Our Governance
Board of Directors & Policy Council
The governance structure of Grow Early Learning underscores collaboration at its core. Decisions regarding the organization’s nature and operations are made collaboratively, involving the input and expertise of the Board of Directors, the Policy Council, and our dedicated Grow Early Learning Management Team.
While the Board of Directors and Policy Council have distinct areas of responsibility, they jointly oversee critical issues, as stipulated by federal regulations. To harmonize their efforts, the Board and Policy Council convene a governance meeting annually to fulfill their shared responsibilities.
Board of Directors
Our esteemed Board of Directors consists of eleven exceptional individuals, each possessing expertise in key areas that directly support our mission. Beyond their specialized knowledge, they shoulder legal and fiscal responsibility for the organization. To ensure effective governance, the Board convenes in person on a quarterly basis and conducts monthly telephone conference meetings.
Our current Board President is Ramona R. Reyes.
Ramona R. Reyes is a dedicated leader who serves as the director of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Center at Catholic Social Services. In her role, she plays a crucial part in assisting immigrant Hispanic families through various programs and services. The center’s mission is to provide a welcoming environment that fosters community building, strengthens families, improves economic status, and promotes health and well-being.
Prior to her work at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Center, Ramona had a successful career spanning 24 years at Nationwide Insurance, showcasing her commitment to serving her community both within and outside her professional roles.
In addition to her impressive career, Ramona is an advocate for education and community involvement. She currently serves on the Columbus School Board, where she is in her third term. Notably, she holds the distinction of being the first Hispanic elected member of the Board. As Vice President of the board, she chairs the Public Engagement Committee, which plays a vital role in organizing the annual Columbus City Schools Children’s Day celebrations.
Ramona’s own educational journey brought her to Columbus when she was awarded the Campbell Soup Migrant Scholarship, a scholarship designed for children of migrant farmworking families. This scholarship enabled her to attend the Ohio State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and Transportation Logistics.
Beyond her roles in education and community service, Ramona serves on the boards of various organizations, including East Coast Migrant Head Start, Mt. Carmel School of Nursing, and the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) Board of Trustees. Additionally, she volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio.
Ramona’s dedication and contributions to her community have not gone unnoticed. She has received several accolades, including the Champions of Diversity Pioneer award and an EXPY from Experience Columbus. She was also named a Columbus Crew Hispanic Hero and a Distinguished Hispanic Ohioan. Her achievements have been highlighted in publications such as the Women’s Book and the 2013 WELD – Women You Should Know Calendar.
Ramona R. Reyes’s unwavering commitment to education, community engagement, and service to others exemplifies her as a true leader and advocate for positive change in her community.
Ramona R. Reyes is a dedicated leader who serves as the director of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Center at Catholic Social Services. In her role, she plays a crucial part in assisting immigrant Hispanic families through various programs and services. The center’s mission is to provide a welcoming environment that fosters community building, strengthens families, improves economic status, and promotes health and well-being.
Prior to her work at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Center, Ramona had a successful career spanning 24 years at Nationwide Insurance, showcasing her commitment to serving her community both within and outside her professional roles.
In addition to her impressive career, Ramona is an advocate for education and community involvement. She currently serves on the Columbus School Board, where she is in her third term. Notably, she holds the distinction of being the first Hispanic elected member of the Board. As Vice President of the board, she chairs the Public Engagement Committee, which plays a vital role in organizing the annual Columbus City Schools Children’s Day celebrations.
Ramona’s own educational journey brought her to Columbus when she was awarded the Campbell Soup Migrant Scholarship, a scholarship designed for children of migrant farmworking families. This scholarship enabled her to attend the Ohio State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and Transportation Logistics.
Beyond her roles in education and community service, Ramona serves on the boards of various organizations, including East Coast Migrant Head Start, Mt. Carmel School of Nursing, and the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) Board of Trustees. Additionally, she volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio.
Ramona’s dedication and contributions to her community have not gone unnoticed. She has received several accolades, including the Champions of Diversity Pioneer award and an EXPY from Experience Columbus. She was also named a Columbus Crew Hispanic Hero and a Distinguished Hispanic Ohioan. Her achievements have been highlighted in publications such as the Women’s Book and the 2013 WELD – Women You Should Know Calendar.
Ramona R. Reyes’s unwavering commitment to education, community engagement, and service to others exemplifies her as a true leader and advocate for positive change in her community.
Faustina Vasquez is a passionate advocate for education and family engagement, serving as a parent, President of the Policy Council for Direct Services in North Carolina, and a member of the East Coast Migrant Head Start Project (ECMHSP) Board of Directors. Her journey is deeply rooted in her own experiences as a former migrant farmworker, inspiring her commitment to empowering families and fostering opportunities for success through quality early childhood education.
For Vasquez, education is more than a personal goal—it is a cornerstone for building stability and a better future for her family. Despite significant challenges, she has pursued her dreams and now works as a Registered Nurse, while advancing her career through graduate studies at Purdue University to become a Nurse Practitioner. Her husband, who left school in the ninth grade, stands alongside her in prioritizing education for their children, recognizing its transformative power.
In addition to her professional achievements, Vasquez devotes her time to guiding ECMHSP’s Board of Directors, leading the parent Policy Council, and serving as the President of the Parent Advisory Council at the Faison campus. Her leadership ensures that programs not only provide high-quality education but also support parents and engage families holistically.
As third-generation farmworkers, Vasquez and her husband possess extensive knowledge of the agricultural industry, drawing from their upbringing and personal experiences. Her family has deep ties to citrus farming; her grandfather, father, and uncles picked oranges in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Today, her family of five continues the tradition of seasonal work, moving between Florida and North Carolina. During their six months in North Carolina, their two younger children benefit from the early childhood education programs offered at the Faison ECMHSP campus. The remainder of the year is spent in Florida, where they work in cabbage and other crops.
Vasquez’s inspiring story exemplifies resilience, leadership, and the power of education to break cycles of hardship, ensuring brighter futures for the next generation.
Faustina Vasquez is a passionate advocate for education and family engagement, serving as a parent, President of the Policy Council for Direct Services in North Carolina, and a member of the East Coast Migrant Head Start Project (ECMHSP) Board of Directors. Her journey is deeply rooted in her own experiences as a former migrant farmworker, inspiring her commitment to empowering families and fostering opportunities for success through quality early childhood education.
For Vasquez, education is more than a personal goal—it is a cornerstone for building stability and a better future for her family. Despite significant challenges, she has pursued her dreams and now works as a Registered Nurse, while advancing her career through graduate studies at Purdue University to become a Nurse Practitioner. Her husband, who left school in the ninth grade, stands alongside her in prioritizing education for their children, recognizing its transformative power.
In addition to her professional achievements, Vasquez devotes her time to guiding ECMHSP’s Board of Directors, leading the parent Policy Council, and serving as the President of the Parent Advisory Council at the Faison campus. Her leadership ensures that programs not only provide high-quality education but also support parents and engage families holistically.
As third-generation farmworkers, Vasquez and her husband possess extensive knowledge of the agricultural industry, drawing from their upbringing and personal experiences. Her family has deep ties to citrus farming; her grandfather, father, and uncles picked oranges in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Today, her family of five continues the tradition of seasonal work, moving between Florida and North Carolina. During their six months in North Carolina, their two younger children benefit from the early childhood education programs offered at the Faison ECMHSP campus. The remainder of the year is spent in Florida, where they work in cabbage and other crops.
Vasquez’s inspiring story exemplifies resilience, leadership, and the power of education to break cycles of hardship, ensuring brighter futures for the next generation.
Policy Council
Our Policy Council comprises devoted parents of migrant and seasonal farmworker children who actively participate in our program. These dedicated parents, caregivers, and community leaders have earned their positions through democratic elections conducted within the parent community.
Our current Policy Council President is Faustina Vasquez
