ABOUT
"Educators are required to reform to the needs for their students, students not required to reform to educators.”- Dr. Dee
Our Mission
The mission of Emerging Learners Literacy Foundation is to promote the advancement of the early childhood literacy learner, educator, family and community stakeholders through language and literacy development, social and emotional learning, cultural awareness and community networking. We believe in the importance of developing the early childhood literacy learner in a well-rounded wholeness. Our ultimate goal is to effectively produce a successful child, rooted in a successful family, linking a successful home and which builds a successful community.
Vision & Values
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Be Kind
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Be Respectful
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Be Responsible
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Work Hard
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Have Fun
OUR BOARD MEMBERS
Dr. David A. Jackson, President Emeritus
Dr. Jackson is a retired Houston Independent School District principal with 26 years of educational leadership experience. As a former President of ELLF, he continues to provide institutional knowledge, educational leadership, and community guidance to the Foundation.
Dr. Danielle Cobie-Archey, Board President
Education leader with more than 20 years of experience in special education, program supervision, and culturally responsive curriculum development.
Dr. K’Nara Coleman, Vice President
Dr. Coleman is an assistant principal in Fort Bend ISD. She brings experience in instructional leadership, school administration, and supporting student and family success.
Ingrid Haynes, PhD, Board Treasurer and Literacy Advisor
Dr. Haynes is the Founder of the National Literacy Institute and Co-Founder of the NLI Center for Dyslexia & Literacy. She brings expertise in literacy education, research, organizational leadership, and program development to ELLF.
Dr. Chantay Nunn
Board Secretary and Financial Literacy Advisor
Dr. Nunn is a financial literacy curriculum developer committed to helping individuals and families build practical financial knowledge and skills. She supports ELLF’s board governance, organizational records, family-centered programming, and community initiatives.
Dr. Rhonda Gilbo, Board Member and Marketing and Community Engagement Advisor
Dr. Gilbo is a business owner, real estate professional, and higher education instructor with experience in marketing and community engagement. She brings expertise in business development, relationship building, and strategic outreach to support ELLF’s visibility, partnerships, and fundraising initiatives.
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Ms. Shalanda Holmes, Board Member and Human Resources Advisor
Ms. Holmes is a human resources executive with expertise in recruitment, organizational strategy, employee development, total rewards, and workplace culture. She supports ELLF’s governance, organizational capacity, and efforts to build a strong team that effectively serves children and families.
Dr. Lexus Johnson, Board Member and Program Development Director
Dr. Johnson is a mathematics coach with Houston Independent School District. She brings expertise in instructional coaching, educator development, and program implementation to ELLF.
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Dr. Summer Pannell, Board Member and Family Literacy Program Director
Dr. Pannell is the founder and director the National Leadership Professional Development Consortium. She has worked extensively with families and children/students in high-poverty, high-minority schools. Dr. Pannell received the Champion of Change Award from the Mississippi Department of Education in 2013 for closing achievement gaps in her school. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Delta State University, a Master of Education degree in Curriculum & Instruction from Union University, and a Doctorate of Philosophy degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Mississippi.
Sharaya Penney, M.P.A. Board Member and
Operations and Community Engagement
Ms. Penney is an academic advisor at Texas Southern University who brings experience in student support, program coordination, and community engagement. She manages ELLF’s operations and supports partnerships, outreach activities, and special initiatives.
Dr. Christopher Pichon
Board Member and Educational Leadership Advisor
Dr. Pichon is a retired school superintendent with extensive experience in educational administration and organizational leadership. He supports ELLF’s strategic planning and commitment to children, families, and communities.
Dr. Francisco Usero-Gonzalez, Board Member and Bilingual Family Literacy Advisor
Dr. Usero-Gonzalez is a bilingual education professor at Sam Houston State University. He brings expertise in bilingual education, teacher preparation, culturally responsive instruction, and language development.
Dr. Cynthia Villalovos, Board Member and Educator Engagement Advisor
Dr. Villalovos is an advisor with the Association of Texas Professional Educators. She brings experience in educator support, professional advocacy, and educational leadership.
Amber Alvarado, Program Coordinator (Staff)
Ms. Alvarado oversees daily program operations for the Emerging Learners Literacy Foundation and the NLI Center for Dyslexia & Literacy. She coordinates scheduling, family communication, enrollment, program records, events, and administrative support to ensure children and families receive timely, high-quality literacy services.
Meet Our Founder/ Executive Director
Hello Amazing Literacy Community!
I am Dr. Delilah Ann Davis. Early literacy and language development are dear to my heart. I operate under the belief system, “Educators are required to reform to the needs of their students, students are not required to reform to educators.” I believe educators and families must implement developmentally appropriate, research-sound, culturally relevant practices to build early childhood literacy learners.
I have worked in early literacy education for over thirty years in different areas, including as a national speaker, elementary teacher, elementary principal, and college professor. Hence, I bring a mixture of being a practitioner and researcher to the table.
I hold a Doctor of Education from the University of Memphis in Curriculum and Instruction Leadership with a concentration in Literacy. I also have a Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction Leadership with a concentration in Early Childhood Education from the University of Memphis. My bachelor’s is in Elementary/Early Childhood Education from the University of Tennessee at Martin.
As the executive board director, I look forward to the challenge of “effectively producing a successful child, rooted in a successful family, linking a successful home and which builds a successful community” by reaching one early childhood literacy learner, one family, one educator, and one stakeholder at a time.
-Dr. Dee