Meet the leadership behind The Alliance.

ACTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Kym Shaw Day has worked in the nonprofit field for over 20 years. Raised by some amazing altruistic women, Kym continues their legacy through her commitment to serve others. Kym has a master's degree in education and the majority of her career has been spent improving and advocating for high quality education for young children in underserved communities. As a child that grew up in poverty, Kym knows first-hand how a quality education and an involved community can change the trajectory of a child’s life. 

As one of the founding members of the Early Learning Alliance, Kym has served on several committees, she has co-chaired the Racial Equity Guidance Council and has been the chair and vice chair of the Leadership team. As the acting Executive Director, “I am thrilled to continue the amazing work that ELA has done for children and families in Tarrant County and North Texas as a whole. I am honored to get to do this work with so many friends and colleagues who have dedicated their life’s work to raise awareness, improve systems and remove barriers to a better quality of life for children.”

PROJECT MANAGER

Rebecca Rueda is a dedicated Project Manager with a passion for promoting quality early care & education in Tarrant County. In her role, Rebecca oversees ELA's committees, collaborates with partner organizations, manages social media and newsletter, and hosts special events to raise awareness about the importance of early childhood education. Her passion is creating equitable and inclusive collaborative opportunities for early childhood leaders and families through events and projects. Rebecca is also renowned for her exceptional event planning skills, specializing in both social events and conferences. With a keen eye for detail and a flair of creativity, Rebecca has orchestrated memorable experiences that leave a lasting impression on attendees.

With a strong commitment to community engagement, Rebecca holds multiple leadership positions in Tarrant County. She is actively in organizations such as Hispanic Women's Network of Texas, Texas Association for Education of Young Children (TXAEYC) and STEER Fort Worth. In addition, she sits on the board for TXAEYC-Fort Worth Chapter, Hispanic Wellness Coalition, and Help Me Grow North Texas- Family Engagement Sub-committee. Rebecca is a proud alumni of Leadership Fort Worth and Leadership ISD.

Rebecca is a native Tejana with Mexican American roots. She was the first in her family to obtain a bachelor's degree at the University of Texas at Arlington. She loves to travel, bake, and mentor young girls.

DATA CONSULTANT

Dr. Ware serves as data consultant for the Early Learning Alliance, supporting the data collection, management, and reporting needs of the Alliance.

She is the owner/manager of AWare Research Solutions, a consulting business focused primarily on research and evaluation related to early child development. She has over 25 years of research and evaluation experience in early childhood through post-secondary environments. She earned a Doctorate in Experimental Psychology, with a focus on child social and cognitive development, in 1993.

Dr. Ware has held leadership positions in the research, evaluation and accountability offices of Fort Worth and Austin Independent School Districts, and with the University of Texas at Dallas Education Research Center. Dr. Ware has expertise managing large scale educational research projects focusing on issues such as early childhood education, teacher effectiveness, college and career readiness, professional development, after school programs, and programs for English language learners.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Emily serves as the Administrative Assistant at the Early Learning Alliance, where she expertly manages social media, coordinates events, and provides essential support to the team. Emily also has an eye for detail, and enjoys bringing some creativity to the team.

A recent graduate from the University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor’s in Social Work, she’s set her sights on pursuing a Master’s in Social Work with a focus on Health. Her goal is to work in a hospital setting, where she can advocate for individuals who have faced social injustices.Emily also intends to pursue a career in Higher Education, where she discovered her passion for truly helping others and building meaningful connections.

A native of Fort Worth, Emily loves to spend her free time traveling, diving into her ever-growing bookshelf, and enjoying the company of friends and family. Her passion for social advocacy drives her both personally and professionally, making her a valuable asset to her community.