Our Mission

We provide a unique Christian program dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for adults with intellectual disabilities.

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Our Mission

We provide a unique Christian program dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for adults with intellectual disabilities.

Our Vision

We assist each individual to achieve emotional, cognitive, physical, social, and spiritual growth to his or her fullest potential.

OUR PILLARS

Grow

Every day students work to grow their faith through Bible study and worship. Students enjoy sharing about God's love in our community through volunteer work and the Pathways choir.

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Learn

Continuing education helps students to retain the skills they worked hard to learn while in school while providing an opportunity for growth. Students explore subjects like math, reading, science, art and life skills. Learning is made fun and practical by incorporating money handling and budgeting into math, or practicing reading and comprehension through the Pathways Book Club. Life skills range from the art of conversation to cooking classes with recipes students can recreate at home.

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Volunteer

Volunteerism is an important service learning opportunity allowing students to practice a variety of skills while serving others. Students volunteer in the community each week building relationships at assisted living facilities and helping to fight hunger at the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. These activities allow students to engage with their community and practice team work.

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Move

Staying active is important for our students to live happier and healthier lives. Each day students enjoy fitness activities like stretching and dance classes. Students also have the opportunity to train for and compete in Special Olympics swimming and track and field.

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Our Beginning

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Pathways was founded in June 2009 as an outgrowth of the Community of Friends Ministry of Kirk of the Hills church and thanks to the help and direction of Crystal Fulda. The great need for more programs in the Tulsa area to support adults with intellectual disabilities became apparent after countless phone calls and questions from the community. Adults with intellectual disabilities needed a place to live happier, healthier and more meaningful lives after high school graduation, so Pathways Adult Learning Center was first formed as a ministry of The Kirk with only 7 students attending 12 hours per week. Due to tremendous growth, Pathways became its own 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in 2015 and now operates 40 hours per week, serving more than 80 students in-person and virtually.

Meet Our Staff

Monique Scraper

Monique Scraper

Executive Director

Having volunteered and worked with individuals with intellectual disabilities for more than a decade and being a guardian of an adult with special needs, Monique has developed a tremendous passion for helping these adults to live meaningful and fulfilling lives. Her nonprofit background and her education in public administration has equipped her to help maximize the impact of the Pathways mission. Outside of Pathways, Monique enjoys adventuring to distant lands, fluffy Pomeranians, and eating pancakes with her husband every weekend.

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Ashley Hackett

Communications Manager

Ashley was born and raised in Tulsa, and after graduating from Oklahoma Baptist University, she returned home. Previously she worked at the Tulsa County Election Board as the Communications Coordinator for the past five years. A few of her hobbies are crocheting, reading, spending time with her family, and her herd of rescue dogs (there are three of them, but it feels like a herd).

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Susie Henning

Fund Development Associate

Susie is excited to be back in her hometown and blessed to be able to serve as the Fund Development Associate at Pathways. Susie graduated from OSU with a degree in psychology and most recently served as the Director of Development at a private Christian school in the Fort Worth area, where she and her family lived for 24 years. Susie is a recipient of the ATHENA Leadership Award for achieving the highest level of professional excellence and contributing time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in realizing their full leadership potential. But her greatest achievement is her family - her husband and two children. Susie enjoys spending time with family and friends, cheering on the OSU Cowboys and Cowgirls, hiking and traveling, and walking their dog, Charli.

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Elizabeth Bugay

Administrative Assistant

Elizabeth had the privilege of attending many schools in the US and abroad as a child, as her father was in the US Army. She graduated with a BBA in Management from the University of Central Oklahoma and obtained an ABT in Paralegal Studies from Rose State College. After a lengthy career as a trial and corporate paralegal in the private, public, and government sectors, she transitioned to the not-for-profit sector in 2016. Elizabeth and her husband, Glenn, have been married for almost 30 years and have been blessed with 14 nieces and nephews and many rescued fur babies, including their present pups, Rufus and Bella. When Elizabeth is not working or playing with Bella and Rufus, she serves in multiple roles at church, enjoys reading both fiction and non-fiction books, studying theological and doctrinal texts, spending time with extended family in Texas and Oklahoma, journaling, walking, and maintaining and listening to a growing collection of LPs and CDs.

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Emily Gotcher 

Program Manager

Emily earned a Master of Education degree in Special Education from the University of Central Oklahoma. This academic foundation is complemented by Emily's ongoing commitment and pursuit of knowledge as a Doctoral Candidate at the University of Oklahoma in Education Administration, Curriculum, and Supervision. Emily has demonstrated practical experience as a Special Education Classroom Teacher, along with experience in Project Management and Coordination. Emily and her husband live in Owasso with their zoo of pets and are certified foster parents. 
 
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Natalie LaRoe

Curriculum Coordinator

Natalie started her journey here as a member of the teaching team. She has been married to her husband, Jeff, for over 30 years, and they have five children. She has a love for the outdoors and reading. Her background includes program management, adaptive physical education and fitness management, literacy and tutoring programming, English as a Second Language, and coaching (Special Olympics, track and field, swimming). She has taught early childhood through adult education. Her bachelor's and master's degrees are in education.

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Jan Madole

Administrative Assistant

After a long career in Research Administration at universities and membership organizations, Jan wanted to take her life in a different direction, and she was blessed to land at Pathways. Jan has a strong background in non-profit administration and organizational operations, and looks forward to working behind-the-scenes to support Pathways’ mission. Outside of Pathways, Jan enjoys running with her friends, family time, book clubs, and travel.

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Bernadette Tarr

Bookkeeper

Bernadette was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She is a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She enjoys working with numbers and music, but her passion is music. Being the music director at her church allows her to fulfill that passion. She has worked in various industries and capacities during her career, all within the accounting realm, in which bookkeeping is her favorite. Upon retiring from her full-time job in 2015, she worked for a CPA firm during tax season. After a two-year break, she joined Pathways. She finds the loving environment a breath of fresh air from other work environments and feels very fortunate to be here.

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Lori Williamson

Teacher

As a former classroom teacher and director of a supplemental education program in Oklahoma City, Lori has worked with students of all ages. Upon moving to Tulsa, Lori joined the Pathways team with the goal of helping students realize their full potential. She has her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Southeastern Oklahoma State University. When Lori isn’t at Pathways, you can find her serving at her church, reading a book, or crocheting items for donation to local hospitals.

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John Matlach

Teacher

John was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri.  He spent time in the military, where he met his wife, Christy, then a widow with two kids. The Lord has allowed John to do many things, including a music ministry, teaching music, choir, band, and math in Christian schools, co-owner of a Christian bookstore in the St. Louis, Missouri area, Manager of Choral Performance (AKA Miracles Director) at The Baddour Center in Senatobia, Mississippi, a center for adults with Intellectual Disabilities, and now a Teacher at Pathways in Tulsa, OK.  John and Christy reside in Tulsa, OK where they enjoy spending time with their four kids and eight grandkids.

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Megan Stitt

Teacher

Megan grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She started attending OSU with the goal of getting a theater degree and creating a theater program for people with disabilities. However, that wasn’t God's plan, Megan ended up developing her own chronic illnesses and disabilities which caused her to drop out. This, though devastating to her, actually led her to Pathways where she now gets to fulfill her lifelong dream of teaching drama and so many other amazing classes. She feels so beyond blessed to be a teacher here.

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Chelsea Mohan

Teacher

Chelsea grew up in St. Louis County and spent a lot of time at church and volunteering with her youth group. Chelsea felt that Pathways was an amazing opportunity for her as it allowed her to use her sociology degree, love for Jesus, and compassion for people in need all in the same place. Outside of being a teacher at Pathways, Chelsea volunteers at LifeChurch, enjoys doing Zumba and other workouts, and loves spending time with family and friends.

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Eli Grant

Teacher

Eli is a student at Moody Bible Institute, where he is actively pursuing his Bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his loved ones and helping others experience God's love. He is particularly close with his fiancee, parents, brother, and two sisters. Eli hopes to dedicate his life to ministry, and he believes that Pathways is the ministry that God has called him to serve.

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Karen Stokes

Teacher

Karen moved to Tulsa from Peoria, Illinois in 1977. She loves living in the Tulsa area. She has 3 adult children. Son, Trey , Daughter, Tracy and Daughter, Trisha. She has 7 grandchildren and a dog named Hank. He is half Shepard and half Husky.

She goes to Life Church and belongs to a lifegroup called Fun Group 101. She looks forward to meeting everyone and feels very blessed to be part of the Pathways Family.

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Becky Grant

Teacher

Becky grew up in Oakley, Kansas, and graduated from Tabor College with a youth ministry degree. Soon after college, she and her husband, Collin, moved to Colorado Springs, where they were involved in children’s and youth ministry for 22 years. She was also a paraprofessional in the public school system there. Becky, her husband, Collin, and her four children moved to Tulsa in the summer of 2020. She enjoys all types of arts and crafts, music, and collecting friends. She is thrilled about all the new friends she is making at Pathways!

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Ethan Norris 

Teacher

Ethan believes that teachers have the opportunity to show students the right path and prepare them to walk there. He intends to do his best to give his students the knowledge and ability to obtain the future that they deserve. And Pathways to him is the perfect place to achieve that goal. His favorite animals are penguins, he's done a lot of volunteer work in churches and schools, and he's very passionate about Pathways! 

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Jeff Gaffen

Teacher

Jeff has been an educator for math and test preparation since 1997. He graduated from Union High School and the University of Tulsa. He performs in "The Drunkard" at Tulsa Spotlight Theatre and works as an usher at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. Jeff is a proud father to one daughter and also has a cat!

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Chelsea Carpenter

Teacher

Chelsea is a native of Jenks, Oklahoma, and graduated from Jenks High School. Her passion for working with individuals with disabilities started at a young age when she volunteered with Special Olympics. Since then, she has been committed to working with this community. Prior to joining Pathways, she worked as a caregiver for two children with Down Syndrome and also served as a paraprofessional in the Jenks School system. Chelsea is happily married to Grant, and they have two lovely children, Lola and Crew.

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Ellie Powell

Teacher

Being a Teacher for Pathways has been a dream of Ellie's for quite some time. She has worked with students with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the public school setting for 14 years. She shares that the question so many parents and guardians have is “What will my child do after they graduate?” Pathways to her is such a wonderful place for individuals to continue to learn and grow! Pathways is a Christ-centered program with loving and genuine Teachers that truly love the Lord! The wonderful students she works with are also teaching her so much! She sees compassion, love, and friendship shown every day. It is a true blessing for her to be a part of the program!

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Jennifer Griffith

Teacher

Jennifer is a highly skilled professional with extensive experience in social services and non-profit work. She is a graduate of Langston University with a Bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences, with a focus on education. In addition to her professional achievements, Jennifer is also a proud mother of two adult children. During her leisure time, she enjoys exploring her interest in true crime and is an enthusiast of all things Tulsa.

Board Members

Officers

David Blotevogel, President
Laura Travis, Vice President
Stacey Grimes, Treasurer
Marilynn Bartel, Secretary

Members

DD Blackman        Mikeale Campbell

Tim Cargile           Cole Fine

Janet Halbert        Emily Honomichl

Kelly Monaghan     Wilma Palmer