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Meet Our Staff

Nikia-Coates-Vice-Chair-PNC-Financial-Services-Inc.

Nikia Coates is an Assistant Director of Client and Community Relations at PNC Financial Services, Inc. She is deeply committed to providing high-quality early education to all children and advocating for the marginalized.

Nikia Coates

Vice Chair, PNC Financial Services, Inc.

Heather Drennan

Wake County Government

Matthew Ellinwood is a proud dad committed to upholding the educational rights and opportunities of all North Carolina children. He enjoys going on hikes and riding bikes with his two young boys and going to all manner of sporting events in Chapel Hill.

Matthew Ellinwood

Secretary, North Carolina Justice Center

Susan Evans

Wake County Board of Commissioners

Matthew Glova

Treasurer/Finance Chair, Lifetime Asset Management

Sherry Heuser

Past Chair, Capability Company

Mickey Holt is a nonprofit leader at the Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC who is passionate about equity. She feels strongly about education and providing the same opportunities for learning to all children across the Wake County.

Mickey Holt

Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina

Ronetta Pearsall

Little Hands N Feet Child Care Center

Antonia (Toni) Pedroza is the Deputy Director of Wake County Health and Human Services. She is passionate about spending time with her family, providing the best service possible, and practicing the principles of partnership.

Antonia Pedroza

Wake County Human Services

A native of North Carolina, Wake County Commissioner Cheryl Stallings is also a psychologist who co-owns a mental health practice in Raleigh that primarily serves children, adolescents, families, and young adults. Through direct service and public policy work, Commissioner Dr. Stallings is committed to working for safe, healthy, and affordable communities for young children and their families.

Cheryl Stallings

Alternate, Wake County Commissioner

Joe White is a former teacher who has experience in public sector budgeting at the county, state, and university levels. As a public servant and a parent of three Wake County public school children, he firmly believes each child desires to be successful and we must provide resources and programs to promote that success for all kids.

Joe White

NCSU Libraries

Tonya Venable

Telamon Corporation, NC Head Start

Katherine currently serves as the Cooperative Extension Director for Wake County. Over her 30 year career in Wake County, she has made significant contributions to enhance our food system, develop our youth and strengthen families. She is passionate about community building and believes in helping our children to thrive.

Katherine Williams

Chair, NC Cooperative Extension - Wake County

Dr. Stacey Wilson-Norman

Wake County Public School System

When I was young, I wanted to be a professional soccer player.

Taylor Young

Manager, Wake ThreeSchool

When I was young, I wanted to be a teacher.

Natasha Williams

Wake ThreeSchool Specialist

When I was young, I wanted to be a dancer

Taushau Wilkinson

Pre-K Team Lead

When I was young, I wanted to be a teacher.

Gina Soceanu

Social Emotional Learning Specialist

When I was young, I wanted to be a detective.

Alex Setzer

Data Manager

When I was young, I wanted to be a...

Melissa Radice-Peguero

Wake ThreeSchool Application Systems Coordinator

When I was young, I wanted to be a...

Lynn Policastro

Manager, Early Childhood Initiatives

When I was young, I wanted to be a jockey

Nancy Peck

Executive Assistant

When I was young, I wanted to be a...

Carol Orji

Director of Early Childhood Initiatives

When I was young, I wanted to be a teacher.

Christina Mitchell

Office Manager

When I was young, I wanted to be a teacher.

Kimberley McNeil

PCE Program Coordinator

When I was young, I wanted to be a teacher.

Deidra McMillan

Quality Enhancement Specialist

When I was young, I wanted to be a teacher.

Sabrina McKennies

Pre-K Specialist

When I was young, I wanted to be a news anchor.

Nikki McDougald

Community Outreach Specialist

Tamiko McCullough

Healthy Initiatives Program Coordinator

When I was young, I wanted to be a...

Bryce McClamroch

Manager, Program Coordination & Evaluation

Arletta Marshall

Accounting Technician, Payables

When I was young, I wanted to be a veterinarian and drummer.

Ramona Maldonado

SIPE Program Assistant

When I was young, I wanted to be a...

Alex Livas-Dlott

Director of Strategy and Impact

When I was young, I wanted to be a teacher.

Stephanie Jenkins

Quality Enhancement Specialist

When I was young, I wanted to be a teacher.

Caroline Janes

Wake Connections Project Coordinator

When I was young, I wanted to be a nurse.

Jennifer Hoch

Accounting Technician Payroll

When I was young, I wanted to be a...

Gayle E. Headen

Executive Director

When I was young, I wanted to be a fashion designer

Vanessa Guzman

Community Outreach Coordinator

When I was young, I wanted to be an artist and an archeologist.

Sasha Gomez

Manager, System Improvement & Public Engagement

When I was young, I wanted to be a teacher.

Ana Gallo

Pre-K Outreach Assistant

When I was young, I wanted to be a...

Lisa Flores

Application Systems Coordinator

When I was young, I wanted to be a teacher.

Emily Diaz

Wake ThreeSchool Program Assistant

When I was young, I wanted to be a counselor.

Joan Crutchfield

Manager, NC Pre-K

When I was young, I wanted to be an artist like Picasso.

Vanessa Celayos

Pre-K Support

When I was young, I wanted to be a...

Gary B. Carr

Director of Finance

When I was young, I wanted to be a...

Kinrecka Anderson

Wake ThreeSchool Enrollment Coordinator

WCSS

Careers

We are passionate people who want to help further our mission increasing access to early care and education programs in Wake County.

Working at WCSS

Our

Impact

For over 25 years, Wake County Smart Start has been helping prepare children with the greatest needs for success in kindergarten and life ahead.

See our Impact
Testimonials

Gina Soceanu

At Wake County Smart Start, I thrive within a work culture that values collaboration and empowers me to share my ideas that impact programs for children and families. My managers and colleagues support me by providing leadership opportunities that enable me to acquire new skills and further my professional growth.

Social Emotional Learning Specialist

Lynn Policastro

“I feel blessed every day knowing that the work we do is making a future brighter for a child.”

Manager, Early Childhood Initiatives

Emily Diaz

‘‘Our work culture shapes me better in creating new skills in my job role.

Wake ThreeSchool Program Assistant