Beckie Palmer is honored to be nominated for President of the Tennessee Association for Children's Early Education. TACEE's vision, "Reaching Potential Together," and its commitment to supporting early childhood professionals through advocacy and professional development reflect Beckie's own values and experiences.

Beckie's passion for early childhood education has been shaped through both volunteer and professional service. When her children were young, she served as Vice President on the board of a cooperative preschool during a period of growth and transition. During that time, she helped expand services for families and successfully relocate the program while navigating licensing, zoning, and operational challenges.

Professionally, Beckie spent five years as an Executive Assistant with South Central Human Resource Agency, where she gained valuable experience supporting leadership, strategic planning, and organizational governance. For the past three years, she has also volunteered on the TACEE Conference Committee, helping support the annual conference and gaining a deeper appreciation for the dedication of TACEE members and volunteers.

Today, Beckie serves as a Quality Response and Improvement Coach with the Tennessee Child Care Resource & Referral Network, partnering with early childhood programs across Central and South Central Tennessee to support continuous quality improvement and positive outcomes for children, families, and child care professionals.

These experiences have strengthened Beckie's belief in collaboration, servant leadership, and the power of professional growth. If elected President, she would be committed to listening, building connections, strengthening member engagement, and supporting mentorship opportunities that connect experienced professionals with those entering the field. Beckie is especially passionate about engaging future educators and helping ensure TACEE remains a strong, valued resource for early childhood professionals across the beautiful state of Tennessee.

It would be a privilege for Beckie to serve alongside the board and support TACEE's continued growth and success.

Debbie Ferguson has been a member of TACEE since January 1991. She is honored to begin her 36th year as Executive Director of Glen Leven Presbyterian Church Day School. Debbie has also served on the state board of the Tennessee Association for Children’s Early Education since July 2002 in numerous roles, including Treasurer, Vice President of Membership Services, Co-Chair of the State Conference, Southern Early Childhood Association Representative for Tennessee, President, and currently as an At-Large member.

Debbie has also served as a member of the Tennessee Team for CSEFEL, National Association for Family Child Care, Tennessee Alliance for Early Education, West Tennessee ACEI, Voices for Memphis, National Black Child Development Institute, and Stand for Children. She has served as a member of the Early Childhood Education Advisory Committee for Nashville State Community College, an At-Large member of the DHS Board of Review, and a member of the Nashville Early Education Coalition Advisory Council. In 2014, Debbie was recognized as an Outstanding Member by the Southern Early Childhood Association.

It would be an honor for Debbie to continue serving this association, and she would greatly appreciate your consideration when casting your vote. Her many years of involvement with TACEE have truly enriched her personally and professionally, and she remains committed to working hard on behalf of all children.

​

Lisa Maddox-Vinson is a passionate and enthusiastic advocate for Early Childhood Education who has dedicated more than 40 years to serving young children, families, educators, and early childhood professionals.

Lisa holds a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Leadership from Arkansas State University and a Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education from Middle Tennessee State University.

For 15 years, Lisa served as the Children's Library Director at LaVergne Public Library, where she developed innovative programs for young children and families. Under her leadership, the library's children's programming was recognized as the fifth-best in the nation.

Lisa has also served as an Early Childhood Education Coordinator at Austin Peay State University, where she was involved with the Tennessee Early Childhood Training Alliance (TECTA). In her last position, she served as a Leadership Advisor for the Middle/North area of Tennessee State University's Tennessee Early Childhood Training Alliance, providing leadership support, coaching, and guidance to early childhood directors and professionals. Lisa also teaches Early Childhood Education courses at the university level.

A respected trainer and presenter, Lisa shares her knowledge and passion for early childhood education at national, state, and local conferences throughout the United States. Her conference experience includes presentations for the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Southern Early Childhood Association (SECA), National Kindergarten Conference, Frog Street Splash, and numerous other early childhood organizations. S

Lisa is also an accomplished children's recording artist. Her award-winning children's recording, Snap, Clap, Wiggle, and Giggle, features songs designed to bring music, movement, and learning into early childhood classrooms.

Throughout her career, Lisa has served on numerous early childhood advisory boards and leadership teams, including the Tennessee Association for Children's Early Education, Two Rivers Association for Children's Early Education, the Head Start Board, the Southern Early Childhood Association, and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Board, among others.

Lisa believes strongly in the power of relationships, professional development, leadership, advocacy, and collaboration to strengthen early childhood programs and improve outcomes for children and families.

She considers it an honor to serve the early childhood community and is committed to bringing her experience, energy, and passion to leadership. Lisa looks forward to continuing to listen, serve, collaborate, and help strengthen the early childhood profession for educators, children, and families across Tennessee.