Casey Abel - Owner / Director

Owner/Director Casey Abel holds a Bachelors Degree in Human Sciences, Child and Family Studies and Child Development. Casey has 15 years of experience in child care and youth programs. She has owned and operated after school programs for the past ten years.

 

She has worked as a respite foster care provider, taught kindergarten, worked as an adoption case manager, and was CEO of Young Champions Academy in Waco, Texas. She also worked with the ETERS and ECERS assessment/ Mentor group for the Central Texas Region through the Texas Workforce Commission.

 

Casey is a native Central Texan, a coach's wife and a mother to six young children.

Kendra Tucker - Crawford Director

Kendra Tucker has been with Champion Zone for over 4 years she is currently the director at Crawford Elementary. She and her husband Jerry also a director at Champion Zone have 2 children Jacob (23) and Kennedy(16).

 

Kendra graduated from Baylor University and resides in China Spring, Tx. Her hobbies include arts and crafts, spending time with family and friends, and volunteering with her church.

 

She loves working with kids and getting to know them. She is
excited to work with the Champion Zone summer camp and after-school program.

Jerry Tucker - WCS Director

Jerry has worked for Champion Zone since October of 2016.

 

He has a Bachelors degree in Business Administration from Tarleton  State University.

 

Jerry teaches 4th and 5th grade at Woodway Christian School. He is married to Kendra and has three children, Julia, Jacob and Kennedy.

 

He enjoys fishing and cooking (especially baking and smoking meat) and volunteering for his church with his wife Kendra.

Carissa Bethea - Lorena Director

Carissa Bethea was born and raised in Mesquite, Texas. She came to Waco to attend Baylor University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Consumer Science (Child and Family Studies) in 2010.

 

She now resides in Speegleville with her husband, 2 precious children, and 3 dogs. Carissa has been with Champion Zone since August 2015.

 

Her hobbies are reading, hanging out with friends, and napping when she can find the time!

 

She has a passion for working with young children and is excited to continue working with the kids and families in our programs.

Amy Wurzbach - Bosqueville Director

Amy was born in Farmington, New Mexico.  She has two older sisters and two younger brothers.  She has four nephews and one great niece in Texas as well as has two nieces and three great nephews in Virginia.  She lives in Hewitt and graduated from Midway.   

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She holds an Associate in Applied Science Child Development degree and a Child Development Administration Certificate both from M.C.C.  She has worked in child care for over thirty years.  She spent the last twenty-one of those years working at Little Cougar Inc. in China Spring.

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Her passion has always been children.   She is extremely excited to be part of the Champion Zone family and help mold all the children into the best they can be.

Tonya Weller - China Spring Director

Tonya Weller is a mother of 2 , and a Nona to 1 granddaughter. She has been employed at China Spring ISD for 16 years. During that time she has taught Pre-K classes, and intervention class, and is  currently teaching the Health class Pre-K through 3rd.

 

Tonya has been part of the Champion Zone team for 7 years. She enjoys both of her jobs very much and looks forward to many more years of working with children.