Natalie Vega O’Neil Elected to NAEYC Governing Board

WASHINGTON D.C.—The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is pleased to announce the election of Natalie Vega O’Neil as President-Elect to the association’s national governing board. She will serve a 4-year term beginning June 1, 2021.

Natalie Vega O’Neil is the first female and first person of color to lead Junior Achievement of WA in its 68 years. Natalie is a relentless champion for children and has worked for over twenty years advocating for marginalized and vulnerable communities across the country.

Throughout her career, Natalie has led youth-sectors services focused on early childhood education, grade-level literacy, emergency response, collective impact, and social mobility. Her work includes being a co-founder of a charter school in Los Angeles where she created bilingual, play-based birth to five programs and an onsite health clinic for families living in severe poverty. As a founding staff member at Thrive by Five Washington, Natalie co-led the development of a statewide Quality Rating & Improvement System and the state’s work on kindergarten readiness indicators.

Natalie has worked with national and international nonprofits, including Save the Children, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and YWCA. Natalie served as a Head Start Executive Director where she oversaw Early Head Start and Head Start programs serving over 2,500 children across four states. She began her career as a Head Start Family Support Specialist in Chicago.

Natalie was named a Reign FC Legend to recognize her extraordinary contributions to the Seattle community and featured by Seattle ALPFA as a Latina Trailblazer. Natalie serves as a board member for Children’s Institute and Leadership Tomorrow. She holds a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Child Development from the Erikson Institute.

Founded in 1926, the National Association for the Education of Young Children promotes high-quality early learning for all children, birth through age 8, by connecting practice, policy, and research. We advance a diverse, dynamic early childhood profession and support all who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children.

The NAEYC Governing Board provides mission-based leadership and strategic governance. Officers and most Board members are elected by the association’s 60,000 members. Candidates for the competitive slate are chosen for their broad-based knowledge of issues affecting high-quality early learning and the early childhood profession. Rhian Evans Allvin, NAEYC’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are delighted to have Natalie join the board. Her demonstrated high-quality leadership, commitment and ability will help NAEYC further its mission and vision.”

Elected along with Natalie were Shayna Cook, Senior Manager, Early Learning Systems, Bainum Family Foundation, Washington, DC, was elected as Board Member At-Large; Stacey French-Lee, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, was elected as a Board Member At-Large; Ian Scheifelbein, Graduate Student, New Mexico State University, Albuquerque, NM, was elected Student Board Member. Two newly appointed members will also join the 18-member board in June: Fredric T. Walls, II, Managing Director, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, Washington, DC., will serve as Treasurer; Charu Manocha, Chief People Officer, GreenLight Biosciences, Boston, Massachusetts, will serve as Board Member At-Large.

Stacey French-Lee Elected to NAEYC Governing Board

WASHINGTON D.C.—The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is pleased to announce the election of Stacey French-Lee as Board Member At-Large to the association’s national governing board. She will serve a 4-year term beginning June 1, 2021.

Stacey French-Lee For over 30 years, Dr. Stacey French-Lee has been an early childhood education advocate, practitioner, and leader in state licensed and NAEYC accredited programs. In her work, Stacey harnesses her expertise to develop responsive and equity-based policy, programs, and practices alongside children, families, community members, and teachers.

Her leadership and experiences span international and national contexts, including working in military, corporate, and university settings, serving on urban school boards and serving as a consultant for early childhood programs, foundations, and county government agencies. Currently, Stacey is a clinical assistant professor at Georgia State University (GSU) in the department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education, where she serves as a core faculty member in the Birth-Five teacher degree and certification program and the Master of Arts in Creative and Innovative Education program. She is also the executive director of the two GSU campus child development centers.

Through the lenses of critical frameworks, including intersectionality, critical race theory, and community cultural wealth, Dr. French-Lee focuses her work on critiquing and dismantling any presumed neutrality or universality of the idea of “child” and “childhood” in policy, practice, and research.

Dr. French-Lee earned her B.S. degree in Communicative Disorders from Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky and her M.Ed, Ed.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education at Georgia State University. Her major research interest is on how the intersections of race, class, and gender influence how African American children are perceived and educated in the United States.

Founded in 1926, the National Association for the Education of Young Children promotes high-quality early learning for all children, birth through age 8, by connecting practice, policy, and research. We advance a diverse, dynamic early childhood profession and support all who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children.

The NAEYC Governing Board provides mission-based leadership and strategic governance. Officers and most Board members are elected by the association’s 60,000 members. Candidates for the competitive slate are chosen for their broad-based knowledge of issues affecting high-quality early learning and the early childhood profession. Rhian Evans Allvin, NAEYC’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are delighted to have Stacey join the board. Her demonstrated high-quality leadership, commitment and ability will help NAEYC further its mission and vision.”

Elected along with Stacey were Natalie Vega O'Neil, President & CEO, Junior Achievement of Washington and Northern Idaho, Seattle, WA was elected as President-Elect; Shayna Cook, Senior Manager, Early Learning Systems, Bainum Family Foundation, Washington, DC, was elected as Board Member At-Large; Ian Scheifelbein, Graduate Student, New Mexico State University, Albuquerque, NM, was elected Student Board Member. Two newly appointed members will also join the 18-member board in June: Fredric T. Walls, II, Managing Director, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, Washington, DC., will serve as Treasurer; Charu Manocha, Chief People Officer, GreenLight Biosciences, Boston, Massachusetts, will serve as Board Member At-Large.

Shayna Cook Elected to NAEYC Governing Board

WASHINGTON D.C.—he National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is pleased to announce the election of Shayna Cook as Board Member At-Large to the association’s national governing board. She will serve a 4-year term beginning June 1, 2021.

Shayna Cook is the Senior Manager of Early Learning Systems at the Bainum Family Foundation, where she supports the development and implementation of programmatic-level strategy to better support families, young children, and early childhood educators.

Cook joined the Foundation in July 2018, bringing with her a rich background in early childhood education policy, practice, and research. She most recently served as a Policy Analyst for New America, where she focused on the early childhood education workforce, learning technology, family engagement, early childhood mental health, and school discipline practices in the early years and grades. Prior to that role, she was a Summer Policy Fellow at Zero to Three. She began her career in the classroom and has taught third grade, Head Start, and pre-K.

Cook holds a Master of Education from American University and a Bachelor of Arts in Classics from Howard University. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in Education Policy and Leadership at American University.

Founded in 1926, the National Association for the Education of Young Children promotes high-quality early learning for all children, birth through age 8, by connecting practice, policy, and research. We advance a diverse, dynamic early childhood profession and support all who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children.

The NAEYC Governing Board provides mission-based leadership and strategic governance. Officers and most Board members are elected by the association’s 60,000 members. Candidates for the competitive slate are chosen for their broad-based knowledge of issues affecting high-quality early learning and the early childhood profession. Rhian Evans Allvin, NAEYC’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are delighted to have Shayna join the board. Her demonstrated high-quality leadership, commitment and ability will help NAEYC further its mission and vision.”

Elected along with Shayna were Natalie Vega O'Neil, President & CEO, Junior Achievement of Washington and Northern Idaho, Seattle, WA was elected as President-Elect; Stacey French-Lee, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, was elected as a Board Member At-Large; Ian Scheifelbein, Graduate Student, New Mexico State University, Albuquerque, NM, was elected Student Board Member. Two newly appointed members will also join the 18-member board in June: Fredric T. Walls, II, Managing Director, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, Washington, DC., will serve as Treasurer; Charu Manocha, Chief People Officer, GreenLight Biosciences, Boston, Massachusetts, will serve as Board Member At-Large.

Ian Schiefelbein Elected to NAEYC Governing Board

WASHINGTON D.C.—

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is pleased to announce the election of Ian Schiefelbein as Board Student Member to the association’s national governing board. He will serve a 2-year term beginning June 1, 2021.

Ian Schiefelbein is a licensed early childhood educator in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he teaches 4-year-olds at A Child’s Garden, the state’s first NAEYC accredited program. He holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with an emphasis on early childhood from the University of Wisconsin at Platteville, as well as certifications in TESOL and bilingual education. Ian spent several years volunteering in early childhood programs throughout the Midwest before obtaining his degree and accepting a co-teaching position at a Reggio Emilia-inspired program in Madison, Wisconsin. 

Since relocating to New Mexico, he has taught bilingual kindergarten and preschool in both public and private settings and served as an adjunct professor before transitioning to his position in Albuquerque. Ian is the recipient of a Fund for Teachers Fellowship as well as a NAEYC Lasting Legacy Scholarship and is presently working towards a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction with a concentration in early childhood education at New Mexico State University.  

Founded in 1926, the National Association for the Education of Young Children promotes high-quality early learning for all children, birth through age 8, by connecting practice, policy, and research. We advance a diverse, dynamic early childhood profession and support all who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children.

The NAEYC Governing Board provides mission-based leadership and strategic governance. Officers and most Board members are elected by the association’s 60,000 members. Candidates for the competitive slate are chosen for their broad-based knowledge of issues affecting high-quality early learning and the early childhood profession. Rhian Evans Allvin, NAEYC’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are delighted to have Ian join the board. His demonstrated high-quality leadership, commitment and ability will help NAEYC further its mission and vision.”

Elected along with Ian were Natalie Vega O'Neil, President & CEO, Junior Achievement of Washington and Northern Idaho, Seattle, WA was elected as President-Elect; Stacey French-Lee, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, was elected as a Board Member At-Large. Two newly appointed members will also join the 18-member board in June: Fredric T. Walls, II, Managing Director, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, Washington, DC., will serve as Treasurer; Charu Manocha, Chief People Officer, GreenLight Biosciences, Boston, Massachusetts, will serve as Board Member At-Large.

Fredric T. Walls, II Appointed to NAEYC Governing Board

WASHINGTON D.C.—The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Fredric T. Walls, II as Treasurer to the association’s national governing board. He will serve a 4-year term beginning June 1, 2021.

Fredric T. Walls, II is a Managing Director with J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Washington, DC. He provides individuals, families, associations, endowments and foundations with comprehensive wealth management strategies, ongoing guidance, and customized plans to address their financial needs. 

Before joining J.P. Morgan, Mr. Walls served as Managing Director with Institutional Investment Solutions at SunTrust Bank. In this role he was responsible for investing endowment and reserve funds for mission-driven organizations, locally, nationally and internationally. 

Prior to this role, Mr. Walls served as Greater Washington, DC Market Director with PNC Asset Management. There he led a team responsible for all functions related to the investment oversight and management of a $2billion book of client assets. Previously, Mr. Walls held finance, management and investment positions with Prudential Financial and Smith Barney. Mr. Walls received his M.B.A. in Finance from The Wharton School, and his B.S. in Mathematics from Howard University. 

He also holds leadership positions with several organizations, including the Sibley Memorial Hospital Foundation Investment Committee, the American Bankers Association Trust School Board, and the Alice Ferguson Foundation, for which he serves as Chair. He has previously held Board roles with National Park Trust, the DC Police Foundation, the Levine School and Imagination Stage Inc.

Founded in 1926, the National Association for the Education of Young Children promotes high-quality early learning for all children, birth through age 8, by connecting practice, policy, and research. We advance a diverse, dynamic early childhood profession and support all who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children.

The NAEYC Governing Board provides mission-based leadership and strategic governance. Officers and most Board members are elected by the association’s 60,000 members. The Treasurer and up to four At-Large positions are appointed by the board. Rhian Evans Allvin, NAEYC’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are delighted to have Fredric join the board. His demonstrated high-quality leadership, commitment and ability will help NAEYC further its mission and vision.”

As an appointed member Fredric will serve alongside newly elected Natalie Vega O'Neil, President & CEO, Junior Achievement of Washington and Northern Idaho, Seattle, WA, President-Elect; Shayna Cook, Senior Manager, Early Learning Systems, Bainum Family Foundation, Washington, DC, was elected as Board Member At-Large; Stacey French-Lee, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, was elected as a Board Member At-Large; Ian Scheifelbein, Graduate Student, New Mexico State University, Albuquerque, NM, was elected Student Board Member. Another newly appointed member will also join the 18-member board in June: Charu Manocha, Chief People Officer, GreenLight Biosciences, Boston, Massachusetts, will serve as Board Member At-Large.

Charu Manocha Appointed to NAEYC Governing Board

WASHINGTON D.C.—The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Charu Manocha as Board Member At-Large to the association’s national governing board. She will serve a 4-year term beginning June 1, 2021.

Charu Manocha is the Chief People Officer for GreenLight Biosciences in Boston, Massachusetts.  Charu leads all aspects of GreenLight’s Human Resources and employee experience function with the goal of delivering innovative and efficient people programs that are aligned with the company’s mission and values.

She has deep global experience across multiple industries of delivering business objectives through effective talent strategies. Most recently, she served as Group Vice President of Talent Strategies for Bright Horizons Family Solutions, where she played a critical role in defining the human capital agenda to support the company strategy.

Prior to Bright Horizons, she was VP of Human Resources at iRobot, where she is credited for partnering with the leaders to deliver cultural transformation and global growth that resulted in doubling the size of the company. Charu has also led talent and HR functions at Keurig Green Mountain, Dana Holding Corporation, Delphi Automotive Systems, and General Motors.

Founded in 1926, the National Association for the Education of Young Children promotes high-quality early learning for all children, birth through age 8, by connecting practice, policy, and research. We advance a diverse, dynamic early childhood profession and support all who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children.

The NAEYC Governing Board provides mission-based leadership and strategic governance. Officers and most Board members are elected by the association’s 60,000 members. The Treasurer and up to four At-Large positions are appointed by the board. Rhian Evans Allvin, NAEYC’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are delighted to have Charu join the board. Her demonstrated high-quality leadership, commitment and ability will help NAEYC further its mission and vision.”

As an appointed member Charu will serve alongside newly elected Natalie Vega O'Neil, President & CEO, Junior Achievement of Washington and Northern Idaho, Seattle, WA, President-Elect; Shayna Cook, Senior Manager, Early Learning Systems, Bainum Family Foundation, Washington, DC, was elected as Board Member At-Large; Stacey French-Lee, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, was elected as a Board Member At-Large; Ian Scheifelbein, Graduate Student, New Mexico State University, Albuquerque, NM, was elected Student Board Member. Another newly appointed member will also join the 18-member board in June: Fredric T. Walls, II, Managing Director, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, Washington, DC., will serve as Treasurer.

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