Governor Greg Abbott has put in place a new set of voices for the Early Childhood Intervention Advisory Committee, confirming the reappointment of two members and introducing four new ones. Terrie Breeden and Guillermo Lopez will continue their work with the committee, now joined by Rosalba Calleros Ramirez, Dr. Deborah “Debbie” Cohen, Dr. David Goff, and Audrey Jackson. Their terms are slated to end on February 1, 2029, and their expertise is expected to guide the Texas Health and Human Services Commission Division for Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) on policy development and statewide system implementation, according to an announcement from the Office of the Texas Governor.
The State 619 program coordinator for the Texas Education Agency, Terrie Breeden, brings an extensive background in special education to the committee. With a bachelor's and master's in the field from Lamar University and an affiliation with the National Association of State Directors of Special Education, her reappointment adds a layer of continuity to an the Committee. Guillermo Lopez, from Austin, serves the community as the senior early childhood intervention director for Any Baby Can and plays a role in various coalitions focused on early childhood successes, his education tracing back to The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
In a move to diversify the advisory body, new appointees like Rosalba Calleros Ramirez of Buda, the executive director of Texas Parent to Parent, bring a dual background in political science and Spanish from UT El Paso, coupled with a Master of Education. Audrey Jackson, who oversees the Head Start program for the City of San Antonio, holds a liberal arts bachelor's from UT Austin and a master's in education from San Francisco State University. These professionals come equipped with personal and professional experiences to enhance the Committee’s work in supporting early childhood intervention services.
Healthcare representation on the committee is bolstered by Dr. David Goff of Strawn, a pediatrician with Cook Children’s Physician Network and educator at Texas Christian University Burnett School of Medicine. His medical degree from Wake Forest University and residency at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston solidify his credentials as a health expert on the panel. Dr. Deborah “Debbie” Cohen, a tenured associate professor at UT Austin Dell Medical School, joins the committee not only as an academic specializing in psychiatry but also as parent to an child with Down syndrome, offering a personal connection to the challenges faced by families in need of ECI services.
These appointments come at a time when early childhood development is in the spotlight, with each committee member poised to lend their unique insights towards bettering the lives of Texas' youngest residents. They'll be advising on policies that could make a significant impact on early childhood intervention services statewide, shaping the assistance provided to families and children at a crucial stage in their development.
