Ways to Get Involved With Your Family Community

Pua Yule has been with Foundation First since 2023, serving as the Greater Prince William Family and Engagement Specialist. Serving the counties of Prince William, the City of Manassas, and Manassas Park, Pua is dedicated to ensuring that families’ voices are heard and that they have access to high-quality, equitable child care. She believes that families are the driving force in creating positive, lasting change in the early childhood care and education system and remains deeply committed to empowering families to advocate for themselves and their children. Her passion and dedication to the education field began over twenty years ago, when she followed in her mother’s footsteps and became a Special Education Paraprofessional at just 19 years old. Pua went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in both Psychology and Education, with a focus on Special Education. She has worked with children of all ages and abilities in both her home state of Hawai‘i and in Virginia. Pua currently resides in Stafford County with her husband and two children. A nature lover at heart, she enjoys spending time outdoors whenever she can, as well as cherishing quality time with her family and friends.

Jen joined Foundation First/RRNC in February 2023 as our Family and Engagement Specialist serving Loudoun, Fauquier, and Culpeper counties. She brings over 22 years of experience in Early Childhood Education, having worked extensively as both a teacher and administrator in the Early Childcare and Education field. Her passion for working with young children drives her commitment to building strong, supportive partnerships with families and educators alike. Jen is especially energized by the work of family engagement and deeply values the opportunity to elevate family voice through her leadership of the Family Council. She finds great joy in fostering meaningful connections between families and their communities and believes that families are a powerful force for positive change in early childhood systems. In addition to her work with families, Jen enjoys being in classrooms alongside educators, supporting them through observations using the Infant and Toddler CLASS tool and providing strengths-based, empowering feedback to help them grow in their practice. Based in Front Royal, Jen loves spending time outdoors—kayaking, hiking, camping, and exploring the river.

Ashley has built a dedicated career supporting families and empowering communities through early childhood education and financial literacy. Her journey began with a deep, personal connection to Head Start, where her own children attended and thrived. This experience inspired her to give back by joining the organization as a Family Engagement Specialist, where she worked directly with families to foster strong home-school partnerships and support children’s developmental growth. She later joined Rappahannock United Way, where she made a significant impact by creating and launching a financial empowerment program tailored for working women. The program provided tools and resources to help participants gain control over their finances, build stability, and achieve long-term goals. Her ability to connect with individuals from all walks of life and provide practical, compassionate guidance became a hallmark of her work. Currently, Ashley serves as a Family and Engagement Specialist at Foundation First, where she helps families access quality early childhood care and education. Her role focuses on guiding families through the often-complex process of selecting and securing care that supports both child development and family needs. In addition to her professional roles, she is also a certified Notary Public. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and is passionate about giving back to the community that helped shape her journey.