Kaufman ISD Superintendent Todd Williams met with survivors Tanya Pankz and Candi Banks today to learn more about the Lillian Smith Foundation’s program to help combat family violence and dating violence.
Tanya Pankz is the mother of 2001 Rockwall High School graduate Jennifer Pankz, who was murdered in 2002 by a boy she was trying to stop dating at UNT (University of North Texas).
Candi Banks is a survivor of a four-year marriage years ago to an abusive husband who threatened to kill her. Banks daughter, also a UNT student, experienced dating violence with a boy she dated but successfully broke up with him after receiving her mom’s help.
According to both women, Williams was very receptive to receiving the help of the Lillian Smith Foundation to develop a Kaufman ISD dating violence program, after seeing Pankz’ Fox 4 TV news video about her daughter’s murder. He plans to bring several of his administrative staff to witness her “Dating Violence Dangers” presentation Oct. 29 at the Rockwall ISD Administration building.
Williams is also friends with Rockwall ISD Superintendent Dr. Gene Burton, who is a strong supporter of the Lillian Smith Foundation’s Dating Violence Dangers presentation. They will likely be speaking together about the subject soon.
Categories: dating violence · domestic violence · family violence · relationship violence
Tagged: Candi Banks, dating violence, Dr. Gene Burton, family violence, Kaufman ISD, Kaufman ISD Superintendent Dr. Todd Williams, Rockwall ISD, Tanya Pankz
The mother of murdered 2001 Rockwall High School graduate Jennifer Pankz spoke to about a dozen young female domestic violence victims today at Kaufman County’s Genesis Center Women’s Shelter.
Tanya Pankz, the mother who started speaking recently about relationship violence dangers, said that her story about her daughter’s encounters with two separate abusers and the dangers equated with dating abusers seemed to be appreciated by several of those in attendance.
“One of the young women came up afterward,” Tanya said, “and told me that – after hearing Jennifer’s story – she’s now through returning to her abusive boyfriend. Learning about how Jennifer eventually was killed by the boy she had been dating was evidently enough for this young woman to hear to convince her that she needs to end their relationship or perhaps be murdered as well.”
The speaking engagement was arranged for Tanya by the women’s shelter director, Pastor Nancy, who also arranged an appointment for Tanya Oct. 9 with the Kaufman ISD Superintendent.
Categories: dating violence · domestic violence · family violence · relationship violence
Tagged: dating violence, domestic violence, Genesis Center Women's Shelter, Jennifer Pankz, Kaufman ISD, Tanya Pankz
