Meet CASA Volunteer Sheila!

Meet Sheila, one of our incredible volunteers who has made a lasting impact both in the classroom and the courtroom: a dedicated advocate with a heart for helping others.

A longtime Springfield resident, she and her husband, Thom, are both Kansas City natives who found each other and their home here in the Ozarks. After spending over two-thirds of her life in this community, she’s committed to giving back in meaningful ways-and we are so lucky CASA was one of them.

A former Special Education Teacher and Process Coordinator for Springfield Public Schools, she officially retired in 2020 but continues to pour into students as a testing examiner and mentor. Her passion for education and children led her to learn about CASA through her school role, where she saw firsthand the impact a CASA volunteer can have on a child and their family.

Five years ago, she felt the call to get more involved and has never looked back. ” I discovered it’s about supporting the whole family,” she says. One of her most meaningful cases involved a single mom working to rebuild her life. “Through determination and love for her children, her life has transformed. I feel I played a small role by encouraging her, providing resources, listening, and affirming her positive decisions.”

Outside of CASA, she loves to read, cook, and entertain-her friends know her as the go-to planner. And like many others, she’s recently caught the pickleball bug!

Her advice to anyone considering becoming a CASA? “If you are looking for an opportunity where you can make a difference, this is it!”

We couldn’t agree more. Thank you for your passion, your heart, and your service, Sheila!