Beth-El Congregation - A Reform Synagogue Serving Metropolitan Tarrant County - Building the Jewish Future

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Laurie Barker James

I was born in Madison, the capital of Wisconsin, The Dairy State – which explains my strange desire to have cheese on almost everything!

I was raised in Arlington. My parents did not affiliate Jewishly, so it was not until many years into my life that I found my Beth-El “family.”

I graduated from Austin College in Sherman, (GO ROOS!) and worked for the local public health department. I took a job with the Washington State Department of Health in 1993, and moved to Olympia, the state capital. Olympia is a lovely place, and you will impress me if you are able to correctly pronounce “Geoduck.” (Hint: it’s NOT the state bird!)

I married a Washingtonian, and both my children were born in Washington. We moved back to Texas in 2004 (because life’s too short not to live in Texas!)

I am a freelance writer, photographer and fund developer for local non-profit agencies (that means I ask people for money.) My work has been published in the Texas Jewish Post, the Fort Worth Business Press, and other places. Some of you may have met me when I was a substitute teacher at the Hebrew Day School.

I am currently back in school, with the goal of admission to TCU’s Advanced Nursing Program (GO HORNED FROGS!) next fall. So, if you have to complain about your homework, I might just understand what you’re talking about! Then again, I might complain back at you.

My husband Jason is a nurse. Both our children attend Religious School at Beth-El – Kaylie is in first grade, Rick is in eighth grade. We live in Arlington with our cat, Newman-O, and Bob, the turtle.

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