2024 ACECEPC Steering Committee Board Members & Co-Chairs
Executive Committee Board Members
Chair: Kym Johnson, BANANAS, Inc. - Kym is the CEO of BANANAS, Inc., which supports families and early educators. She previously led Harambee Community Services and Rebuilding Together Oakland. Kym serves on the executive committee of Oakland Starting Smart and Strong, chairs the Alameda County Early Care and Education Planning Council, and is a Commissioner for the City of Oakland Children’s Oversight Committee. She is also Board Chair of MISSSEY, supporting youth safety from exploitation. Kym holds an MBA from the University of San Francisco, a Nonprofit Management Certificate from CSU East Bay, and a BA in Marketing from San Francisco State University. Originally from the Bronx, she now calls Oakland home.
Chair-Elect: Noni Galloway, Parent Voices Oakland - Noni is a proud parent of one son and an Oakland native. She lives in Alameda and has lived in Alameda County her entire life. She has a BA in Forensic Psychology and an MBA in HR Management from Southern New Hampshire University. She works at Liberty Group as a certified HR Generalist and at Parent Voices of Oakland as a Parent Advocacy Coordinator. She also is the Co-Chair of the Alameda County Early Care and Education Planning Council, which advises and makes recommendations to policymakers to ensure families have quality child care.
Co-Chair State Contactor Committee: Kristina Adams, Hayward Unified School District - Kristina is the Director of Early Learning Programs for Hayward Unified School District, overseeing early education for over 700 children across 10 State Preschools, the Teen Parent Program, and the Family Child Care Network. She is dedicated to providing high-quality, inclusive, anti-bias, and anti-racist early education for children aged 0-8. Kristina also teaches as an adjunct faculty member in Early Childhood Development at Chabot College. She holds an M.S. Ed from CSU East Bay, serves on the Alameda County Early Care and Education Planning Council, and was named Hayward’s Educator of the Year in 2019.
Co-Chair State Contactor Committee: Alexandra Hilario - Alexandra Hilario is the Executive Director of Saint Vincent’s Day Home, bringing over 20 years of experience in educational leadership across public and private sectors. She specializes in developing educational programs, fostering inclusivity, and promoting excellence. Alexandra holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership, a K-12 California Teaching Credential, and a B.S. in Business Administration. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, exercising, and exploring San Francisco with her family. Alexandra is committed to positively impacting the community through her role at Saint Vincent’s Day Home.
Co-Chair Public Policy Committee: Jennifer Cabán, City of Oakland, Oakland Children’s Initiative - Jennifer serves as the Accountability Officer of the Oakland Children’s Initiative which focuses its investments in early childhood education and college access supports. She is a results-based inclusive leader with 30 years of experience in strategic transitions, public policy, cross-sector collaboratives and public/social sector management with deep knowledge of program development, early care and education (ECE), and evaluation. Jennifer is a co-founder of Cypress Hills Collegiate Preparatory High School in her native Brooklyn, NY. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Binghamton University and a Masters of Public Administration from Baruch College as a National Urban Fellow.
Co-Chair Public Policy Committee: Dr. Trisha Barua, Oakland Starting Smart and Strong - Trisha is the Policy Analyst for Oakland Starting Smart & Strong, where she promotes equity-centered changes in early learning systems. She works with members to develop policies and resources for young children, families, and early educators, focusing on life-affirming approaches for communities of color. Her extensive experience includes roles as an evaluation consultant, researcher, teacher, and advocate for families facing domestic violence. Trisha recently earned a PhD in Cultural Studies from UC Davis, with her dissertation on race and community-driven policy in Oakland.
Co-Chair Quality Advisory Committee: Vincent Cheng, First 5 Alameda County - As a Senior Program Administrator, ECE Partnerships, at First 5 Alameda County, Vincent works with and develops relationships with key Alameda County community networks. This includes providers, agencies and organizations that provide early care and education services to support the inclusion of early identification practices in early care and education sites.
Co-Chair Quality Advisory Committee: Mitchell Ha, Hayward Unified School District - Mitchell is a parent of two boys and has a deep appreciation for the impact of early childhood. After spending several years as a stay-at-home dad, he became the Director of Ohlone Lab School at Kidango in Fremont, where he developed a strong passion for Early Care and Education. He now serves as the Assistant Program Director for Hayward Unified School District Preschool Programs, where he fosters a nurturing environment for children. Mitchell has also been a part-time adjunct instructor in the Early Childhood Development Department at Chabot College since 2010 and looks forward to continued growth with his team.
Steering Committee Board Members
Shruti Agarwal, Family Child Care Provider - Shruti, the owner of Shruti’s Family Daycare since 2017, is a licensed large family daycare provider with experience across three continents. She is trained in Infant and Adult CPR and First Aid and is a California Mandated Reporter. Shruti is also a member of the Community Emergency Rescue Team (CERT) with the Livermore & Pleasanton Fire Department. As President of the Valley Family Childcare Association, she supports and leads 40 family daycares, helping them set goals and develop policies. Her diverse background and leadership ensure a rich experience for the children in her care.
Mona Attia-Shirk, Hively - Mona is the VP of Programs at Hively, overseeing the CalWORKs and Subsidy programs to ensure they align with CDSS guidelines and the organization's mission. She manages case operations, uses data to improve functions, and ensures compliance with regulations and performance standards. With 15 years in the nonprofit sector, Mona is skilled in education, collaboration, and accuracy, and excels in training and mentoring staff while maintaining strong community connections. Outside of work, Mona enjoys traveling with her family, songwriting, and singing.
Celia Goetz, 4Cs of Alameda County - Originally from Los Angeles, Celia has been in the Bay Area since 2005. After working as a kindergarten teacher in Oakland Unified School District, her passion for supporting families led her to focus on enhancing early learning systems. She is proud to be a member of the Local Planning Council (LPC), contributing to high-quality services in Alameda County. In her free time, Celia enjoys hiking and biking in the Bay Area, spending time with her three cats, and navigating the joys and challenges of new parenthood.
Margaret Daoud-Gray, Tandem Bay Area - Margaret leads development and external relations for an early education nonprofit. She began her career as a classroom teacher before working in education and workforce development policy. She has a bachelor’s degree from UC San Diego and a Master’s in Education from Loyola Marymount University. Margaret loves trying new bakeries, spending time with her family, and exploring the Bay Area’s many parks, trails, and beaches.
Nanette Gray, Pleasanton Unified School District - The Senior Director for the Tri-Valley SELPA at Pleasanton Unified School District, is known for her warmth and humility. Her leadership motivates staff to engage in programs that support students with disabilities. Gray ensures compliance with special education requirements, manages Alternative Dispute Resolution, facilitates complex IEP meetings, and leads workshops on special education law, inclusion, and social-emotional development. Previously, she served on Equity Leadership Teams and implemented Positive Behavioral Supports and Interventions. Gray is known for her dedication, respect, problem-solving skills, and empathetic approach.
Lissete Frausto, Kidango - Lissete Frausto, born and raised in Oakland, CA, is a mother and wife. She has three children, ages 9, 8, and 13 months. As a parent organizer with Kidango's Advocacy Team, her role is to help uplift the voices of our families to share their stories with our elected officials and make an impact for change within early childhood education. In addition, Lissete is a member of California's Planning and Parent Council for the Early Childhood Policy Council Committee. Her passion has been advocating for her family and other families facing similar challenges. She enjoys spending quality time with her children and creating lasting memories with them.
Nancy Harvey, Family Child Care Provider - Nancy Harvey was born and raised in Oakland, where she attended local schools and later graduated from University of the Pacific and Holy Names College with a B.A. in Business Administration & Economics. She also holds a Teacher’s Permit in Early Education. After a career in Corporate America, Nancy transitioned to teaching and discovered her passion for early education. In 2004, she founded Lil Nancy’s Primary Schoolhouse to provide quality early learning in her community. Nancy is active in advocacy, serving on the boards of BANANAS and the Alameda County Early Care & Education Planning Council, and regularly speaks on childcare issues.
Tatiana Smith, East Bay Children’s Law Office - Tatiana, an East Bay native, graduated from Oakland High School and Cal State East Bay with a degree in sociology, followed by a master’s in Human and Social Services from Walden University. She has worked as a registered behavior therapist at Behavioral Health Works in Hayward, applying Applied Behavioral Analysis techniques to individuals with Autism and related disorders. Passionate about mental health and early intervention for children with developmental disabilities, Tatiana enjoys traveling with her husband, cooking, and spending time with her family.
ACECEPC Consultants
Page Tomblin, Consultant - Page Tomblin has over twenty years of demonstrated expertise and a distinguished track record overseeing the development, coordination, and implementation of complex program implementation, policy design, data analysis, and communications efforts in Alameda County. She is currently a consultant and partners with nonprofit organizations and government agencies by providing program design, project management, policy and data analysis, coordination of advocacy efforts, fund development, strategic planning, and communications strategies.
