Kristen Merick
Advisory Board Chairwoman
kmerick@reachingoutnow.org
Kristen Merick is from the Roanoke area and moved to Stephens City to pursue a career as a School Counselor in Front Royal. She originally went to school intending to become a veterinarian but realized she enjoyed working with children and adolescents to overcome the struggles they were facing. She has been a School Counselor in Warren County for 6 years. Kristen holds a B.S. in Human Development from Virginia Tech and an M.S. in School Counseling from Radford University.
During her time as a School Counselor Kristen has held different counseling groups to help empower students. Kristen is excited to carry her passion into RON to help even more children and adolescents succeed in all areas of life.
Kristen and her husband, Max, have two children Baxter and Eliza. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, being outside, and traveling.
Leadership Committee
The Leadership Committee is focused on supporting and encouraging under-served school-aged girls and boys to live victoriously and not defeated and to reach their full potential. They are focused on serving by providing mentoring and support for their students and challenging them to rise above life’s circumstances to become their best selves. Learn more about the Leadership programs →
Committee Members
Teketia Smith (Director) | tsmith@reachingoutnow.org
Samantha Barber | sbarber@reachingoutnow.org
Marlena Conner | mconner@reachingoutnow.org
Community Outreach Committee
The Community Outreach Committee works hand-in-hand with local businesses and community members to develop new relationships, fundraising opportunities and events to support our students and staff in the local school system. Learn more about upcoming events →
Committee Members
Michelle Rutledge (Director) | mrutledge@reachingoutnow.org
Jenny Roland | jroland@reachingoutnow.org
Jenny grew up in Vienna, Virginia and went to school at Radford University. It was there that she received her Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and Master’s degree in Special Education. From there she has moved around the state working both in public and private school environments in Fairfax, Winchester, and Warren County. Currently she is the Kindergarten and 1st grade Special Education Teacher at E. Wilson Morrison Elementary School located right here in the heart of Front Royal. For the past six years, she’s’ve been settled in beautiful Warren County where she and her husband have a home on the Shenandoah River. She lovse to practice yoga, run, and go to country concerts. The beach is her happy place and she enjoys finding new spots to take her dogs on adventures.
She first became involved with the organization when the Coronovirus hit our nation and shut schools down.
Her heart broke when she knew she would not be able to see her students finish out their school year in person. She was in a place where she knew she had to do something to give back and support our county’s families. By delivering meals and raising money through the assistance of her family, she was able to donate her time and resources to help provide for the Linda Kroll Family Meal Program. Her passion is helping others and children in any way possible. She is very excited and honored to be a part of Reaching Out Now’s exceptional team in serving our students and families to best fit their needs.
