Early Childhood Policy Fellowship

Meet the Fellows

Meet the leaders from across the United States who are working toward creating high-quality, equitable early childhood systems.

2025 Fellows

Ene Afufu

Ene Afufu is the program manager of the National Early Educator Training Center at SEIU Education and Support Fund, where she leads efforts to build inclusive, worker- and human-centered solutions in early childhood education. With over 12 years of experience in program management, policy advocacy, and workforce development, she has a deep commitment to racial equity and economic justice. In her current role, Ene’s work focuses on advocating for child care providers as essential workers and advancing systemic change to ensure equitable access to quality care. She holds a strong belief in the power of collaboration and is dedicated to creating spaces where diverse voices are heard and valued.

Ene Afufu

Jackee Ballesteros

Jaclyn “Jackee” Ballesteros is a senior manager for the Early Childhood Initiatives Division at the Harris County Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity. In this role, she oversees the implementation and evaluation of diverse early childhood initiatives and organizes large-scale events for cross-sector stakeholders across the county. With 12 years in the early learning and care field, Jackee has worked as an early childhood educator, grade-level team lead, and curriculum developer with a focus on cultural and linguistic diversity. She holds a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas State University, an MA in Educational Equity and Cultural Diversity from the University of Colorado-Boulder, and a graduate certificate in Early Childhood Leadership from the University of Colorado-Denver.

Jackee Ballesteros

Jess Cho

Jess Cho is an associate partner at Promise Venture Studio, where she has the privilege of co-leading the Early Childhood Leaders of Color Collaborative and coaching a portfolio of equity-driven early childhood-focused social ventures to accelerate their impact. Prior to joining Promise Venture Studio, Jess held leadership roles at several leading education and non-profit sector organizations, including the Primary School, the English Language Learner Office at Oakland Unified School District, and Education Pioneers, and she brings expertise in strategic planning, talent management, operations, and product development. Jess is a proud University of California, Berkeley alumnae.

Jess Cho

Dr. Carrie Comer-Yates

Dr. Carrie Comer-Yates is the Senior Manager of Early Childhood Special Education at Chicago Public Schools. Her mission in this role is to ensure that all students and families can successfully navigate the special education process while having access to everything they need in their early childhood classroom! With over 15 years of leadership within the early childhood education (ECE) sector, she has dedicated her career to transforming ECE policies and initiatives across private and public entities locally and statewide. She holds a Doctorate of Education with an emphasis on Education Leadership, as well as a master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education.

Dr. Carrie Comer Yates

Caitlin Fitzsimmons

Caitlin Fitzsimmons is a public health advisor at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. She has 20 years of experience across sectors and settings, as a social worker, program administrator, and public health professional. Through her work, she proudly gives voice to infant, early childhood, and family well-being and mental health. Caitlin has an MS in social work from Columbia University and is currently a candidate for a Master of Public Health in Maternal and Child Health at the University of Minnesota.

Caitlin Fitzsimmons

Natalie Flores

Natalie Flores serves as the manager of higher education initiatives for The Pennsylvania Key. Her work involves collaborating with institutional and state organizations that seek to create professional growth and viable career options for the state’s early childhood workforce. Her previous work includes reimagining state ECE career pathway systems and using registry information to tell authentic data stories. A former child care teacher herself, Natalie is eager to support systems that aim to bring professional and economic dignity to the ECE workforce.

Natalie Flores

PJ Gamble

Patrick “PJ” Gamble is the Early Learning Policy Administrator for the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, where he oversees the expansion of Franklin County’s early learning strategy. He also is helping to develop Franklin County’s prenatal to eight strategic plan and manages the development of an Early Learning Lab on the site of the former Downtown Corrections Facility. With several years of experience in early childhood policy, advocacy, and advancement, PJ also brings a 10-year background in community health, focusing on maternal health and community engagement. In addition to being dedicated to fostering equitable, high-quality early care and education systems, PJ serves on several community boards and is an alum of Capital University, where he studied history.

PJ Gamble

Dr. Leigh Jefferson Griffin

Dr. Leigh Jefferson Griffin serves as the executive director of Louisiana Alliance Focused on Redefining Communities Everywhere (LAFORCE), a non-profit organization based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana that engages the work of providing support and resources to programs that positively impact (redefine) the community through their work with young children, families, and educators. Prior to this, Dr. Griffin served as the Executive Director of the East Baton Rouge Parish School System’s Early Childhood Department. Dr. Griffin earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Elementary Education and Educational Leadership from Southern University and A&M College and a PhD in Educational Leadership and Research from Louisiana State University.

Dr. Leigh Griffin

Caroline Li Soga

Caroline Li Soga is the program coordinator for Honolulu Community College’s Early Childhood Education Program. In this role, she manages and coordinates all aspects of the Early Childhood Education Program, including the associate degree program, three campus children’s centers, and the non-credit program. She has over 30 years of experience teaching, administrating, and coaching in early learning programs in a variety of settings, such as private non-profit, international, university-based, and Head Start/Early Head Start, as well as over five years in higher education. Caroline holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychobiology with a minor in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles; a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Loyola Marymount University; and a doctorate degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Caroline Soga

Ivon Gomez Vargas

Ivon Gomez Vargas serves as a facilitator on the Universal Transitional Kindergarten (UTK) team at the 21st Century California School Leadership Academy , delivering professional development to transitional kindergarten leaders across California. As an equity-driven leader and edupreneur, Ivon combines systems thinking with relationship-building to create high-quality educational environments that support the success of all children. With over 10 years of experience in early childhood education, Ivon has worked in diverse roles, including as a teacher, director, founder of private preschools and family child care, and Head Start coordinator. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in the Leaders for Equity and Democracy (LEAD) EdD Program at the University of California, Berkeley.

Ivon Gomez Vargas

Dominic Paz

Dominic Paz works for the Early Learning System Initiative at Oregon State University, where the focus is on promoting early childhood inclusion, coaching, and training facilitation. Since joining the Early Learning System Initiative as an Implementation Support Manager, he has effectively managed projects aimed at advancing and implementing inclusive practices throughout Oregon. He is an accomplished leader in early childhood education with a robust background in advocacy and inclusion initiatives. Dominic holds a bachelor’s degree in Early Education from Portland State University and has also earned a certificate in Implementation Practice from the University of North Carolina.

Dominic Paz

Annette Sutfin

Annette Sutfin is the senior regional director for the Phoenix/Gila River Indian Community regions at First Things First, where she leads efforts to advance equitable, high-quality early childhood systems. She supports regional councils in strategic planning and funding decisions, collaborating with tribal communities and stakeholders to address systemic challenges. With over a decade of experience in early childhood systems, Annette focuses on building partnerships and using evidence-based strategies to ensure all children have access to critical services. She holds a master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from Arizona State University and is passionate about equity and sustainable solutions in early childhood education.

Annette Sutfin

Kara Van de Grift

Kara Van de Grift is the strategic operations director at Assuring Better Child Health and Development in Denver, Colorado. She oversees operations and strategic planning to ensure children and families have access to services that foster healthy development across healthcare, community agencies, and early childhood systems. With 25 years of experience in early education, non-profit management, and family support, Kara is dedicated to promoting equitable access to developmental services and amplifying family voices along the early identification continuum. She holds dual master’s degrees in Social Work and Public Health (Maternal and Child Health) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education with a minor in K-12 Health Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Kara Van de Grift

Nyree Whittaker-Roth

Nyree Whittaker-Roth is a Senior Early Childhood Education Program Manager and Instructional Administrator in the Department of Education. Nyree is an educational leader with over 20 years of experience in childhood education. Her commitment to equity, policy advocacy, and family partnerships has made her a transformational leader who bridges gaps between home, school, and community in early childhood education. Currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership, she focuses on exploring the experiences of women of color in leadership with an emphasis on resilience, mental health, and systemic impact.

Nyree Whittaker Roth

Past Fellows

2023-24

Suzette Espinoza-Cruz

Suzette Espinoza-Cruz is a Senior Early Education Programs Specialist in the Early Learning and Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) at the City of Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL). She has 20+ years of experience supporting diverse early learning and child care workers across the city. Previously, she worked as an Early Learning Policy Specialist, taught pre-K, worked as an ECE mentor teacher, and co-led the worthy wages campaign for child care workers in San Francisco, California. Suzette has served as a member of several state and local policy advisory boards and currently volunteers as a legislative leader with Save the Children Action Network and is a member of the King County Child and Youth Advisory Board. She completed a P-3 Executive Leadership Certificate from the University of Washington and has a Bachelor of Arts in Consumer and Family Science (Child Development) from San Francisco State University.

Denise Bermudez

Denise Bermudez is the Director of PHLpreK for the Office of Children and Families at The City of Philadelphia. In her role as PHLpreK Director, she oversees the operations and strategic planning of the PHLpreK program, The City of Philadelphia’s free high-quality pre-K program that is funded by the Philadelphia Beverage Tax. In some previous roles, she was an Early Childhood Director and an Operations Manager for out-of-school time programming at two Latino non-profit organizations in Philadelphia. She holds a master’s degree in Organization Development and Leadership with an emphasis on Adult Learning from Saint Joseph’s University and a bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from Temple University.

Lauren Brown

Lauren Brown serves as the Director of Family Services for the District of Columbia Public School’s Early Childhood Education Division. Lauren has served on this team for 11 years, first joining as a specialist, then as a manager, and now as the director for the last three years. The Family Services team provides parent programming in addition to supporting children and families to develop goals and address critical needs. She has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Loyola Marymount University and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Southern California.

Andi Bales Molnar

Andi Bales Molnar is the Professional Learning System Specialist for Oregon’s Department of Early Learning and Care. In this role, she partners throughout the early learning sector to support equitable access to workforce development, increase access to early learning for families, and system development for program quality improvement. She has over 20 years of experience in early learning programs and grant management, Head Start Collaboration and educational technical assistance, and subsidized child care. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Child Development and Curriculum from California State University, Chico, and a master’s degree in Leadership in Human Services from Pacific Oaks College.

Aruna Gilbert

Aruna Gilbert is the Chief Program and Policy Officer at the Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County in Florida. She supports the administration of federal, state, and local funding to provide subsidized child care and resources and referrals for over 700 early learning sites. Aruna holds a master’s degree in Social Work from Barry University and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the State University of New York at Cortland.

Kassandra Gonzales

Kassandra Gonzales, MA, LPCC, IMH-E, is a program coordinator for the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Departments (NM ECECD), Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) Initiative. Her early childhood experience began as an early childhood educator for seven years, moving into the behavioral and mental health field where she started as a treatment coordinator for Treatment Foster Children, before becoming a Behavioral Management Specialist (BMS). Prior to joining NM ECECD, she was an experiential play therapist and clinical supervisor for a BMS program for six years. Kassandra holds a Bachelor of Science in Family Studies and a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling from the University of New Mexico. She has recently received a graduate certificate in Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) from Georgetown University.

Lara Kyriakou

Lara Kyriakou is the Associate Director of Early Childhood Policy & Advocacy at The Education Trust–New York, where she focuses on advancing policies that support infants and toddlers during the first critical years of life across New York State. Prior to joining Ed Trust–NY, Lara worked at the South Bronx Rising Together initiative at Children’s Aid Society. Lara has also worked in research settings at New York University and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and as a home visitor and an early childhood child care teacher in Philadelphia. Lara holds a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Interdisciplinary Studies in Human Development and a bachelor’s degree from Pace University in Psychology with a minor in Women and Gender Studies.

Nakilia McCray

Nakilia McCray is a Regional Program Specialist with the Administration of Children and Families, Office of Child Care. She oversees Child Care Development Funds for State Lead Agencies, encouraging both compliance and collaboration. Prior to this role, she spent almost two decades with Georgia’s Lead Agency, Georgia’s Department of Early Care and Learning, as well as working in lead management roles with a nationally recognized employer-sponsored child care provider. Nakilia’s goal is to consistently drive program improvement. She is committed to nurturing children’s growth and dedicated to shaping policies for a better future. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Early Childhood Education from Appalachian State University.

Ana Nieto

Ana Nieto is the Coordinator of Prenatal to School Entry Partnership Alignment and Grant Development at Somerville Public Schools, where she supports cross-sector early childhood initiatives. She has served the early childhood field for over 15 years as an Early Childhood Senior Program Specialist at the LEGO Foundation, Early Childhood Director at the Ministry of Education in Colombia, and working on different research groups at Harvard, Yale, New York University, and Los Andes universities. Dr. Nieto is a psychologist and anthropologist from Los Andes University and holds a master’s degree and doctorate in education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Binal Patel

Binal Patel is the Chief Program Officer at Neighborhood Villages (NV), overseeing program implementation, evaluation, and refinement of the breadth of NV’s direct service programs. In her role, she partners closely with the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD), City of Boston, and other state-level leaders to create systems change solutions to meet the needs of the early education workforce and the families they serve. Her previous experience includes serving as Co-Founder and Director of The Family Cooperative (TFC), an early childhood center in Watertown, MA, and 10 years of experience as an ECE educator. She graduated with a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from New York University, and a bachelor’s degree in International Studies–Economics from the University of California, San Diego.

Gabriela Rojas

Gabriela Rojas is a Program Manager for Early Care and Education at First 5 Alameda County, where she supports county-wide initiatives supporting Family Child Care providers and Family Friends and Neighbors. Previously, she worked as an infant toddler teacher, site supervisor, and program director, supervising multiple programs that serve children 0-5 in a range of settings, including a parent cooperative, university, and non-profit organizations. Gabriela has worked in the field of early care and education for over 15 years. She received her undergraduate degrees in Legal and Ethnic Studies at UC Berkeley and her master’s in Early Childhood Education with an emphasis in Trauma Studies from Pacific Oaks College.

Payal Seth

Payal Seth is the Vice President of Second Generation Programming at Jeremiah Program (JP). At JP, she sets the strategy and designs programming for nine geographies, including but not limited to running early childhood centers across three states. Prior to joining JP, Payal was the Vice President of Special Services at Achievement First, where she oversaw programs for special education, mental health, bilingual, and multilingual education. Payal has taught and supported children of various ages and developmental stages in Detroit, the Bronx, Chicago, and Newark. Payal earned a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education from Lehman College and a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Psychology from the University of Michigan.

Tierah M. West

Tierah M. West, MPH, currently serves as the Associate Director of Early Childhood Data Systems in the Virginia Department of Education’s Division of Early Childhood Care & Education. In this role, Tierah sets and executes the state’s data strategy around early childhood care and education by building data capacity, enabling and strengthening the use of data for decision-making, and addressing gaps in data enterprises. She also provides strategic leadership focused on the coordination of the many data and technology systems in Virginia’s ever-evolving birth-to-five space. Tierah is a two-time graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, earning both a BS in Sociology and a Master of Public Health degree from the university.

2022-23

Adriana Reis

Adriana Reis is an educational administrator with the Division of Early Childhood Education at the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE). She supports instructional coaches across all five boroughs. Previously, she taught pre-kindergarten and kindergarten and worked for six years as an instructional coach with the NYCDOE, providing pedagogical support to all early childhood programs, infants, toddlers, 3-K, and pre-K. She received a Master of Science in Teaching from PACE University and a Master of Science in Leadership from Bank Street Graduate School of Education, including the School Building Leader and School District Leader Certification with the New York State Education Department.

Alisa Burton

Alisa Burton, MA, (she/her) is a program supervisor for the City of Oakland Head Start program, where she supports management systems, leads workforce development initiatives, and supports community partnerships. She has over 25 years of experience in Head Start, developing and administering programs and providing early childhood instruction to community college students. She holds a master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education with an Infant Specialist certification from San Francisco State University, California and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia.

Carol Orji

Carol Orji is the Director of Early Childhood Initiatives with Wake County Smart Start. She has been in the field of early care and education for over 20 years with experience as a Quality Enhancement Specialist, Lead for the Early Head Start Child Care Partnership, Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC) Coordinator, Early Childhood Initiative Manager, and Wake Three School Manager. Prior to joining Wake County Smart Start, Carol gained classroom experience as an early childhood teacher. She holds a master’s degree in Educational Administration from Baylor University and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Dr. Danielle Johnson

Dr. Danielle Johnson serves as the executive director of Durham’s Partnership for Children based in Durham, North Carolina. She is the first Black leader in the history of the organization. Under her leadership, the organization has grown in both staffing and program delivery. She received a Master’s in Education from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, a Master’s in Public Health from Hunter College, City University of New York, as well as a Bachelor of Science. Danielle is currently a UNCW Watson College of Education EdD candidate. Her research focuses on collaborative action research, culturally responsive and sustaining instruction, and program design with an emphasis on globalization within the early childhood sector.

Elena Barreto

Elena Barreto is the regional coordinator for the NW Early Learning Hub and NW Parenting Hub, where she works at the intersection of social justice and education. She works with partners to build capacity and implement early learning and parenting support opportunities rooted in equitable practices across Clatsop, Columbia, and Tillamook counties. Additionally, she works with families to elevate their voices, desires, and needs to decision makers in the region to effect change. She has a Master of Social Work from the University of Washington and a BA in Elementary Education and Human Development from Boston College.

Jamie Bonczyk

Jamie Bonczyk (she/her) is a program officer for 80×3: Resilient from the Start at Greater Twin Cities United Way. She is an awarded early childhood education leader known for creating social-impact networks, change initiatives, and partnerships that create sustainable health and education outcomes for children, families, and educators. Her background includes the roles of executive director of an early learning non-profit, Head Start administrator, adjunct instructor, author, professional development content creator, and preschool teacher. Jamie has a bachelor’s degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead and a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Leadership from Roosevelt University.

Kaeleigh Hernandez

Kaeleigh Hernandez is a research fellow at the Center on the Ecology of Early Development (CEED) at Boston University. Prior to joining, she served as the Assistant Director of Early Education Policy for a statewide advocacy non-profit in Texas. At CEED, she conducts research on sociocultural classroom interactions and explores ways to embed equity measures across various early care and education systems. Kaeleigh completed her graduate degree in Social Work with a concentration in Public Policy and Administration at the University of Missouri.

Kimberly Moua

Kimberly Moua is the Early Childhood Equity Fund Program Manager in the Early Learning Division of the Oregon Department of Education. Kimberly is a proud, passionate, and avid advocate for equitable and inclusive systems practice and is committed to developing innovative, creative, culturally appropriate, and safe environments for all communities. She is currently working on her dissertation as she pursues her Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership focusing on Adult, Post-Secondary Higher Education. She has a master’s degree in Teaching from Pacific University and a Bachelor of Science from Oregon State University.

Margo Ford Crosby

Margo Ford Crosby is beginning her second year with ABSS Early Learning Community for the 2022-23 school year as the Director of Pre-K and Before/After School. She has worked in the non-profit sector, completed 12 years in the public-school arena, been an instructor at community colleges, and worked with the Children’s Developmental Services Agency (CDSA) as an early intervention services coordinator. She majored in Birth – Kindergarten Education at Winston-Salem State University, where she earned her degree and established her passion for family engagement and literacy. She later attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, receiving a master’s degree in Early Childhood Leadership and Administration, while gaining her passion for policy and advocacy.

Neda Hall

Neda Hall is currently an adjunct early childhood education instructor and a child development consultant for the California Department of Education, Early Education Division on the Early Head Start Child Care Partnership grant overseeing the education content. She began working in the field of early learning as a student assistant in a Head Start classroom. Since then she has worked as a teacher, center director, education coordinator, and T&TA specialist for the Office of Head Start. Neda earned her BA and MA in Child Development from California State University, Sacramento.

Dr. Nikki Kovan

Dr. Nikki Kovan is the interim director of the Early Learning Services Division at the Minnesota Department of Education. She oversees public preschool programs, special education, family education, early learning scholarships, and early childhood screening. She previously held a leadership role in the Child Safety and Permanency Division at the Department of Human Services. Prior to that, she worked at the University of Minnesota, translating early childhood research into practice for early childhood and child welfare practitioners. Nikki received her Ph.D. in developmental psychology from the Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota.

Rowena Kamo

Rowena Kamo is the Senior Program Administrator for Early Care and Education at First 5 Alameda County, where she oversees the planning and management of First 5’s ECE initiatives, including Quality Counts, the county’s local Quality Rating and Improvement System. Previously, she served as the research director at the California Child Care Resource & Referral Network, where she has worked for over eight years documenting the changing child care landscape through the California Child Care Portfolio. Her work also included the development of a statewide child care consumer education database and referral website to increase parents’ access to child care information. Rowena has been in the ECE field for over 10 years. She received her BA from UC Santa Barbara and an MPA from The Maxwell School at Syracuse University.

Dr. Tamilah Richardson

Dr. Tamilah Richardson is the Director of Early Childhood Learning for the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). She has served the early childhood and elementary education fields for over two decades as a former pre-kindergarten teacher, early childhood administrator, and school library media specialist. Dr. Richardson’s passion and work has primarily focused on high-quality early care and education systems building, early literacy development, family engagement and empowerment, and equity and excellence in education. She has earned degrees from Hampton University (BS in English with an ECE concentration), Old Dominion University (MSEd), and The George Washington University (EdS and EdD in Education Administration and Policy Studies).

Taundwa Jeffries

Taundwa Jeffries is the Head Start State Collaboration Office Director for the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), where she facilitates partnerships with Head Start agencies and state entities that provide services to vulnerable children and families in the Commonwealth. Prior to joining VDOE, Taundwa was the administrator of the state Professional Development IMPACT Registry for the Virginia Department of Social Services, supporting early childhood professionals through educational pathways available for state recognition. She worked for Richmond Public Schools Early Head Start/Head Start Program for over 20 years as an early childhood educator, a lead family advocate, and a kindergarten teacher. She holds a CDA with an Infant/Toddler endorsement, a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts, and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction.

Dr. Tracey Black

Dr. Tracey Black is an education manager for the City of Oakland Head Start/Early Head Start Program, a comprehensive early care, education, and family services program that serves families with children prenatal to age 5. She has worked for over 20 years in the fields of early care, education, and family services and holds a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership, with an emphasis on Early Childhood Education, from Mills College in Oakland, California. She is an adjunct faculty member, teaching core courses in child development in Peralta Community College District, and serves on the boards of Lotus Bloom Family Resource Center in Oakland and Black Women in Early Childhood Collective.