Governor's Task Force on Early Childhood Education and Care

In: Early Childhood Education

Task Force Overview

House Bill 117, 89th Texas Legislature, establishes the governor's task force on the governance of early childhood education and care for the purpose of addressing the governance and operational challenges of the early childhood education system in Texas.

The task force consists of the 11 members appointed by the Governor. Not later than December 1, 2026, the task force will develop and submit policy and budget recommendations to the legislature designed to improve early childhood education and care governance.

Task Force Members

Peter J. Holt (task force chair) of San Antonio is the CEO and general manager of HOLT Group. Holt received a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of the Incarnate Word.

Jeff Austin, III of Whitehouse is the chairman of the Board of Austin Bank Texas, N.A. and Austin Bancorp. Austin received a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Business and a Master of Business Administration from The University of Texas (UT) at Tyler and a graduate of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program, Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at SMU, Banking Leadership Texas, and Leadership Tyler.

Leslie Callahan of Amarillo is the senior director of Head Start and early childhood development at the Region 16 Service Center. Callahan received a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Education from West Texas A&M University (TAMU).

Lori Gabbert Charney of Austin is the Texas Title V director of maternal and child health at the Texas Department of State Health Services. Charney received a Bachelor of Arts in Government from UT Austin and a Master of Public Affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs.

Grant Coates of Fort Worth is CEO and president of The Miles Foundation. Coates received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of North Texas and a Master of Business Administration from Texas Christian University.

Reagan Curran of Fort Worth is a self-contained special education teacher for Fort Worth Independent School District. Curran has seven years of experience in preschool classrooms. Curran received a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies, Special Education for Elementary from Abilene Christian University.

Tracy Hanson, Ed.D. of Killeen, is the owner of Education Connection Preschool and Child Care, founder and principal of Oak Creek Academy, and an adjunct professor at TAMU –Central Texas. Hanson received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, a Master's in Educational Intervention Studies, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.

Marisela Nava of Brownsville is the director of the Texas Southmost College Child Care Center. Nava received an Associate of Applied Science in Child Care and Development from Texas Southmost College, a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences from UT Brownsville, and is currently pursuing a Master of Education in Early Childhood from UT Rio Grande Valley.

John “J.” Puckett of Dallas is retired. He previously served as managing director and senior partner at Boston Consulting Group. Puckett received a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Religion from Duke University and a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Management from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Jennifer Stockemer, Ph.D., of Prosper is the owner/director of Ivy Vine Preschool, LLC. Stockemer received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University and a Master of Science in Child Development and a Doctor of Philosophy in Family Studies from Texas Woman’s University.

Nancy Windham of Nacogdoches is the Regional Economic Development Advisor of the Texas Forest Country Partnership. Windham attended Stephen F. Austin State University and is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute. Her studies also include basic industrial development at TAMU.

Task Force Steering Committee Members

  • Stephanie Muth, Executive Commissioner, Health and Human Services Commission
  • Faith Sandberg-Rodriguez, Associate Commissioner for Early Family Nutrition and Development in Family Health Services (FHS), Health and Human Services Commission
  • Jennifer Vincent, Director of Field for the HHSC Child Care Regulation Day Care Program, Health and Human Services Commission
  • Mike Morath, Commissioner of Education, Texas Education Agency
  • Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner, Standards and Programs, Texas Education Agency
  • Joe Esparza, Chairman and Commissioner Representing Employers, Texas Workforce Commission
  • Reagan Miller, Division Director, Child Care & Early Learning Division, Texas Workforce Commission
  • Rachelle Daniel, Quad Agency and Special Initiatives Director, Texas Workforce Commission

Meetings

April 30, 2026 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Texas Workforce Commission State Government Office
1117 Trinity St., Austin, Texas, 78701
April 2026 Meeting Agenda

March 31, 2026, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Barbara Jordan Building, State Office Building Room 2.013
March 2026 Meeting Agenda
March 2026 Meeting Minutes

Presentations:

Contact the Task Force

Provide written feedback to the task force here.