Team AzAEYC

Julie Capistran | Administrative Support

Julie (she, her, hers) was a teacher of young children for 10 years at Risen Savior Preschool and Kindergarten, an NAEYC-accredited early learning center in Chandler. What she most enjoyed were those “Ah HA!” moments: seeing the look on a child’s face when he or she figured out how to do something independently.

For the past 5 years, Julie has served as office manager for Risen Savior. She began working with AzAEYC in September, and is proud and excited to be a part of the team. She helps provide back office support for AzAEYC Board members.

Julie has a 20-year-old daughter who is a sophomore at Northern Arizona University, and an 18-year-old son who will graduate from Hamilton High School this spring. “They’ve grown up so fast and I have cherished every moment with them. They are my world! My favorite book from those early years is Love you Forever by Robert Munsch.”

Jo Chavez | Media/Communications Specialist

Jo (she, her, hers) assists with the development and publishing of content for social media, the AzAEYC website, press releases and other marketing and communications outreach for the organization. She has a journalism degree from Colorado State University and an MBA in organizational leadership and change management from Southern New Hampshire University.

“Early childhood care providers had such a positive impact on me when I was growing up. Then when I was a single parent raising my son in the Phoenix area, we were so fortunate to have educators who saw my son’s potential and encouraged his curiosity and hunger for knowledge. Those experiences make me proud to work for AzAEYC and on behalf of early childhood educators.”

Valerie Forrest | Payroll Specialist

Bio coming soon.

Albert Murrieta | Interim Executive Director

A dedicated social worker, educator, and Arizona native, Albert brings over a decade of experience in early childhood education and human services to his role. Born and raised in Tucson, Albert’s commitment to education and social change began early. He has worked extensively with preschool children as a classroom teacher and later as a curriculum specialist, providing critical coaching, mentoring, and staff development for Head Start teachers and home visitors. His leadership extends beyond the classroom, having served as Associate Director for the Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership grant, where he worked to expand services for infants and toddlers. He has extensive experience in program operations, systems development, and building collaborative relationships with colleagues and community partners. Albert holds dual master’s degrees in Social Work from Arizona State University and Early Childhood Education from Northern Arizona University. His professional interests include leadership and social justice.

“As a bilingual Latino one thing became very clear growing up – change is the only constant. During my time of service with AZAEYC, I hope to bring a diverse perspective that represents marginalized communities within our state. I hope to strive for excellence in expanding access for young children and their families through the investment of quality professional development and advancements in our field through policy, advocacy and leadership. Si, se puede!, Yes, you can!”