I am a mother and life-long Detroiter who is both personally and professionally committed to the restored vitality of Detroit’s communities and educational environments. I have been a passionate early childhood advocate, educator, consultant and system developer for over 20 years. In my present role, I am the vice president of early learning at Excellent Schools Detroit. In this role, I oversee the organization’s work related to the system of early learning and care. In alignment with the organizational goal of ensuring an excellent education for every child in Detroit, I assist in driving the conditions that ensure that adults prepare our youngest learners early for success. To this end, I define goals and oversee strategies that support the development of all adults – parents, educators, administrators, policymakers and stakeholders, who impact the readiness of children to successfully meet and exceed transition benchmarks of kindergarten, third grade, and ultimately in life. I completed my undergraduate work in both Communication and in French at the University of Michigan and earned my graduate degree in Human Development, Education Leadership and Infant Toddler Development, from Pacific Oaks College.