Parent Cabinet Membership

Kaitlyn is a mom of three. She joined the Parent Cabinet after being motivated by a parenting course to apply for opportunities like this one. Kaitlyn is a stay at home mom, so setting a good example for her daughters as a parent leader is very important to her. Kaitlyn received her associate degree in early childhood education. Having children of her own, OEC is all the more important to her. She will be accepting a position on her children’s PTSA board this spring. In her spare time, Kaitlyn enjoys hiking with her daughters. Email Kaitlyn.

Regan is a mom of four children who all participated in Birth to Three. She joined the Parent Cabinet because she knows the power of early intervention. She is also a graduate of and currently coordinates the Parent Leadership Training Institute in Stamford. Regan has a bachelor’s degree in American Civilization with a concentration in Race and Ethnic Relations, and a master’s degree in Elementary Education. Before becoming a mom, she taught kindergarten and first grade. As a stay-at-home mom for almost 20 years, she volunteered for education-related nonprofits and was president of her children’s school PTOs. In her spare time, Regan enjoys letterboxing, traveling, and reading. Email Regan.

Raquel is a mom to a 2-and-a-half year old son. Raquel is a Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) May 2024 graduate who joined the Parent Cabinet because she loves being resourceful and helping parents learn about different services that can help their children and family. Raquel would love to help parents enroll in services, and learn about the concerns they have about services to help them improve. She currently goes to college and is pursuing a variety of majors. Raquel is bilingual and was born in Costa Rica. In Raquel’s free time, she enjoys going to events with her son, playing with him, reading psychology and nutrition books, listening to music, journaling, aromatherapy, and more. Email Raquel.

Symone Maguire joined the Office of Early Childhood’s Parent Cabinet to be a resource for parents, to discover new/untapped resources in the state, and to play an active role in deciding new pathways for ECE in Connecticut. Symone is the mother of three children (ages 8, 6 and 2), 2 of whom are in the public school system and one in daycare. Symone and her family have personally benefited from OEC’s Birth to Three services and this experience helped her to gain more insight to further assist other parents. She is a member of her children’s elementary school PTA, the Hamden Partnership for Young Children, and sits on the Board of Directors for a local non-profit organization. In her spare time, Symone enjoys reading and is an avid sports fan, especially of football, basketball, and volleyball. Email Symone.

Marinda is a mom of a 3.5 year old. She joined the Parent Cabinet to advocate for parents to have equitable access to resources. Marinda’s daughter is enrolled in a School Readiness preschool program, and early child care and education programs are important to her. She is a board member for the Connecticut Women and Education Legal Fund and a member of the Greater New Haven Women United Chapter, the New Haven Club of the National Association of Negro Business, and the Professional Women’s Club’s Inc. In her spare time, Marinda enjoys reading — she read 146 books during COVID. Email Marinda.

Tiffanie is a parent of two who both benefited from early intervention programs, including Birth to Three. She has been an appointed parent member of the CT State Interagency Coordinating Council for the OEC and Birth to Three for seven years; a graduate of Partners in Policymaking and Voices For Families Parent Leadership Program; a volunteer for Brooklyn Schools PTO; and was the secretary of the Special Education PTO of Northeastern CT. Tiffanie has worked in special education as an elementary paraeducator for five years, and enjoys supporting, empowering, and advocating for children and families. In her spare time, Tiffanie enjoys spending time with her family, going to her son’s soccer games, and performing in musical theater with her daughter. Email Tiffanie.

Caitlin is a mom of two children, ages 8 and 5. She joined the Parent Cabinet because she has a unique perspective, having worked in daycares, Birth to Three, and as an early childhood specialist. She’s also had first-hand experience in Birth to Three programming. She brings a parental and professional lens to the Cabinet and community connection. Caitlin volunteers with the Manchester Early Childhood Collaborative and the PTA at her children’s elementary school. In her spare time, Caitlin enjoys hiking with her family and visiting the playgrounds in their area. Email Caitlin.

Cris is a dedicated father of two young children. Passionate about making a difference, he joined the Parent Cabinet to represent the perspective of parents with adopted children and to advocate for positive change for children across Connecticut. As a Hispanic person with multiracial children, Cris brings a deep understanding of the state’s diverse community. He actively serves on the Tolland Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and chairs the Tolland Democratic Town Committee, demonstrating his commitment to community involvement and leadership. Professionally, he serves as an office supervisor at a pediatrician’s office. In his spare time, Cris enjoys baking and cake decorating. Email Cris.

Tricia is a certified school psychologist in New York and Connecticut, with a sixth-year degree in administration. Tricia has worked with school-aged children since 2000, and recently chose to leave her position in Mansfield to stay home with her two young children. She loves working with children and families, and supporting caregivers as they advocate for the needs of young children. Tricia is a 2022 graduate of the Parent Leadership Training Institute. She currently volunteers for the Manchester Early Childhood Collaborative and the PTO at her child’s school. She is also a member of All In! Early Childhood Educators for Equity. In her free time, she loves reading, traveling, making crafts, and visiting her family. Email Tricia.

Amber is a mother to a 10-year-old boy. She has a bachelor’s degree in ECE with a concentration in Program Administration and Leadership. She joined the Parent Cabinet to advocate for and be a resource for parents or guardians in her community. She is a community leader who sits on boards; facilitates a summer camp; and founded a nonprofit called Five Ducks Foundation Inc. that focuses on youth development. In her spare time, Amber enjoys spending time with her family, working in partnership with families, and learning something new. Email Amber.

Joshua is a father of four. He joined the Parent Cabinet because he wanted to share his voice from a father’s perspective and to be a part of positive change for Connecticut families. Joshua is especially concerned about access to child care and the significant decrease in the number of child care providers during the pandemic, which has and continues to affect many parents. He is a part of CT Partnership for Children, the Naugatuck DEI Committee, and the ECE Parent Policy Table Planning Committee. In his spare time, Joshua enjoys time with his family. Email Joshua.

Maria is a mom of three. She joined the Parent Cabinet to bring the voices of her diverse Danbury community forward. Maria has been working with families with young children as a Parent Educator in the Greater Danbury community for 25 years. She is part of the Danbury School Readiness Council, a Positive Discipline facilitator, a CDA Council Professional Specialist, Pyramid Model Master Cadre and is a life coach for YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program. She works for United Way of Western CT as an Educational Coach for Licensed Family Child Care Providers. As a bilingual, bicultural American, she understands the complexities families experience when entering children into early childcare programs. In her spare time, Maria loves spending time with family and traveling. Email Maria.

Ivoni is a mom to three children. She joined the Parent Cabinet because she wants to help new immigrant parents that are unfamiliar with the programs available to them, like she was when she first arrived in this country. Ivoni participates in the Wethersfield Early Childhood Collaborative (WECC), Crianza con Carino, and Parents Leading the Way to Social Emotional Learning program. In her spare time, Ivoni enjoys listening to music and exercising at the gym. Email Ivoni.

Jennifer is a mom of three boys. She joined the Parent Cabinet to be an advocate for families in need and be able to further her outreach work with families. Jennifer currently works as a LEAP Engagement Specialist for her local public school system. She has been an active member of the Bristol Early Childhood Alliance and Bristol School Readiness Council for the last seven years. Jennifer is also on numerous other committees; co-chairs the Outreach Committee and Family Fun Day Committee; and is also the president of her children’s school’s PTA. Jennifer is currently pursuing her degree in ECE and is a UConn PEP graduate. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, gardening, and coaching her boys’ baseball teams. Email Jennifer.