PRO

PRO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2021-22

Board of Directors 

Erin Garcia:        BOD Co-Chair /Spanish Liaison

Lorena Wong:   BOD Co-Chair

Teri Fisher:     BOD Past Chair

Nominate:  Secretary

Nominate:   Treasurer

Betty Phillips:    Facilitator Liaison

Nominate:     Membership

Adrienne Henry:     Leave of Absence

Sonia Thomas: Zoom and Training Support

Marie Alarcon:  Mail Manager 

Nominate:  Member at large

Board Member contact information 
and bios are listed below

         Our PRO board goals have been to continue increasing access to quality training in the community at chapter events, statewide virtual training, as well as our annual conference. The board has worked hard to get the conferences approved for Set 2 training to meet the needs of the providers moving up on the Oregon Registry. We will continue to reduce spending and create fundraising events to increase training dollars for all the chapters. One of our goals, is to increase the board diversity with representation from around the state so that we improve communication with the chapters and grow a better team. We also recognize that the child care industry has changed and we need to offer more support for providers that are employers as well as the hard-working employees working in the field. The child care provider's community has grown and PRO is here to help support them.

I began working in the field of Early Childhood education in 1988 as a teacher for the Head Start program in Coos Bay. I worked for the Head Start program for 15 years, and then made the very difficult decision to leave to pursue another career. In 2011, I came back to the field and opened my own In-home preschool/childcare program in North Portland. Since that time, I have earned a Step 9 on the Oregon Registry, a 3-Star QRIS designation, and completed my Director’s Credential. I love laughing with the children, watching the children grow and develop, and owning my own program. I am thrilled to be a member of PRO. I am excited about the work that PRO does and am enthusiastic to help support other providers. I also love traveling to new places, watching television, and reading before bedtime.

Maria has a family childcare in Aloha, Oregon. Maria serves on the board as the liaison between the West Side Spanish chapter and the board. Maria lives with her husband in Aloha, Oregon. Occasionally her husband also assists with tasks for PRO, and we are very thankful for his willingness to help.

Marie has been a teacher for over 35 years and is currently working in a family in-home child care in East Portland. Marie has been a member coordinator and mail manager for PRO since 2015 and loves to make people feel connected. She is happy to be a team member of the Pro Board. In her off time she enjoys fishing with her husband of 19 years and long drives. 

I have operated a certified home-based family child care in North Portland for 18 years. I became a member of Pro in 2002 and I have served as facilitator off and on for a number of years. I have a three star Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) rating.

I first joined PRO when I began my home child care program in the 1980s. Since then, I have had many positions in the field. From a nanny, home child care provider, preschool teacher, school-based afterschool provider, camp director, CCR&R director, and currently the training and education specialist with OCCD. My heart is with in-home family child care. I have merged my love of family child care with my love of training to support the PRO Board. I hold a Master of Science in Education and a certificate in Training and Development. My favorite pastimes are gardening, hiking, and reading a good book.