River Valley Early Childhood Association (RVECA)
Fort Smith area
President: Ashley Napruano
rveca50@gmail.com
Please visit our Google Site that is updated with information and links and our Facebook group.
Meetings
All of our 2024 meetings will be in the Echols building at UAFS. Register through the PDR website.
Meeting Minutes
Below you will find minutes from our past meetings. Let’s continue the conversation in our Facebook group!
Newsletters
Meet the Board
Ashley Napurano
President & Treasurer
Ashley has worked in the Early Education field as a Lab School administrator, teacher, private tutor and special needs caregiver. Over the last eight years, she has provided training in the River Valley area on various Early Childhood topics. Ashley received her B.S.E in Communication Disorder from the University of Arkansas and M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education from Texas Woman’s University. Ashley has been active in the River Valley Early Childhood Association since 2017 and has served as secretary.
Ronnette Haynes
Vice President
Ronnette is the lead instructor for the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Program and the Coaching/Outreach Coordinator for their Early Childhood Education Professional Development Program. She is also a National Board Certified Teacher and a National Board Candidate Support Site Facilitator. Ronnette was a classroom teacher for many years and believes that a strong educational system begins with teachers that are knowledgeable in child development and equipped with the skills and strategies proven to increase student learning.
Nikki Brewer
Treasurer
Nikki has enjoyed being in the early childhood education career field for over 15years. She has been a classroom teacher and program administrator. She is currently a Director at Little Blessings Preschool and Childcare Center in Greenwood, Arkansas where she manages a staff of 18 and serves over 130 children. Nikki is a PDR Trainer and loves to encourage her staff to be their best through training. Her classroom teaching experience includes toddlers, preschool and kindergarten through sixth grade. Nikki has an Associates Degree in Pre-Elementary Education from Carl Albert State College in Poteau, Oklahoma. She is completing her Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Child Development. She is also completing her Certificate of Proficiency in Professional Leadership. Nikki has been married to her husband Gregg for 15 years and just built a new home. She has three children ages 14, 7 and 4. In her time between dishes and laundry, she enjoys reading, serving at her church and learning new homesteading skills.
Susan Wilkins
Secretary
Susan is a Family Child Care Provider. She works with Curricula Concepts as a Family
Advisor for Children and families. She serves on the Excel by Eight committee for children as a child and family advocate
Thelma Russell
Member at Large
Thelma is a Pre-K teacher at Morrison Elementary. She has 16 years of experience in early childhood which includes Van Buren Public School, James R. Tate Elementary School, Fort Smith Public Schools, Sunnymede Elementary School, Lincoln ABC, New Orleans Parish School Board, Frazier-Kieffer Daycare, and Solomon’s Daycare. Thelma also works at the Fort Smith Public Library.
Deborah Dow
Member at Large
Deborah has over 20 years of experience working in the field of early childhood. She has been a classroom teacher and program administrator. She is currently a Program Specialist for Arkansas State University Childhood Services. Deborah works on the ERS/TA project. Her responsibilities include training, coaching, technical assistance, and ERS assessments. Her classroom teaching experience includes infants, toddlers, preschool, kindergarten, first grade, second grade, and third grade. She has worked in Early Head Start, Head Start, ABC, Better Beginnings, public school, and private school settings. Deborah has a M.S. in Early Childhood Services from Arkansas State University. She also holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from Northeastern State University, with additional coursework in Early Childhood from Arkansas Tech University. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, crafting, and shopping. She has been active in the River Valley Early Childhood Association since 2014 and has served as treasurer, president, and vice president.