TECEC Staff

Kara Johnson, President and CEO, kjohnson@tecec.org
Kara Johnson joined the Texas Early Childhood Education Coalition (TECEC) more than five years ago and now serves as its President and Chief Operating Officer. Her leadership has contributed to TECEC being regarded as a premiere child advocacy organization both in Texas and at the national level.  She is one of the authors of Edition 2 of The Texas Plan, a ten-year public policy agenda dedicated to early childhood education and development in Texas. 

Prior to working for the Texas Early Childhood Education Coalition, Kara interned with the Center for Public Policy Priorities to conduct extensive research on poverty in Texas, leading to the publication of  “Tough Choices.” Between 1999 and 2001, Kara worked as a Campus Manager for Communities In Schools in Dallas where she worked directly with school administrators, counselors, school psychologists, and teachers in order to meet the needs of children and families.  
 
She received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of North Texas and her Masters Degree from the University of Texas School of Social Work with a focus in Administration and Planning. In addition, she received her Diversity Certification from the University of North Texas.

Dr. Donald J. Smith, Jr. Director of Research and Public Policy,   dsmith@tecec.org
Dr. Donald J. Smith, Jr. has a diverse wealth of experience that has prepared him to serve as the TECEC Director of Research and Public Policy. Dr. Smith co-founded and served as Board President / Chief Executive Officer for Generations Center, a non-profit center for the investigation and prevention of youth and family violence. Dr. Smith has also served as the Research Director at the Violence Intervention and Prevention Center at Parkland Hospital in Dallas.  He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Tech University and a PhD in Immunology from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Additionally, Dr. Smith served the City of Dallas for nine years as a Police Officer.  His rich educational achievements, coupled with his career experiences, contributed to Dr. Smith’s decision to shift his education attention and research activities to growth and development of children and families.

Dr. Smith has many important career accomplishments, including important  investigations into the incidence and impact of specific types of domestic violence incidents, co-authorship of the “Silent Victims of Domestic Violence” and the “Children at Risk” programs with the Dallas Independent School District.  Dr. Smith helped established a Therapeutic Preschool Program for very young emotionally disturbed children in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  He was also selected as a fellow with the Child Trauma Academy in Houston and as a scholar with the J. MacDonald Williams Institute in Dallas.

Dr. Smith has received many awards and honors throughout his career.  Some of the those awards include, recognition from the Department of Health and Human Services for his efforts to improve the lives of children and families; a Regional Administrator’s Award from the Administration for Children and Families for ongoing training and education of professionals who work with children at risk; a second Regional Administrator’s Award for the development of Green Country Behavioral Health Services’ Therapeutic Preschool Program in Oklahoma; and the Jim Wright Vulnerable Populations Award given by the National Association of Public Hospital and Health Systems for his work on the Parkland Health & Hospital System’s Violence Intervention and Prevention Center and the dedicated service to victims of abuse and neglect.

Don Titcombe, Director of Communications and Outreach,   dtitcombe@tecec.org
Don Titcombe serves as the Director of Communications and Outreach for the Texas Early Childhood Education Coalition (TECEC), where he manages community and media outreach.  Don also coordinates membership recruitment efforts.

His efforts have contributed to more than 15 opinion-editorials being placed statewide, as well as scores of articles placed related to early childhood education. In 2009, he led the largest early childhood advocacy event at the Texas Capitol with over one thousand indivuduals gathering from across Texas in order to advocate for high quality early childhood education. In 2008, he coordinated a statewide satellite broadcast event in 37 communities where hundreds of stakeholders gathered to learn more about effective advocacy strategies.

Don launched the TECEC “Year of the Parent” campaign in 2008 in order to ensure parents understand how to select safe and high quality early childhood education settings. He has traveled statewide and even recruited parents to come to Austin for a half day training at the Texas Capitol. 

Don earned his Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin, where he emphasized community building, policy analysis, and non-profit leadership in his studies.  He complemented his graduate career with a diverse experience in social research in such areas as disability, domestic violence, and HIV/AIDS prevention. Don also received a Bachelors of Arts in American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin and was awarded the Hibbs Scholarship for scholastic achievement.  He has participated in community organizing and collaborative efforts for change at all levels of his education.

Andrea Aquino, Human Development and Family Sciences Intern, The University of  Texas at Austin, andreak.aquino@gmail.com   
Andrea Aquino is an intern that will serve TECEC in research, public policy, community organizing and public awareness. She is currently a senior at The University of Texas, and is expected to graduate in May 2010. She is pursuing her B.S. in Human Development and Family Sciences with a concentration in Pre-Medical studies. Throughout her time at UT Andrea has held several other internships including interning at The Miracle Foundation, Surgeons of Hope, and the Mayor’s Office in Austin. Her true interests have always revolved around promoting positive sustainable solutions in terms of fair education, opportunity, shelter, and health care. She hopes to one-day make long-lasting changes in children’s lives by allowing equal opportunities for success within the state, nation, and globe. She is excited about her time at TECEC and knows that the skills and knowledge gained at TECEC will enable her to achieve a career in child advocacy.

Chelsea Ozigboh, Human Development and Family Sciences Intern, The University of Texas at Austin, chelseaozigboh@gmail.com
Chelsea Ozigboh is a TECEC intern who working with community organizing, research, public policy, public awareness, and fundraising. She is pursuing her Bachelors of Sceince in Human Development and Family Sciences with a concentration in pre-nursing studies. She plans to graduate in May 2010. She has had various caregiving experiences with children with special needs, and she currently heads a small organization which provides tutoring services to children abroad. She has lived in both Ireland and Nigeria, in addition to the U.S., and has seen the educational disparities between children of different ages and racial groups. She is interetsed in healthcare and education public policy and in making positive social change, both nationally and internationally. She believes that her time at TECEC will expand her awareness of educational issues and she will use the knowledge and experience she ghains from this internship to make a long lasting change in many facets of society.

Audrey Sherman, MSSW Intern, The University of Texas at Austin, audrey.tecec@gmail.com
Audrey Sherman is a master’s level Social Work intern from the University of Texas at Austin, where she places an emphasis on community organizing, public policy, and non-governmental organizations in the developing world. Audrey graduated from UT-Austin in 2008 with a B.A. in Spanish and Sociology and has been an advocate for social justice and social change, specifically within Latino and immigrant communities. Her studies and service work in Latin America have deeply contributed to her sense of social justice and her commitment to becoming an agent of social change. Audrey has experience working in the areas of healthcare for the uninsured, teen pregnancy, and she currently participates in the Austin Immigrant Rights Coalition. Audrey is one of ten nation-wide recipients of the Gosnell Scholarship, on the basis of her commitment for working with Latino populations in a non-profit setting. Audrey hopes to develop her skills in public policy and community organizing during her time at TECEC and is excited to be part of the TECEC team.

Chelsey Whicker, MSSW Intern, The University of Texas at Austin, cwhicker.tecec@gmail.com
Chelsey Whicker serves as a master’s level Social Work Intern from the University of Texas at Austin. She is currently pursuing studies that emphasize policy practice, social change on a community level, and community leadership. In 2003, Chelsey graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a B.A. in Sociology. Since graduating in 2003 Chelsey has been an advocate for social change, specifically in the areas of domestic violence and the child welfare system. Chelsey has experience working directly with victims of domestic violence, children in the foster care system, and the Department of Family and Protective Services in Texas. During her time with TECEC Chelsey hopes to gain knowledge and develop skills in public policy and public awareness.