Deal appoints 17 to boards

Janice Haker, State Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Childhood Intervention Programs—Babies Can’t Wait

Haker is the office director for the Head Start State Collaboration. She previously worked as the director of the Georgia Early Care and Learning Professional Development System. Haker also served as the first executive officer of the Georgia Association on Young Children and the first executive officer of the Georgia Head Start Association. Haker is a member of First Lady Sandra Deal’s Children’s Cabinet. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Education from Bowling Green University and a master’s degree in Physical Education from the University of Florida. She has two children and resides in Woodstock.
 
Georgia Fruechtenicht, State Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Childhood Intervention Programs—Babies Can’t Wait

Fruechtenicht is a curriculum and learning specialist and parent trainer for Parent to Parent of Georgia, a non-profit organization that supports families impacted by disabilities and special health care needs. Fruechtenicht earned a bachelor’s degree from Wofford College and a law degree from the University of Mississippi. She and her husband, Gary, have two children. They reside in Newnan.  
 
Jan Stevenson, State Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Childhood Intervention Programs—Babies Can’t Wait

Stevenson is the education program specialist and Section 619 coordinator for the Georgia Department of Education’s Division for Special Education Services and Supports. She serves on the governing board of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Stevenson is a member of the National Association of Early Childhood Specialists in State Department of Education Policy Committee and the National IDEA 619 Consortium Leadership Team. Stevenson earned a bachelor’s degree from Hampton University and a master’s degree form Armstrong Atlantic State University. She resides in Lithonia. 
 
Alice Stanley, State Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Childhood Intervention Programs—Babies Can’t Wait

Stanley is the program director of the Georgia Parent Infant Network for Educational Services under the Georgia Department of Education. She is a retired special education coordinator in the Clayton County School System. Stanley earned a bachelor’s degree from National Taiwan University, a master’s degree and a specialist’s degree from Georgia State University and a doctorate in Education from Nova Southeastern University. She and her husband, Mark, have three children and two grandchildren. They reside in Duluth.
 
Liz Stutts, State Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Childhood Intervention Programs—Babies Can’t Wait

Stutts teaches Pre-K in Gainesville and is a parent educator with Family TIES, Inc. She is a sustainer member of the Junior League of Gainesville-Hall County and is a member of First Baptist Church in Gainesville. Stutts earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the College of Charleston, a master’s degree in Teaching from Brenau University and is currently pursuing an Education Specialist degree from Piedmont College. She and her husband, Danny, have two children. They reside in Gainesville.
 
Joseph “Don” Chaney, Jr., State Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Childhood Intervention Programs—Babies Can’t Wait

Chaney is a speech therapist at his own private practice. He formerly served as treasurer and vice president of the Lowndes County Interagency Coordinating Council. Chaney earned a master’s degree in Speech Pathology from Valdosta State University and has earned Early Intervention credentials. He and his wife, Pam, have two children. They reside in Hahira.
 
Beth Young Mathison, State Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Childhood Intervention Programs—Babies Can’t Wait

Mathison currently serves as the Public Health Children and Youth with Special Needs Director in Cobb and Douglas counties. She previously served as the director of Project PEACH, the director of Adult Literacy for the North Metro Technical School and a special education teacher for Bartow and Cartersville City Schools. Mathison also served on the Cartersville City School Board as board secretary and finance committee chair. She is a former board member of the Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber of Commerce. She and her husband, Bruce, have two children and one grandchild. They reside in Carterville.
 
Cynthia O. Vail, State Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Childhood Intervention Programs—Babies Can’t Wait

Vail is a professor and associate department head of the Department of Communication Sciences and Special Education at the University of Georgia. She is involved in early intervention policy and currently directs two federally funded grants, Responsive Early Education for Diversity and the Georgia Sensory Assistance Project. Vail earned a doctorate from Florida State University. She and her husband, Jonathan, have two children. They reside in Athens.
 
Tamara Wilson, State Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Childhood Intervention Programs—Babies Can’t Wait

Wilson is a program specialist in the Medicaid Division of the Department of Community Health. She has worked within several programs at the Department of Community Health, including the Georgia Better Health Care, Children’s Intervention School Services and Early Intervention. Wilson earned a bachelor’s degree from Saint Leo University. She and her husband, Fred, have two children. They reside in Riverdale.
 
Karen Young Lewis, State Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Childhood Intervention Programs—Babies Can’t Wait

Lewis is a parent resource coordinator for Babies Can’t Wait in Cobb and Douglas counties. She also is a parent mentor for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta/ Scottish Rite in Dunwoody. She previously served on the Cobb County Stakeholders for Children with Disabilities Committee and was a member of the Georgia Quest for Quality Inclusion Regional Team. Lewis currently is the secretary of the Cobb-Douglas Local Interagency Coordinating Council. Lewis earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. She and her husband, Jeff, have one child. They reside in Marietta. 
 
Donna Johnson, State Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Childhood Intervention Programs—Babies Can’t Wait

Johnson is the director of Child Health Intervention in the Maternal and Child Health Section for the Georgia Department of Public Health. She oversees state projects and federal grants associated with the Autism Initiative, Project LAUNCH and the Title V Block Grant. She previously served as the coordinator and co-author of the Autism Plan for Georgia at Georgia State University’s School of Public Health. Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree in Human Services Management and is a candidate for a master’s degree in Human Services at Walden University. She and her husband, Ken, have three children. They reside in Atlanta.
 
Elaine Brown, State Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Childhood Intervention Programs—Babies Can’t Wait

Brown serves as the program director of the McIntosh Trail Early Childhood Development Council. She currently serves as president of the Georgia Head Start Association. Brown earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from Walden University. She and her husband, Robert, have one child and one grandchild. They reside in Jackson.
 
Jennie Couture, State Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Childhood Intervention Programs—Babies Can’t Wait

Couture is the director of practice and support services at Bright from the Start at the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning. She has worked in the fields of special education, early childhood and early intervention for more than 25 years, serving in both direct service and program administrator roles. Couture earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Georgia College and State University. She and her husband, Richard, have five children and three grandchildren. They reside in Atlanta.
 
Milagros Cordero, State Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Childhood Intervention Programs—Babies Can’t Wait

Cordero is the founder of Individual and Team Therapy Services for Children in Atlanta. She is a licensed and registered occupational therapist and is a certified senior clinician and faculty member at the Interdisciplinary Council on Development and Learning. She is certified in the use of therapeutic listening, SAMONAS and Tomatis sound therapies. Cordero serves as a field work supervisor for student training at Boston University, Washington University and Louisiana State University. She is a member of Comunidades Inclusivas. Cordero earned a master’s degree in Pediatric Occupational Therapy and a doctorate in Special Education from Boston University. She and her husband, José, have four children and seven grandchildren. They reside in Atlanta.

Erica R. Thomas, State Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Childhood Intervention Programs—Babies Can’t Wait

Thomas has served the 39th district of the Georgia House of Representatives since 2014. She currently serves on the Juvenile Justice, Science and Technology and the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight committees. She is the executive director of Speak Out Loud and is the author of the children’s book, It’s Erica. She received the Ambassador for Peace Award from the Global Peace Foundation in 2013. Thomas studied Politics and Government at Oakwood College. She has one child and resides in Mableton. 

Gwen Sirmans, State Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Childhood Intervention Programs—Babies Can’t Wait

Sirmans is the family support coordinator for the Georgia Sensory Assistance Project. She is a founding member of the Microthalmia Anophthalmia Parent Support Group and serves on the Family Advisory Council for Children’s Health Care of Atlanta. Sirmans earned a bachelor’s degree from Shorter University and has completed intervention training at Utah State University. She and her husband, Matt, have three children. They reside in Rome. 

John “Al” Pond, Board of Community Affairs

Pond is the chief executive officer of Pond & Company. He currently serves on the board for the Sandy Springs/Perimeter Chamber of Commerce. Pond has served on the board of directors for First Landmark Bank, the City of Sandy Springs’ Planning Commission and Board of Appeals and on the advisory board for Trust for Public Land. Pond previously served as president of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Georgia. He was recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Georgia Engineering Alliance. Pond earned a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the Virginia Military Institute and a master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Virginia. He and his wife, Kathi, have three children. They reside in Atlanta.