Karen Burnell

Karen Burnell is currently the Healthy Lifestyle Liaison for the Texas PTA where she helps ensure healthy opportunities are presented and available to PTA’s across the state. She supports these efforts through various forms of outreach to local and council level Healthy Lifestyle Chairs.

Prior to this role, she was the Coordinated School Health Specialist for Dallas ISD, where she oversaw district implementation and campus initiatives that ensured compliance with local, state, and national coordinated school health mandates. She additionally co-facilitated the district’s School Health Advisory Council, served on the Dallas Area Coalition To Prevent Childhood Obesity, and was the board secretary for the Texas School Health Association.

Before her time with Dallas ISD, Karen was the National Training Director for the CATCH (Coordinated Approach To Child Health) Program and a Project Director for a childhood obesity-prevention grant at the University of Texas-Houston, Health Science Center. She is currently a master trainer and presents at the state and national level on a variety of topics.

Karen has been recognized for her efforts by receiving the CATCH State Champion Award and CATCH Living Legacy Award, as well as the Department of State Health Services Reaching for Excellence and Discovery Award on behalf of Dallas ISD.