Our Team

our team

Val Petry

Founder/Director

More About Val
our team

Tisha Schultz

Program Site Director,
Eastside Elementary

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Melissa Laker

Program Site Director, Valley Grove Elementary

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Denise Bennett

Program Site Assistant,
Erskine and 10th Street Elementaries

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Sharon Morgan

Parent/Teacher Liaison
Erskine Elementary

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Susie Miller

Program Site Assistant, Eastside Elementary 
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Teri VanAlst

Program Site Assistant, Valley Grove

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Rhonda Green

Staff/Finance Coordinator

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About Val Petry

Founder & Executive Director of A Heart for Kids

I grew up and raised a family in Madison County. I have been married to my husband Jeff for 36 years. We have three grown sons, two daughter-in-law’s and three granddaughters. I graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University in 1987 with a BS in Nursing and completed a Master of Arts Degree specializing in Children, Youth and Family Ministry in 2018. Previously I worked as a stay-at-home mom and as a nurse for about 10 years until I felt God’s leading to spend my time and energy serving children and families in the Anderson community.

​Before serving at A Heart for Kids, I served in a children’s ministry role for more than 19 years at a local church. I had an amazing opportunity to walk alongside children who came from many different backgrounds and gained valuable insight through that experience. My life was changed for the better during those years of ministry. In April of 2017, I stepped away from serving in that role but continued to have a deep desire to serve children and families in the community.

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