Our Minister and Staff
Rev. Dr. Tracie Barrett
Rev. Dr. Tracie considers herself a Unitarian Universalist evangelist, sharing the good news of our liberal faith. She focuses on each person’s journey to spiritual growth, truth, and meaning. While she grew up experiencing many different faith traditions, she says, “When I look back, I believe I was always a Universalist and a Unitarian. Coming home to Unitarian Universalism changed my life”, and she works hard to give that opportunity to everyone. She believes strongly in a shared ministry concept with Judith as our Director of Religious Education and the congregation itself. “Every committee, every member, is ministering to our community,” she says.
Rev. Dr. Tracie received her Master of Divinity in 2017 from Meadville Lombard Theological School. While in seminary, she completed one unit of Chaplaincy internship at AdventHealth Hospital and served for two years as the Student Minister at Tri-County Unitarian Universalists in Summerfield, FL. Tri-County UU ordained her in 2017. She served three years as the Consulting Minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Lake County. She will soon be awarded her Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. The focus of her thesis was on revitalizing congregations. She brings a television, theater, and ritual background to her ministry.
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Religious Education Coordinator
James McDevitt-Phelps
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Religious Education Teacher
Middle/High School
Kat Mitchell
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Religious Education Teacher
Elementary School
Jules Flores
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Congregational
Administrator
Colleen Roberts
James McDevitt-Phelps
James McDevitt-Phelps was raised a third generation Unitarian Universalist, attending the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Bay County and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tallahassee as a child. He is happy to be continuing in the footsteps of his mother and grandmother, both of whom were involved in UU religious education. He is also a board member of the Society for Humanistic Judaism and is currently enrolled in the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism’s officiant program.
He has received a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre from Florida State University. Both of these influence his approach to his role as Religious Education Coordinator, giving him a background in management, teamwork, communication, and information.
Kat Mitchell
I have been going to UUUF for 17 years now. I was raised in the RE program throughout all three classrooms and then started volunteering when I was 15. I am now working as a staff member teaching middle/high schoolers. I love seeing our little kids grow up to be independent and expressive teenagers. They are my favorite group to work with!
I am pursuing a degree in Radiography at Valencia College, which is a fancy way of saying I will be an X-ray technician in the medical field. Right now, I am finishing my last semester before I apply to my program!
My favorite hobby is creating special effects makeup, SFX for short. I like to make horror monster masks out of latex and clay and hope to make it a career in the future.
Jules Flores
I am Jules or Jay, and I am the elementary-school Unitarian Universalist teacher here at UUUF. Being a teacher is a passion and it is so rewarding to help and watch the little ones learn and grow. I have been teaching at UUUF for almost four years now. Time sure does fly! When I am not teaching at UUUF, I am a preschool teacher. I love being able to make a difference in the lives of our youth.
Colleen Roberts
After 23 years in education, I recently retired from classroom and virtual teaching. Other past experiences include seven years as a program director for a summer camp, serving as the manager of a personnel firm, teaching an outdoor survival course to homeschooled teens, and supporting a Scout troop as its leader. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and look forward to being a lifelong learner.
Organization is important to me, and I pride myself on accurately completing every task. My hobbies include creating mixed-media art, reading, and gardening.