Who We Are
Early Matters is a statewide collaborative of business, civic, education, nonprofit and philanthropic leaders dedicated to economic mobility and prosperity for all Texas families through strategic investments in both policies and practices that support children birth – age 8.
Early Matters San Antonio
mark.larson@earlymatterssa.org
Early Matters El Paso
Early Matters Greater Austin
cathy.mchorse@uwatx.org
earlymattersgreateraustin.org
Early Matters Dallas
info@earlymattersdallas.org
earlymattersdallas.org
Early Matters El Paso
earlymatterselpaso.net
Good Reason Houston
trista@goodreasonhouston.org
goodreasonhouston.org
Early Matters San Antonio
mark.larson@earlymatterssa.org
Child Well-Being Movement
haleyoconnell@unitedwaywaco.org
mclennancountychildwellbeing.org
Our Goals
Early Matters works to increase 3rd grade academic outcomes in Texas through:
Quality/Sustainability of Child Care
Families have access to affordable, quality early childhood environments that help their children learn and develop.
Quality of ECE Workforce
A well-trained and well-compensated workforce who have access to professional supports.
Kindergarten Readiness
All children enter kindergarten prepared for school success.
Quality of PK-3rd Public Education
Early elementary classrooms and educators have the support and resources they need to ensure students are performing at grade level by 3rd grade.
Why Early Childhood Education?
Investing in quality early childhood education now is the best way to support existing families in the workforce and ensure a more qualified, higher skilled workforce in the future.
The extraordinary development that occurs from birth to age 5 forms the bedrock for lifelong health, intellectual ability, emotional well-being, and social functioning.
Early Childhood is a smart investment, leading to a 13.7% ROI.
The learning gap is evident by third grade and only 15% of school districts nationwide can produce enough academic growth in a year to close it by high school graduation.
Children in high quality early childhood environments are four times more likely to graduate from high school or college, enabling them to fill our future workforce needs.
Legislative Advocacy
Our coalition is dedicated to influencing state policy that is aligned with our goals. We bring stakeholder voices to the capitol to ensure policy is informed by data and real-world experience.
Proud Member: Employers For Childcare Task Force
Early Matters Texas is a co-founder of the Employers for Childcare Task Force, which as a group of Texas employers, is working to expand working families’ access to affordable, high-quality childcare in Texas. Learn more here.
Meet Our Team
Wendy Uptain is the Executive Director of Early Matters Texas. Prior to this role, Wendy managed a $6M philanthropic portfolio at the Robert R. McCormick Foundation in Chicago, investing in organizations and initiatives for young children and their families.
Wendy began her career in the classroom as an educator. After teaching for several years, she transitioned into education policy and advocacy. She has provided recommendations and consultation to national policymakers and state agency leaders on a range of issues including early childhood education and care and teacher preparation. She founded the Hope Street Group Fellowship, a leadership program for teachers to learn about and influence national and state education policy. Wendy has also worked at the U.S. Department of Education in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education.
In 2011, she was honored as a White House Champion of Change for her work in education advocacy and community engagement. Wendy has a BA in Early Childhood Education from Brigham Young University and an MPA focused in Education Policy from the George Washington University.
Wendy Uptain is the Executive Director of Early Matters Texas. Prior to this role, Wendy managed a $6M philanthropic portfolio at the Robert R. McCormick Foundation in Chicago, investing in organizations and initiatives for young children and their families.
Wendy began her career in the classroom as an educator. After teaching for several years, she transitioned into education policy and advocacy. She has provided recommendations and consultation to national policymakers and state agency leaders on a range of issues including early childhood education and care and teacher preparation. She founded the Hope Street Group Fellowship, a leadership program for teachers to learn about and influence national and state education policy. Wendy has also worked at the U.S. Department of Education in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education.
In 2011, she was honored as a White House Champion of Change for her work in education advocacy and community engagement. Wendy has a BA in Early Childhood Education from Brigham Young University and an MPA focused in Education Policy from the George Washington University.
Our Board
Libby McCabe provides consulting services to clients on state regulatory and legislative policy. In 2011, Libby joined the founding team and the board of the Commit Partnership in Dallas, which has grown to be the nation’s largest educational community-based collective impact organization. Until February 2023, she served as the Senior Policy Advisor at Commit, overseeing all regulatory and state legislative policy, working to implement statewide systemic reforms to improve educational outcomes from early childhood through postsecondary. During her tenure, Commit’s policy team had an 80% success rate for prioritized legislation, creating $8 Bn in new funding to address root causes to improve student outcomes. She continues to serve on the board of Commit and also serves on the Teach for America DFW Advisory Board. Prior to joining Commit, Libby worked in New York City as both an entrepreneur and attorney.
Libby is a member of the Texas and New York bars. Libby graduated from Duke University and Harvard Law School.
Libby McCabe provides consulting services to clients on state regulatory and legislative policy. In 2011, Libby joined the founding team and the board of the Commit Partnership in Dallas, which has grown to be the nation’s largest educational community-based collective impact organization. Until February 2023, she served as the Senior Policy Advisor at Commit, overseeing all regulatory and state legislative policy, working to implement statewide systemic reforms to improve educational outcomes from early childhood through postsecondary. During her tenure, Commit’s policy team had an 80% success rate for prioritized legislation, creating $8 Bn in new funding to address root causes to improve student outcomes. She continues to serve on the board of Commit and also serves on the Teach for America DFW Advisory Board. Prior to joining Commit, Libby worked in New York City as both an entrepreneur and attorney.
Libby is a member of the Texas and New York bars. Libby graduated from Duke University and Harvard Law School.
Elaine Mendoza is a technology entrepreneur and is founder, President, and CEO of Conceptual MindWorks, Inc. (CMI). Established in 1990, CMI is a biotechnology and medical informatics company located in San Antonio, Texas.
Ms. Mendoza was appointed to the Board of Regents (BOR) of the Texas A&M University System in 2011 by Governor Rick Perry and reappointed in 2017 by Governor Greg Abbott. In 2019, she was elected Chairman of the BOR. During her service, Ms. Mendoza chaired the Committee on Academic and Student Affairs (CASA) and served on the audit and finance committees and two, two-year terms as Vice Chairman. She completed two back-to-back terms in 2023.
In 2017, Ms. Mendoza was asked to serve on The Holdsworth Center Board after having served on the organizing board which designed the structure and program of work of the organization.
Appointed in 2013, then reappointed every two years by the Mayor of San Antonio, Ms. Mendoza continues to serve as Chair of the Early Childhood Education Municipal Development Corporation Board of Directors (Pre-K 4 SA).
She also served as the 2004 and 2005 Chair of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. In 2005, she was appointed to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and served until 2011. She served as the 2001 – 2003 Chairperson of the Board of the Alamo Workforce Development, now called “Workforce Solutions Alamo”. Nationally, she was appointed by Senator Trent Lott to the Commission on the Advancement of Women and Minorities in Science, Engineering and Technology (CAWMSET) in 1999-2000, later being selected as Chairperson.
Elaine Mendoza received a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from Texas A&M University.
Elaine Mendoza is a technology entrepreneur and is founder, President, and CEO of Conceptual MindWorks, Inc. (CMI). Established in 1990, CMI is a biotechnology and medical informatics company located in San Antonio, Texas.
Ms. Mendoza was appointed to the Board of Regents (BOR) of the Texas A&M University System in 2011 by Governor Rick Perry and reappointed in 2017 by Governor Greg Abbott. In 2019, she was elected Chairman of the BOR. During her service, Ms. Mendoza chaired the Committee on Academic and Student Affairs (CASA) and served on the audit and finance committees and two, two-year terms as Vice Chairman. She completed two back-to-back terms in 2023.
In 2017, Ms. Mendoza was asked to serve on The Holdsworth Center Board after having served on the organizing board which designed the structure and program of work of the organization.
Appointed in 2013, then reappointed every two years by the Mayor of San Antonio, Ms. Mendoza continues to serve as Chair of the Early Childhood Education Municipal Development Corporation Board of Directors (Pre-K 4 SA).
She also served as the 2004 and 2005 Chair of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. In 2005, she was appointed to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and served until 2011. She served as the 2001 – 2003 Chairperson of the Board of the Alamo Workforce Development, now called “Workforce Solutions Alamo”. Nationally, she was appointed by Senator Trent Lott to the Commission on the Advancement of Women and Minorities in Science, Engineering and Technology (CAWMSET) in 1999-2000, later being selected as Chairperson.
Elaine Mendoza received a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from Texas A&M University.
Alfreda B. Norman is an experienced bank and board executive deploying strategic financial frameworks to help public, private, and non-profit organizations transform communities. Alfreda’s mission is to financially empower marginalized communities by addressing market failures and economic injustice.
Ms. Norman’s distinguished career most recently includes 20 years at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas where she was expert in identifying economic challenges and opportunities, forging partnerships with all levels of stakeholders, and inspiring people and organizations to action using innovative solutions and practices. As the Dallas Fed’s immediate past Senior Vice President and Public Information Officer and a member of the Executive Leadership Team since 2014, Ms. Norman’s far-reaching responsibilities included setting strategy and driving results for the Bank’s corporate, executive, and digital communications, and for community and economic development initiatives. During her tenure, Alfreda amplified the Bank’s thought leadership to broad audiences promoting economic growth and inclusion and advancing understanding of the economy and the Federal Reserve System.
Among her other leadership roles, Norman was hired as one of Bank of America’s first neighborhood development officers where she directed the community reinvestment strategy to extend credit to low-income communities in Texas. She also previously held management positions at the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs and The Container Store corporate headquarters in Dallas. Currently, Ms. Norman is Co-Chair of the Fort Worth Mayor’s Child-Care Blue Ribbon Action Committee and the Texas Opportunity Youth Network Leadership Council. Norman serves on a number of prestigious boards including the Communities Foundation of Texas, the Meadows Foundation, Commit Partnership, Dallas College Foundation, and UT Southwestern Medical Foundation. She is also an advisory board member for Year Up Texas and the Jr. League; and is a member of the Charter 100 and Dallas Assembly.
Norman earned a bachelor’s degree at Southern Methodist University and is an alum of the University of Virginia’s Graduate School of Retail Banking. Alfreda and her husband raised two children, live in Dallas, and love to play tennis and travel. A highly sought out speaker and adviser who always puts her mission and the entities to which she is dedicated first, Ms. Norman leaves a lasting mark on the organizations and people with whom she collaborates, those she mentors, and the lives she changes through her work.
Alfreda B. Norman is an experienced bank and board executive deploying strategic financial frameworks to help public, private, and non-profit organizations transform communities. Alfreda’s mission is to financially empower marginalized communities by addressing market failures and economic injustice.
Ms. Norman’s distinguished career most recently includes 20 years at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas where she was expert in identifying economic challenges and opportunities, forging partnerships with all levels of stakeholders, and inspiring people and organizations to action using innovative solutions and practices. As the Dallas Fed’s immediate past Senior Vice President and Public Information Officer and a member of the Executive Leadership Team since 2014, Ms. Norman’s far-reaching responsibilities included setting strategy and driving results for the Bank’s corporate, executive, and digital communications, and for community and economic development initiatives. During her tenure, Alfreda amplified the Bank’s thought leadership to broad audiences promoting economic growth and inclusion and advancing understanding of the economy and the Federal Reserve System.
Among her other leadership roles, Norman was hired as one of Bank of America’s first neighborhood development officers where she directed the community reinvestment strategy to extend credit to low-income communities in Texas. She also previously held management positions at the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs and The Container Store corporate headquarters in Dallas. Currently, Ms. Norman is Co-Chair of the Fort Worth Mayor’s Child-Care Blue Ribbon Action Committee and the Texas Opportunity Youth Network Leadership Council. Norman serves on a number of prestigious boards including the Communities Foundation of Texas, the Meadows Foundation, Commit Partnership, Dallas College Foundation, and UT Southwestern Medical Foundation. She is also an advisory board member for Year Up Texas and the Jr. League; and is a member of the Charter 100 and Dallas Assembly.
Norman earned a bachelor’s degree at Southern Methodist University and is an alum of the University of Virginia’s Graduate School of Retail Banking. Alfreda and her husband raised two children, live in Dallas, and love to play tennis and travel. A highly sought out speaker and adviser who always puts her mission and the entities to which she is dedicated first, Ms. Norman leaves a lasting mark on the organizations and people with whom she collaborates, those she mentors, and the lives she changes through her work.
Current Job Openings
The Director of Community Engagement and Partnerships will play a crucial leadership role in building strategic relationships with influential partners to build the Early Matters Texas brand and supporting the growth of our current and future communities. This role includes cultivating external partnerships, building new programs, partnering with our regions across the state to assist in local collective impact, and grant writing support.
Organizational Overview
Early Matters is a statewide collaborative of business, civic, education, nonprofit and philanthropic leaders who are dedicated to economic mobility for Texas families by investing in policies and practices that support children birth – age 8.
With operations in 6 regions (Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, San Antonio, and Waco), Early Matters Texas represents 47% of Texas children under the age of 8. Each Early Matters region operates as a collective impact organization, convening early education stakeholders to develop and execute a community-driven strategic plan with the ultimate goal of improving 3rd grade academic proficiency.
As the statewide hub, Early Matters Texas provides technical assistance and support to its regions, serves as a knowledge hub and cross-state convener, and represents the entire group in advocating for strong, bi-partisan state policies.
With half of Texas students entering kindergarten ready and only 39% meeting reading benchmarks by the end of third grade, Early Matters sees improving access to affordable, quality child care as a key economic issue both for the workforce of today and tomorrow.
Position Overview
The Director of Community Engagement and Partnerships will play a crucial leadership role in building strategic relationships with influential partners to build the Early Matters Texas brand and supporting the growth of our current and future communities. This role includes cultivating external partnerships, building new programs, partnering with our regions across the state to assist in local collective impact, and grant writing support.
The Director of Community Engagement and Partnerships will be part of a small, entrepreneurial team responsible for growing a new statewide organization. Ideally based in Dallas, the Director can live anywhere in Texas.
Responsibilities will include:
- Supporting Early Matters regions. The Director will work with our six existing regions to identify and then support their growth through one-on-one coaching and consulting, both in person and virtually. The Director will also lead efforts to establish new regions, helping them meet the requirements necessary to join the state network. This will include the codification of onboarding material for new regions.
- Coalition management. The Director will create and own a plan for educating, expanding, and mobilizing our statewide community in state policy, which includes the six regional coalitions, the business community via the Employers for Childcare Task Force, and other early childhood partnerships.
- External branding: The Director will occasionally represent the organization at public events.
- Fundraising support: The Director will search for new opportunities and assist with grant writing and reports.
- Communications: The Director will prepare written materials, including policy briefs, whitepapers, and talking points as needed. He or she will serve as a strong, neutral, and skilled facilitator who can guide partners and stakeholders towards consensus and defined, shared results.
Qualifications:
- The ideal candidate must have:
- Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Government Relations, Political Science, Education, or a related field. A master’s degree is preferred
- 5-10 years of relevant experience in one of the following areas: collective impact, community/economic development, consulting, or education
- Strong community engagement and facilitation skills. Experience with collective impact is ideal.
- Track record of initiating and managing successful programs.
- Experience building trust with different groups and stakeholders.
- Flexibility to travel to Early Matters regions for project support.
- Ability to work in a complex, statewide environment requiring significant collaboration. Additional experience in a start-up or entrepreneurial environment is ideal.
- Strategic planning and project management skills to execute initiatives and handle multiple internal projects/timelines and external calendar events and meetings.
- Understanding of fundraising and grantmaking.
- Effectiveness in written and oral communication; ability to communicate complex issues to various audiences.
Reporting
The Director of Community Engagement and Partnerships will report to the Early Matters Texas Executive Director, Wendy Uptain.
To Apply
Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to careers@earlymatterstx.org.
Early Matters Texas is an equal opportunity employer that seeks to hire individuals with backgrounds similar to that of the stakeholders they serve. As an organization that embraces equity and inclusion, all employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws.
This position offers a competitive compensation and benefits package.
Organizational Overview
Early Matters is a statewide collaborative of business, civic, education, nonprofit and philanthropic leaders who are dedicated to economic mobility for Texas families by investing in policies and practices that support children birth – age 8.
With operations in 6 regions (Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, San Antonio, and Waco), Early Matters Texas represents 47% of Texas children under the age of 8. Each Early Matters region operates as a collective impact organization, convening early education stakeholders to develop and execute a community-driven strategic plan with the ultimate goal of improving 3rd grade academic proficiency.
As the statewide hub, Early Matters Texas provides technical assistance and support to its regions, serves as a knowledge hub and cross-state convener, and represents the entire group in advocating for strong, bi-partisan state policies.
With half of Texas students entering kindergarten ready and only 39% meeting reading benchmarks by the end of third grade, Early Matters sees improving access to affordable, quality child care as a key economic issue both for the workforce of today and tomorrow.
Position Overview
The Director of Community Engagement and Partnerships will play a crucial leadership role in building strategic relationships with influential partners to build the Early Matters Texas brand and supporting the growth of our current and future communities. This role includes cultivating external partnerships, building new programs, partnering with our regions across the state to assist in local collective impact, and grant writing support.
The Director of Community Engagement and Partnerships will be part of a small, entrepreneurial team responsible for growing a new statewide organization. Ideally based in Dallas, the Director can live anywhere in Texas.
Responsibilities will include:
- Supporting Early Matters regions. The Director will work with our six existing regions to identify and then support their growth through one-on-one coaching and consulting, both in person and virtually. The Director will also lead efforts to establish new regions, helping them meet the requirements necessary to join the state network. This will include the codification of onboarding material for new regions.
- Coalition management. The Director will create and own a plan for educating, expanding, and mobilizing our statewide community in state policy, which includes the six regional coalitions, the business community via the Employers for Childcare Task Force, and other early childhood partnerships.
- External branding: The Director will occasionally represent the organization at public events.
- Fundraising support: The Director will search for new opportunities and assist with grant writing and reports.
- Communications: The Director will prepare written materials, including policy briefs, whitepapers, and talking points as needed. He or she will serve as a strong, neutral, and skilled facilitator who can guide partners and stakeholders towards consensus and defined, shared results.
Qualifications:
- The ideal candidate must have:
- Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Government Relations, Political Science, Education, or a related field. A master’s degree is preferred
- 5-10 years of relevant experience in one of the following areas: collective impact, community/economic development, consulting, or education
- Strong community engagement and facilitation skills. Experience with collective impact is ideal.
- Track record of initiating and managing successful programs.
- Experience building trust with different groups and stakeholders.
- Flexibility to travel to Early Matters regions for project support.
- Ability to work in a complex, statewide environment requiring significant collaboration. Additional experience in a start-up or entrepreneurial environment is ideal.
- Strategic planning and project management skills to execute initiatives and handle multiple internal projects/timelines and external calendar events and meetings.
- Understanding of fundraising and grantmaking.
- Effectiveness in written and oral communication; ability to communicate complex issues to various audiences.
Reporting
The Director of Community Engagement and Partnerships will report to the Early Matters Texas Executive Director, Wendy Uptain.
To Apply
Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to careers@earlymatterstx.org.
Early Matters Texas is an equal opportunity employer that seeks to hire individuals with backgrounds similar to that of the stakeholders they serve. As an organization that embraces equity and inclusion, all employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws.
This position offers a competitive compensation and benefits package.