Board & Advisory Leadership

Current leadership and prospective advisors.

Every profile is presented in one consistent format, with each person’s current organizational position clearly identified.

Leadership structure

One team page. Clear positions.

Current board directors, officers, volunteer leaders, and prospective advisory board members are grouped below.

Current Board Leadership

Founder · President · Executive Director

Tambra Newton, B.S., M.S.

B.S. — Bachelor of Science in Human Services, Minor in Early Childhood Education, Cum Laude.

M.S. — Master of Science in Organizational Leadership and Management.

Tambra brings more than 30 years of home- and center-based Early Learning experience, leadership, and advocacy. Her past service includes leading the Home Child Care Providers Association of Northeast Hillsborough County as president in 2007, representing Area 21 for the Florida Family Child Care Home Association, serving on a Hillsborough County advisory board representing family child care providers, conducting NAFCC accreditation observations, and serving as a Professional Development Specialist for the Council for Professional Recognition. This experience supports the Alliance’s commitment to training, advocacy, professional leadership, and collaboration across the Early Learning field.

Individual memberships: NAFCC, FFCCHA, HCCCPA of Northeast Hillsborough County, NAEYC, FLAEYC, and IECP.

Individual memberships do not represent organizational affiliation, endorsement, or sponsorship of the Alliance.

Vice President

Dr. Carole Yokell, Ed.D., MBA

Education: Early Childhood Education · Exceptional Student Education (ESE) · Special Needs Education.

Ed.D. — Doctor of Education with a concentration in Special Needs Education.

MBA — Master of Business Administration · Certified Teacher.

Dr. Yokell brings expertise in early childhood education, special needs education, and organizational leadership. Her experience supports the Alliance’s work in disability inclusion, educator guidance, accessible learning, and family engagement.

Treasurer

Arthur Newton, B.S.

B.S. — Bachelor of Science in Human Services, Minor in Early Childhood Education.

Early Childhood educator with home-based program experience and a commitment to strengthening professional pathways for home-based educators.

Officers & Volunteer Leadership

Secretary

Shauntel Smith, BAS-HSA, ODS-C, CSPR

Healthcare operations and oncology data professional with more than 15 years of experience.

Data integrity · Regulatory compliance · Quality assurance · Accreditation.

Team training and mentorship · PTA leadership · Family advocacy.

Assistant Secretary

Sharaun Day, Real Estate Broker

Early Childhood Education background · Former KinderCare educator.

Opened and operated her own family child care home in Pinellas County and wrote a grant for her child care program.

Real Estate Broker · Mortgage-industry background.

Life and health insurance credentials · Community land trust education.

Membership

Sylvia Castillo, ECE

ECE — Early Childhood Educator · CEO of Sylvia’s FCC.

Ambassador Trainer · Accredited · Early Head Start experience.

Founder, International Cultivating Ministries.

Fundraising Committee Chair

Cynthia Chipp, B.S.

B.S. — Bachelor of Science in Human Services with a concentration in Early Childhood Education.

Cynthia’s leadership experience includes serving as Past President of the Home Childcare Providers Association of Northeast Hillsborough, Past Area 21 Representative for the Florida Family Child Care Home Association (FFCCHA), and current Florida State Representative for the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC).

She brings extensive Early Childhood Education leadership, provider advocacy, and association experience to her role as Fundraising Committee Chair.

Pinellas County Volunteer Leadership

Pinellas County Communications and Media Volunteer

Jazmine Cooper

Facebook Page Manager

Jazmine brings experience in tutoring children, child care, customer service, event support, and social media and web applications.

Her background includes adapting learning support to children’s individual needs, communicating with families and clients, creating event materials, and using Microsoft Office, Google Docs, and Google Sheets.

Pinellas County Provider Support and Quality Volunteer

Nicole Cooper, B.S.

B.S. — Bachelor of Science in Human Services.

Nicole brings experience as a family child care owner and operator, exceptional student education and language arts teacher, child care site manager, child care licensing counselor, and youth case manager.

Her background includes licensing and regulatory compliance, health and safety, curriculum and instruction, staff supervision and coaching, provider technical assistance, and family support.

Building National Representation

National leadership informed by regional, state, and local voices.

The Alliance is developing a nationwide leadership network representing home-based and center-based Early Learning educators. These planned positions are developing roles and do not represent appointments that have already been made.

National

National Leadership

Guides the Alliance’s mission, governance, professional priorities, and national initiatives.

Regional

Regional Representatives

Connect state representatives, identify shared regional priorities, and strengthen communication across neighboring states.

State

State Representatives

Bring forward the needs, experiences, and opportunities affecting home-based and center-based educators within each state.

Local

Future Chapters or Affiliates

Create local opportunities for professional connection, leadership, learning, and community engagement as the Alliance grows.

Prospective Advisory Board

Prospective Advisory Board Member

Twauna Newton, ECE, FL 6-20, FL 2-15

ECE — Early Childhood Educator.

FL 6-20 — Florida All-Lines Adjuster License.

FL 2-15 — Florida Life, Health, and Variable Annuity License · HUD-Certified Housing Counselor.

Advisory focus: Educator economic stability, housing, insurance, and resource navigation.

Prospective Advisory Board Member

Therapist Profile

Doctoral degree.

Advisory focus: Mental health, educator wellness, family support, and inclusion.

Name, photograph, and credentials will be added after verification.

Prospective Advisory Board Member

Therapist Profile

Master’s degree.

Advisory focus: Mental health, educator wellness, family support, and inclusion.

Name, photograph, and credentials will be added after verification.

Prospective Advisory Board profiles describe areas of experience and possible contribution. They do not represent confirmed appointments or officer titles until formally approved.

Youth Advisory Representation

Alliance Student Representative for Disability Inclusion and Advocacy

Naomi Smith

Affiliation: Tarpon Springs Middle School PTSA.

Focus: Disability inclusion, accessibility, belonging, and the educational experiences of students with disabilities.

Naomi offers an age-appropriate youth perspective to help the Alliance better understand how inclusive practices affect students. This is a supervised, nonvoting advisory role and is not a position on the governing board.

Listed with parent or guardian permission. No diagnosis or personal medical information is published.

Youth advisory participation is voluntary, age-appropriate, and supervised. A parent or guardian must approve public information and participation. Youth representatives do not vote, manage finances, review confidential board matters, or carry legal governance responsibilities.

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