Board of Directors
Jen Pace Dickenson
- Chair
Youth Services Librarian
Polk County Public Library
Mark Franklin
- Vice-Chair
Director, Customized Training & Development
Rutherford County Representative
John Carroll
- Treasurer
Director, Family Services, Hospice of the Carolina Foothills
Rutherford County Representative
Tiffany Dodd
Rutherford County DSS Director
Rutherford County Representative
Tarah Simmons
Preschool Disabilities and Education Coordinator for Rutherford County Schools
Rutherford County Representative
Sherry Bright
Executive Director, Family Resources of Rutherford County
Rutherford County Representative
Monica Starr
Child Advocacy Director - ASPIRE
Polk County Representative
Cathleen Cullen
Program Coordinator, ABC Quality Rating and Improvement System Division of Early Care and Education
Polk County Representative
Dr. Alice McCluney
Director, Early Childhood Education Program, Isothermal Community College
Rutherford County Representative
Kisha McDowell
Community Volunteer
Rutherford County Representative
Emily Wood
Executive Director, Mosaic Hope
Rutherford County Representative
Dr. Karey Dulaney
Director of the Office of Early Learning, McDowell County Schools
McDowell County Representative
Jennifer Morgan
Director, Glenwood Family Resource Center
McDowell County Representative/Executive Committee
Suzanne Rampey
Finance Officer, McDowell County Schools
McDowell County Representative
Julie McKinney
Program and Outreach Librarian, McDowell County Public Library
McDowell County Representative
Lorrie Smith
Preschool Support Specialist, McDowell County Schools
McDowell County Representative
Jerrye Ficklin
Retired Educator and Community Volunteer
Rutherford County Representative
Beth McCallister
Retired Educator and Community Volunteer
Polk County Representative
Jackie Hampton
Minister, Community Volunteer
Rutherford County Representative
Schedule
- August 11, 2026
- September 8, 2026
- October 13, 2026
- November 10, 2026
- December 8, 2026
- January 12, 2027
- February 9, 2027
- March 9, 2027
- April 13, 2027
- May 11, 2027
- June 8, 2027
Full board meetings will take place at 12:00 PM in the Blue Room at the Isothermal Community College Campus, Building 10.
August, October, December, February, April and June
The campus is located at 286 ICC Loop Road in Spindale, NC.
Executive Committee meetings will take place at 12:00 PM at the Partnership for Children of the Foothills
September, November, January, March and May
The partnership is located at 338 Withrow Road in Forest City, NC.
