Meet Our Team

(580) 762.5266
Ponca City, OK

Meet The Dearing House Team

Mark Bean, Executive Director

In 2024, Mark Bean advanced to the role of Executive Director. Mark initially joined the Dearing House team three years prior as a Forensic Interviewer and Multidisciplinary Team Coordinator. As Executive Director, Mark shoulders the responsibilities of program management, ensuring compliance with national accreditation standards, while also retaining his role as MDT Coordinator and being available for forensic interviewing when needed. Mark's background includes a degree in Psychology from Northwestern Oklahoma State and six years of experience as a Child Welfare Specialist at DHS. He attributes his effective communication skills, honed over 12 years in the U.S. Navy, to his ability to interact adeptly in various scenarios, whether it involves interviewing a child victim or facilitating case reviews with multiple agencies. Outside of work, Mark enjoys dedicating time to hunting and fishing.

Maggi Hutchason, Forensic Interviewer & Community Educator

Even though Maggi has retired from her role as Executive Director, she remains actively involved in supporting the staff and mission of Dearing House on a part-time basis. With her extensive experience as a Forensic Interviewer, Maggi continues to conduct interviews at Dearing House. Additionally, in her capacity as Community Educator, Maggi plays a pivotal role in coordinating the Break the Cycle parenting class and delivering training sessions both locally and nationwide, advocating for teamwork and efforts toward preventing abuse. In her retirement, Maggi dedicates her time to volunteering, traveling, and hopefully completing some of her many unfinished craft projects.

Halie Shirley, Family Advocate

To qualify as an Advocate under National Children's Alliance guidelines, Halie Shirley has completed many hours of specialized training and has a heart and a strong passion for children to be heard and understood. She wants kids to know they have a team at Dearing House that will see them through any challenges. A graduate of Northern Oklahoma College, Halie is enrolled in a criminal justice program at Northwestern State University. Halie says she has known since childhood that she wanted to help kids, and we are happy to have her on our team! Halie also has a heart for stray animals and her dog wins costume prizes!

Kelli Thurman, Administrative Assistant

The duties of Kelli Thurman as Administrative Assistant vary from financial reporting for the board of directors to stocking the snack cabinet for kids, and Kelli has all the skills necessary to assist both our staff and our clients. Kelli has a degree in Family Relations and Child Development from Oklahoma State and has work experience in business administration, so both were an advantage when she joined our staff in January 2021. Her management skills as a wife, mother, and now grandmother are put to good use at Dearing House, and she still has time for family activities such as golf and motorcycle rides with her husband.

Dearing House Board

2024 Board of Directors of Dearing House, Inc:
Chairperson- Tina Fisher, School Administration
Vice-Chair- Barbara lhrig, Retired Educator
Secretary- Morgan Cremers Swain, MSW
Treasurer- Joe Theobald, Murphy Insurance Agency
Spike Henderson- Cherokee Strip Credit Union
Lindsey Wilburn, RN.- Special Education
Relo Adams- Grand Mental Health
Jennifer Swords- Osage Casinos
Jennifer McGlothlin- Osage Nation
Amanda Dronberger- Phillips 66
Scott Haywood- OK State Health Dept.

Dearing House Advisory Council

The Advisory Council are volunteers with expertise and experience who provide support and guidance
to the board and staff to further the mission of Dearing House.

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Meet The Dearing House Team

Dearing House Board

Dearing House Advisory Council

Multidisciplinary Child Protection Team partners:

DEARING HOUSE IS HERE TO HELP