Meet The Team

Christy Clugston is the CEO and founder of inspire heART. Christy is Certified in the following, Therapeutic Art Life Coach, ACES, Counselling Children & Adolescent, Professional Life Coach Certification, AVERT, Christy has 20 years’ experience working with students as a volunteer and a substitute teacher. She has also worked in youth ministries in her church, as well as doing event planning for community events for youth. In the

summer of 2019, Christy was invited to Israel to lead a two-week International Art Conference for people from 4 different countries. Art became their primary medium of communication and expression and brought them together in a unique way. Christy's passion is to see youth have the opportunity to express their feelings when words often are not enough through the medium of art. She believes that art is a valuable tool to help students move past traumatic experiences and begin a healing process by seeing new purpose and hope as they explore things they often cannot express verbally.

Iola Parks is a 44-year resident of San Juan County and Aztec. She is a retired educator with a degree in elementary education and has 25 years of experience as an elementary classroom teacher in Albuquerque and Aztec. Since retirement, Iola has volunteered as a mentor in the Aztec School District. In 2018, she volunteered with Christy Clugston in Farmington

Schools doing various art projects in classrooms in junior highs. She also helped with the

school wide art projects at AHS to help bring healing to students after Dec 7, 2017. In her many years of teaching, Iola understands the power of art to engage students and allow them to share their emotions and tell their own stories through their creations. She has seen how moods are lifted and stress is relieved as students are set free to engage in an activity that lets them fully express themselves in an atmosphere of total acceptance and nonjudgement.

Lavon Adams grew up on a family farm in Southwest Kansas where she learned many skills during her years there. After high school she attended Oklahoma Baptist University where she earned her BS degree in Education. Following graduation, she moved to Farmington in 1988, where she began her teaching career at Northeast Elementary School. In 1989, she met and married Shawn Adams and they made their home in Farmington. They have 3 grown children and 4 grandchildren who are the joy of their lives. Lavon has over 30 years of experience in the field of education, and has taught at the elementary level, secondary level and in adult education classes over the years. She has also done several years of private tutoring. In addition to her work in the field of education, Lavon also helped develop a drug and rehabilitation program for women and has worked as a volunteer with drug and alcohol rehabilitation support groups since 2008. Lavon is an indispensable asset, and we are so thankful for her willingness to serve on our Inspire HeART Inc Board of Directors.

Davena Benton has a heart to help youth. She married her husband Jason Benton of Monte Vista Colorado and has four children. Davena worked as a CNA for assisted living in Alamosa Colorado. She also been the secretary and owner of Cross Creek Farms INC. for the last 12 years. Her husband sold his third-generation farm in Monte Vista Colorado in February 2022. They bought a 1600-acre farm in Lyman Nebraska where they now farm Hay and Corn. Davena and her husband help mentor high school students who have an interest in farming.

Taylor Clugston graduated in 2023 from Piedra Vista high school. She is currently in college working to get her masters in counseling. She enjoys working in the community and people of all age groups. She spent most of her time in school in leadership positions such as student council. Taylor started a fundraiser at the age of 8 known as "Cozy Christmas" that went on for 6 years and was able to raise over $100,000 worth of supplies for those in need in her communities. 

Cammie Leplate is a wife, mother, and grandmother. She has a passion to help students see their full potential in life. Cammie has a BS in Business Administration from Colorado State University MA in Counseling from Liberty University certified Pastoral Crisis Intervention Counselor, certified Crisis Counselor by FEMA, NM state licensure as a Rehabilitation Counselor, NM level 3 license as a K-12 school counselor She has served as a teacher at Aztec High School and as a school counselor at AHS (during the school shooting crisis and years following. She has also worked in the Central Consolidated School District serving as a counselor in schools on the Navajo Reservation.