Valencia Ashley

I am very passionate about education and serving the needs of high-risk and special populations. My journey as an educator and advocate began when I gave birth to a child with special needs in 1990. I then began to educate myself on Special Education Laws and Rights of Students with Disabilities to advocate for my son which then led me to become a certified teacher with most of my teaching experience in early childhood education (Pre-K 3 thru 2nd grade). In my many years of working with special populations, including advocating for my own child who was diagnosed with ADHD and an Emotional Disturbance, I have encountered many cases where students’ rights were being violated and their needs not being met due to poor or lack of training for teachers and administrators and poor or lack of funding and curricular resources.

I am committed to serving the needs of those whose needs are often not served. That means access to rich, high-quality educational experiences beginning at birth.

The early years are such a crucial time for children. As an educational diagnostician, I evaluate children for learning disabilities such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia. Early intervention is essential. With the right guidance, support, and training, early childhood teachers can successfully identify any early signs of dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia and then provide needed interventions. Early detection of reading difficulties is not only possible, but also yields

lifelong benefits. Early identification and research-based intervention can help children at-risk for these learning disabilities be successful.

Moreover, I am also a Texas Rising Star Assessor and Mentor and I am currently completing an applied behavior analysis program and internship to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). I work with families of children with severe emotional behavioral disorders. I train parents on their rights and give them tools to advocate for their children. I believe my knowledge, skills, and abilities would contribute to TXAEYC’s leadership.