Tonyika Forbes Deese holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Prairie View A&M University and a Master of Arts from Texas A&M University. With over 24 years of experience in education, including 20 years as a School Counselor, she is dedicated to supporting and advocating for individuals with special needs. She is certified in General Special Education PK-12, School Counseling PK-12, and Special Education Counseling PK-12 in the state of Texas.

Before transitioning into education, she served in the United States Army Reserves for over a decade. After her service, she pursued her passion for education by becoming a Special Education Teacher and Cheerleading Coach. In her commitment to supporting individuals with cognitive disabilities, she founded The Evie Foundation.  A non-profit organization whose mission is break down barriers and promote inclusivity. At the Evie Foundation we believe that all children deserve equal opportunities to thrive in supportive and welcoming environments.

She is also an avid traveler, having visited 48 countries and lived in four, and she enjoys discovering new cultures. Her favorite pastime is spending time with her grandson, Ky, whom she loves to spoil.

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Mrs. LaTarsha Giles is a proud educator for 20 years and climbing.  She obtained a Bachelor's of Science degree in Communication Disorders from Lamar University and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Counseling from Prairie View A and M University. She is a certified Special Education Teacher, Licensed Speech Therapist, Certified Early Intervention Specialist, Certified Administrator and of course a Certified School Counselor. 

She has held several positions requiring supervising several programs, such as Special Education, Section 504, Response to Intervention (RTI) and as Campus Testing Coordinator, which has given her a broad level of educational experience and expertise. She has also been serving as a speech therapist since 1999.

She’s been a teacher, campus compliance coordinator, facilitator/special education team leader and department chairperson to name a few positions. Mrs. Giles has also sponsored many organizations and clubs, such as Mademoiselle’s, Key Club, Class of 09 Senior Sponsor, SDMC and Emergency Response Team. She even found time to obtain the Teacher of the Year Award throughout her career.

Here at BTW, Mrs. Giles believes that family is the core of the community. You can change the culture of a community when you strengthen one family at a time. She currently serves as the Wrap-Around Liaison and enjoys it!  Mrs. Giles also prides herself on working with Dr Le, the Magnet Coordinator, as they recruit students from surrounding middle schools to join the magnificent High School of Engineering Professions here at BTW.

Ms. Smiles (Mrs. Giles) enjoys making others smile! She is passionate about the work that she does with students while helping them achieve their goals. She is extremely grateful to be able to have a career that allows her to do just that!

She is elated to be a counselor here at Booker T Washington High School!

“The sky is full of stars and there’s room for all of them to shine” - Robin McGraw

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Cassanthia Penn received her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from the University of Houston-Downtown. Mrs. Penn received her master’s degree in School Counseling from the University of St. Thomas, she then continued at University of St. Thomas where she completed her course work in Educational Leadership. Mrs. Penn began her career in education in 2005 at Two Dimension Charter School as a Pre-K4 teacher. She continued her journey at Aldine ISD from 2006 - 2023, teaching at various grade levels and working as a Math and Reading Skills Specialist. Mrs. Penn joined Houston Independence school District in 2023, where she currently works as a School Counselor. Mrs. Penn is excited about building great impactful relationships with students and staff.

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Reba G. Powell is an advocate of Education. She is the owner and founder of Premier Educator’s Network. As an esteemed educator, Reba’s 40 years of experience, has allowed her to set students and families up for success in the sectors of Higher Education and Secondary Education. She has encouraged and prepared students to pursue Higher Education and Career Readiness opportunities upon graduation from high school. She has earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Administrative Management Systems and a Master of Education in Counselor Education. She holds an Office Education and School Counselor Certification from the State of Texas.

She currently has 27 years of service at Booker T. Washington High School and the High School for Engineering Professions. She started her career at Texas Southern University and during her 14 year tenure gained a wealth of knowledge working in the offices of Admissions, Recruitment, Financial Aid, Registrar, Veteran Affairs and International Student Affairs. Reba also served in the capacity of an Advisor for Business Professionals of America, Key Club, Cheerleaders, Class Officers and for the Senior Class of Booker T. Washington High School and additionally served as the 1^st Vice President for Kiononia Community Learning Academy School Board. Her passion for equipping students and adolescents to ensure that they are prepared for the purpose of leading in the future has heartened her to motivate, encourage and empower her fellow colleagues who co-labor with her in pursuit.