President

Elaine attended University of Arkansas at Monticello, College of Technology-McGehee (Great Rivers Vocational Technical School), where she received a Child Development Certificate (Child Development Associate). She continued her education at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) where she completed the Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with an Early Childhood Endorsement. In 2007, she completed her Master of Education with dual concentration in Special Education and Early Childhood Education. Thirty-one years ago, her teaching career began at the Wolfe-Kelly Day Care Center, where she was Assistant Director/Lead Teacher. While at Wolfe-Kelly, she wrote a grant that helped to start the Arkansas Better Chance Program (ABC), making Wolfe-Kelly one of the first Child Care facilities to receive this grant in 1991. After an unfortunate fire at Wolfe-Kelly in 2004, she began teaching in the Dumas Public School District, where she was a Kindergarten and Preschool Teacher, until June 2014. In 2006, she also became a Facilitator/Trainer for the U of A-Early Care and Education Projects in Fayetteville. In 2008, she became an Adjunct Early Childhood Instructor at the UAMCTM and eventually the Department Chair of the Early Childhood Department. On October 1, 2018, she was appointed Interim Assistant Vice Chancellor and on January 1, 2019, she was named the Assistant Vice Chancellor at UAMCTM.

Secretary/Treasurer

Kim attended the University of Arkansas at Monticello where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Education with an endorsement in Early Childhood Education in 1997.  She continued her studies at UAM in her graduate work towards a master’s degree in early childhood special education.  Kim began her teaching career at Lakeside Elementary School in Lake Village, Arkansas as a Kindergarten teacher in the fall of 1997.  After a few years in the classroom and a desire to impact the education of even more children, Kim became an educational consultant with JP Associates in Valley Stream, NY.  She traveled to multiple cities and states for 18 years providing effective teaching techniques to educators in the classroom.  She joined the University of Arkansas at Monticello – College of Technology – McGehee faculty in January 2023 as the Early Childhood Education instructor.  She has a passion for children and believes every child deserves the best education and experiences possible!

Social Media Coordinator

My name is Kimberly Lattimore and I live in Monticello, Arkansas. I have been married to my wonderful husband for 20 years and we have 2 children and 1 granddaughter. I am a 2015 graduate of University Monticello of Arkansas with an associate degree and received my Arkansas Birth Through Prekindergarten Teaching Credential. I enjoy many outdoor activities such as fishing, gardening, riding bikes, and grilling. I am also a creative person. I love to make desserts and decorate our center monthly. I have been working in early childcare for 22 years and have been with Discovery Children’s Center for 17 years. I am currently the Special Education Assistant for the 3-5 program. I genuinely enjoy being with children. I love to see them discovering their unique personalities and desire for fun. Throughout my experience I learned so much about myself, and about what to do with my life, which is to collaborate with people. For the last 17 years I have had the pleasure of working for this outstanding company Discovery Children’s Center, where I am able to work with many families and great staff.

Founding Member

Faith Hurd, M.Ed., is an Early Childhood Trainer and has been with Early Care and Education Projects (ECEP) since 2016. As a trainer with ECEP in the Southeast Arkansas region, Faith provides professional development with updated information and materials and is a resource through which connections are built throughout Arkansas with early childhood professionals, educators, and organizations.

Faith attended the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, receiving her bachelor’s degree in biology and her master’s in early childhood education. Previously, Faith was the department chair and instructor for the Early Childhood Education Department at the University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Technology – McGehee. She strives to make learning fun, engaging, and accessible to all. Faith deeply believes in student-centered learning and continually seeks new and creative ways to present information. She has spent most of her career as a teacher/instructor and has had the pleasure of speaking at conferences. Over the years, Faith has served on several committees and boards and continues to serve on different committees today.

Her passion is bringing encouragement and information to professionals and students within the education field. She believes in advocating for children, families, and the early childhood community. Her goal is to inspire educators to continue blossoming, changing children’s lives for the better, and continuing their excellent work in the early childhood profession.

Founding Member

Emily earned her Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education from UAM McGehee before continuing her studies at the university’s main campus, where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree. She then spent two years teaching in an early childhood program while pursuing her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education Studies.

Currently, Emily teaches 5th-grade literacy at Thomas C. Brunson Elementary School in Warren. She applies her extensive knowledge of early childhood education in her daily interactions with students and strongly advocates for the importance of early Pre-K education in child development. Under her guidance, the literacy program at her school has achieved notable success, earning growth awards for the past three years. Additionally, the school ranked in the top 5% for academic growth during the 2023-2024 school year. Over the past two years, Emily’s students have demonstrated measurable improvement in their state testing scores.

Emily remains committed to professional development and recently completed training in Dyslexia Intervention. She now provides reading interventions and Response to Intervention (RTI) support in those areas within her school. Beyond her professional responsibilities, Emily is a dedicated wife and mother of three. She is actively involved in her church, serving as a youth group leader and nursery volunteer, and participates in various community activities, especially those involving her children.

Founding Member

Gaynell R. Jamison, is an Early Childhood Trainer, Reading Specialist and Children’s Author. She has 40+ years of experience in education. She has done extensive study in the field of literacy with over 20 years of experience, teaching reading and administering reading programs in Southeast Arkansas. She has presented at conferences and workshops on the local, state, and national level. Most recently, she has conducted several virtual early childhood trainings for early childhood staff and administrators statewide.

Founding Member

I have been in ECE for 34+ years. I began as a Public-School Kindergarten teacher in the school district where I had gone as an elementary student. Later I moved to another school district as a Kindergarten Teacher. When the district decided to start a preschool program, the principal asked me to start the program with 2 preschool classrooms and about 30 children. I was the director and one of the classroom teachers. Next, I was recruited by Rivers Technical Institute to be the new ECE instructor. I left UAM in 2015 and went to C. B. King Memorial School to be their Director of Programs working in the Early Intervention Day Treatment Centers serving infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with developmental delays, and in the Adult Day Treatment program with adults with developmental disabilities as well as training and mentoring the teachers and directors. Currently I am also an ECEP trainer for University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and I occasionally adjunct for Ms. Hurd at UAM CTM. I have one daughter, Victoria. I have a dog named Leo and Victoria has a dog named Fritz.

Founding Member

Hello, my name is Elizabeth Coakley and I have worked in the field of Early Childhood for twenty-eight years.  I have two amazing children and one granddaughter. I received my master’s degree in Early Childhood Education in 2015.  In the field of Early Childhood, I have held numerous positions…. for example, Lead Teacher in a Head Start preschool classroom, Toddler Lead Teacher, Program Coordinator, Assistant Director, Director, Adjunct Instructor, Trainer, and my current role as Better Beginnings Coordinator. Early Childhood has given me such enjoyment in my different roles, and I am honored to be a part of the Southeast Arkansas Early Childhood Association.

Founding Member

My name is Cortez C. Smith a native of Pine Bluff, Arkansas who completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff with a degree in the in Human Development Family Studies in the Spring of 2009. After successfully earning my bachelor’s degree, one was accepted into the graduate program at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in the College of Education/ Higher Education with Specialization Student Affairs Administration. Having completed this program in the Fall of 2012. Recently in the Fall of 2021, I was accepted into the doctoral program at the Southern Arkansas University majoring in Rural and Diverse Educational Leadership/ Higher Education Administration Community Development. After working as the Project Coordinator at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff for many years one was given the opportunity to join the staff of the University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Technology at McGehee as the Program Director for Arkansas Career Pathways Initiative, this chance has presented one many opportunities to advance within the areas of Higher Education. Such as, interim Director for Student Services/Dean of Students. Also, being placed on several university committees.