Meet the Staff at Bright

M.Ed., ABD, CCJS, and Honorary Colonel in the Oklahoma National Guard

Everett has a Master’s in Education and is working to obtain a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology. Additionally he’s a Certified Criminal Justice Specialist and taught at Northwestern Oklahoma State University for 18 years.

Everett knows about the difficulty in reading and writing. He himself couldn’t recite the alphabet until 2nd grade and couldn’t read with any level of comprehension until 4th grade. He never made a “B” or an “A” on his report card until 6th grade.

“It was truly life changing when I met a teacher who understood how to help me; without her I would probably not be able to read a newspaper or magazine. I want you to know that I know what it’s like to struggle with reading and writing and subsequently every other subject. And, I know what it’s like to finally have hope.”

Everett is married and has four children and five grandchildren. He has worked with children throughout his career in counseling, schools and church.

 Certified Teacher,

Master’s degree in education in 2006 specializing in early childhood education 

Brown has 15 years of experience in teaching and tutoring students. She taught 10 years in public education and five years in private education, both at the elementary level. Brown spent a year educating college-level students.

While attending university, Brown was the lead preschool teacher and coach at Metro Gymnastics in Oklahoma City. 

Brown obtained her master’s degree in education in 2006 specializing in early childhood education.

She is married and has been blessed with three children: a daughter, Braelynn Marie, passed away in 2012, a son Braxtyn and a daughter Brightyn. The Browns currently live in Kellyville.

 Certified Teacher, 

Swagerty graduated from the  University of Toledo in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. She finished a master’s degree in reading curriculum and instruction.  

Swagerty has 13 years of experience in teaching and tutoring students. She taught 10 years in public education and three years in private education . 

Swagerty took the role as a reading specialist for one year and has worked as a special education teacher for the last two years. 

“I have a passion for giving the students that little extra support of what they need to help them realize they can be successful.”

Swagerty graduated from the  University of Toledo in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. She finished a master’s degree in reading curriculum and instruction.   

She is currently the lead special education teacher at Coweta Public Junior High School.  

She and her husband have three children, David, Issac and McKenzie. They currently live in Porter, Oklahoma 

Certified Teacher,

B.A. in Education (Speech-Language Pathology and Learning Disabilities)  Eakle later returned to NSU, earned her M.ED in Special Education and School Administration. 

Dana Eakle grew up in Picher, Oklahoma and graduated from Picher-Cardin High School. She attended NEO in Miami, before transferring to NSU in Tahlequah, where she earned B.A. in Education (Speech-Language Pathology and Learning Disabilities)  Eakle later returned to NSU, earned her M.ED in Special Education and School Administration. She has completed registry training in Autism, Other Health Impairments, and Traumatic Brain Injury.  After 36 years of teaching in public education, she recently retired.  

Dana and her husband Kevin, have one son, Skylar.  When they aren't watching Skylar play his guitar, they enjoy going to car shows, or cruising in one of Kevin's classic cars.

Eakle's passion has always been working with special needs children.  She strives to live by her favorite quote: "If a child can't learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn."

Luis Bello has more than 30 years experience in teaching, and has taught classes in different countries both in

Spanish and English.  He graduated from the Universidad de Oriente in Cuba with a degree in Chemical Education (1982) and a Ph.D. in Chemical Education (1993). Lewis has taught General and Inorganic Chemistry, Algebra and Spanish Language. Luis is currently a full-time professor at Tulsa Community

College, and an active member of the American Chemical Society.

Josh Pillow currently serves as a paraprofessional in the special education department at Jenks Public Schools. Prior to his career in education, he worked around ten years in the social services field assisting individuals with behavioral health and housing needs at the community level. Josh is pursuing special education certification and enjoys working with students of all ages, academic needs and subjects. He believes that education can be specialized and tailored to each student's academic needs and learning styles. Tutoring allows for one-on-one focus with students to identify and develop strengths for life-long learning. Josh is married and a three-year-old son. Josh's formal education includes a combination of public and private education. He

attended public school in Ketchum, Oklahoma until a sophomore in high school then attended and graduated from Bishop Kelley High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2005. He went on to graduate from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and a minor in geography. He completed graduate coursework for Marital and Family Therapy at Southern

Nazarene University-Tulsa and Social Work at the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa. Josh looks forward to the

opportunity to assist students with their academic goals!

  Certified Teacher

BSED Elementary Education and Early Childhood Special Education

Lipe has been teaching for 24 years in the field of special education. She has a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Northern Iowa. Her first 2 years in education were spent in a small town in SW Iowa. From there she taught early childhood special education for 17 years at the Little Light House in Tulsa, OK.  Lipe is in her 5th year at Jenks Public Schools as a special education teacher for 2nd through 4th graders. She is also a sight special education coordinator.  Lipe has worked with students with a variety of unique learning needs.  She has extensive experience working with children with ASD, Down syndrome, learning disabilities and other developmental delays.

She loves building on her students' strengths and helping them overcome their struggles. She believes all students, no matter their abilities or disabilities can make progress when given the right tools and someone who challenges them and believes in them.  Lipe states, "As an educator it my honor and responsibility to help each child reach his or her potential."

When she is not teaching she loves spending time with my family, friends and enjoying the great outdoors!

 Certified Teacher

BSED Special Education, Masters in Public School Administration

Orban started in Education in 1981 graduating with a Learning Disability major from NSU in Tahlequah. She taught in 4 districts, but stayed at Tulsa Public Schools for 26 years and retired in July 2021. She was the Autism Coordinator who oversaw 26 autism programs , PK-High school. Orban has a Bachelors in Education and a Masters in Public School Administration. She is certified in Mild Moderate disability, elementary education, elementary principal, and social studies 7-8. 

She enjoys working with students and watching them grow in confidence and learn new skills. She is thankful for the opportunity to work with students and is honored to do so.