With 22 years of experience in Early Childhood Education, Ruth Deras has dedicated her career to supporting children and families though education, advocacy, and community engagement. Her passion for helping children reach their full potential has guided her work in a variety of educational, leadership, and family-support roles.

Ruth holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture with a specialization in Urbanism and furthered her education through studies in Early Childhood Education at Montgomery College and Penn Foster. While her academic background is in architecture, her passion for working with children and families led her to pursue a career in early childhood education.

Her professional journey began in Silver Spring, Maryland, where she owned and operated a Family Child Care Home. After moving to Florida 17 years ago, she served as an Assistant Director, Curriculum Specialist, and VPK Lead Teacher before working as a Child Development Specialist with Bridges and a Family Advocate with the Early Head Start program.

After relocating to the Tampa Bay area 10 years ago, Ruth joined the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County, where she served as a Provider Quality Specialist and later as a Quality Improvement Coordinator. Today, as an Early Intervention Support Specialist, she partners with families, educators, and community agencies to identify developmental concerns early and connect children with the services they need to thrive.

Proudly Colombian, Ruth has lived in the United States for 26 years. She has been married for 25 years, is the mother of two children, and enjoys traveling, discovering new places, and staying active through jogging and exercise.

Ruth’s experience and dedication continue to make a lasting impact on the children and families she serves.