OEC Announces Michelle Cook as Agency Ombudsman

Commissioner Bye is pleased to announce the addition of an Ombudsman to our OEC team. This position is designed to give families and programs another way to raise concerns — or point out strengths — of OEC services. As our agency grows, we believe it is imperative to remain responsive to the field and to families and to track trends. We believe this position will help families and programs in a system that can be challenging to navigate.

First ombudsman for the agency

Michelle Cook will be the first Ombudsman for the agency. Michelle has extensive experience with constituent service, having served as a State Representative for 16 years. She has also worked in early childhood education. She will be meeting with OEC team members and going out in the field to make folks aware of the position and provide contact information as well.

Connecticut’s dedication to early childhood education

The Lamont administration prides itself on making government work for its citizens and early childhood is a key area of focus for the Governor. With increasing investments and added services, it is important that the agency maintains its efforts for responsive customer service.

“Expanding access to early childhood education has been a major priority for our administration, and having an early childhood ombudsman means that families and contractors can have one main point of contact to seek assistance if issues arise,” Governor Ned Lamont said. “Michelle Cook is a dedicated professional who has worked in early childhood education and has many years of experience as a state legislator fielding constituent feedback and advocating on their behalf. I appreciate that she has agreed to take on this important responsibility at the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood.”