The Early Childhood Cabinet cabinet brings together members from state government, higher education, child care, nonprofit and community organizations, and Connecticut families.
Name | Title | Statutory Designation |
Beth Bye | Commissioner Office of Early Childhood | Cabinet Co-Chair Commissioner of Early Childhood, or Designee |
Susan Bysiewicz | Lieutenant Governor State of Connecticut | Cabinet Co-Chair Lieutenant Governor, or Designee |
Holly Williams | Section Director Office of Policy and Management | Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or Designee |
Andrea Barton Reeves | Commissioner Department of Social Services | Commissioner of Social Services, or Designee |
Shelly Nolan | Director of Women’s Services Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, or Designee |
Jodi Hill-Lilly | Commissioner Department of Children and Families | Commissioner of Children and Families, or Designee |
Dr. Shante Hanks | Senior Advisor Department of Housing | Commissioner of Housing, or Designee |
Jordan Scheff | Commissioner Department of Developmental Services | Commissioner of Developmental Services, or Designee |
Charlene Russell-Tucker | Commissioner State Department of Education | Commissioner of Education, or Designee |
Marc Camardo | Supervisor, Maternal and Child Health Unit, Department of Public Health | Commissioner of Public Health, or Designee |
Lesley Mara | AVP of Systemwide Initiatives and Sponsored Programs, Connecticut State Colleges and Universities | President of the Board of Regents, or Designee |
Karen Pascale | Director, Connecticut Head Start State Collaboration Office | Director of the Connecticut Head Start State Collaboration Office |
Melvette Hill | Executive Director Commission on Women, Children & Seniors, and Equal Opportunity | Executive Director of the Commission on Women, Children & Seniors, or Designee |
Julie Giaccone | CCDF Administrator Office of Early Childhood | Administrator of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990, appointed by the Governor |
Renee Klienman | 619 Part B Coordinator State Department of Education | Responsible for administering grants received under Section 1419 of Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, appointed by the Governor |
Louis Tallarita | State Coordinator Bureau of Health, Nutrition, Family Services and Adult Education State Department of Education | Responsible for coordination of education services to children and youth who are homeless, appointed by the Governor |
Marlene Padernacht | Title I Coordinator State Department of Education | Responsible for administering the provisions of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Act, appointed by the Governor |
Marsha Guthrie | Head Start/Early Head Start Director Children’s Learning Centers of Fairfield County | Representative from the Head Start Association, appointed by the Governor |
Adrean Enrique Rodríguez | Organizing & Childcare Director | Representative of the Connecticut State Employees Association, appointed by the Governor |
VACANT | Representative from the business community, appointed by the Governor | |
Eliot Brenner | Klingenstein Philanthropies | Representative from the philanthropic community, appointed by the Governor |
Caroline Austin | Parent Hartford, CT | Parent of a child attended a school in an education reform district, appointed by the Speaker of the House |
Kimberly Oliver | Vice President of Strategy, Poli, Advocacy and Community Coalitions, TNTP | Member of a Board of Education for a town designated as an Alliance District, appointed by the Speaker of the House |
Sharon Walker | Family Resource Center Engagement Coordinator at Mayberry School, East Hartford Public Schools(EHPS) | Representative from Family Resource Centers, appointed by the majority leader of the House |
VACANT | Parent of a child attending or attended a School Readiness program, appointed by the minority leader of the House | |
Patricia Bryant-Beausoliel | Director, Putnam Family Resource Center and Early Childhood Coordinator | Representative from a public elementary school with a prekindergarten program, appointed by the Senate President |
Karen Rainville | CT Association for the Education of Young Children | Representative of an association of early education and child care providers, appointed by the Senate President |
Edie Reichard | Director, Sleeping Giant Day Care | Representative of a state-funded child care center, appointed by the majority leader of the Senate |
VACANT | A representative of a local provider of early childhood education, appointed by the minority leader of the Senate | |
Kiobenit Grullon | Family Child Care Provider | A licensed family child care home provider and a member of a staffed family child care network identified by the Commissioner of Early Childhood, appointed by the Governor |
VACANT Until Spring 2025 | Parent | a Parent Cabinet member, appointed by the Governor |
Last updated September 3, 2024