Board of Directors
Executive Committee
Mattie McVey Lord, President, currently works as the Chief Program Officer of UMOM New Day Centers in Phoenix, AZ, where she helps develop programs to end homelessness for individuals and families. She also serves on the Continuum of Care and the Board of Directors for the Arizona Coalition to End Homelessness. Mattie previously served as the State Homeless Coordinator at the Arizona Department of Economic Security. Her office addressed the issue of homelessness by providing coordination and assistance to organizations that help individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Prior to that, Mattie served as the State Coordinator for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth at the Arizona Department of Education and worked for ten years as a public school teacher. Mattie holds a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Arizona and a Masters in Education with a Curriculum and Instruction focus from Chapman University.
Dana Scott, Vice President, is a senior consultant in the Prevention Initiatives Unit at the Colorado Department of Education. As State Coordinator for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, she works with school districts and community agencies statewide to remove educational barriers and to provide educational and support services to children, youth, and their families who experience homelessness. Dana has eight years of experience working with homeless issues in the public and nonprofit sectors and was principal writer for Denver's 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness. She has an additional seven years of experience as a program officer at the Daniels Fund, LMC Community Foundation and El Pomar Foundation. Dana also serves on the Board of Directors for Families and Allies Working Together. In addition, she is a member of the Colorado Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH), the Colorado Special Education Advisory Council, the Colorado Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Intervention, Denver's Commission to End Homelessness, and the Colorado Advisory Committee on Homeless Youth
Melinda Dyer, Secretary, is the Washington State Coordinator for Homeless Educationand has served in that capacity since 1995. Prior to her employment with the State of Washington, Melinda was a classroom teacher at the secondary level, teaching health, reading and language arts. Melinda earned a BS in Education and an MEd in Health Education, both from Oregon State University. Melinda has served on the NAEHCY Board since 1999 as the chair of the Awards and Nominations Committee.
Frank Migali, Treasurer, Frank Migali currently serves as the Arizona State Coordinator for Homeless Education and Refugee Education and has been with the Arizona Department of Education since the fall of 2003. During his time at ADE, he has worked extensively with many special populations including Indian Education, Migrant Education, Gifted Education, Refugee Education and Homeless Education. Frank serves as an appointed member of the Governor's Interagency Coordinating Council for Infants and Toddlers. Frank has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.
At-Large Members
Deborah Boone, At-Large Member, has served as the McKinney-Vento Coordinator in Richland County School District One for nearly 15 years. The Parents and Students Succeed (PASS) Project is Richland One’s homeless initiative. PASS is a comprehensive program that utilizes district and community resources to help students succeed. Under her capable leadership, the needs of students and families experiencing homelessness are being met on a daily basis. Deborah has served on numerous state, community and district-wide committees/advisory boards. She is the past chair of the local continuum of care and serves on the Board of Directors for two area homeless shelters.
Larissa Parrott-Dickinson, At-Large Member, is a social worker with the Mobile County Public School System's Homeless Education Program in Mobile, AL. Larissa also serves as Co-Homeless Liaison for the District. She began her social work career in her hometown of Athens, GA. While interning and later working for a local homeless shelter, she discovered her love and compassion for the homeless population. Larissa earned her BA and MA degrees in Social Work from the University of Georgia. She occasionally teaches master’s level social work courses for the University of Alabama's School of Social Work and serves as a Field Placement Supervisor for MSW Interns. Additionally, she serves as Board Secretary for the Family Promise/Interfaith Hospitality Network of Coastal Alabama.
Francine Hahn, At-Large Member, is an attorney in Baltimore, MD, and has practiced law in the area of homeless education for nearly 15 years. During her time at the Public Justice Center, Francine represented homeless students and parents in federal class action lawsuits against three Maryland school districts. In her most recent position at the Homeless Persons Representation Project, Francine managed a project focused on the implementation of Head Start Act provisions related to young homeless children. Francine also serves on the Steering Committee of Baltimore's Coaltion for Homeless Children and Families.
Amy Louttit, At-Large Member, began her work with homeless education in 2007 through her service with StraightUp AmeriCorps in Eureka, CA. She served as an academic mentor and advocate for homeless youth in secondary education. Amy received the President’s Volunteer Service Award for her two terms of service in that role. She then went on to work as a residential counselor in a group home, but never lost touch with the students with whom she formed supportive relationships in Eureka. Amy realized there were many laws that impacted the youth she served and decided it was time to follow her dream of going to law school. Since beginning law school, Amy has received the Lawyers Club of San Diego Women and the Law Project at Thomas Jefferson School of Law Scholarship, as well as the Charles T. Bumer Civil Libertarian Award from the National Lawyers’ Guild. She now serves as the Youth Director on the San Diego Unaccompanied Youth Task Force, a collaboration between NAEHCY and the San Diego Continuum of Care. In her role with the Task Force, Amy consults with legislative staff helping to guide and build new legislation. She also has traveled to the California Capitol more than once to deliver legislative testimony at committee hearings regarding bills about homeless youth.
Jennifer Martin, At-Large Member, serves as the Director of Content Management for the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA). Jennifer provides valuable information and leadership in NAEHCY's efforts to promote college access and success for homeless youth.
Bettye Poole, At-Large Member and Conference Co-Chair, serves as the Local Homeless Education Liaison for the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation in Evansville, Indiana. In her role as Local Liaison, Bettye works closely with school personnel, including school counselors and social workers, to coordinate assistance for homeless students in the areas of transportation, freeschool lunch, clothing and school supplies, and shelter assistance. She works closely with community resource partners that offer specialized instruction to homeless students according to each student's need. Bettye serves as President for Boom Squad Inc., a non-profit organization serving homeless and at-risk students. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Southwestern Behavioral Healthcare Organization, as Chairperson for the Evansville Homeless Prevention Coalition, as a Board Member for The Homeless Services Council of Southwest Indiana, on the Board of Directors for the Commission on Homelessness within the Mayor’s Office, and as Vice President of the University of Evansville African-American Alumni Association. Bettye is a licensed real estate agent. She also holds a BA in Liberal Studies and an MS in Public Service Administration.
Joseph P. Sanchez, Awards Committee Chair and At-Large Member, is the Program Operations Director at the University of New Mexico's College of Nursing. He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from New Mexico Highlands University and is currently a graduate student at the University of New Mexico pursuing a PhD in Family Studies. He has over 12 years of experience in working with the New Mexico Public Education Department. In specific, he was the New Mexico State Coordinator for Homeless Education for 8 years. His work has included program/operational management, finance, contracting, and analytical work (both programmatic and legislative). In addition, he has been an entrepreneur and also served six years as a Supply Officer in the United States Navy. He holds a certificate in Logistics from the Naval Supply Corps School in Athens, GA. His personal work philosophy comes from Abraham Lincoln: “Whatever you are, be a good one.”
Dave Schrandt, At-Large Member and Conference Co-Chair, serves as the Local Homeless Education Liaison for the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District in Houston, TX.
Grace Whitney, At-Large Member, serves as the Connecticut Head Start State Collaboration Director. Grace provides valuable information and leadership in NAEHCY's efforts to promote access to early education programs for young homeless children.
Committee Chairs
Barb Dexter, LeTendre Scholarship Committee Chair, is the Secondary Specialist with the Anchorage School District's Child In Transition/Homeless Project. She has been with the program since 1993, working as a McKinney-Vento Liaison in a school district of nearly 50,000 students. She began her career as a social worker in Oregon and continues to work with youth experiencing homelessness, as well as youth in the child welfare system in the Anchorage, AK, community. She has provided trainings at the national, state, and local levels on unaccompanied youth, homeless children and youth in the child welfare system, migrant and homeless youth, as well as statewide trainings for local liaisons on McKinney-Vento legislation. Barb is co-founder of Partners In Homeless Education, a fund to support educational and recreational opportunities for homeless children and youth. Barb earned a BA in Classics at the University of California, Berkeley, and an MAT (Master of Arts in Teaching) at the University of Alaska, Anchorage.
Joanna Johnson, Conference Committee Co-Chair, serves as a Program Consultant for Georgia's Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) Program.
Bettye Poole, At-Large Member and Conference Co-Chair, serves as the Local Homeless Education Liaison for the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation in Evansville, Indiana. In her role as Local Liaison, Bettye works closely with school personnel, including school counselors and social workers, to coordinate assistance for homeless students in the areas of transportation, freeschool lunch, clothing and school supplies, and shelter assistance. She works closely with community resource partners that offer specialized instruction to homeless students according to each student's need. Bettye serves as President for Boom Squad Inc., a non-profit organization serving homeless and at-risk students. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Southwestern Behavioral Healthcare Organization, as Chairperson for the Evansville Homeless Prevention Coalition, as a Board Member for The Homeless Services Council of Southwest Indiana, on the Board of Directors for the Commission on Homelessness within the Mayor’s Office, and as Vice President of the University of Evansville African-American Alumni Association. Bettye is a licensed real estate agent. She also holds a BA in Liberal Studies and an MS in Public Service Administration.
Joseph P. Sanchez, Awards Committee Chair and At-Large Member, is the Program Operations Director at the University of New Mexico's College of Nursing. He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from New Mexico Highlands University and is currently a graduate student at the University of New Mexico pursuing a PhD in Family Studies. He has over 12 years of experience in working with the New Mexico Public Education Department. In specific, he was the New Mexico State Coordinator for Homeless Education for 8 years. His work has included program/operational management, finance, contracting, and analytical work (both programmatic and legislative). In addition, he has been an entrepreneur and also served six years as a Supply Officer in the United States Navy. He holds a certificate in Logistics from the Naval Supply Corps School in Athens, GA. His personal work philosophy comes from Abraham Lincoln: “Whatever you are, be a good one.”
Dave Schrandt, At-Large Member and Conference Committee Co-Chair, serves as the Local Homeless Education Liaison for the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District in Houston, TX.
Marcia Weston, Higher Education Committee Chair, is the Project Manager, College and Career Readiness, at YMCA of the USA. Through the Y's Urban and Education Development programs, Marcia works with local Ys to develop programs for youth that assist them in continuing their education beyond high school. These programs specifically target youth from underserved populations such as youth in foster care, homeless youth, and others from populations that often lack access to traditional college access and success resources. Marcia works closely with NAEHCY, NCHE, and higher education service providers to spread awareness of the challenges faced by unaccompanied homeless youth in accessing financial aid. Marcia holds a BA in Sociology, an MA in Counseling Psychology, and is currently a PhD candidate at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in the Educational Leadership and Cultural Foundations program.
