Dean of the College of Education (COE), Robert McPherson, and the COE Alumni Association Board have awarded the Greater Houston Partnership (GHP) the Friend of Education Award based on their work to promote early education.  GHP’s effort on behalf of early education formed a new nonprofit called Early Matters.

The Friend of Education Award is given to an individual or organization in recognition of their support of education.  Each year, the Alumni Board extends the Dean of the COE the opportunity to honor an individual or organization that has proven to be a Friend of Education to the local, state or national community at the annual Star Awards event.

 “We recognized the Greater Houston Partnership for their efforts to bring together a broad-based coalition of business, civic, education, philanthropic and nonprofit organizations and volunteers around early education,” said McPherson.  “These efforts raise awareness about the importance of high quality early education and to make a strong case for increased investment in this area.”

 “We are honored by the recognition and proud of the partnership and collaboration with over 65 partners in the Greater Houston community,” said Veronica R. Chapa, Executive Director of Early Matters. 

Just over a year ago, the coalition partners came together to research and publish Reframing Early Education: The Critical Case for Change, proposing a ten-year effort to change the way early education is approached in the region. As a result of those efforts, a backbone organization has been formed, and an Executive Director hired, to continue to staff the collective impact effort—a first of its kind in the region.  

“The Greater Houston Partnership is honored to receive the Friend of Education award. Our work could not be done without the entire Early Matters Coalition and the leadership of Jim Postl and Scott McClelland on this issue,” said Bob Harvey, President and CEO of the Partnership. “Early Matters reaches people at the very beginning of the education pipeline. A solid educational foundation is critical to the overall health of Houston’s workforce, and we must continue to invest in those early years,” he added.

Early Matters envisions a greater Houston region where young children are a part of supportive and nurturing families and are able to participate in high quality early education. Intentional early investments significantly improve kindergarten readiness, 3rd grade reading mastery, high school graduation rates, post high school education/credentialing and workforce readiness.

Early Matters is a broad-based coalition of business, civic, education, philanthropic and nonprofit organizations and volunteers.   They work together to raise awareness about the importance of high quality early education and to make a strong case for increased investment in this critical, high return on investment area.