At a defining moment for early learning in America, the national Educare Network has announced the appointment of three members to its Board of Directors and the formation of its inaugural Advisory Council.
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Cindy Decker, Executive Director of Tulsa Educare, facilitates a presentation during the Educare Network’s Executive Leader Convening this fall in Washington, D.C. The convening focused on strengthening and amplifying Educare’s influence, leveraging data for impact, and deepening partnerships to advance excellence for children and their families, nationwide.
Emerging as an independent organization in 25 schools across 15 states, the District of Columbia, and the Winnebago Reservation in Nebraska, the Educare Network is advancing a unified, nation-spanning approach to early childhood education—connecting research, practice, and policy to transform systems that impact children, families, and communities.
With renewed purpose and a modernized national infrastructure, the Educare Network is positioned to drive system-wide change—shaping the future of quality and excellence in early learning across the country. Together, its members are defining the future of early learning by demonstrating what’s possible when excellence and collaboration work in concert.
The National Board of Directors now includes Jessie Rasmussen, President of Buffett Early Childhood Fund; Annie Koppel Van Hanken, Chief Program Officer of George Kaiser Family Foundation; and Sherry M. Cleary, a powerhouse in early childhood leadership and educator development who has shaped systems and policies across New York and beyond.
The newly formed National Advisory Council brings together experts and thought leaders in research, policy, practice, and philanthropy from across the country, including Leah Austin, Jamal Berry, Tracye Fortin, Ola J. Friday, Theresa Hawley, Blythe Keeler Robinson, Nat Kendall-Taylor, Joan Lombardi, Othello Meadows, Paula Moujalli, Lucy Recio, Lisa Roy and Ginger Ward.
“We are proud to welcome such deeply experienced and forward-thinking leaders at a moment that defines who we are and who we are becoming,” said Kara H. Ahmed, President of the national Educare Network. “Our Network represents one of the most comprehensive approaches to improving early childhood education in the nation, bridging classrooms, communities, and systems. Together, we are centering our collective expertise—both within the Network and across a growing circle of partners and thought leaders—to influence and inform practice, policy, and research in ways that advance excellence for every child.”
This expansion of national leadership follows the Network’s recent transition to an independent organization, reinforcing its agility and commitment to mutual learning, leaning into shared partnerships, and drawing on collective wisdom to meet evolving priorities.
“The Buffett Early Childhood Fund is proud to be the longest investor in Educare for more than two decades,” added Jessie Rasmussen, President of Buffett Early Childhood Fund and Educare Board Member. “We are invigorated by Dr. Ahmed’s leadership and believe this structure builds on that legacy—positioning Educare to deepen its impact, strengthen connections across communities, and influence systems far beyond the Network.”
Together, these leaders are guiding the Network’s national strategy and strengthening its role as a driving engine for research-driven solutions that shape policy and position Educare to serve as a catalyst to establish more effective and connected early learning systems across the United States.
“Educare’s evolution signals an important shift in the early learning landscape,” said Sherry M. Cleary, Educare Board Chair. “Under the leadership of Dr. Ahmed and Educare’s executive leaders across the country, the national Network is redefining how research, policy, and practice align to drive scalable and sustainable change for children and families.”
With a renewed commitment to centering families, elevating Network innovation, and expanding collaboration, the national Educare Network serves as a living platform for applied research, practitioner innovation, and policy influence—cultivating the next generation of leaders and solutions to ensure all children and their families can access high-quality early childhood education.
Board of Directors
Sherry M. Cleary has spent five decades shaping early childhood systems, policy, and research. A leading voice in the field, she consults nationally, supporting states working to transform early childhood education. She has served as University Dean of Early Childhood Initiatives and Executive Director of the New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute at the City University of New York, co-chaired the NY Governor’s Early Childhood Advisory Council, and led boards at the national, state, and local levels.
Annie Koppel Van Hanken is Chief Program Officer at George Kaiser Family Foundation, where she oversees early childhood education, common education, and arts initiatives. A dedicated advocate for children and families, she serves as Board President of Tulsa Educare and on the boards of the Oklahoma Public School Resource Center, The Opportunity Project, and the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness, as well as Tulsa’s Commission for Children, Youth, and Families.
Jessie Rasmussen has led the Buffett Early Childhood Fund with vision and purpose for more than 15 years—first as Vice President and, since 2011, as President. A lifelong champion for children and families, she has shaped early childhood systems at every level, serving as a Nebraska State Senator; Director of Health and Human Services in both Nebraska and Iowa; and Director of Early Childhood Policy at the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation.
Inaugural National Advisory Council
Dr. Leah Austin is President and CEO of the National Black Child Development Institute, leading with a deep commitment to advancing equity and opportunity for Black children and families. Her career spans teaching, grantmaking, organizing, research, and philanthropy, with leadership roles at United Way of Greater Atlanta, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Southern Education Foundation, Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs, and the Schott Foundation for Public Education.
Jamal Berry, President & CEO of Educare DC, is a champion for early learning excellence and equity. Beginning his career in the classroom, Mr. Berry now leads Educare DC with a deep commitment to high-quality practice, earning top ratings and national accreditation. A respected advocate and thought leader, he contributes to numerous publications and podcasts, serves on multiple advocacy boards across DC, and centers the voices of early educators and families.
Tracye Fortin, Chief Operating Officer of Kennebec Valley Community Action Program Child & Family Services / Educare Central Maine, has dedicated four decades to advancing high-quality early learning. A visionary leader, she has built powerful cross-sector partnerships, led Educare Central Maine’s innovative Beyond-the-Walls model, and mentored countless educators through her leadership in higher education and the early childhood community.
Dr. Ola J. Friday is the inaugural Executive Director of The Early Educator Investment Collaborative, a national pooled fund driving systems change to strengthen and elevate the early education workforce. Previously, she led the implementation of New York’s Quality Rating and Improvement System and directed professional development and higher education initiatives for early educators in Massachusetts.
Dr. Theresa Hawley, Executive Director of the Center for Early Learning Funding Equity at Northern Illinois University, partners with states to design policies and funding structures that advance equitable access to early learning. A longtime leader in Illinois, she founded Educare West DuPage and served as Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development and First Assistant Deputy Governor for Education.
Blythe Keeler Robinson is President and CEO of Sheltering Arms Early Education and Family Centers in Atlanta, where she has expanded the organization’s visibility and impact through strategic partnerships, policy collaborations, and community engagement. A nationally recognized equity advocate, she previously served as Senior Vice President and Chief Programs Officer at the Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe and as Vice President of Strategic Planning and Initiatives at Reading Is Fundamental.
Dr. Nat Kendall-Taylor is Chief Executive Officer of the FrameWorks Institute, a Washington, D.C.–based research organization that investigates how framing and narrative shape public understanding and drive social change. A psychological anthropologist, he leads a multidisciplinary team that helps organizations apply insights from cognitive and social science to advance equitable systems change. He also serves as a Senior Fellow at Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child and Senior Advisor at Stanford’s Center on Early Childhood.
Dr. Joan Lombardi has dedicated more than five decades to advancing the healthy development of young children around the world. She serves as Principal Advisor and Adjunct Professor at the Center on Early Childhood at Stanford University and as Senior Scholar at Georgetown University’s Thrive Center on Children, Families, and Communities. A former senior official in the Clinton and Obama administrations, she co-founded the Georgetown Collaborative on Global Children’s Issues and leads Early Opportunities.
Othello Meadows is Managing Director at Blue Meridian Partners, where he leads strategic and innovation efforts to expand the organization’s impact in place-based initiatives nationwide. Previously, he served as President and CEO of Seventy Five North Revitalization Corp., guiding a $90 million redevelopment in Omaha, Nebraska that integrated housing, education, and community engagement to drive lasting neighborhood transformation.
Paula Moujalli is Vice President of the Center for Excellence in Early Education at United Way Miami. She oversees coordination between Educare Miami and the Early Head Start–Child Care Partnership to ensure seamless services for children from birth to five and their families. Previously, she led Educare Miami and served as a mentor teacher, pedagogical coordinator, and adjunct professor at Florida International University.
Lucy Recio is Co-Founder and Principal Consultant of Third Bloom Consulting, a social impact firm advancing equity and well-being in early learning systems. She has held leadership roles with the National Black Child Development Institute, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and the Office of the Bronx Borough President. Recio helped secure $54 billion in federal relief funding for early childhood and elevate the national dialogue on workforce equity and compensation.
Dr. Lisa Roy is Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood and a distinguished leader in early learning policy and systems design. Appointed by Governor Jared Polis in 2022, she led the creation of the Department and the launch of Colorado’s Universal Preschool Program. With more than 30 years of experience, Dr. Roy previously held leadership roles at the Buffett Early Childhood Institute and Denver Public Schools, advancing equity-centered strategies that strengthen outcomes for children and families.
Ginger Ward is CEO of Southwest Human Development, Arizona’s largest nonprofit dedicated to supporting young children and families. Since founding the organization in 1981, she has guided its growth into a nationally recognized model for early childhood innovation. A trusted advisor and advocate, Ward serves on several boards, including the Arizona Early Childhood Alliance, the Governor’s Council on Child Safety and Family Empowerment, and the Phoenix Community Development and Investment Corporation.
About the National Educare Network
The national Educare Network is an independent organization advancing a unified approach to early childhood education in 25 schools across 15 states, the District of Columbia, and the Winnebago Reservation in Nebraska. By connecting research, practice, and policy, Educare builds high-quality early learning environments, supports workforce development, and informs public systems that shape outcomes for children from birth to age five. Together, Educare schools demonstrate what’s possible when evidence, equity, and collaboration drive results for young children and their communities. To learn more visit, EducareNationalNetwork.org.
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"We are centering our collective expertise—both within the Educare Network and across a growing circle of partners and thought leaders—to influence and inform practice, policy, and research in ways that advance excellence for every child.” - Kara H. Ahmed