School Readiness Committee

In July 2017, the School Readiness Committee adopted an inaugural set of recommendations. The Committee’s 2017 report summarizes their work over the last year and details the recommendations approved by the Committee: SRC 2017 Report 

History of the Committee:

The School Readiness Committee was created by the 2016 General Assembly via HB 46. In recognition of the fact that one of the most important factors in learning outcomes for young children is the capabilities of the adults who support their growth and learning, the first goal of the Committee is to address the development and alignment of an effective professional development and credentialing system for the early childhood education workforce in the Commonwealth. VECF is pleased to provide for the facilitation of the committee and to serve as a member of the steering committee.

Committee Members:

School Readiness Committee Members:

  • Maritsa Alger of Newport News, Principal, Norfolk Public Schools
  • Suja Amir, Healthcare Policy Consultant and Henrico Parent Representative
  • Laurel Aparicio, Director, Early Impact Virginia
  • Maryam Ben-Omran, Principal, Washington International Academy
  • Nora Bryant, Early Childhood Special Educator; Adjunct Faculty, University of Richmond; Owner, Little Nomad
  • Dr. Irene Carney of Richmond, Sabot at Stony Point
  • Dr. Christopher Chin of Moseley, VP, Operations and Organizational Development, Robins Foundation
  • Dr. Walter Clemons of Gloucester, Superintendent, Gloucester County Public Schools
  • Grace Creasey, Executive Director, Virginia Council for Private Education
  • Lisa Specter Dunnaway, President and CEO, Families Forward Virginia
  • Navine Fortune of Virginia Beach, Assistant Program Director and Instructor, Norfolk State University
  • Shikee Franklin, Director, Head Start at Hampton Roads Community Action Program; President, Virginia Head Start Association
  • Kathy Glazer of Richmond, President, Virginia Early Childhood Foundation
  • Dr. Bonnie Graham of Dublin, Professor and Program Head, Human Services and Early Childhood, New River Community College
  • Phillip Hawkins, Jr. of Norfolk, Teacher, Norfolk Public Schools
  • Lisa Howard of Norfolk, President and CEO, Elevate Early Education
  • Kim Hulcher, Executive Director, Virginia Child Care Association
  • Gail Johnson of Richmond, President and CEO, Rainbow Station
  • Aleta Lawson, Director, Head Start Collaboration Office, Virginia Department of Social Services
  • Henry Light of Norfolk, Member, State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
  • Dr. Sara Miller of Moseley, Assistant Professor, Longwood University
  • Hunter Moore, Owner and Birth Doula, The Mindful Birth, LLC
  • Kim Scheeler of Richmond, CEO, ChamberRVA
  • Dr. Christine Schull of Fairfax, Professor, Northern Virginia Community College
  • Cecilia Suarez, Director, Owner and Teacher, Creative Learning School
  • Gary Thomson of Richmond, Regional Managing Partner, Mid-Atlantic, Dixon Hughes Goodman
  • Barry Weinstein of Fairfax, retired teacher, Fairfax County Public Schools
  • Maria Williams, Bright Stars Family Coordinator, Albemarle County Department of Social Services
  • Saadia Yasmin, Owner, Saadia’s Juicebox and Yoga Bar

 

Members of House of Delegates:

  • Delegate John Bell
  • Delegate Barry Knight
  • Delegate Brenda Pogge
  • Delegate Roxann Robinson

 

Members of Senate:

  • Senator Siobhan Dunnavant
  • Senator Adam Ebbin
  • Senator David Sutterlein

 

Ex Officio Members:

  • Dr. Daniel Carey, Secretary of Health and Human Resources
  • Dr. James Lane, Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction
  • Atif Qarni, Secretary of Education
  • Duke Storen, Commissioner, Virginia Department of Social Services