The year 2025 began with an exciting milestone—the launch of a new website, logo, and social media platforms for the Texas A&M Children’s Centers. This was an important step in aligning the Children’s Centers and advancing our shared vision as an integral part of the College of Education and Human Development.
As we close out 2025, I find myself reflecting on the mission of the Centers and the many events and accomplishments that brought that mission to life throughout the year.
The mission of the Texas A&M Children’s Centers is to cultivate a vibrant community of creative learners, driven by diversity and innovation. We strive to provide immersive experiences and supportive connections within nurturing environments that inspire curiosity, discovery, and growth.
BGCC Director
For our children and families, our mission is to partner with families to nurture holistic growth and development, advance developmentally appropriate practices, and elevate inclusive active engagement for every child and family. Families are essential partners in education, and strong family relationships are the foundation of a thriving program. This year, events such as Family Friday with the Junior Master Gardeners, Picnic on the Playground, Fall Family Fun Night, and Fall Family Feast gave families opportunities to connect, learn, and celebrate together. The addition of Family Connections and Family Power Hour further strengthened our support for parents as they navigate the ever-evolving journey of parenting.
For our teachers, our mission is to promote high-quality early learning for every child by connecting research and best practices to foster a lifelong love of learning and a strong foundation for future success. Professional growth remained a focus this year. Our administrative team visited the San Antonio Pre-K 4 Program to exchange ideas and learn from their leadership team. Dr. Erica Ritter joined other early childhood professionals in an intensive study of the philosophy and values of the world-renowned schools of Reggio Emilia, Italy at the North American Reggio Emilia Alliance conference at the Boulder Journey School in Boulder, CO. Experts from HighScope provided targeted professional development for teachers from both Centers, deepening their understanding of child-centered, evidence-based practice.
For our staff, our mission is to foster a work environment that encourages growth, leadership, and meaningful contributions—one where strengths are celebrated and achievements recognized. This year, Carolina, Khali, and Michelle joined Dr. Quinn in presenting research on the Tex:CS robot, highlighting the collaborative work taking place with the Institute for Early Childhood Development and Education. Khali also presented alongside Dr. Quinn at the Brazos Valley AEYC Conference, while Carolina and Michelle presented with Dr. Quinn at the Texas AEYC Conference. We were proud to celebrate four staff members for their Years of Service to the University: Debbie Almand and Mable Mulenga for 10 years of service, and Monica Hernandez and Khali Shaw for 5 years. It is important to highlight once again that Khali Shaw was named the 2025 Texas Association for the Education of Young Children (TAEYC) Classroom Teacher of the Year. Her nominators stated, “Khali Shaw is an innovative and passionate early childhood educator who exemplifies developmentally appropriate practices and demonstrates a deep understanding of how young children learn best. She skillfully integrates child-led projects with core academic content, nurturing both curiosity and deep learning in her classroom.” You can read more about Khali in this month’s Center Spotlight. Congratulations, Khali, on this well-deserved honor!
To our stakeholders and community, our mission is to be an integral component of a world-class academic institution contributing to pioneering advancements in early childhood development and education by partnering in leading-edge research and delivering top-tier clinical educational opportunities for Texas A&M students, the local community, and beyond. The Centers continue to grow partnerships across campus by offering observation and applied learning opportunities for students from a wide range of colleges and departments, including the College of Nursing, TL&C, and Psychology. We also employ student workers in roles that allow them to practice the skills they are developing in their coursework, welcoming students from nutrition, business, marketing, communications, public health, psychology, and education. This year, children in the 12th Man classroom participated in a capstone project with a student from Mays Business School. The Happiness Project sought to encourage creativity by capturing the diverse perspectives of children and their understanding of happiness in a digital format. Additionally, Dr. Ritter serves on the leadership team for the Brazos Valley Chapter of Texas AEYC, which hosts an annual conference for early childhood professionals in collaboration with Blinn College and the Texas A&M College of Education and Human Development.
As we look ahead to 2026, we do so with deep gratitude for the children, families, staff, partners, and supporters who make the mission of the Texas A&M Children’s Centers not only possible, but vibrant and ever evolving. This year’s accomplishments reflect the strength of our community and the shared commitment that unites us—one rooted in curiosity, collaboration, and a profound belief in the power of early learning. Thank you for your partnership, your trust, and your ongoing support. We look forward to continuing this important work together in the year to come, inspired by all that we have achieved and energized by the possibilities ahead.