Tracy Cantu graduated from Bee County College and received her degree in Biology and Sociology in 1989. She’s worked as an office manager for a local court reporting firm for many years. Cantu has played a monumental role in Educating Children’s Future Community Center since its founding over ten years ago with Minnie Munoz. Together and with the help of the coastal bend community, Corpus Christi I.S.D., teachers, E.C.F.’s amazing board members and staff, Cantu and Munoz grew the program. This past year, Cantu has come out of retirement to serve as E.C.F.’s Executive Director after serving as E.C.F.’s Board Treasurer for many consecutive years. Additionally, Cantu performed various roles on several different Parent Teacher Associations across Corpus Christi I.S.D.

Joseph Munoz graduated from Christ for the Nations Bible Institute and received his degree in Bible Studies. He also attended Vision Christian University with a Bachelor's degree in Theology. He operated his own construction business for 30 years, worked as a youth pastor for eight years, and served as senior pastor of his own church for 21 years. Pastor Joseph Munoz is one of E.C.F.’s earliest and longtime supporters. His church even acted as E.C.F.’s very first headquarters. He has proudly served on E.C.F.’s board since its founding and has since taken on the responsibilities of Board Member President as of 2021. Pastor Joseph also started the BASE Missions in Oaxaca, Mexico that focus on working with elementary aged children.

Pastor Rick has served as a Board Member for the E.C.F. After-School Tutoring Program

since 2015 and as the Vice-President of the Board since 2018. Dr. Barrera is an ordained minister and has gratefully served as a Pastor for 21 years. Pastor Rick works as the Director of Chaplain Services for Corpus Christi Hospice serving the Victoria, Kingsville, and Corpus Christi markets and is the Associate Pastor for Believe Church in Corpus Christi. For the past two decades, he has served on various boards that promote children’s services. He is a current board member for Akshaya Children’s Orphanage in Rajamahendri, Andrah Pradesh, India; the Youth Development

Board for the City of Corpus Christi from 2016 – 2020; and the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board for the city of Corpus Christi from 2010 – 2016. He has been married to the love of his life, Debbie Barrera, for the past 26 years and is the proud dad to three wonderful children, all of whom are active in ministry.

The Honorable Judge Joe Benavides has been an E.C.F. Community Center Advisory Board Member for many years. A graduate of Park University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and Human Resources. Attends yearly Texas State University with over 400 hours of judicial education as required by the state of Texas. Judge Benavides has been a Justice of the Peace in Nueces County for over nine and a half years. He is a board of directors for such organizations as American Heart Association, Nueces County Community Action Agency, but commits himself in supporting and partnering with CCISD, TMISD, and CISD. Such awards as the Foster Grandparents Club Partnership Annual Award, Texas Association of Literacy Education’s Texas Education Leadership in Literacy Award and many others throughout Nueces. Throughout Judge Benavides’s career, he has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to improving the education system by curtailing dropout rate, and providing youth with the tools and experience they need to succeed in this challenging world.

My name is Allison Escobar-Ita and I am a proud board member of E.C.F's After School Tutoring Program. I graduated from Del Mar College with an Associate of Arts in Teaching with an Emphasis in Early Childhood Education and continued my education at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and earned a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with an Emphasis in Early Childhood Education. I have worked for the Corpus Christi Independent School District for 12 years. I am currently a Reading Interventionist at Rose Shaw Elementary. 

I am a retired elementary school principal. I worked most years as a teacher. I am looking forward to serving on this board and doing what I can for the benefit of students!