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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Dr. Cynthia Roland
Dr. Cynthia Roland is a board-certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist based in the Houston area, where she serves as Clinic Medical Director at a Federally Qualified Health Center overseeing two community clinics. In this role, she is deeply committed to advancing health equity and expanding access to high-quality, compassionate care for underserved and uninsured populations.
Dr. Roland brings a lifelong passion for advocacy and equity to her work beyond medicine. She was first introduced to All Children Count as a donor and supporter, inspired by the organization’s mission to advance educational equity for vulnerable children in Ethiopia through literacy, tutoring, and access to technology. As a member of our Board of Directors, she is honored to support an organization working to close critical gaps in educational access.
Drawing on her leadership experience, service-driven values, and commitment to systemic change, Dr. Roland is excited to bring her energy, dedication, and strategic insight to All Children Count’s child-centered network model. She is especially passionate about initiatives that empower children, families, and educators—believing that education, like healthcare, is a fundamental right and a powerful driver of generational change.
Ashleigh McCall, RN
Ashleigh McCall is a dedicated registered nurse with a deep passion for children and their well-being. She currently serves as a school nurse in the Houston area and is in her third year of caring for students in a school setting. Prior to this role, Ashleigh spent 17 years as a NICU nurse, caring for newborns and supporting families during some of their most precious and challenging moments. Throughout her nursing career, she has remained committed to helping children thrive physically, emotionally, developmentally, and academically.
Ashleigh has been actively involved with All Children Count for several years, serving in various capacities and contributing to the organization’s efforts to support and advocate for children. Through her involvement with ACC, she has had opportunities to serve children and families beyond the clinical and school settings. As a board member, Ashleigh is honored to bring her professional experience, perspective, and passion for children to this next level of service. She is particularly committed to helping ensure that every child is valued, supported, and given the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Outside of her professional work, Ashleigh is deeply committed to her faith and her church community. She serves as Director of her church’s children’s praise dance ministry and Assistant Director of Kingdom Kids, where she enjoys helping children discover their gifts, grow in their faith, and understand their identity in Christ.
Ashleigh is a devoted wife and mother of three and considers it a privilege to serve others through her profession, ministry, and community involvement. She strives to lead with compassion, excellence, and faith, using every opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of children and families.
Dr. Natashia Clarke, MA, EdD
Dr. Natashia McGoughClarke is a talent development leader, educator, author, and cross-cultural researcher who translates scholarship into transformational practice across nonprofit, K-12, and higher education sectors. With a Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership & Learning Technologies (A&M University - Commerce, 2025), a Master's in Cross Cultural Studies (University of Houston- Clear Lake), and a BA in English (Spelman College), she blends research, storytelling, & strategic communication to advance cultural competence, inclusive leadership, and organizational performance. In her previous role in Organizational Talent Development at City of Hope National Medical Center, Natashia led enterprise-level learning initiates that developed leaders and enhanced team effectiveness. She facilitated a transformative 10-month leadership development program for mid-to-senior managers, co-piloted a nine-month mentorship initiative, and curated high-impact learning events featuring renowned thought leaders, such as Gay Hendricks, Dr. Jamil Zaki, and Simon Sinek's team. Her programs emphasize experiential learning, design-thinking needs assessments. and measurable outcomes - consistently earning strong Net Promoter Scores and demonstrable gains in engagement and performance.
As an adjunct professor of Contemporary Cultural Anthropology at the University of Houston - Clear Lake and Houston City College, Natashia brings classroom innovation to organizational practice. She uses role play and hands-on methods to cultivate cultural relativism and critical thinking and regularly conducts workshops on improving cross-cultural professional collaboration. Her scholarship includes a dissertation on entrepreneurial intent among minoritized business undergraduates and a master's thesis on cross-cultural collaboration; she has presented research on Islamic studies and Asian cultures and contributed to community research projects for the World Affairs Council of Houston.
Dr. Clarke's career spans public relations, government and community affairs, and nonprofit leadership. She has served as Public and Government Relations Specialist for Harmony Public Schools, co-found TGR Group to support cross cultural collaboration and conflict management consulting, and was Executive Director of the West African Film Festival (2018-2023). Her portfolio includes executive speechwriting, community outreach strategy, and qualitative research supporting partnerships and advocacy. A creative voice as well as a scholar-practitioner, Natashia made history as one of the first African American women featured as a graphic novelist on MTV Geek and has been an invited panelist at Comic-Con San Diego, Anime Expo, and Comic-Con New York.
Certified in emotional intelligence (TalentSmartEQ), conflict resolution and mediation, 4MAT instructional design, and Mental Health First Aid Awareness, Natashia integrates facilitation skill, evidence-based practice, and lived experience to help organizations navigate change and build inclusive cultures. She serves as a board member of the United Nations Association Houston Chapter, is the co-founder and advisor for the National Society of Black Engineers Jr. Pearland Chapter, and chapter member of the Houston Metropolitan Chapter of Jack and Jill of America - reflecting a sustained commitment to community engagement and youth development.