What We Do
Feed Me Words, a program of the Alabama Partnership for Children (APC), stands by the principle that all children in Alabama should benefit from language-rich activities through everyday moments with adults around them – such as talking, playing, reading, and singing – to enhance healthy language and brain development.
To accomplish this, Feed Me Words’ mission is to support the language and literacy development of Alabama’s youngest children (from birth to age 5) by providing the adults in their lives with access to and awareness of early language and literacy resources.
Feed Me Words was launched in 2019 through a partnership with the Georgia Department of Public Health and the Rollins Center for Language and Literacy. Through this partnership, the APC has been able to bring the expertise and resources of the Cox Campus (previously Read Right from the Start) initiatives to Alabama.
Read Right from the Start
Read Right from the Start (RRFTS) utilizes in-person coaching and online courses to provide early childhood educators with the skills to effectively prepare Alabama children to meet, or exceed, 3rd grade reading level requirements. Cox Campus, an integral part of RRFTS, removes the financial and physical barriers to educators’ professional development by providing a portal for universally accessible, free online continuing education. Participating early childhood educators can earn professional development clock hours, CEU’s and a monetary incentive all while enhancing the early language and literacy skills of the children in their care.
Meet The Team
Julie Odom
Julie joined the APC staff in August of 2013 as the Special Projects Coordinator and became the Early Language and Literacy Director in 2021.
She earned a Bachelor’s degree from Auburn University in Human Development & Family Studies and a Master’s degree from Louisiana State University – Shreveport in Human Services/Nonprofit Administration. Julie has over 15 years experience in early care and education and non-profit organizations. Prior to working with the APC, Julie served as the Early Childhood Programs Director for the North Texas Area United Way.
Collie joined the APC staff in January 2019 as the Early Language and Literacy Coordinator for the Read Right from the Start program. She has over 29 years’ of experience in public education where she taught eight years in Decatur, Alabama, as a Family and Consumer Sciences teacher. Additionally, she worked for 20 years at the Alabama Department of Education serving as an Education Specialist, Education Administrator, as well as the Interim Deputy State Superintendent for the Career and Technical Education (CTE)/Workforce Development (WFD) Division. Collie received a bachelor’s degree from the University of West Florida in 1990, and a master’s degree from Alabama A & M in 1997.
Collie Wells
Jessica Michel
Dasel joined the Feed Me Words team as a Read Right from the Start Facilitator in 2019. Dasel is a multifaceted servant. Her early care experience includes serving as an Advocate, Teacher of young children, Program Director, Education Specialist, Facilitator/Mentor, and Educational Training Specialist.
In her current role as CEO of All Hands Consultant Services in Birmingham, AL , Dasel enjoys training and mentoring future teachers and joining them in their educational aspirations, adapting courses and workshops, and hands on career development to fit their needs.
Dasel Marshall
Kathy McDonald
Kathy joined the APC team in 2021 as a Read Right from the Start Facilitator. She earned a Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s in Education as a Reading Specialist from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Most recently, Kathy worked with the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education as an Education Specialist. Prior to that, she traveled the United States as a Professional Development Specialist/Trainer for Teaching Strategies. Kathy brings a total of 28 years’ experience in the field of education in teaching, coaching, mentoring, administration, and professional development.
Gay joined the APC staff in July of 2022 as the Early Language and Literacy Coordinator. Gay has over 28 years of experience in public education where she worked as teacher and served as a school-based reading coach for 10 years with Shelby County Schools, served as an Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI) Reading Coach Trainer, an ARI Regional Coordinator of Reading Coach Trainers, an Education Specialist and later an Education Administrator with the ARI and the Instructional Services Section at the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE). After leaving the ALSDE, Gay worked with the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education (ADECE) as the Assistant Director of the Office of School Readiness. In this position she was responsible for the oversight of over 1,400 First Class Pre-K programs across the state. Gay earned her B.S. degree in Business Management from the University of Alabama, her Master’s degree in Education from the University of Montevallo, and a Master’s degree in Educational Administration, PK-12 from the University of Alabama, Gadsden.
Gay Finn
Kendall Hampton
Kendall Hampton joined the Alabama Partnership for Children in February of 2024 as an Early Language and Literacy Facilitator for the Talk With Me Baby Program. She has worked with children and families in several capacities since earning a BS from The University of Alabama’s College of Human Environmental Sciences in 2003 with a major in Human Development and Family Studies. Kendall started out serving hospitalized children and their families as a Certified Child Life Specialist. She then shifted to coaching caregivers of babies and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities as a Developmental Specialist within the Alabama Early Intervention System. Currently Kendall fulfills multiple roles working remotely from Huntsville, Alabama. In addition to serving with the Feed Me Words team, she is a Mentor for the Alabama Part C Autism Initiative, a Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant, and Owner of Rested Families, LLC.
Partners & Sponsors
