Jose 'JJ' Balderas
Eleanor Carter and Clayton Sanders, two former educators, are now working as storm recovery case managers in an effort to help residents still recovering from the April 25 EF1 tornado.
The positions are supported by funds allocated through the 2026 Texas Health Resources community impact grant.
Carter, a longtime Springtown educator who has been retired for eight years, said her former superintendent encouraged her to pursue the opportunity.
“My old superintendent called me, Andrea Hungerford, and said, ‘I have something that I think you’ll really enjoy and be good at,’” Carter said. “I found out a little more about the position from the interview committee and was interested in helping people. That’s how I got involved.”
Sanders said he spent 20 years as the athletic director and head football coach at Azle Christian School before retiring in 2025. He is a Springtown graduate and was encouraged by his sister-in-law to learn more about the role.
“Springtown is near and dear to my heart,” Sanders said.
“Even though I retired in 2025, I still had a passion to serve, and this just lined up with everything that I believe in and would like to be a part of,” he said.
Both case managers said their ties to the community and backgrounds in education were qualities the interview committee considered important for the role.
“Our whole career is built on relationships and problem solving,” Sanders said. “You have to have those two qualities to keep your head above water in this situation for sure.”
Just over two weeks into their roles, the duo has begun contacting and scheduling interviews for people who have reached out to the United Way or the state’s storm damage census.
“We contact people. We make appointments and we hear their story,” Carter said.
“We sit and listen to them and give them some resources they can go to for immediate help. Then we gather all the information we can and present the information to the long-term recovery group. It’s presented anonymously. We tell their story and see if we can get some additional resources to help people,” she said.
The long-term recovery group includes community-based organizations throughout Parker County and meets weekly to discuss cases and identify potential ways to help.
Sanders said their roles as case managers is to advocate for the needs of storm victims to the group.
“We’re their voice. We tell their story and let the process take place,” he said.
Carter and Sanders had completed 114 interviews by the time they spoke with the Springtown Epigraph.
They noted that some people on the outreach list had not contacted the organizations themselves but were referred by someone who wanted to help a neighbor.
Because many residents residing in rural areas lack access to the internet, phones or transportation, both case managers encourage residents to feel free to reach out on their neighbors’ behalf.
“I would like for the community to understand that life has gone on, but there are some people who need help in their community. I would really love the community to realize that and maybe reach out to a neighbor that needs help. Just send them our information. That’s all we ask,” Sanders said.
The case managers said if storm victims are living in unsafe conditions, or have immediate needs such as shelter, food or water, they should reach out immediately to seek assistance from local organizations.
“Some people are living in their pre-disaster home because they didn’t have insurance,” Carter said.
“Maybe a tree fell through it and maybe it’s still there. There are a lot of people that need help that are still recovering from the storm,” she said.
While Carter and Sanders understand the recovery process can be frustrating, they encourage storm victims to continue reaching out.
“I’m going to use a coaching analogy,” Sanders said. “You can’t swing an axe and cut down a tree with one swing. You just have to keep chopping — and that’s what we’re doing. So, don’t give up. There’s help out there. We just have to be able to find the right resources and channels to go through."
“I think the main thing is just empathizing with people and letting them know that people are out there that care,” Carter said.
Residents needing storm recovery assistance can contact Eleanor Carter at 682-337-6622 or [email protected], or Clayton Sanders at 817-550-3979 or [email protected].
