Meet the Board

Kristin Davis is the Director of Early Childhood in Coppell ISD with twenty years of experience in Early Childhood and Intervention Services.  

She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Science & Disorders and her Master’s Degree in Education for the Deaf from Texas Woman’s University.  She began her career in Dallas ISD, where she served as an Itinerant Teacher of the Deaf, Lead ECSE/Parent Advisor (birth-3 years), D/HH Early Childhood Instructional Specialist, Manager for the Regional Day School Program for the Deaf, and the Director of Districtwide Services in Special Education.  

Early in her career, through an SSA, she provided Deaf & Hard of Hearing services for students in Coppell ISD, which led her and her husband to move to Coppell to start their family.  “I feel that I have come full circle. My early experience in CISD brought us to the city where we decided to lay down our roots, and the opportunity to return to the district and serve in this capacity has been the highlight of my career.”

Amy Lavigne is the Early Childhood Specialist for Corpus Christi ISD. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi and her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas Tech University. She is currently pursuing her Principal Certification. As a lifelong learner, Amy is dedicated to staying current with best practices in early childhood education and regularly engages with research to support her work. She is proud to represent the Coastal Bend area and to help bring TAASPYC’s mission to her community. 

Dr. Paul Kienlen has worked as an educator in several school districts for more than 20 years. He is currently principal of the North East ISD Pre-K Academy at West Avenue in San Antonio, TX. Recently, he completed his PhD program in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at UTSA. He had the opportunity to open a new facility as an assistant director with Pre-K 4 SA. Dr. Kienlen has worked in other positions as a substitute teacher, classroom teacher, central office specialist, assistant principal, and adjunct professor with Texas A&M-San Antonio. He is also bilingual in English and Spanish. Dr. Kienlen has been married for over 20 years and has four children.

Dr. Heather Hennesey, is a Leadership Coach and Early Childhood Education Consultant.  She currently works as a Subject Matter Expert at Teaching Strategies, where she supports Districts and Programs with data-driven solutions to support high-quality implementation and positive student outcomes.  

She is the former Director of Early Learning in Fort Worth ISD and served as a campus administrator for a Title 1, Dual Language elementary school in Plano, Texas. 

Dr. Hennesey began her career as an early childhood special education teacher; later she served as an Instructional Coach and Teacher Leader. Dr. Hennesey earned her Masters in Education Leadership from Arizona State University and her Doctorate in Education Policy and Leadership from Southern Methodist University. 

Dr. Hennesey is a past-president and serves on the board of the Texas Association of Administrators and Supervisors of Programs for Young Children (TAASPYC), as well as on the Education Committee for the Fort Worth Botanical Garden.  She is a highly sought-after national speaker on topics such as developmentally appropriate practices, family engagement, and change management.  She is a life-long learner who believes joy is an essential part of every classroom.  

Dr. Melanie Morgan is an early childhood licensed therapist, school counselor, educator, and passionate advocate for young children and their families. With 20 years of experience in education and mental health, she currently serves as the School Counselor at Menchaca Early Childhood Center, part of Southside Independent School District and home to the 2026 H-E-B Excellence in Education Best Early Childhood Center award.

Throughout her career, Dr. Morgan has served as an elementary teacher, early childhood teacher, instructional coach, Director of Curriculum & Instruction, school counselor, and licensed therapist specializing in early childhood mental health. She provides play-based therapy and is dedicated to supporting young children, caregivers, and educators through prevention, intervention, and relationship-centered care.

Dr. Morgan's diverse educational and clinical background allows her to bridge the worlds of education and mental health, recognizing that social-emotional well-being and early learning are deeply interconnected. She believes every child deserves exceptional educational opportunities, compassionate support, and the chance to reach their fullest potential. Her passion for early childhood stems from the understanding that the earliest years lay the foundation for lifelong success, and she is committed to ensuring children, families, and educators have the tools they need to thrive.

Dr. Morgan is honored to have served the TAASPYC Board in multiple leadership roles, including President, Past President, and currently as Digital Communications & Member Engagement Coordinator. She values collaborating with early childhood professionals across Texas to advocate for high-quality early learning and to champion the lifelong impact of a strong foundation in the early years.

Chasity Bass is the Early Childhood Coordinator for Garland ISD, where she has joyfully served for the past 18 years. A true "Garland Girl" at heart, she attended all GISD schools, and even married her high school sweetheart of 28 years. They have two proud graduates of Garland ISD schools and one son currently in high school within the district.

Chasity holds a B.S. in Multidisciplinary Studies in Elementary Education from Texas Tech University and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Texas at Arlington. With over 28 years of experience teaching PreK-8th grades, she oversees PreK for the district, develops professional learning for educators, and has created and implemented the district's PreK and Kindergarten curricula. Her career began as a teacher’s assistant in PreK, making her current role a full-circle moment. She is a firm believer in the importance of high-quality early childhood programs for future learning success.  Chasity is grateful to be a part of the TAASPYC board as the 2027 Symposium host. 

Sandi Yarbrough began her teaching career as an elementary coach, where she learned how to inspire and support learners with making healthy choices - physically and mentally. She, then became a special education teacher and instructional coach in early childhood. She learned the importance of differentiation and being an advocate for the youngest learners. 

With over 28 years of experience and a master's degree in Administration and Leadership, her skills and knowledge have led her to continue following her passion as a dedicated advocate of foundational learning as she guides, facilitates, and supports special education and general education for the youngest learners and their families. She believes in the power of high-quality foundational education for all students and encourages all staff to persevere and have the “grit” necessary to continue to believe in the future of students and of early education.

Dr. Felicia Sprayberry has 30 years of experience in education, primarily working with young children and their families. She spent six years teaching special education before serving 22 years as a campus administrator, including 13 years as principal of an early childhood campus. Currently, she is an Early Childhood Project Specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension's Promoting Early Education Quality (PEEQ) team. 

Dr. Sprayberry earned her doctorate in Child Development and Early Education from Texas Woman’s University. She serves as the East Texas Area Representative and Secretary for the TAASPYC board. She is committed to supporting leaders and educators of young children and is honored to be part of this great organization. 

Fatima Vasquez's  career in education began in 2007 as a bilingual kindergarten teacher, establishing early childhood education as her primary focus. She holds a Bachelor's degree in EC-4th bilingual education from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and a Master's degree specializing in Reading-Curriculum and Instruction. Her experience spans both Harlandale ISD and Northeast ISD, where she has demonstrated a commitment to nurturing young learners and empowering other leaders in early childhood.

In 2020, Ms. Vasquez became an Instructional Coach for the Pre-K Academy at West Avenue at Northeast ISD. She continued with Northeast ISD, with a new role as an Early Childhood Instructional Specialist, which she started in November 2023. In this role, she partners with other Instructional Specialists, the Curriculum & Instruction Team, teachers, instructional coaches, and principals, all focused on her mission to foster a high-quality program. 

Now entering her 19th year in education, Ms. Vasquez's passion for early childhood remains a driving force. Fatima Vasquez is honored to contribute and support the vital work of this board as a new member.

Shelby Smith is an experienced education professional and proud West Texas native, born and raised in Odessa, Texas. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Abilene Christian University and later completed a master’s degree in Special Education from Sul Ross State University.

Shelby began her career in 2014 as an Early Childhood Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant with Ector County ISD. It was in this role that she developed a deep passion for early childhood education, recognizing the profound impact early learning has on a child’s development and long-term success. She later taught third grade in Midland ISD and has served in multiple special education roles, including Resource Teacher, Educational Diagnostician, and Child Find Coordinator.

Shelby currently serves as the Early Childhood Action Network Coordinator at the Education Partnership of the Permian Basin, where she leads collaborative efforts to strengthen early childhood systems, expand access to quality care and education, and support families and providers across the region.

Shann Schubert has been serving children and families for over 30 years in childcare settings, an Early Childhood Intervention program, and public education, including Head Start and Prekindergarten.  Shann was a teacher for 19 years, an instructional coach for 2 years, and now serves as the Assistant Principal for two early childhood centers in Sherman Independent School District. 

Shann completed her Bachelor of Arts at Austin College in Sherman, Texas, and Masters of Education at American College of Education.  Shann continues to volunteer with programs supporting child and maternal health and well-being.  An avid lover of nature, Shann enjoys gardening, sailing, and her close circle of friends and family.  

Shann is honored to support the work of TAASPYC and early childhood professionals from around the state. 

Claudia has been in education for over twenty years. She began her career providing ABA therapy services to children with a diagnosis of autism and working with family members. She transitioned to teaching in New Mexico for the Gadsden Independent School District, where she taught students with special needs in the self-contained and inclusive setting. She has experiences teaching students with special needs ranging from 4 to 18 years or age. As the Autism Instructional Specialist for GISD, she initiated the parent group initiative to support services for families of children with special needs. After 12 years of working in New Mexico, Claudia moved to El Paso, Texas where she taught prekindergarten for 4 years as she pursued her certification in English as a Second Language and Bilingual Education. Currently, Claudia supports early childhood initiatives as a Professional Development Consultant for the Educational Service Center Region 19 where she works with administrators, teachers, and community members. Claudia’s work is rooted in the belief that a great education is foundational to life success. 

Claudia received her bachelor’s degree in Education at the University of Texas at El Paso. She continued her education by obtaining her Master’s Degree in Severe Emotional Disturbance. She is grateful to serve on the TAASPYC.

Amanda Cothrin serves as the Executive Director of Region 16 Early Learning Academies, where she leads the development and implementation of innovative birth-to-five programs designed to expand access to high-quality early childhood education in rural Texas communities. 

With over 17 years of experience in education, Amanda has served as a classroom teacher, ESL Coordinator, Curriculum Assessment Specialist, and educational leader. She is passionate about building sustainable early learning systems, supporting educators, and fostering strong partnerships between school districts, families, and community organizations. Amanda is committed to ensuring every child has a strong foundation for lifelong learning through high-quality instruction, data-informed decision-making, and collaborative leadership.

Joy Campbell has over 20 years’ experience as an Early Childhood Educator. She earned her Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education from Clark Atlanta University. She has her certification in Pre-K-5 th Grade. Joy has taught and supervised in various early childhood education settings such as: Montessori, Regio Emilia, Public School, Corporate Child Care, and Non-Profit Centers. She has directed non-profit centers serving children 6 weeks to 6 years of age, as a Kindergarten teacher in Atlanta Public Schools, as the Program Coordinator at Bright Horizon serving children, as the Center Manager for a Head Start center at ChildCareGroup, Director of Children’s Services for Nexus Recovery, Early Head Start Child Care Partnership Manager and most recently as Early Director of Partnerships. She has trained Early Childhood professionals in several areas. Joy strongly believes every child can and wants to learn.

She is disheartened by the disparities in quality Early Childhood Education Programs. Subsequently she has made it her life mission to assist in closing the achievement gap by advocating for children to have exposure to quality early childhood programs and experiences. She has served as Co-President and VP of Public Policy on the Dallas Chapter of the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children as a member of the Board of Directors. She is currently a board member of the Texas Association of Administrators and Supervisors of Programs for Young Children. She is endorsed through the internationally recognized credential for Culturally Sensitive, Relationship-Focused Practice Promoting Infant Mental Health. 

Joy is also a proud Promising Emerging Leader through the Exchange Leadership Initiative. Joy passionately believes in Marian Wright Edelman’s mantra that “service is the rent we pay for living”.

Bob Musso has been with Lakeshore Learning for nearly 11 years, serving in many capacities over multiple regions across the country.  He lives in Dallas, TX along with his wife of nearly 25 years and their 2 sons.  Bob’s passion lies in building and developing people, and in helping everyone to find the good in all situations.  

In his most recent role, Bob serves as the Regional Vice President for the Texas/New Mexico region, as well as the Vice President of Professional Development.  

As a community partner, Bob is dedicated to supporting the work and the importance of early education by ensuring that our teachers have the best materials in their classrooms to make a positive impact on our children’s learning environments.  He is humbled and honored to be a part of TAASPYC.  Bob is a huge music fan, and you might catch him moonlighting as singer/guitarist in his band, where they play favorite tunes from the ‘70’s and ‘80’s.