Governor Greg Abbott announced on Apr. 10 the appointment of eight individuals to the Early Childhood Intervention Advisory Committee, with terms set to expire in either 2029 or 2031. The committee provides guidance to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission Division for Early Childhood Intervention Services on policies that shape the statewide system.
The appointments include Rachel C. Bowden, Cynthia D. Lee, Ed.D., and Allison P. Wilson, who were reappointed, as well as new appointees Rebeca Ciesielski, Susana Perez, Jennifer Villarreal, Ed.D., Mandy Young, and Representative Alan Schoolcraft. These members bring experience from fields such as education, special needs advocacy, regulatory initiatives, law, and business.
Bowden is director of regulatory initiatives at the Texas Department of Insurance; Lee serves as an educational diagnostician at Prosper Independent School District; Wilson is deputy director in childcare and early learning at the Texas Workforce Commission; Ciesielski is a stay-at-home parent and president of the Texas Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Network; Perez coordinates autism programs at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley; Villarreal works in higher education administration at Dallas Baptist University; Young manages special education technical assistance for the Texas Education Agency; and Schoolcraft is an attorney who previously served in the state legislature.
The governor’s office promotes economic opportunity, education and public safety while upholding state values according to its official website. It also advances cultural understanding through commissions supporting opportunities for women and people with disabilities according to its official website.
Greg Abbott currently serves as the 48th governor leading this office according to its official website. The Office of the Governor acts as the executive branch of state government by making appointments such as these committee roles while providing services across Texas according to its official website.
The broader significance of these appointments lies in their potential impact on early childhood intervention policies throughout Texas. By bringing together professionals from various backgrounds alongside community advocates and legislators, these selections aim to strengthen support systems for young children with developmental needs.
