Mrs. Bridget Hughes, vice president, has over 7 years in public and private education as a classroom and special education teacher. In addition, she has over 30 years directing and developing National Institute for Learning Development (NILD/Discovery) programs for Christian schools in Texas and Georgia.  Mrs. Hughes is married and has two grown children.

• M.Ed. in Special Education, Prairie View A&M
• B.S. in Elementary Education, Texas A&M Texarkana
• NILD Lifetime Professional Certification
• Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist, International Dyslexia Association (IDA)
• NILD/Discovery Director-Founder, Houston Christian High School and First Baptist Academy, Houston
• NILD/Discovery Director-Founder, Grace Christian School, Longview
• NILD Program Operations Coordinator
• Instructor, consultant and speaker for the National Institute for Learning Development

Mr. Daniel Williams is the Minister to Special Needs Families at Houston’s First Baptist Church.  Prior to entering the ministry, he worked for several decades in the legal and corporate worlds.  He and his wife of over 30 years, Mary Lynn, have two daughters and a son, who also happens to have Classic Autism Disorder.  After living the life of a special needs parent for 15 years, Daniel heard the call to work with special needs friends and their families full-time.  He views disability as a platform to display the works of God (John 9:3).

• Juris Doctor, Baylor University School of Law
• B.A. in Business Analysis (Management Information Systems), Texas A&M University
• Former Senior Services Manager, GE Oil & Gas – Drilling Division
• Partner, Williams & Overstreet, P.C. specializing in Estate Planning and Probate Law
• Former Chairman and Committee Member of First Kids Early Childhood Development Center, Houston’s First Baptist Church (NAEYC accredited)
• Former Scoutmaster, Boy Scout Troop 789, First Baptist Academy, Houston, Texas
• Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America
• 20+ years Sunday School teacher in Special Needs, Youth, Children’s, and Preschool Divisions, Houston’s First Baptist Church

Mrs. Ali Smith is the mother of three, one of whom is a young adult on the Autistic spectrum. Her son is a graduate of Elim and is now in post-secondary educational training in the area of computer coding and game design. Having spent years trying to find the right fit for two of her kids who have learning differences, she knows the struggle this can be for families, including the financial burden. She is committed to seeing Elim be a place where children and families can feel accepted and successful.

In 2007, Ali, helped found Eden Home, an online store specializing in organic goods for the home, with revenues of over $30,000 a month upon her departure in 2010. Her involvement in this company was born out of her passion to research products for the home that were beneficial to kids on the Austin Spectrum and others suffering from sensory disorders.

Ali is married to Wayne, who is the Pastor at Bethel Church of Houston where she is heavily involved in the care ministry, women’s ministry and small groups ministry.

• B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Spanish, University of Memphis