A Promise Kept – The Heart Behind Heather’s Old Skool Village

In 1999, Brenda Ornelas walked into Lake Worth High School with a calling — to teach life skills to students who too often were underestimated. For 16 years, she poured her heart into that classroom, guiding students not just through academics, but through the everyday skills that build independence, confidence, and belonging. What she couldn’t have known then was that one student would help shape the rest of her life’s work.

Her name was Heather.

Heather, who has Down syndrome, chose Brenda to be both her teacher and, in her words, “her mom.” The bond between them was immediate and enduring.
When Heather graduated in 2012, she told Brenda she wanted to follow in her footsteps and become a life skills teacher herself. The two dreamed out loud with Brenda telling Heather, “Someday when I retire, we’ll start our own school.”

That “someday” arrived far sooner than either imagined.

In 2013, Brenda purchased a modest 1,400-square-foot building in Lake Worth with plans to open a day center for adults with disabilities. At the time, she had no idea she was also becoming the steward of a remarkable piece of Texas history. The building turned out to be the oldest standing structure in Lake Worth — the original transmitter station for WBAP radio. The land itself had been donated in the 1930s by Amon Carter as part of his ranch so the station could broadcast across North Texas.

Two years of renovations, permits, and persistence followed. In 2015, Old Skool Village officially opened its doors with just three students. What started small was built on something powerful —  dignity, purpose, and community.

Today, Heather is not only a student at her namesake school, but Brenda’s assistant, an honorary student teacher who, at 35 years old, proudly “rules the roost.” Her presence is a daily reminder of why the village exists.

Heather’s Old Skool Village serves adults ranging in age from 18 to over 70. The doors are open from 8 am to 4:30 pm, with parents or agencies dropping students off for part or all of the day. Mornings begin with a group meeting to review the week’s activities, followed by lessons drawn from a thoughtfully developed curriculum created by special education professionals. Reading, math, current events, and geography are woven into the day, alongside games, social time, and shared meals.

But learning at Heather’s Old Skool Village doesn’t stop at the front door. Much of the program is rooted in the community. Every Thursday, students volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House, helping in the kitchen and serving families during difficult times. Wednesdays are spent working at the Fort Worth Food Bank. On other days, students practice real-world life skills through shopping trips, bowling, dining out, movies, and more. Each month, families receive a detailed calendar so they can choose the activities that best fit their loved one’s interests and needs.

In 2025, the spirit of community shined brightly during a special “Shop with a Hero Day,” made possible through partnerships with Target and Northridge Construction Company. Each student received a $100 Target gift card, a party bus was rented for the occasion, and first responders paired up one-on-one with students for a day filled with joy, dignity, and celebration.

Despite its impact, Heather’s Old Skool Village operates without federal funding. The program relies on fundraisers, donations, an annual golf tournament, and limited support from state agencies. Brenda’s long-term vision is to expand even further — to one day open a group home and continue embedding adults with disabilities into the fabric of the community they belong to.

Heather’s Old Skool Village is more than a day program. It is a promise kept between a teacher and her student, a second life for a historic building, and a living reminder that when people are given opportunity, respect, and support, they don’t just learn life skills — they thrive.

At its core, the school is about empowerment. Adults with disabilities are too often defined by limitations rather than strengths, yet here they are seen for who they truly are — capable, valuable, and deserving of meaningful lives. 

Through hands-on learning, community involvement, and real-world experiences, students build confidence,
independence, and self-worth. They are not sheltered from the world; they are prepared to engage with it. By working, volunteering, socializing, and making choices about their own days, students gain a sense of purpose that extends far beyond the classroom. Old Skool Village doesn’t just teach life skills — it reinforces the belief that every individual has something important
to contribute.

Heather’s Old Skool Village exists because a community believes in the worth, dignity, and potential of every individual. Without federal funding, programs like ours rely entirely on the generosity of people who choose to show up. 

Your donation helps provide daily programming, transportation, supplies, and meaningful community experiences for adults with disabilities. When you give, you are investing in independence, belonging, and a future filled with possibility. Please consider making a gift today and becoming part of the village that makes all of this possible.

For more information on donations or what services are available, please reach out to:

heathersoldskoolvillage.net | heathersoldskoolvillage@gmail.com

6018 Graham Street, Lake Worth, TX 76135 | 817.236.8275