Our Team

Our teachers and staff are the heart of our program. With an average tenure of more than ten years at FPDS, they are a tight-knit group who work together and support each other in caring for your children.

Leadership

A smiling woman with curly black hair, wearing a blue jacket and a patterned top.

Michele Miller-Cox, M.Ed, is an early childhood educator with over 35 years of experience supporting, leading, and building early childhood care programs.
A New York native, she discovered her passion for children while working in operational support for NYC Head Start and childcare programs. After relocating to Raleigh in 1989, she transitioned to teaching in the childcare program at a local hospital. This experience further sparked her curiosity and passion for child development and well-being and inspired her to become a family childcare provider and pursue further education and credentials in early childhood education, earning her AAS in Early Childhood Education, her BS in Human Development and Family Studies, and a Master of Education. After 20 years as a Wake County family childcare provider, Michele took on a new role as an Infant/Toddler Teacher at SAS Montessori School in 2013, deepening her knowledge of child-centered education.
Michele is also passionate about educating educators! She serves as an adjunct instructor in early childhood education programs at local colleges and universities across the Triangle.
When not leading FPDS, Michele enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling and planning get-togethers and events for all.

Executive Director, since 2019

“When You Educate a Woman, You Educate a Nation.”
-Unknown

A woman smiling, wearing gold earrings and a green blazer, standing in front of a brick wall.

An educator with over 20 years in the field, Aurelia Mangum, M.Ed, began her work in early childhood education while still in high school, working as an after-school counselor for Durham Public Schools. After discovering her passion, she went on to earn her Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and her master’s in education with a birth-kindergarten concentration.

Prior to joining FPDS in 2024 she served in various roles across the field, from preschool teacher to director. An advocate for equity for young children, families, and teachers, she has also worked in local nonprofits as a mental health consultant.

Aurelia brings her love of traveling and discovering new cuisines to her work at FPDS, ensuring our special events have great food for all ages to enjoy.