated from Liberty University with a degree in theology. She has since worked in several non-conventional education roles as a homeschooling parent, homeschool coop coordinator, and as a Sexual Risk Avoidance Specialist teaching healthy relationships and choices in middle and high schools. Jenny has been certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid and served on the Social Emotional Learning Council for Garden City Public Schools. Jenny will now be serving on the Project Frontier team as a District Liaison.

Kerri Scheetz
District Liaison
Kerri serves as a District Liaison for Project Frontier. She has worked in multiple education roles throughout her professional career. Her most cherished times are when she was working directly with students through the office and coaching volleyball. Kerri received her Associates from Colby Community College and is a certified trainer in The Energy Bus, The Energy Bus for Schools, The Power of Positive Leadership, and The Power of a Positive Team. Kerri has completed the PREPaRE training offered through the National Association of School Psychologists. She has worked for NKESC for the last five years as the Business Manager and most recently in Human Resources.