Staff Bios

Merriott Terry
President and CEO
Merriott J. Terry is the Executive Director of Educational First Steps, taking the helm in June 2005. Merriott holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Baylor University and attended the Executive Business Management Institute at Rice University. She is a graduate of Leadership America and is a charter member of the National Women's Museum in Dallas. Merriott has received numerous awards including Texas Family and Consumer Science Teacher of the Year, Distinguished Service Award from the Texas Education Agency and the Magellan Award for Excellence for CCCS among many others. A visionary leader, Merriott excels in community networking, strategic planning and program development. She is married to Jack and they have two sons and two granddaughters.

Linda Bardales
Education Director
Linda Bardales serves as the Education Director for EFS. She conducts trainings for teachers and directors on a variety of topics of interest to the daycare centers. She also offers trainings in Spanish throughout the year. (She is fluent in Spanish having being raised in Guatemala.) Linda coordinates the parent trainings and supervises the Parent Coordinator. She is the Site Coordinator for the''Touchpoints'' team at EFS. She is on a team with three of the Education Specialists. They are preparing to teach ''Touchpoints'' to our daycares and help them implement the''Touchpoints''principles. Linda also manages the college scholarships and the on-line CDA trainings for our teachers. She also oversees our volunteer program and interns. She and her husband of 23 years have two daughters, ages 21 and 18.

Renee Brendle
Administrative Director
As Administrative Director, Renee is responsible for overseeing the administrative functions within EFS as well as coordinating all marketing and public relations activities. She holds a B.A. in Mass Communications from LSU-Shreveport. Renee enjoys her job so much she says she can hardly call it work.''We have such a wonderful team, full of passion for our mission. We all love working together!'' Renee's son, Riley, attended an EFS affiliate center before starting kindergarten this fall. A new bride, Renee married her husband Garry on September 28, 2007.

Shannon Hendricks
Program Director
Shannon brings over 14 years of experience in early childhood education to EFS. She has a B.S. in Education with an emphasis on early childhood development. Shannon oversees the Education Specialists and maintains the relationships with EFS affiliate centers and community agencies. She has worked as an educator, facilitator and field trainer; and tutored at-risk students in language and math. She was recently interviewed for an article in the e-zine The Intelligent Educator, (Aug. 2007). Shannon loves to sing, travel and make scrapbooks out of pictures of her family which includes her husband Scott and two daughters Malori and Maci. She also volunteers her time as the Director of Women's Ministries at her church and leads a group for parents of young children. Shannon states, ''Everyday I experience my father's philosophy of I don't have to go to work, I get to go to work'!''

Maria Banda
Bilingual Education Specialist
Maria has over eleven years of experience in early childhood education. As a bilingual Education Specialist, Maria loves working with the directors and staff of EFS affiliate centers and especially the children. She is a NAC validator. Maria and her husband had three children and then adopted three more creating the Banda Bunch! Maria says every day is a good day knowing she gets to work for EFS!

Gustavo Monsante
Bilingual Education Specialist
Gustavo also known as Gus, was born in Peru and came to the United States at the age of 12 knowing very little English. Now that he has mastered English, he is one of our Bilingual Education Specialists. He graduated from Coppell High School and holds a degree in Psychology and a minor in Spanish from the University of North Texas. Gustavo has worked for over ten years with children at various organizations including Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Camp Fire USA, Children First Academy and Creme de la Creme. He is a NAC validator and is now working to help his schools become accredited. Gustavo's affiliate centers love the enthusiasm and energy he brings to his work. Gustavo has been married for over one year to a wonderful lady named Ashley C. Monsante; they live in Dallas with their golden retriever Samson. In his spare time, Gustavo loves to spend time with his family, play and write music with his guitar, make movies and films and also skateboard.

Samantha Moya
Bilingual Education Specialist
With 15 years in child care and a center director’s license, Samantha Moya brings quite a bit of experience to EFS. As a bilingual Education Specialist, her childcare centers appreciate the vast array of knowledge and understanding she has. Samantha has lived in Dallas all of her life and is married with two sons. She loves to cook, read and be creative on the computer. She lives by the motto, ''Every day presents a new opportunity to learn something you didn't know before.''

Brenda L Parnell
Education Specialist
Brenda is a Registered Trainer with the Texas Early Care and Education Career Development System Trainer Registry. She also has earned a Child Development Associate certificate and is a NAC validator. Brenda has worked in early childhood education for eleven years, four of those here at EFS. She says working for EFS is an exciting job and what she loves most about it is working with the children and seeing them thrive.

Kym Shaw
Education Specialist
Kym has an Associate's Degree in Child Development and recently earned her Bachelor's Degree in Management. We are so proud of her! Kym has over 20 years of experience in childcare working as a teacher of various ages, an assistant director and director of childcare centers and also an afterschool coordinator. She conducts trainings with EFS, DAEYC, and Touchpoints, and also serves as a NAC validator. Kym has taught her son Skylan the importance of giving back and he has volunteered for EFS. Having spent her childhood in South Dallas, Kym now gives back to that very community by working with EFS to improve early childhood education in that area.

Loretta Watson
Education Specialist
Loretta has 30 years of experience in early childhood education starting out as a Head Start teacher in her home state of Arkansas. She moved to Dallas in 1999 and served as both a teacher and director at childcare centers here. Loretta has her Child Development Associate certificate and is a NAC validator. Loretta loves to have fun and is fondly referred to by EFS staff as the ''diva''of the group. She is serious, however, about helping her affiliate centers be the best they can be and making a difference in the lives of Dallas area children. Loretta says she loves her job and her family which includes four sons ranging in age from 27-34 and two grandchildren.

Paula Opel
Administrative Assistant
Paula Opel joined the EFS staff in May 2007 as an Administrative Assistant. It is usually Paula's pleasant voice that you will hear answering your phone calls to EFS. She presently lives in Arlington with her ''roommate'', 19 year-old daughter Liz. Paula volunteers her time with the Missions area of her church and charitable organizations in Arlington. She states ''Each day that goes by, the excitement of helping the children in the Dallas area grows more and more!''