Our Team

Gayle Headen is Executive Director of Wake County Smart Start (WCSS). WCSS works collaboratively with community partners to improve the quality, accessibility and affordability of child care, provide preventive health and early intervention services and offer family support services—all delivered as part of a strong, diverse integrated early childhood system. As Executive Director, Gayle serves as a catalyst for community partners, funders, and government entities to collaborate, agree upon, and work toward common goals.

Gayle brings a blend of corporate and nonprofit leadership experience with her. She honed her leadership, financial management, and analytical skills, as well as established and implemented visionary business strategies, for nearly a decade at Procter & Gamble, where she was twice awarded for her contributions to the company.

Then, after “finding her passion” in early childhood education, she entered her nonprofit career at Union Baptist-Harvey Johnson Head Start in Baltimore, Maryland, and soon after became its Executive Director. While there, she gained meaningful experience in family engagement, community health, health disparities research, and social determinants of health. After 15 years with Head Start, she relocated to the Raleigh area and became Executive Director of Wake County Smart Start.

Under Gayle’s leadership at Wake County Smart Start, the organization has adopted a strategic plan that focuses on ensuring access for those disproportionately impacted by poor health and well-being outcomes, enhancing family engagement and leadership, and improving data-driven decision-making. She believes in the power of systems level approaches, the strength of families, and sees the community as a resource for families. Gayle holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from Howard University and is a Weinberg Fellow, a UCLA Head Start Management Fellow, and a National Black Child Development Institute Policy Fellow.

Besides her passion for happy and thriving children, their families, and communities, Gayle is also known for her love for her alma mater and can be found supporting it enthusiastically with her husband and daughter, who are also Howard University alumni.

I am native North Carolinian raised in Sampson County before I moved to Raleigh to attend college. After taking a bookkeeping class in high school, I decided to pursue an accounting career and become a CPA. What fascinates me about accounting is how financial information can tell the story of an organization. With over 25 years of experience in the non-profit world, it has become my life’s work. Wake County Smart Start’s mission to serve young children and their families is very important to me. I have learned as a parent the essential role that early childhood education plays in a child’s development and the difference it can make in their lives long-term. In my free time, I enjoy time with the grandkids, perfecting my grilling skills at family cookouts, following sports, and volunteering at the church my family attends.

Carol Orji joined Wake County Smart Start in 2002. Over the years, she has functioned in various capacities, starting first as a Technical Assistant, then progressing through Manager and culminating in her current position as Director of Early Childhood Initiative. Prior to joining Wake County Smart Start, Carol was an early childhood classroom teacher. There she honed her skills as a teacher and gained profound understanding of the critical development years.  The skills and understanding cultivated have been instrumental in shaping her vision of early childhood field.

Outside of work, Carol enjoys walking, reading and spending quality time with loved ones.

Alex Livas-Dlott received her BA in Child Development from Tufts University and her MA and PhD in Education from the University of California, Berkeley in Policy, Organization, Measurement and Evaluation. Her research has focused on preschool policy and practice, school readiness and the transition into kindergarten using an eco-cultural perspective.

She brings her passion for early childhood education and ensuring access to families to Wake County Smart Start as the Director of Strategy and Impact.

Rob Linens is a proud North Carolinian, born in Greensboro and raised in Burlington. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Minor in Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. With a passion for community, the arts, and education, Rob has dedicated his career to philanthropic endeavors. He has served organizations like the Alamance County Public Library System, Impact Alamance, The Burlington School, and the North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation. His volunteer work has included board positions with the Alamance County Friends of the Public Library and as the Director of the Alumni Association at The Burlington School.

A former four-time NCSIAA tennis state champion, Rob still carries out his love for tennis today by participating in the Stonewall Tennis Club in Raleigh. Beyond the court, he enjoys exploring the world of literature, poetry, and music, particularly jazz.

Rob is energized and humbled to serve as the Director of Advancement for Wake County Smart Start.

Taylor Young joined Wake County Smart Start in 2021 and currently serves as the Manager of the Wake ThreeSchool program. In her role, she oversees the overall development, management, and implementation of the Wake ThreeSchool program. Taylor is passionate about creating opportunities for all young children to participate in a high-quality early education program to give them the best foundation for success in school and life.

As the Systems Improvement and Public Engagement Manager at WCSS, Sasha works with community partners and families to promote an efficient, effective early childhood system. She manages a team delivering community outreach, family support and system navigation, early literacy, and family engagement and leadership programming.

Sasha grew up in Wake County and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from North Carolina State University. A counselor by training, she is motivated by supporting young children and families and helping to make our community a place where all kids thrive.

Joan Crutchfield is a dedicated professional with extensive experience in early childhood education, particularly focusing on children and families with the greatest need. She holds a master’s degree in Family and Consumer Science with a concentration in Counseling from North Carolina Central University. Joan’s commitment to providing services to underserved communities has been evident throughout her career. She has played an instrumental role in shaping the NC Pre-K program in Wake County, showcasing her determination to provide access to children and families who may not otherwise receive services.

Bryce McClamroch is currently the Manager of the Program Coordination and Evaluation at Wake County Smart Start. Bryce has worked in the early childhood field for most of his professional career because he truly believes that it is of the utmost importance to support young children, particularly those most marginalized by systemic inequity, in the earliest stages of their lives. After graduating with a Master’s in Child Development from Tufts, Bryce worked in various policy and evaluation positions, including at the NC Division of Child Development and Early Education, before being lucky enough to find himself at WCSS.

Lynn Policastro grew up with a mother who was a family child care provider and knew from an early age she would be working with children as well. She is the Early Childhood Initiatives Manager and has been working with early childhood programs for over thirty years helping to ensure all children have access to quality early care and education.

Christina Mitchell is the Office Manager at Wake County Smart Start. In her role, she oversees office logistics and family interactions. Christina is a cultivator of relationships and makes sure everyone has the support they need. Christina is a proud alum of North Carolina Central University and she enjoys spending time with her loved ones.

Naima Pettigrew is a storyteller whose career spans journalism, media production, and nonprofit development. A graduate of Howard University with a degree in Journalism and Economics, she spent a decade as a journalist and TV producer in Washington, D.C. and the San Francisco Bay Area, with work appearing on CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX.

Since 2017, Naima has brought her skills in storytelling, fundraising, and communications to the nonprofit sector, supporting organizations through grant writing, development strategy, and community engagement. After moving to Durham in 2020, she has worked with multiple nonprofits across the Triangle, helping them grow their capacity and impact.

Naima is excited to join Wake County Smart Start, where she looks forward to advancing the organization’s mission to ensure every child in Wake County is prepared for success in school and in life.

Alex Setzer brings more than a decade of experience crunching numbers in the public and non-profit sectors to his role as Data Manager at Wake County Smart Start, where he is dedicated to enhancing the organization’s impact and efficiency through effective data utilization.

Kim McNeil joined Wake County Smart Start in the Program Coordination and Evaluation (PCE) Department in 2022. In her role as Program Specialist, she connects and engages with WCSS funded partners as well as community organizations and stakeholders. She is a Raleigh native. Driven by compassion, she obtained a Bachelor of Social Work. She believes it’s important to educate, support and provide resources to families and the community for children to be successful. She previously worked with Wake County Government and in the Early Care and Education profession.

I am an educator passionate about the importance of early literacy. As the Program Specialist for Early Literacy at Wake County Smart Start, I promote early literacy parent engagement and practices by providing activities, education, resource materials, and access to books for families with children birth-5. I am co-chair of the WAKE Up and Read School Readiness Committee and facilitate the Early Literacy and Outreach Community of Practice. This work provides opportunities to collaborate with local business leaders, nonprofit agencies, schools, libraries, as well as Smart Start agencies across the state promoting the importance of early literacy and providing literacy resources to families with young children.

Nikki Dean is the Community Outreach and Systems Specialist for Wake County Smart Start. In her role, Nikki builds relationships with stakeholders across Wake County to raise awareness around the importance of early childhood services and programs. She also leads the agency in developing coordinated outreach and recruitment plans for NC PreK, Wake ThreeSchool, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, and Wake Connections, working to ensure that families can access needed services. Nikki is a proud Eagle, earning a bachelor’s degree in political science and criminal justice and a master’s degree in public administration from North Carolina Central University.

As the Systems and Family Support Specialist, Caroline administers the Wake Connections system, a coordinated intake and referral system linking families to home-based and group programs for young children and their families. Caroline has a master’s degree in social work and worked in early childhood home visiting and early intervention before coming to WCSS. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and cooking new recipes.

Ramona Maldonado is the Program Assistant for Systems Improvement and Public Engagement (SIPE). She enjoys working with SIPE at Wake County Smart Start because she enjoys supporting a team focused on eliminating the barriers that families may be experiencing that impede their child’s ability to attend our programs.

Currently, Vanessa is the Community Outreach and Family Support Specialist at Wake County Smart Start and works to engage partners and the community in our early children’s education programs. She is a dog mom of 3 who enjoys traveling, concert going, and Asian cuisine!

Natasha Williams is the Wake ThreeSchool (WTS) Specialist. In her role, Natasha supports WTS’s program development, conducts site monitoring, provides technical assistance and oversees professional development for teachers and administrators. During her free time, she enjoys reading, being outdoors and playing with my pet hamster, “Max.”

Currently, Melissa Radice-Peguero is the Wake ThreeSchool Application Systems Coordinator. In her role, she oversees the application process, ensuring that families have a smooth, comprehensive, and feasible process. For the Wake ThreeSchool team, Melissa assures that there is a system where the families’ applications are processed that is productive and accurate, and that it allows the team to work with the families during the whole application process.

Gina Soceanu began her journey at Wake County Smart Start in 2002 and currently serves as the Social Emotional Learning Specialist in the Wake Threeschool program. Social and Emotional Learning builds and deepens teacher practices that provides a positive learning environment, supporting how children understand and manage emotions and develop meaningful social relationships with others. It is her belief that one of the most effective ways to bolster personal well-being in children and adults is through intentional mindfulness. She incorporates this in both her professional work and personal life.

Emily Diaz is the Program Assistant for Wake ThreeSchool (WTS)  at Wake County Smart Start. In her role, she shares the benefits of WTS and assists families with their application needs. Emily enjoys spending time outdoors and exploring new cities in her free time.

Kinrecka Anderson is the Wake ThreeSchool (WTS) Enrollment Coordinator. In her role she oversees the enrollment and placement process and attendance for the WTS program. Kinrecka looks forward to serving the families in need in our community and using application data to break barriers in the early childhood education field. It brings joy to her heart to change the lives of the families and children we serve in order to help them live the most fulfilling and successful lives.

During her high school years, Taushau Wilkinson dedicated her summers to volunteering at Learning Together, a developmental day center situated on the campus of Dix Park (formerly Dorotha Dix). This invaluable experience eventually led to her initial employment opportunity as the Lead Teacher of the “Petunias” (ages 18 months to 3 years) at Learning Together. Since then, Taushau’s passion for early childhood education has remained steadfast, and she is grateful to be able to continue this important work here at Wake County Smart Start as the Pre-K Team Lead.

As a Pre-K Quality Enhancement Specialist, Jenine, supports the NC Pre-K sites in Wake County with technical assistance, professional development, site monitoring, curriculum and assessment support, as well as conducting the Pyramid Model observation tool known as the TPOT. Jenine has 30 years of experience in early care and education with a passion to support children and families from birth-kindergarten. Jenine has a bachelor’s degree from UNC-Charlotte and an MBA from Montreat College. She enjoys taking walks, trying new restaurants, the theater, and traveling with her husband and 2 children.

As a Quality Enhancement Specialist, I provide targeted support to childcare programs across Wake County to elevate the quality of early childhood education. Through coaching and consultation, I help childcare providers enhance instructional quality and promote positive learning experiences. With over 15 years of experience in early childhood education, I bring a deep commitment to helping children explore the world around them. I love spending my free time with my husband and our two boys, making memories together.

Ana Gallo, the NC Pre-K Outreach Specialist, is on a mission to sprinkle the magic of early childhood education. With a treasure chest full of wisdom in this field, she’s paving the way for a world where every little one has the key to unlocking a bright future.

In Southeast Georgia, a wonderful community surrounded Vanessa Celayos with kindness and generosity. The programs in her community provided formative experiences that inspired her to work in early childhood learning. As the Pre-K Enrollment Coordinator, Vanessa works to ensure that all eligible children have the opportunity for early child education. In her free time, Vanessa enjoys painting, reading, and spending time with her family.

Pre-K support at Wake County Smart Start. She is passionate in assisting families within the community and to help take part in achieving a bright and successful future for children. She enjoys working together as a team and takes pride in her daily tasks.

Stephanie Jenkins joined Wake County Smart Start in 2003 and currently serves as a Quality Enhancement Specialist. In this role, she provides on-site coaching and training, supports the setup of early childhood classrooms, models high-quality interactions, and helps child care programs work toward higher-star licensure. Outside of work, Stephanie is actively involved in her community. She serves on the Planning Board for the Town of Zebulon and is an Ambassador for the Zebulon Chamber of Commerce. Stephanie is passionate about community engagement and believes strongly in the value of serving others.

Deidra McMillan, serves as a Quality Enhancement Specialist in her current role with Wake County Smart Start. She partners with Early Childhood programs to enhance classroom quality, support teacher development, and promote positive outcomes for young children. She provides coaching, training, and technical assistance that focus on social-emotional development, school readiness, and best practices in early care and education.
Deidra is currently pursuing a Master of Psychology with a concentration in Developmental Psychology. She also holds a Master’s degree in Family & Consumer Science with a concentration in Human Development & Family Studies and a Bachelor’s degree in Family & Consumer Science with a concentration in Child Development & Family Relations from North Carolina Central University, as well as an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education.

Her work is guided by a passion for strengthening the early learning community and building meaningful relationships with educators, families, and community partners.

Tamiko McCullough serves as the Healthy Initiative Coordinator at Wake County Smart Start, where she partners with childcare centers and family child care homes to implement and evaluate the Preventing Obesity by Design (POD) program. In this role, she supports centers in naturalizing outdoor learning environments, increasing awareness of fruits and vegetables through cooking classes, procuring fresh produce, assisting with garden development and maintenance, and offering lactation resources to support families.
Tamiko holds a B.S. in Child Development and Family Relations from North Carolina Central University. With more than two decades of experience working with young children and families, she is dedicated to fostering nurturing spaces that support healthy growth and development.

Arletta Marshall is the Accounting Technician, Payables with Wake County Smart Start. During my early twenties, I received short-term assistance through the Head Start program while attending college and raising my family. I feel honored to work for such an important organization whose goal it is to enrich the lives of young children. I enjoy spending time traveling with my family.

Jennifer Hoch joined Wake County Smart Start in 2019 as an Accounting Technician. In her role, she performs payroll processing, routine bookkeeping duties, keeping records of accounting and financial transactions, and employee personnel documentation. In her spare time, she can be found spending time at the beach with her husband, golfing, walking her dog, Hudson, or visiting her three daughters who all live out of state.

Sue joined the Wake County Smart Start finance department in 2011. She monitors budgets, prepares journal entries, answers questions about financial policies, and assists with financial reporting. Outside of work Sue loves to read, listen to podcasts and go treasure hunting at thrift stores.