Board Members

CELS Executive Board Members

Consortium for Early Learning Board of Directors is comprised of community leaders including those from public agencies, private agencies, government, child development programs, businesses, and schools.

The board meets quarterly to approve budgets, grants, and activities; to network and coordinate services; and to provide information to the community.

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President: Rosa Bobadilla

Rosa has worked in the early childhood education field for over 20 years. Rosa is an expert in providing resources for other child care providers and the community. She is passionate about advocacy in early childhood education and works closely with local organizations to find ways to better serve our community. It was always Rosa’s dream to start a nonprofit organization designed to help Spanish-speaking child care providers; this dream was realized in 2022. Rosa currently leads a network meeting twice a month where she provides information, resources, and opportunities for providers to share problems, solutions, and accomplishments.

Rosa C. Bobadilla, is the vice president and COO of La Red Network of Family Child Care Providers. Nonprofit doesn’t just empower and advocate for the needs of family childcare providers.

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President: Yvonne Choyce

Yvonne began her early childhood education career by providing family child care for twenty-five years. Today she is and early intervention program and resource developer, family child care provider trainer and counselor. She is the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Providers Need Care, an organization that assists family child care home providers. She is also the founder and CEO of Little Seeds Matter and My Healthy Reader. She is the co-founder and Program Director of We the People Arts Consortium. In her spare time, she is also a children’s book author.

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Vice President: vacant

A new Vice President will be announced soon.
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Treasurer: John Epps

John is Managing Principal at Creative Excellence. He and his team support strategies and initiatives that invest in the growth and empowerment of individuals, teams, and organizations that want to transform their markets, communities, and careers. John serves and has served on many boards, including the Academy for Grassroots Organization and Building Resilient Communities. John is a proud alum of Cal State San Bernardino and is currently enrolled as a graduate student in the M.A. Communications program. For 18 years, John was an instructor at the University of California, Riverside Extension, teaching a wide range of courses, including Leadership Development, Nonprofit Executive Development, Team Building, Communications, Supervision, and Information Technologies.
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Secretary: Erna De Los Angeles Cortez

Erna is the Director of Saint Jeanne de Lestonnac School, Early Childhood Education Center. She was President of the Southwest Regional Council and Secretary of the CELS Executive Board. Erna has a BS from UCLA in Political Science, a Multiple Bilingual Teaching Credential, and a Program Director Certificate. Her employment experience includes Saint Elisabeth School, Oxnard Street Elementary, MUSD Adult Education – Toddler Class, and Saint Jeanne de Lestonnac School.
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Local Planning Council (LPC) Chair: Davina M. Bailey, Ed.D

Director, Center for Early Childhood Education, University of California, Riverside

Board Members

Bobadilla, Rosa
Board Member

Del Valle, Andrea
Early Childhood and Education Training, Planning Facilities, Land Use, and System Change
Advocacy Consultant

Thurman, Cheryl
Account Manager at Southern & Central California for Discount School Supply

Pineda, Chris
Representative – Inland Empire for CM School Supply

Dr. Bailey, Davina
Executive Director for the Center for Early Childhood Education, University of California, Riverside UCR Child Development Center and LPC Member

Russom, Dianne
Retired College of the Desert ECE Director and Honorary Board Member

Cortez, Erna
Executive Director for St. Jeanne De Lestonnac Pre-School

Clark, Gayle
Executive Director for Bermuda Dunes Learning Center and LPC Member

Clark, Gayle
Executive Director for Bermuda Dunes Learning Center and LPC Member

Israelsen, Kathleen
Director for the Early Learning and Enrichment Services Murrieta Valley Unified School District

Cardoza, Lily
Community Program Specialist II for Community Action Partnership

Hampton, Mary
Quality Assurance Director for Family Service Association Organization

Gulizia, Sandra
CPIN Regional Lead

Law, Ti’Fani
Program Manager for the Inland Empire – Community Health Initiative (IE-CHI)

Oliver, Trudy
Executive Director for Temple Beth El Child Development Center and LPC Member

Do you live in Congressional District 39?

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If you’ve earned your Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education between 
May 1, 2024, and now, 
get ready for some 
exciting news!

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