MEET THE COUNCIL

Texas was one of the first states to receive a Head Start Collaboration Office grant back in 1990. The work of this office is accomplished though the participation of many task force members, that represent parents,  HS/ EHS staff,  child care and public school teachers and administrators,  practitioners,  advocacy organizations, lawmakers, public and private agencies, associations, businesses, and higher education. The purpose of the Texas Head Start Collaboration Office (THSSCO) is to create partnerships that support the development of multi-agency and public/private collaborative action. The TECECDS is a project of the THSSCO.

LaShonda Brown, BS, THSSCO Director, Houston- Formerly served in the office of Early Childhood Coordination (OECC), at HHSC as the Coordinator for The Healthy Child Care Texas Project and with Raising Texas Initiative. She serves on the Child and Youth Worker Certification Institute Board.  Prior to joining OECC she was the Executive Director for Texas AEYC.   

Judy Carnahan-Webb, MEd, Creative Trainers and Consultants, Houston - Early Childhood Education Consultant, serves as Texas Representative on TAEYC Board and S.E.C.A. (Southern Early Childhood Association) Board of 13 Southern States, working towards a Regional Trainer Registry, San Jacinto College and Houston Community College Advisory Boards, Board Member of Texas Missing Children, NAEYC Assessor and Head Start Monitoring Reviewer.

Aaron Carrara, BA, Metropolitan Montessori Schools, Inc.,  Houston - President of Texas AEYC and serves on various community councils and/or represents CIRCLE, community colleges such as San Jacinto, Houston, and Mainland CC. Formerly President of Houston AEYC.

Katie Chennisi, BA. Trainer Registry Coordinator, Houston. Formerly a Case Manager for Neighborhood Centers Inc. and AIDS Foundation Houston, and a live-in Care Giver for foster children at Casa de Esperanza de los Niños.

Sonya Coffee, MEd, Higher Education Initiative, Coordinator, Houston - Represents the Children’s Learning Institute and Higher Education grant looking towards smooth articulation from community colleges to more advanced degrees, working with Pre-K guidelines and serves on the San Jacinto Community College Board.

Sarah Crockett , MSW, Education Coordinator for the Texas Association for Infant Mental Health, Austin - Serves as a consultant for the Infant Mental Health League of States and the Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health.

Ana De Hoyos O'Connor, M.Ed., Assistant Professor at San Antonio College - a college in the Alamo Community College System, and Sub-Committee Chair and Member of the Texas Early Learning Council.

Reagan Dobbs, BA, Texas Workforce Commission, Child Care Policy in Austin, TX. Formerly a Child Development Specialist for the Texas Migrant Council.

Frank Eckles, CYC-P, CYC Certification Institute, College Station - Serves as President of C&CY accreditation Board, C&CY Care, Academy of Competent Youth Work, University of Pittsburgh, The Academy Education Development for Youth Development, Work Advisory Commission, Federation of Family, and National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Sue Hancock, BAAS, CCHC, Family Service Association, San Antonio - San Antonio AEYC Board Member, serves on the San Antonio College Advisory Committee, represents NACCRRA Leadership class of 2010, and the NAFCC Observer.

Tere Holmes, BS, TLCCA, Austin - President-Elect and Immediate Past President of the Texas Licensed Child Care Association, TLCCA.  Vice President for the National Association of Child Care Professionals, NACCP.  Director of Operations of The Sunshine House, a regional provider of early care and education programs in eleven states. 

Lee Roberts, BA, Texas Dept. of Family and Protective Services, Austin - Represents the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (licensing), Raising Texas, and Early Childhood Education Committee.

Maia Shelby, BS, Consultant, Houston - Previously Specialist Liaison to the Head Start T/TA through the State Collaboration Office, AAPD, Dental Home Initiative, and working on “needs assessment” on obesity and science.

Debbie Simpson-Smith, PhD, San Jacinto College, Pasadena - Department chair, Child Development/Early Childhood Education, San Jacinto College – Central campus;  Member of the Child Development Educators Association( CDEA);  Project Coordinator , Higher Education Demonstration Grant; Advisory committee, Child Development- Deer Park ISD;  Member Champions for Children Committee, Pasadena ISD; NAEYC Peer Reviewer for A.A.S. degrees in Early Childhood; Member of the Westlake Family Institute.

Jackie Taylor, MS, Program Director at TAEYC. Former Head Start Fellow in Washington, D.C. Early Childhood trainer and consultant. Previously Coordinator for Healthy Childcare Texas, independent trainer and consultant, and Program Administrator at the Texas Workforce Commission.

Judy Willgren, MEd, Head Start Fellow, Washington, D.C - Formerly with DHHS and now serves as an independent consultant, advisor to Head Start/Early Head Start, National Head Start Literacy, and Hilton Foundation Inclusion.