Our Mission
"There is not one child under the sun that doesn't deserve the best opportunity to be their best."
-Kandice Long
ACC provides children of low socioeconomic status, education equality and equity through financial assistance, tutoring services, technology integration, educational resources, and school support. Our vision is to see a world where it is a right, not a privilege, for every child to receive a quality education.
Our Founder
Meet Our Founder and President
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LaTesa Hughes, DVM, MS
Dr. LaTesa Hughes is an accomplished individual with a diverse background and a passion for education, language, and bridging the gap between communities. As a trained Laboratory Animal Medicine Veterinarian, she has worked at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), from 2008 to 2018.
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Her academic journey includes earning a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Tuskegee University in 2006. Following that, she completed a Laboratory Animal Medicine Residency/Master's Program at the Pennsylvania State University-Hershey Medical School in 2008. In addition to her expertise in veterinary medicine, Dr. Hughes is also a certified Teacher of English for Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and holds the credential of Master Trainer from the Association for Talent Development, showcasing her dedication to facilitating learning opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds.
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Dr. Hughes' interest in Ethiopia was sparked by her church's affiliation with an Ethiopian church and her staff's connection to the country. After visiting Ethiopia for the first time in May 2016, she recognized the great need and interest in learning the English language within the community. Motivated by this, she made the bold decision to resign from her job at NIH in 2018 and move to Ethiopia to become a volunteer English teacher. Initially offering free English classes for church members and the local community, Dr. Hughes quickly expanded her efforts to teach English to individuals of all ages, ranging from kindergarten to college level. As the COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the education gap disparity in Ethiopia, she saw the crucial role of English fluency in helping individuals escape poverty and gain access to better job opportunities. This realization led her to establish All Children Count (ACC) in September 2020, aiming to address the lack of quality education opportunities for children from low-income families in Ethiopia.
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As the Founder, President, and Representative of ACC in Ethiopia, Dr. Hughes wears multiple hats in her mission to improve education in the country. Beyond being a veterinary consultant and lecturer, she is actively involved in teaching English at all grade levels and to adults, developing curricula, and training teachers to enhance their English language instruction.
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Dr. LaTesa Hughes exemplifies a dedicated and compassionate individual who combines her skills in veterinary medicine with her passion for education and language, making a positive impact in Ethiopia by providing much-needed English language training and educational opportunities to underserved communities.
Meet the Board
Secretary
Sylvia Kalley
Sylvia Kalley is a seasoned nonprofit leader with over 20 years of experience spanning grants and contracts management, program design and implementation, and executive leadership. She has worked across Africa and the United States with mission-driven organizations, including serving as a Country Director for a global nonprofit, leading fellowship programs for the Aspen Institute, and managing complex grant portfolios for international development and philanthropic organizations.​
Sylvia brings a strategic and systems-oriented approach to leadership. She has designed high-impact programs, strengthened institutional compliance and operations, and built cross-cultural teams to drive sustainable outcomes. With a track record of operational excellence and creative vision, Sylvia thrives at the intersection of structure and innovation. ​Most recently, Sylvia led global fellowship initiatives at the Aspen Institute.
She is the Co-Founder of Launchpad Africa, a nonprofit that supports entrepreneurs and organizations through market-entry research, capacity building, and convenings. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to equity, entrepreneurship, and creating transformative spaces and experiences that uplift communities.
Treasurer
Crystal Thornton
Crystal Thornton is a Cost Analyst for a Government Agency where she analyzes the cost of various business and government expenditures. She has had a long passion for improving the resources educating children.
In her free time, she loves to travel and is on target to visit all 7 continents. Providing and improving educational resources for children is especially close to her heart, and she is excited to be a member of All Children Count (ACC) International.