Our Board
Federation of Child Care Centers of Alabama
Biographies for 2015 Board of Directors
Saundra Aldridge: Currently works with Alabama Council on Human Relations, Inc., Auburn, as coordinator of Head Start program activities in Russell County. She is a trained social worker and elementary school teacher.
Ernestine Taylor-Lewis: Ernestine Taylor-Lewis is the Director and owner of ABC Childcare/Learning Center. Ernestine served 20 years as Chief Clerk for the United States District Court Pretrial Services for the District of Connecticut and the Middle District of Alabama, 7 years as instructor for Wallace Community College Training for Business and Industry. Ernestine is on Wallace College Early Childhood Education Advisory Board.
Clara Card: Executive Director of Joyland Child Development Center in Auburn, Past President of FOCAL, and board member of the Child Care Directors Association of Lee County and the Alabama Council on Human Relations and is a life force member of FOCAL.
Kimberly Dees: Former Health Coordinator for UAB Early Head Start. A trained nurse, Ms. Dees brings her experiences in the health and early education fields to her passion, teen pregnancy prevention. She collaborates with Early Intervention, Children’s Policy Council, Children’s Hospital, and Alabama Youth against Violence.
Myeisha Hutchinson: Her real is organizing and giving back to the community. She serves on the board of directors for DISCO, Creative Writing Program; Woodlawn Foundation; President of the Oak Ridge Park Neighborhood Association; Co-Chair of the Awareness Committee of the UAB Benevolent Fund Council and is employed at UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center as a Patient Navigator in the Patient Care Connect Program.
Mary Jones: Certified in Early Childhood Education and Development. Ms. Jones is the former proprietor of KiddyLand Child Development Day Care Centers I and II and Westgate Learning Center in Autaugaville and Montgomery.
Tammie Long: Owner and Director of Bonnie’s Kids Child Care Center in Opelika. Bonnie’s Kids is working towards NAC Accreditation through STEPS to Accreditation. Tammie is a member of FOCAL, Alabama Child Care Alliance, ALECE, NCCA, STARS, and has served on many committees in the past for DHR and the local child care community.
Bill McCladdie: Assistant Vice-President for Administrative Services at Alabama State University, in charge of physical plant operations, transportation, and campus security. He is a retired Colonel from the USAF and brings expertise in a variety of fields, including financial management, counseling, and strategic planning.
Pamela Barner-McCorvey: Accounting Manager in the Office of Finance for the City of Montgomery and former office Manager at FOCAL. She is a Certified Municipal Manager with the City of Montgomery and she is a Deaconess with First Baptist Greater Washington Park Church. Ms. McCorvey has 25 years of experience in government and non-profit accounting.
Lakeisha Joy Griffin-McCovery: An active advocate for the citizens of Lowndes County, especially the “youths”. She is employed as the Site Director for the Family Service Center of Lowndes County. Board affiliations include Lowndes County Head Start, DHR, Lowndes County Children’s Policy Council and FOCAL. Lakeisha is a licensed minister under the Apostleship of Jeffrey Wooden and Pastorate of Nora Faye Jackson of Kingdom Centers in Montgomery, AL.
Mary Moncrease: Retired community activist who continues to motivate young people in her community through computer summer program and is a former Conecuh School Board member. She graduated from Conecuh County Training School is currently a member of Castleberry Grove missionary Baptist Church.
Vernetta R. Perkins: Employed as Legal Counsel for Montgomery Public School System, an accomplished, versatile, and resourceful attorney in multiple areas of the law. She is a graduate of Spellman College and the University of Alabama School of Law. She was a 21st Century Leadership Training Network participant and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.
Ethel White: She is a dedicated advocate for the concerns of low income children and families. She has served as Director of Auburn Child Care Centers in Boykin community for over 25 years and continues to be a community leader and activist that work diligently to assist in grassroots organizing.
Tari Williams, Esq.: Currently an Economic Justice and Systems Change Organizer at Greater ministries, Birmingham. She received a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Maryland in 1992 and J.D from the University of Baltimore school of Law. Tari is a dedicated supporter of economic and social justice and community organizer.
Bennie Liggins: Senior Pastor, Unity United Church of Christ in Montgomery. Retired USAF Chaplain, and trained counselor.
Ellen Abell, Ph.D.: Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Child Development at Auburn University. Has a Ph.D. from Washington State University. Develops and evaluate research based programs designed to provide education and training to parents, child care providers, and other early childhood educators.
Elizabeth Sankey: A visionary and progressive thinker. Has over 25 years of experience as an early care and education provider at Southlawn Child Care Center, Montgomery, AL.
