Family: Jordan (age 13) and Ketina (age 8)

Pets: We have two cats, Socks and Harry. There is grass snake that lives under our porch that we call Yogi and an overly friendly squirrel that visits our backyard we named Shirley.

About my family: Debra grew up in Gig Harbor, Washington, a suburb of Tacoma. She went to Whittier College in California, followed by Brigham Young University in Utah. She has a master’s degree in public administration. She worked 10 years for the State of Utah, and now works for the federal government. She enjoys cooking, gardening, traveling, watching the Denver Bronco’s and spending time with the kids. Jordan is great student at Campus Middle School. He is active in the Boy Scouts and has played football in the Cherry Creek Youth Sports League. He also likes to cook and makes terrific brownies and rolls from scratch. Ketina is artistic and loves to draw, dance and sing. She loves attending Walnut Hills Elementary School, especially the plus time classes such as line dancing, cartooning, and getting to try food from different countries. She is a great help with raking--she makes sure the leaves are compacted just so, but jumping in them.

Present occupation: Debra works for the Social Security Administration in the disability program

Time in WH/previous location: We move to Walnut Hills in February 2006. We previously lived in Salt Lake City Utah

I was looking for an affordable, non pretentious neighborhood with great schools. I also wanted to be near the light rail system. Walnut Hills Elementary School, with is arts integration and focus on multiple intelligences was just what I wanted for my daughter, and Campus Middle School with it’s high quality and excellent history of testing scores was just what my son needed to prepare him for high school. I was also attracted to the mature trees and lush green landscaping throughout the neighborhood and green space that is missing from so many of the newer neighborhoods.

Changes that have happened in WH: I have not been here long enough to see many changes.

Concerns/hopes for WH: I would like to get to know my neighbors better. Like me there are many newer residents in the neighborhood and as a newer resident I would like to reach out to them. Many young families just starting out here are the future of our neighborhood. I want Walnut Hills to be just as wonderful a place to grown up now, as it has been for so many other kids over the last couple of decades. Having a multi-generational neighborhood makes us a unique and stable neighborhood filled with all kinds of experience. This is a wonderful place to live and I feel privileged to be here. The Walnut Hills Association sponsors a variety of chances to get to know our neighbors, and to make the neighborhood a better place. That is why I have decided to become a board member. I encourage everyone to get to know your neighbors, and become more involved in the neighborhood.