Kappa Spotlight
Each month we celebrate an extraordinary educator whose life and service embody the mission and values of National Kappa Kappa Iota.
Jan
Jan first joined the Kappa organizations back in the early 2000s. She enjoyed the new chapter that was created and serving as its Vice President, and she was later nominated as the 3rd Vice President for the state. But of course, life happens, and things get busy when the children come into the picture.
Fast forward to 2021. Jan retired from teaching after 31 years of service. She remembers that when she first retired, she did not know what to do with her time, but MaMa Elsie and Marcelle told her she should come back and rejoin the Kappas. She attended a meeting and got involved with local projects. The group met outside at the local recreation center pavilion, but when it turned chilly, Jan suggested they start meeting at a restaurant.
"What a delicious decision! Meet and eat!"
In addition to her volunteering for Kappa, Jan is very involved in community and church activities. After retirement, she started sewing prayer blankets with some ladies at Hopewell Church. Then she got involved with a group of ladies who get together at Northside Baptist Church to sew, talk, share, and laugh. Later, she was invited to join the Lake Oconee Sewing Guild. After that, she took over the cemetery committee and worked to re-map her church's cemetery. Jan also became the Lay Leader at church, and when the church lost its choir director, she was asked to serve as interim director, which was 3½ years ago.
Today, Jan serves as interim choir director, Lay Leader, Chair of the Cemetery Committee, part of the Prayers & Squares quilt ministry, head of the handbell group, and coordinator of a monthly card ministry at Hopewell Church of Milledgeville. She also attends prayer group every Thursday. She sews with the Northside ladies almost every Monday, works on membership with the sewing guild once a month, and writes their monthly newsletter. She participates in the Learning in Retirement Book Club and Luncheon group, which meets two days each month. Last year, she started taking voice lessons every other week, and she loved singing with the Kappa choir at the 2026 National Convention!
In the Kappa group, Jan has been Vice President under Marcelle Bridgeman. She's thinking that next year she might just add President to her resume!
Jan exemplifies Kappa ideals through her Learning, Giving, and Caring actions in her Kappa group, community, and church involvement.
Spotlight Archive
Betty Nunley
Betty Nunley is the heart of Kappa in San Antonio, Texas! She joined Kappa in 1992 in Midland, becoming a member of the Beta Pi Chapter. When she moved to San Antonio in 2000, there were 3 Kappa Kappa Iota chapters in the area. She transferred to the one closest to her home, which is Alpha Lambda.
Alpha Lambda is the largest chapter in Texas with 30+ members. Betty has led this group as president for many years. Each year the group has programs that follow the Delta State President’s theme. Their meetings always have a wonderful program along with a meal at a member’s home or a restaurant. This year their programs have focused on crafting. A few of their programs this year have been leather working, painting, and flower arranging, all taught by an expert! Learning and doing is so much fun!
Alpha Lambda is a very busy group with many philanthropic projects. The group donates school supplies to children, items needed at the Wildlife Rescue and Rehab, and food to the San Antonio Food Bank, and they participate in Make a Difference Day with donations of clothing.
Betty has been Delta State President twice and has served on National committees. Currently she is the Region 2 Empathy Chair. She has been awarded National Membership Awards for bringing in new members, and her efforts are a large part of Delta State receiving membership awards.
Betty taught 40 years before retiring in 2011. She taught at Burbank High School, where 5 teachers were members of Kappa Kappa Iota. She has taught French, English, Math, PE, Science, and History, and worked with the Credit Recovery Program. She now subs 3 days a week and homeschools her granddaughters the other 2 school days. She and her husband, Paul, celebrated 50 years of marriage before his death in 2021.
Jada Theriot
Jada Theriot is a simply remarkable woman who finds joy in all things. She is a devoted Kappa member and has been a member of her local chapter, Mu, in Lafayette, Louisiana, for 27 years. Jada has started to “dip her toes” into enlarging her service repertoire. She is currently serving Eta State as its 1st Vice President and has agreed wholeheartedly to run for the office again next year. As she said, “it takes the first year to catch on and learn!” She has also served as her chapter’s secretary.
She currently holds the position of Philanthropic Chair for Mu. In this capacity she works with the local facility for battered women and children. She conducts and delivers Mu chapter drives for family Christmas presents, Easter baskets, school supplies, and recurring needs at the facility’s intake center.
She graduated from McNeese State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Special Education with a minor in Art Education. She also has her certification for Regular Education, grades 1st–5th. She has taught for 31 years as a Special Education teacher in elementary, middle, and high schools in the local area. Jada was recently named Teacher of the Year at her school, Ernest Gallet Elementary.
She has raised a fine young man who is now a registered nurse at a local hospital. Her hobbies include attending many of the local festivals across Louisiana and Cajun music dancing. She is a collector of Christmas ornaments and a cat lover. She is very proud to be a 4th-generation female crawfish, rice, and soybean farmer.
Rhonda Hymel
Rhonda Hymel has been a member of Kappa since 1991 and has served as Upsilon’s chapter secretary (1993–1995), president (1995–1998), and treasurer for 19 years (2006–2025). She graduated with a BS in Elementary Education from UCO, Edmond, in December 1983 and with a Master in Library Media in May 2005. She taught grades first through sixth for 20 years and was an elementary media specialist for her final 14 years before retiring in May 2018.
Rhonda continues to be active in her church, community, and education. She has learned to quilt and completed the Cleveland County Master Gardener program in the fall of 2024, and she became a member, secretary, and council president (2023–2026) of the Midwest City Garden Club.
Rhonda enjoys baking, sewing, quilting, gardening, and especially spending time with family and friends. She has been married to her husband, Jimmie Hymel, for 54 years, and has three children, five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Nominate a fellow Kappa for Spotlight
Know a Kappa whose dedication, service, and character deserve national recognition? Submit a Spotlight nomination and help us celebrate the educators who make our organization great. Nominations are accepted year-round and reviewed monthly by the national committee.