Faculty & Staff

With a robust blend of leadership, legal knowledge, and educational expertise, Rebecca Gardner, CFSP, is a highly accomplished professional in the funeral service profession and academia. As the founding Program Director and Assistant Professor of the Funeral Service Program at Northeast Texas Community College, Rebecca oversees program management, accreditation, and instruction in funeral home management and National Board Preparation.

In addition to her academic role, Rebecca provides legal consultation for attorneys and families involved in funeral-related litigation. Her career is rooted in strong leadership, legal acumen, and a commitment to continuous learning, supported by a Master's in Higher Education Administration and numerous leadership and quality assurance certifications.

Rebecca's proactive and detail-oriented approach and her ability to foster collaboration have established her as a respected leader and educator. Beyond her professional work, Rebecca is actively involved in community service, serving on boards and volunteering with organizations like the Quitman Chamber of Commerce, Winnsboro Autumn Trails, and the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.
 

Olga Retana Scott was raised with strong values of hard work and a deep respect for God, family, and country. She began her journey in the funeral service profession in 2007, transitioning to Mortuary Education by 2016, and in 2022, she became the Program and Student Coordinator for the Mortuary Program at Northeast Texas Community College. Throughout her educational career, Olga has remained an active and licensed Funeral Director in Texas.

Her dedication to the funeral profession shines through her volunteer work and leadership roles. Olga is a proud member of professional organizations such as CANA, TFDA, NFDA, ICCFA, and NFDMA. She is currently serving as Past-President of the North Texas Chapter of TFDA, contributes to various TFDA committees, and currently serves on the TFDA Services Inc. board. Olga's passion for her community extends beyond the profession, as she has also been involved with Women in Black and as Master Artist of Pi Sigma Eta. Additionally, she has made significant contributions to children’s spiritual education at her church.

In 2019, Olga’s commitment was recognized when she was awarded the Young Funeral Professional of the Year, an honor bestowed upon her by her peers. With her combination of experience, warmth, and dedication, Olga is a trusted advisor and an invaluable resource for anyone seeking guidance in funeral service education or support during life’s most challenging moments.
 

Abby is a Texas transplant from Wichita, Kansas. She attended mortuary college at Kansas City Kansas Community College and began practicing as a licensed funeral director and embalmer in 2009, working in a small-town funeral home. Abby moved to Texas in 2014 to work as a sales representative for Pierce Chemical Company. In 2019, she pursued a new opportunity. She joined the Funeral Service Education Program with Northeast Texas Community College, where she serves as the clinical instructor, which includes coordinating clinical experiences and working alongside the students in the field. 

Abby is a member of the Texas Funeral Directors Association, and in 2021, she was awarded the Young Professional of the Year of the association. She is a member of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice, where she earned certification as a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP). She received her Bachelor's Degree in Organizational Leadership from Texas A&M, Commerce. 

In her spare time, Abby enjoys volunteering with animal rescue groups, boating, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
 

Savannah Toews, a licensed funeral director and embalmer in both Texas and Arkansas since graduating from UAHT in 2017, combines her dedication to funeral service with a passion for education. Since 2020, she has been an instructor at Northeast Texas Community College, imparting her extensive knowledge to future professionals and ensuring the industry's continued excellence. Savannah is committed to continuous learning, staying current with industry trends, and advocating for inclusivity by educating about diverse options to meet every family's unique needs.

In addition to her work at NTCC, Savannah is a devoted mother to four children and a multitude of animals. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and exploring her home state of Arkansas.
 

Ben Schmidt, MBIT, is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in two states. He has been a funeral service educator for 9 years at two mortuary colleges, where he focuses on funeral sciences. He is an author and the host of two podcasts and plays the role of judge for the NFDA's Funeral Face-Off Trivia. He has presented locally and internationally, including at the Cremation Association of North America's first embalming CE and the Belgian Institute of Thanatopraxie's 50th Anniversary.

Brant Davis is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer with over 24 years of experience in the funeral profession and a decade of teaching. Actively engaged in his local community, Brant assists family-owned funeral homes and is deeply grateful to the mentors who guided him throughout his career. He is passionate about passing on his knowledge to the next generation of funeral directors.

Brant's teaching philosophy is centered on student engagement and learning efficiency. After transitioning to education, he was inspired by the book Small Teaching: Everyday Lessons from the Science of Learning, which transformed his approach to instruction. This shift led him to develop strategies that help students study and work smarter through the use of technical resources, collaborative sessions, and customized learning methods. By recognizing that everyone learns differently, Brant focuses on helping students retain information in a way that best suits their individual learning styles.
 

Brittany Carrington has served in the funeral profession for over 15 years. She considers it a great honor to have gently guided countless grieving families through their most difficult moments. Brittany has served in funeral homes across New Mexico and Texas, gaining experience in small family-owned and large corporate firms. She deeply appreciates this aspect of her journey, giving her a multifaceted understanding of the funeral industry.

In 2016, she graduated Summa Cum Laude from New Mexico Highlands University with her BBA. She obtained her Mortuary Science degree from Dallas Institute of Funeral Services. While attending the Institute, she was voted Chaplain of the Pi Sigma Eta Fraternity and the Psi Epsilon Class Chaplain. Upon graduation, she was the valedictorian of her class and was voted the recipient of the prestigious Bill Pierce Award by her peers. In her continued pursuit of excellence, she earned the SCI Funeral Director of the Year award in 2022 for the DFW area and the top JD Power score in one of the largest markets in the company.

Brittany enjoys outdoor adventures and spending time with her toddler son. They are often found together playing hide-n-seek, reading books, and eating chicken nuggets.
 

Funeral Director, Embalmer, Certified Celebrant, Traveler, Dog Mom, Research Nerd/Industry Obsessed

Jennifer Lares (MBA, DBA) has been a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in FL since 1998 and also holds an active dual license in TX (2017). Over the course of her career spanning 30+ years, she has been licensed in WA, NV, TN, and NC. She also served in the US Navy as a Hospital Corpsman specializing in Mortuary Affairs from 2007-2012.

Jennifer began teaching after graduating in 2019 with her Doctorate of Business Administration (UIW). She has been an Adjunct Instructor with Northeast Texas Community College's funeral service education program since 2021, where she has taught a variety of courses. She has published research pertaining to the funeral industry, which she has presented at social science conferences in Detroit, MI, and Princeton, NJ. Jennifer has presented various industry topics at events in TX (Emerging Leaders, South Texas Funeral Directors Association).  

Most recently, prior to becoming a full-time Instructor with NTCC, Jennifer served as a Mortuary Officer (civilian) at the US Army Regional Mortuary, Europe & Africa, located in Landstuhl, Germany. She specialized in returning fallen service members and other eligible persons home.