Governing Board

Dr. Stephanie Hinton serves as the Executive Director of Early Childhood for Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS). With over 15 years of experience in education, both as a teacher and administrator, Dr. Hinton has dedicated the last 7 years to leading early childhood initiatives within the district. Her role is pivotal in shaping the early learning experiences of young children in OKCPS, aligning with the district’s mission of providing equitable access to a world-class education. Dr. Hinton is responsible for the comprehensive design, implementation, and monitoring of early childhood programs across the district. She utilizes her deep knowledge of child development to ensure that early childhood education is developmentally appropriate, evidence-based, and culturally responsive, fostering environments that support each child's cognitive, social, emotional, and physical growth.

Marla has dedicated over 30 years to early childhood education, serving in various roles as a teacher, principal, and college professor while advocating for quality early childhood experiences. She believes that the foundation for lifelong learning is established in the early years and that quality education is not just a gift to children but to society as a whole.

Passionate about the transformative power of education, she emphasizes its role in fostering potential, curiosity, and a love for learning. Marla advocates for investing in an equitable future by supporting caregivers, teachers, and students. Through early childhood education, she strives to shape minds and lives, building a brighter world for generations to come.

Carina has over 20 years of experience in Early Childhood Education and Care, beginning as a teenage babysitter and advancing to the role of director. She believes in the vital importance of this work and is now dedicated to supporting students in the Child Development/Early Childhood Education field at Oklahoma City Community College.

In her current role, she assists students employed in licensed childcare, guiding them toward becoming intentional lead teachers and directors. Carina's passion lies in empowering educators, knowing that her influence ultimately benefits the children in their care.

Andrew has over a decade of experience in early care and education, as well as IT and facilities management. Currently, he is the Senior Director of IT and Facilities at Sunbeam Family Services in Oklahoma City, where he streamlines operations and enhances service delivery. Previously, he worked with the State of Oklahoma and in child development, gaining expertise in systems integration and policy. Andrew holds a degree in Human Environmental Sciences from the University of Central Oklahoma and has served on various committees and boards in the nonprofit sector. His commitment to continuous improvement and community impact is evident in his work.

Liza Marie Odom has dedicated her career to supporting children and families through education and advocacy. With a background in education, psychology, and special education, she has worked in special education classrooms, child welfare, and community-based family engagement. Liza has consulted with state agencies, including Oklahoma CareerTech and the Oklahoma State Department of Education, and previously served as an education program manager, gaining valuable insight into Oklahoma’s childcare and education challenges. She is the founder of Oddball Academy, a mission-driven learning center focused on supporting children, educators, and families through innovative curriculum and resources.

Grace brings a strong passion for early childhood education, having been an active member of NAEYC Maine. With a B.S. in Human Resources and extensive nonprofit leadership experience, she is committed to supporting communities, advocating for families, and helping rebuild OKAEYC chapters—starting with a student chapter at Tulsa Community College, where she currently attends as an Early Childhood Major.

Grace believes education starts at birth and sees it as our mission to guide and support parents.

Jana has more than 35 years of experience in the early childhood field, working in public school, NAEYC accredited early childhood organizations, and state agencies. She holds a B.S. in Early Childhood Education, B.S. in Elementary Special Education with a concentration on Mild and Moderate Disabilities and Speech Impairments, and an M.Ed. in Education Administration.

Sarah has many years of experience in education. She began her education career teaching middle school science and soon found herself joining the school's administration as Dean of Students. During her time as an educator, she discovered AdvancEd (now Cognia) and began accrediting schools all over Oklahoma, New York and Michigan. Sarah discovered Primrose Schools during her time accrediting, and has found the Early Childhood Education arena to be incredibly rewarding. Sarah has a passion for training, coaching and mentoring teachers and staff, so they can better support the children and families in their communities. Sarah is known for her leadership, energy, ethical standards and hardworking nature. She loves working with her team as they strive to make a difference in the communities they serve.

With over twenty years of experience in early childhood education, Leslie has had the privilege of teaching children from three years old through first grade, cherishing every moment of the journey. Currently serving as the Early Childhood Coordinator for Oklahoma City Public Schools, Leslie supports and mentors teachers in pre-kindergarten through second grade. Dedicated to helping educators refine their skills and reignite their passion, Leslie works to ensure that every child receives the high-quality education they deserve. Leslie holds a B.S. in Elementary Education, certification in both Elementary and Early Childhood Education, and a Master’s in Educational Leadership.

With nearly 20 years of experience in the field of early childhood education, serving in a variety of roles that reflect her commitment to supporting children, families, and educators. She began her career as a Family Child Care Home Provider and went on to serve as a Family Advocate for Head Start and as a Special Education Paraprofessional in the public school system. The majority of her professional experience has been within Military Child and Youth Programs, where she has held leadership positions, including Child Development Center Director for the United States Air Force and School-Age Program Assistant Director for the United States Army. Currently, Ms. Greenfield serves as an adjunct instructor at Oklahoma State University–Oklahoma City and as Director of the Scholars for Excellence in Child Care program at Redlands Community College. She holds a Master of Science in Family and Child Studies with a specialization in Infant Child Specialist from the University of Central Oklahoma.

Debbie has been working in Early Childhood Education for over 24 years. She currently serves as a board member for the Southern Hills Outreach Foundation and as a member of the Board of Trustees at Southern Hills United Methodist Church. In addition, she is a PDS Specialist for the CDA Council of Professional Recognition and an Educator for CECPD.

Darshani is interested in becoming an impactful educator for young children because her journey as a teacher, journalist, researcher, and children’s book writer has shown her how storytelling, education, and advocacy can shape a child’s world. With over a decade of experience working with children and educators, she has seen firsthand how early experiences influence identity, creativity, and confidence. Her debut children’s book was nominated as one of the best children’s books at the 2022 State Literary Awards, which further deepened her commitment to using literature as a tool for empathy and learning.