Board of Directors
The NCPC Board of Directors is made up of members representing state agencies, private business, education, health care, philanthropy, religious organizations, child care providers, parents, and others. The governing board provides oversight and develops policy for Smart Start programs and services. The board is also responsible for ensuring Smart Start accountability. The board meets four times a year.
See the Upcoming Events page for meeting information
Board Members
Reverend Reneè Bennett Bethea, serves in the Piedmont Episcopal District as the Pastor of Pleasant Hill A.M.E. Zion Church in Rockingham N.C. She pastored churches in Concord, Lincolnton, Rockingham, and Greensboro Districts; served on the Finance Committee for Concord, Lincolnton, and Rockingham Districts and she served as the Secretary of the Rockingham District Conference. She was elected to two terms on the South Carolina Education Association Board of Directors and served as the State’s Budget Chair in the mid-90’s. Presently she works as a Mental Health Specialist for Hoke County Schools and has worked as an Adjunct Professor for Gardner Webb University’s Psychology Department.
She has a BS in Business Administration from Gardner Webb University and was selected as one of Gardner-Webb’s Distinguished Alumni in 2003 for her work with children. She has a master’s in counseling from Webster University and attended Hood Theological Seminary. She did her graduate internship as a chaplain at Womack Army Medical Center and is presently a volunteer Chaplain for First Health Hospital. She is a member of the World Methodist Order of The Flame and the NC State Resilience Community Advisory Group.
She is married to James Bethea. They have two children and some amazing grandchildren.
Charles Bowman is the Bank of America President for North Carolina. Also, he serves as the Vice Chair of Wealth Management in North Carolina. A native North Carolinian, Charles grew up in Thomasville, N.C., and was graduated from UNC – Chapel Hill where he was a Morehead Scholar. He holds a J.D. degree from UNC School of Law and a M.A. in Public Policy from Duke University. After practicing law in Charlotte, Charles joined Bank of America in 1996. He and wife, Mary, reside in Charlotte and have two adult sons, John and Peter. 
Mrs. Cassandra Brooks is the owner and operator of Little Believer’s Academy Inc. (LBA). She operates two five star childcare centers dedicated to quality childcare. Mrs. Brooks is married with four children including a set of twins! She is a member of Upper Room Church of God in Christ and helps in many areas. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and serves the community through various volunteer opportunities. She currently serves on the advisory committee for Wake County Smart Start. She currently serves on the board for the Partnership for Children of Johnston County. She is also an Inaugural Member Mentor for the NCAEYC. She currently serves on the board for the North Carolina Partnership for Children. In the past she served in management at International Business Machines (IBM). Mrs. Brooks has M.Ed. from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She also holds a B.S. in Business Management from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
Victoria is a true product of her environment as she attended Gaston County Schools from second through graduating Highland School of Technology. She continued her education at Gaston College with the completion of her Associate of Arts. After community college she entered the field of education as a full time one-on-one for a middle school student who required monitoring of diabetic health needs which transitioned into her role as a teacher assistant. Victoria has worked in special and regular education classrooms. In 2019, Victoria was nominated as Chapel Grove Elementary School Teacher Assistant of the year and a top-five finalist for the county. Victoria later decided to pursue more education. While working full time she attended East Carolina University and in May 2021 she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (K-6).
She currently teaches fourth grade and has a passion for building uplifting relationships with her co-workers and students. Each day she strives to incorporate relevant and current instruction that is tailored to each child's specific need. Victoria resides in Gastonia, NC with her husband Rex. She is an advocate of physical and mental health and highly involved in the foster care system. In June 2021, her life changed for the better as she became the foster mother of two phenomenal boys. She encourages others to support foster children by providing resources, time, and appropriate support to all families involved, and is thrilled to continue working towards a better future for our children.
DESIGNEE - Yvonne Copeland is the first Director for the newly established Division of Child and Family Well-Being (DCFW) within NCDHHS which brings together health, behavioral health, early development, and social programs that support children and families using a whole-person approach. Yvonne provides strategic direction and oversight for 1000+ employees in the operation of programs within DCFW’s portfolio including Whole Child Health, Early Intervention, Community Nutrition Services, and Food and Nutrition Services.
Yvonne has over 30 years of strategy, policy, operations, and change management experience in public-sector health and human services. She is a graduate of Meredith College with a Master of Business Administration from Meredith College and Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts in Statistical Research Methods/Sociology.
As one of the state’s most sought after political consultants and prodigious fundraisers, Madison has built one of the most prestigious political client lists in North Carolina over the past 10 years, including state legislative leaders, legislative and party caucuses, federal and statewide office holders. She has complemented this deep rolodex by her recent work in economic development, including both high-end hospitality and a university research park.
Madison graduated from North Carolina State University. She resides with her husband, Marc, and their twins, Parker & Brooks, in Greenville, NC..
Francesca D. Gary (Fran) is the Senior Vice President of Government Markets for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC). In her role, she leads work in the Government market segments, including Medicare, FEP and Medicaid, through Healthy Blue. Prior to joining Blue Cross NC, she was the president of the East Region of Medicaid, within the Government Business Division of Anthem Inc. During her time at Anthem Inc., she was primarily responsible for leading the fiscal, operational management, legislative and regulatory objectives for this region. Additionally, she oversaw planning, strategy and performance execution for the Medicaid health plans and alliance collaborations within the region.
Previously, Fran served as senior vice president of Federal Government Solutions (FGS) at Anthem, Inc., leading a federal business group comprising National Government Services (NGS) and WellPoint Military Care, both subsidiaries of Anthem, Inc., as well as the Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program®. Prior to that role, Fran served as chief operating officer and then president of Amerigroup Georgia. Before that, she served as vice president of national contracting and provider network management with Health Net and held other positions in the industry focused in the areas of market operations, network contracting and development, provider operations, medical and quality management, marketing and financial operations.
Fran is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy with an MBA from Brenau University.
Sherry Heuser is President of Capability Company Consulting, supporting and guiding nonprofit organizations, including multiple Smart Start Local Partnerships, through their searches for key staff. Prior to consulting, Sherry worked with nonprofit services and funding organizations in Virginia and North Carolina. She has held program leadership positions, responsible for managing administration, statewide grants, local service provider relations, and direct services. In addition to her professional roles, Sherry has served on the Boards of Directors of Wake County Smart Start, Raleigh Professional Women’s Forum, Marbles Kids Museum, Playspace Children’s Museum, and Youth Empowered Solutions in Raleigh, among others, and the Board of Trustees of the North Carolina Symphony. Over the past 20+ years, Sherry has been part of the Smart Start network and dedicated to its mission: as staff at NCPC, and as committee member, Board member and consultant with Local Partnerships.
Sherry holds an undergraduate degree in Counseling from Old Dominion University, a graduate degree in Counseling from George Mason University, and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University. She lives in Raleigh with her family.
Anthony D. Jackson, Ed.D, Superintendent of the Chatham County School System in Pittsboro, NC, serves at the helm of 18 schools educating nearly 9,000 students, with 1,200 employees. Prior to joining the Chatham County School System, Dr. Jackson served as the superintendent of Vance County Schools, where he led initiatives that increased the graduation rate, decreased the dropout rate, reduced long-term suspensions and implemented that school system’s first one-to-one digital learning initiative. He has also served as superintendent for Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools and 3 years as division Superintendent of the Henry County Public School System located in Collinsville, Virginia. Dr. Jackson has a Bachelor of Science degree from East Carolina University, a master's degree N. C. Central University and a doctorate degree in education from Walden University in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Betty Crow Kennedy is a native of Cleveland County, North Carolina. She is a graduate of Shelby High School, Carson-Newman University, and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. She is privileged to make Shelby her “adulthood” home, pursue her career there, and raise her four children. Ms Kennedy’s career in early childhood includes directing a large church-based child development center, directing her local Child Care Resource and Referral agency, and serving as a Regional Programs Manager with the NC CCR&R Council. This career has spanned over 30 years. In her retirement, she has served as Interim Director for our local CCR&R. During this 30+ years, she has been closely involved with the Cleveland County Partnership for Children, early on as an employee and later as a board member. She currently serves on the local Partnership Board and recently chaired the Search Committee that hired the current Executive Director in 2021.
“The evolution of the early childhood system in our state over the past 30 years is nothing less than mind blowing. I am honored to have the opportunity to participate in the work of the North Carolina Partnership for Children as this great work continues to evolve and thrive.”
For nearly 40 years, Page Ives Lemel has been the fourth-generation Owner and Executive Director of Keystone Camp for Girls. An Angier B. Duke Scholar, Page received a Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree from Duke University where she also served as a Young Trustee on the Board of Trustees.
Page has a long history of serving the youth populations at both the local and state levels. Her interest in early childhood began during her service as a Transylvania County Commissioner. She has served on the leadership teams of the North Carolina Youth Camp Association, the Transylvania County Schools Educational Foundation, and the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners’ Health and Human Services Steering Committee. In 2017, she was a member of the Institute for Emerging Issues Blue Ribbon Commission on Funding Early Childhood Education.
She currently serves as Co-Chair of the Transylvania Early Childhood Initiative (GetSet). The organization’s work led to its selection in 2018 as the first rural county in the United States to be chosen for partnership with Sesame Street in Communities. As a result, GetSet received the National Association of Counties Achievement Award for Best Early Childhood Program in the Nation in 2019. Page also serves on the Board of Directors for VAYA Health LME/MCO and is Chair of the Transylvania County Social Services Board. She and her husband Mark have three adult children.
Rosa Maria Matthews is a graduate of Campbell University and has many years of experience working with young children and their families. She worked for many years as the Center Director for a migrant head start program that served children from birth to age five, later serving as the Program Coordinator for the migrant program in North Carolina. Prior to that she served as an instructor with Central Carolina Community College, teaching English as a Second Language and working with non-English speaking families.
Mrs. Matthews has served on the Harnett County Health Board, the Harnett County Partnership for Children Board, and as Chair of the Harnett County Hispanic Committee. She and her husband Brooks live in Buies Creek, North Carolina and have three grown daughters and six grandchildren. They attend The Shepherd's Church in Cary. Mrs. Matthews is currently retired and manages her own business. She continues to be passionate about young children and is honored to be serving as a member of the North Carolina Partnership for Children State Board.
Ashley Neal received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Spanish from Wake Forest University, and holds a J.D. degree from USC School of Law. She began her legal career practicing corporate bankruptcy law, but found her passion for helping children through volunteer work with Council for Children's Rights (CFCR). Ashley shifted her career path and joined CFCR, where she became the director of the Custody Advocacy Program, overseeing the program’s legal team and representing children in high conflict custody cases. After ten years of practicing law, she paused to spend more time at home with her husband and two children, but continues to support children in the community through her work with preschools in the area. 
DESIGNEE - - Mary Olvera, PhD, works with the North Carolina Community College System Office as a Career and Technical Coordinator. She was the Lead Instructor in the Early Childhood Program at Surry Community College for 12 years and has served in the early childhood field for more than 20 years in different capacities including teaching and serving on boards and committees. Mary holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Lees-McRae College, a Master’s in Teaching Birth thru Kindergarten Education from Salem College, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Keiser University. She joined the board of NCPC in 2020.
Joe graduated with honors from the Catholic University of America in 1988 with a BA in Economics and Financial Management and received the award for Outstanding Major in Economics. He received his Juris Doctorate from the Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law in 1991. Joe moved to Raleigh, North Carolina in 2014 after reuniting with his college sweetheart, Kellie Jo Falk. Shortly thereafter he was approved by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission to serve as a mediator for the Superior Court of North Carolina. While licensed to practice law in North Carolina and Pennsylvania, Joe limits his practice to mediating disputes for the Superior Court of North Carolina.
Joe fell in love with the children and families of the Frankie Lemmon School & Developmental Center shortly after calling Raleigh his home. Since joining the Board of Directors, he has served as Chairman of the Building Committee, Chairman of the Executive Director Search Committee, Vice Chair and Chairman of the Board. Joe also serves on the Board of Beginnings for Parents of Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and is a supporter of a variety of other local charities.
Dr. Khadijia Tribie Reid is a mother, wife, pediatrician and child health advocate. She is the Pediatric Medical Director of MedNorth Community Health Center. At MedNorth, she built a primary care home that welcomes all southeastern North Carolina children - insured and uninsured. She is also a proud architect of the Center’s Intellectual and Developmental Delay (IDD) Program. Dr. Tribie Reid’s investment in families impacted by IDD extends well beyond her clinical practice. She is the Co-Principal Investigator of the Black Families and Physicians Accessing Services Together (BFAST) study. This NIH Funded study aims to decrease disparities in autism diagnosis which disproportionately adversely impacts African American families.
Dr. Tribie Reid is an advocate for early childhood education. She is the North Carolina Medical Director of Reach Out and Read. She is also the previous Board Chair of Smart Start of New Hanover County and she is delighted to currently serve as the governor’s appointee on the Board of the North Carolina Partnership for Children.
Dr. Tribie Reid aims to create systems that facilitate healthy child growth and development in her community and beyond. She currently serves on the board of the New Hanover Community Endowment. She is the immediate past chair of Novant New Hanover Regional Medical Center’s Department of Pediatrics. She also serves on the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Expert Leadership Team on Trauma Informed Care. Dr. Tribie Reid’s greatest joy is spending time with her family. Simple moments like dinner together, car dancing, and movie night fill her bucket and give her the energy to keep making good trouble.
DESIGNEE - Amy Rhyne, Ed.S. has been an educator for over 26 years, currently serving as Senior NCDPI Director of Early Learning. Prior to this, she served as Director of Academic Support in Stanly County Schools and Iredell-Statesville Schools as an administrator, successfully restructuring two low-performing Title I Schools. Furthermore, her experience includes serving in the capacity of Instructional Coach and teaching in various Title I Schools across the district. She was the 2017-18 NC Southwest Regional Principal of the Year and recently co-authored and released her first book: How is that BEST for KIDS? Shifting School Culture with Personalized Learning. Amy also serves as a board member on The Reading League - North Carolina.Nell Rose, board chair of the Rockingham County Partnership for Children, is starting her third term. She is a member of Delta Kappa Gamma (an organization of outstanding women educators). Nell has served on DSS Foster Care Review Team for the last 11 years. Nell served on the Rockingham County Board of Education since the 1993 merger of the four separate school systems. Chair of the Board from 2008 to 2016, Nell received NCSBA's highest honor for training (Scholar's Circle) and named to the All-State Board (one of the top ten board members in NC) for three years in a row. She has been a judge for the National Association's Magna Awards. Nell Rose comes from a long line of teachers and has continued that tradition of promoting education. She and her husband, Bill, have four children.
Tina Sherman is a Campaign Director for the Breastfeeding and Paid Leave Campaigns at MomsRising. She was recently elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the United States Breastfeeding Committee. Tina has dedicated her professional life to supporting and empowering moms and families. Tina has served as a legislative aide in the United States Senate, has worked with several child and women's advocacy organizations, and is a certified birth doula. With formal training in public policy and a heart is in serving and supporting womenand families, Tina is committed to ensuring that public policies reflect the needs of real peopleand meet women where they are.
Tina and her husband JP are raising four boys ranging from 5 to 14 years, including 11 year old twins. She is active in her community serving on the Town Planning Board and the County Women’s Commission.
Becky Simpkin, MD, FAAP, is a general pediatrician working in Moore County. She was educated at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and completed her residency training at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 2014. She is particularly interested in preventative medicine and children's advocacy, including access to quality early education. FAAP (Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics)
Elizabeth Star (Liz) is a visionary community advocate and leader who founded the HopeStar Foundation ten years ago to drive systemic change across the Carolinas and nationally. Through the Foundation, she advances two core funding strategies: building community resilience through positive childhood experiences and improving maternal health outcomes for all communities. Her expertise in mobilizing financial and social resources, combined with her collaborative approach to systems change and prevention focused solutions, has established her as a catalyst for creating more equitable
environments. 
A long-time WNC resident, Laurie Stradley, brings nearly 20 years of leadership experience in community health and early intervention healthcare. Prior to her role as Impact Health’s executive director, Laurie served as the chief strategy and program officer of the national nonprofit Alliance for a Healthier Generation. She was the executive lead for Healthier Generation’s single strategy to convene and equip health, school, and community champions with an array of tools and resources that prepare them to equitably transform environments surrounding young people and their families.
Laurie earned a doctorate of Public Health in Health Policy and Management from the Gillings School of Global Public Health at UNC Chapel Hill. The focus of her dissertation was the intersection of social drivers of health and the work of local public health agencies in North Carolina. She has a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a bachelor’s degree from the College of William & Mary.
Laurie lives in Asheville with her husband Matt, children Millie and Sam and their two rescue pups Daisy and Astra. When she finds a moment of free time, you can find her hiking, reading historical fiction or watching a good action flick.
Laurie Urland is the CEO for Skill Creations, Inc. a non-profit North Carolina based organization that serves children and adults with developmental disabilities. She began her career as a Habilitation Coordinator with the organization in 1990. Laurie currently serves on the Board of the Developmental Disabilities Facilities Association (DDFA) and Rubicon Inc. She is an active member of the Goldsboro Rotary Club and is also very involved with her church. Laurie holds a B.A. degree in Psychology as well as an M.A. degree in Organizational Management. Laurie and her husband Doug reside in Goldsboro and have two adult sons living in Charlotte and Raleigh.
I was asked to serve on the board of an aging non-profit preschool near downtown Charlotte in 2007. I quickly learned about the critical importance of early childhood education and a child’s “first 2000 days.” Through prayer, patience and persistence, I, with my wife’s encouragement, opened our first early learning facility in southeast Charlotte in 2012 and its sister facility next door two years later. Both schools have a 5-Star rating undergirded by 15 out of 15 quality points and with a combined licensed capacity of 345 preschool-age children plus a 25-child after-school / summer camp program. We employ 70-75 teachers and eight management staff. In addition to our licensed curriculum we implement a Christian curriculum and use the Reggio Emilia approach to teaching early education. We are very proud of our nutrition program whose four seasons menu includes vegetables harvested year-round from our on-site gardens. My wife and I have five children and seven grandchildren.
Ereka R. Williams, PhD, brings over 25 years of teaching, scholarship and leadership to the NCPC Board. As Vice President of Education at Dogwood Health Trust Foundation in Asheville, she leads Dogwood’s Education portfolio, ensuring strategic investments and partnerships are relevant, responsive, and equitable. She aims to leverage resources and build collaborations that accelerate educational opportunity, especially for those generationally underserved.
As an administrator in the UNC system, she served as Associate Provost for Academic Strategy and Institutional Effectiveness among other leadership roles for years. Her academic leadership portfolio focused on resource restructuring, realigning curricula, building teacher residency models, and initiating regional, national partnerships aimed at strengthening quality assurance systems for degree programs and institutions
As tenured faculty, Dr. Williams’ engagement and leadership with public schools, community leaders and colleagues resulted in millions of dollars in federal funding aimed at leveraging equitable outcomes for rural communities and districts in NC. Her passions led to Outstanding Teacher of the Year as well as Interdisciplinary Research Team Award honors.
She’s served as coach, researcher, board member and reviewer for rural and urban schools and organizations across the US. She earned a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Candace Witherspoon is the current Acting Director for the Division of Child Development and Early Education. She has been with the Division since December of 2023. Candace comes to the Division from the Wake County Public School System where she most recently served as a Senior Director for Policy and Compliance in Special Education Services supporting children, families, and schools for the district, Prek-12. Candace holds Masters Degrees in Education for Curriculum and Instruction and Special Education. She has had a lengthy and distinguished career in special education spanning almost 20 years, including working with pre-k programs within public schools, early intervention for students of all ages and abilities, and a significant amount of experience working with parents, administrators, and teachers. She has worn several hats over her career including teacher assistant, teacher, school-level leader, district-level leader, mentor, and coach. Seeing first hand the impact and importance of quality early intervention and instruction for a child’s future learning and success, Candace is thrilled to join us in our journey to ensure children and families have access to quality early education learning experiences, and those running and supporting these programs have the resources necessary to make that happen. 