The National Parent Leadership Institute (NPLI) is proud to welcome four distinguished leaders to its Board of Directors: Andre Apparicio, Dr. Bernadine Futrell, Dr. Bridgitt Mitchell, and Zully Rodriguez.
Each brings deep experience in family leadership, early childhood systems, education policy, organizing, and community-driven change. Together, they strengthen NPLI’s governance and expand the breadth of expertise guiding our national work.
Andre Apparicio
Andre Apparicio is the Founder of Dad-A-Port and Co-Founder of the A’sani Heartbeat Foundation, where he leads initiatives designed to uplift fathers and strengthen families. Through Dad-A-Port, he connects fathers, particularly those with children from birth to five, to essential resources, practical skills, and supportive community networks.
Andre helped spearhead Louisiana Dad’s Day at the Capitol and played a key role in the creation of SCR9, a state task force focused on engaging fathers in early childhood development. His advocacy now extends nationwide, where he speaks on fatherhood, equity in parenting, and community-centered systems change.
Dr. Bernadine Futrell
Dr. Bernadine Futrell is a nationally recognized education leader committed to ensuring every community has well-resourced and supported schools.
She served in the Biden-Harris Administration as Director of the Office of Head Start at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where she led the nationwide reopening of Head Start programs during the pandemic and advanced policy changes to expand eligibility. She later served as Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Education, overseeing discretionary grants and championing efforts to build more inclusive and equitable learning environments.
Dr. Futrell brings deep experience in federal policy, leadership development, and systems transformation to NPLI’s Board.
Dr. Bridgitt Mitchell
Dr. Bridgitt Mitchell serves as Director of Professional Development at the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and brings more than 20 years of experience in early childhood education.
Her work centers teacher preparation, social-emotional development, strategic innovation, and strengthening early childhood systems. She has held leadership roles across higher education, public health, school districts, and national organizations, and remains deeply committed to building capacity within early childhood systems that serve underserved communities.
Zully Rodriguez
Zully Rodriguez is a passionate advocate for parent engagement, leadership development, and immigration policy change. Based in Los Lunas, New Mexico, she brings more than 15 years of organizing experience rooted in community empowerment.
Zully works to expand opportunities for immigrant families to achieve their educational goals, strengthen economic stability, and participate fully in civic life. Her leadership reflects a deep commitment to ensuring families have access, voice, and agency within the systems that affect them.
Strengthening Governance for the Future
Strong board leadership ensures that NPLI remains mission-aligned, community-centered, and forward-looking. These new members bring perspectives that span grassroots organizing, fatherhood engagement, federal education leadership, and early childhood systems reform.
Their collective experience strengthens NPLI’s ability to advance family leadership, democracy-building, and systems change nationwide.
We are honored to welcome them to the NPLI Board and look forward to the insight and leadership they will bring in the years ahead.
