Clarissa Ramirez
Historian
Tecora Smith currently serves as the Director of WIC for the Northeast Texas Public Health District. She manages twenty-one WIC clinics located in twenty counties throughout the Northeast Texas area, oversees the Farmers Market Nutrition Program, WIC Peer Dad Program and Healthy Texas Babies grant addressing infant mortality rates in Smith County.
Tecora holds a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from Stephen F. Austin State University. After earning her degree, Tecora worked for the Head Start program in Nacogdoches as the Early Childhood Health Coordinator. She conducted home visit with families, prepared lesson plans and coordinated health screenings. After two years, she gained employment with the Northeast Texas Public Health District as a Clinic Manager. Tecora was soon promoted to Assistant WIC Director overseeing Quality Assurance, Vendor Relations, Nutrition Education and Training for the Health District WIC Program. In April 2010, she was promoted to serve as the Local Agency Program WIC Director where she also serves as a Preceptor for the Stephen F. Austin State Dietetic Internship.
She is a member of the Texas Association of Local WIC Directors. She was voted TALWD Newcomer of the Year in 2011 and served as President from 2016-2017. Tecora serves as a member of numerous local community coalitions to improve the health outcomes of Smith County.