Coretta.

Growing up in rural Louisiana as a kid, Mrs. Coretta L. Conant was influenced by her parents, family friends and teachers.  Her parents were the late Mr. and Mrs. James W. Anthony Sr. She has three other siblings  Mrs. Carletta Jones and James Anthony Jr. of Natichitoches, Louisiana and Ms. Brenda Anderson of Los Angeles, California.

She comes from a long line of educators from both sides of her family, like her sister Carletta who currently teaches in Natchitoches Parish, she too is a 25 year veteran educator in the state of Texas. Mrs. Conant credits her early years of being raised in Bermuda, Louisiana as helping her maintain her down to earth and humble personality.

She attended St. Matthew High school from K-8th grade, and continued her schooling by graduating from Cloutierville High School in 1987.  After completing 3 years of college at Northwestern State University she married her teenage sweetheart Mr. Gregory Conant.They then relocated to Houston Texas in 1991. She resumed her studies and received her bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with emphasis in Early Childhood from the University of Houston-Clear Lake. They have been married for 34 years and have a daughter named April. They reside in Pearland, Texas.

While working for two different school districts in her career as a caring and giving teacher, she has taught a wide range of students in her nearly 25 year career.  She has also taught many students with the diagnosis of Autism.  It was three years ago when  a particular young man blew into her room like a tornado.  Little did she know that student would touch her heart in such a way that it prompted her to journal. This journal experience led to this new book entitled What Does It Feel Like…to be a Child With Autism.  She credits seeing her father who drove a school bus in the area for many years as her inspiration. Due to the fact that she often saw him take special time and care with the students that rode his bus.