Achieving Kindergarten Readiness through Collaboration
Meet the People & Partners who Help us Thrive
In order to ensure that all children in Tampa Bay are ready for kindergarten, we rely on a diverse group of partners, committees, and individuals. Together, we can best align efforts and resources to make sure the right help gets in front of the right people — as efficiently as possible.
Leadership Council
Comprising key players in the early childhood landscape, the Thrive by Five leadership council provides strategic guidance, direct access to a breadth of knowledge and resources, and unique opportunities to collaborate and align endeavors.
Rebecca Bacon
Executive Director
The Children’s Board
Croley Todd Baird
Early Childhood Specialist, ESE
Pinellas County Schools
Ric Banciella
Director, Bosses for Babies
The Children’s Movement of Florida
Dustin Becker
Director, Client & Community Relations
PNC Bank
Kathleen Beckman
Volunteer
Thrive By Five Tampa Bay
Alyssa Bedard
Community Representative
Birthing through Life
Nicole Brown
Vice President, Commmunity Impact
United Way Suncoast
Dr. Sheron Brown
Director of Education & Youth Opportunities
City of St. Petersburg
Tracye Brown
Chief of Student Support and Federal Programs
Hillsborough County Schools
Paula Burns
Family Resource Specialist
Early Steps, Johns Hopkins
All Children’s Hospital
Lindsay Carson
Chief Executive Officer
Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas
Dr. Jesse Coraggio
Senior Vice President
of Community Impact
Community Foundation Tampa Bay
Anna Corman
Interim CEO
Hillsborough Education Foundation
Dr. Rick Davis
President
Concerned Organization for Quality Education
for Black Students, Inc. (COQEBS)
Michael Feeney
Executive Director of Elementary Education
Pinellas County Schools
Joan Freese
Director of Education
WEDU PBS
Dr. Amy Haile
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Champions for Children
Audrey Harrell
Volunteer
Thrive By Five Tampa Bay
Ray Hensley
Maternal & Child Health Director
Florida Department of Health Pinellas
Dr. Fred Hicks
Chief Executive Officer
ELC of Hillsborough County
Dianne Jacob
Community Member
Dr. Bilan Joseph
Strategic Initiatives Manager
Foundation for Healthy St. Pete
Kim Jowell
Chief Executive Officer
Pinellas Education Foundation
Dr. Lisa Lopez
Professor & Program Coordinator
University of South Florida-Tampa
Dr. James McHale
Executive Director
University of South Florida St. Petersburg Infant-Family Mental Health Center
Jennifer Mekler
Director of Early Education
Pinellas County Schools
Kelley Miller
Screening & Intervention Program Manager
Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas
Marisa Mowat
Executive Director
Healthy Start Coalition-Hillsborough
Mary Jo Plews
Chief Executive Officer
Healthy Start Coalition of Pinellas, Inc.
Eliseo Santana
Community Representative
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
Pastor Carlos Senior
Pastor Carlos Senior
New Hope St. Pete
JASon SOOS
Vice President, Commercial Banking
Synovus
Marlene Spalten
Chief Executive Officer
Community Foundation Tampa Bay
Madeleine Thakur
President
The Children’s Movement of Florida
Chuck Tiernan
Senior Director
LEAP Tampa Bay
Work Groups
As part of the formula to achieve collective success in this critical work, Thrive by Five has established work groups dedicated to focusing on areas identified through comprehensive research and strategic planning. Work groups are led by passionate volunteers and staff including a range of community members, organizations and businesses.
Business Engagement
Supporting family-friendly workplaces and private sector champions of early education
Children & Family Success
Ensuring equitable access to quality programs while hearing and responding to the specific needs of families in Tampa Bay
Systems Alignment
Working together to streamline processes for families to access services
Communications
Increasing overall awareness of Thrive by Five resources and initiatives and expanding social media presence and engagement