Transforming Opportunity for Every Child

STRONGER TOGETHER: TRANSFORMING OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERY CHILD

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THE EARLY LEARNING C

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Co-Sponsored by the California N T

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By uniting and working together, we can ensure that California’s children ages 0-5 benefit from access to quality early learning opportunities. These WELCOME early years are crucial to every child’s overall development and well-being. Throughout the conference, national, state, and local experts will share their experiences and insights on a variety of early education topics and the impact that they have on our children. Speakers and panelists will: • Underscore the importance of engaging elected officials and prioritizing early care and education in policy decisions to ensure proper investment • Explore strategies and best practices that communities and community organizations have utilized to better prepare our children for long-term DAY 2 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2016 success • Examine recent developments in transitional and expanded transitional kindergarten as a way of providing access to and educating California’s four and five year-olds

WE ARE EXCITED FOR OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKERS (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE): • Dr. Patricia K. Kuhl, Co-Director, Institute for Learning & Brain Science & Bezos Family Foundation Endowed Chair of Early Childhood Education • David B. Grusky, Executive Director, Stanford’s Center on Poverty & Inequality • Paul Tough, New York Times Magazine Writer & Author of How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character Speakers will offer perspectives on the current early learning policy environment and how California can most effectively contribute to policy change. The conference is designed as an opportunity for policy leaders, experts, First 5 county commissions, early learning teachers, and other early learning supporters to highlight success, strategies, and promising practices that meaningfully improve the lives of young children and their families.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE, INFORM, AND INSPIRE YOU AT THE WATER COOLER. KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

DAY 2 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2016 (CONTINUED) the Gold Medal of the Acoustical Society of America for her work on early learning and brain development. In November 2011 in Paris, Dr. Kuhl was awarded the IPSEN Foundation’s Jean-Louis ERIC HEINS, Signoret Neuropsychology Prize, and in 2013 she received the President, California Teachers Association William James Lifetime Achievement award. In 2014, Dr. Kuhl was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Stockholm University, and SENATOR HANNAH-BETH JACKSON, in 2015 the George A. Miller Prize in Cognitive Neuroscience. Dr. Chair of the Women’s Legislative Caucus, Kuhl is co-author of The Scientist in the Crib: Minds, Brains, and California State Senate How Children Learn (Harper Collins). Dr. Kuhl’s TED talk can be viewed at: http://www.ted.com/talks/patricia_kuhl_the_linguistic_ DAVID KIRP, DAVID B. GRUSKY genius_of_babies.html James D. Marver Professor of Public Policy, Executive Director, Stanford Center on Povery & Inequality University of California, Berkeley David B. Grusky is Barbara Kimball Browning Professor in the School ASSEMBLYMAN KEVIN MCCARTY, of Humanities and Sciences, Director of the Stanford Center on Chairman of Subcommittee No. 2 of Education Finance, Poverty and Inequality, and coeditor of Pathways Magazine. His California State Assembly recent books include Monitoring Social Mobility in the 21st Century (2015), Social Stratification (2014), Occupy the Future (2013), The MODERATOR: KIM PATTILLO BROWNSON, New Gilded Age (2012), The Great Recession (2011), The Inequality Managing Director, Policy & Advocacy, Advancement Project Reader (2011), and The Inequality Puzzle (2010).

PAUL TOUGH New York Times Magazine Writer, Author A contributing writer to the New York Times Magazine, Paul Tough is also the author of Whatever It Takes: Geoffrey Canada’s Quest to Change Harlem and America, which focuses on the steps necessary to improve the lives and education of underserved children. Through the case study of the Harlem Children’s Zone, Tough describes the inspiring struggle to establish a way to combat poverty that could be replicated PATRICIA K. KUHL, PHD. nationwide. Tough has also contributed to This American Co-Director for the Institute for Learning & Brain Life and The New Yorker, where he has honed his focus upon Science, Bezos Family Foundation Endowed Chair education, poverty, parenting, and politics. The film rights for of Early Childhood Education, University of Washington his New York Times Magazine cover story “A Speck in the Sea,” about the rescue of fisherman John Aldridge, have been Dr. Patricia K. Kuhl holds the Bezos Family Foundation acquired by Harvey Weinstein for production by The Weinstein Endowed Chair in Early Childhood Learning and is Co-Director JEFF BELL, Company. of the UW Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences, Director Program Budget Manager, California Department of Finance of the University of Washington’s NSF Science of Learning Our society currently places a great deal of emphasis on Center, and Professor of Speech and Hearing Sciences at the intelligence as the sole indicator of value in children’s education. DEBORAH KONG, University of Washington in Seattle. She is internationally But in this talk, Paul Tough lays it bare: we believe that success Executive Director, Early Edge California recognized for her research on early language and bilingual comes from those who score highest on tests, from preschool brain development, for pioneering brain measures on young to SATs. Yet evidence indicates that our story here might be KAREN MANSHIP, children, and studies that show how young children learn. She dead wrong. The work of a new generation of researchers and educators points to the fact that the qualities that have a better Senior Researcher for the American Institutes for Research presented her work at two White House conferences (Clinton White House in 1997 and Bush White House in 2001). Dr. shot at indicating lifelong success are “non cognitive” or what DEAN TAGAWA, Kuhl is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the we might refer to as “personality traits” such as: curiosity, Administrator for Early Education, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Rodin Academy, conscientiousness, optimism, self-control, and grit. Los Angeles Unified School District and the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters. She is Using the tools of science, Tough peels back the mysteries a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of character and traces the links between early childhood MODERATOR: ERIN GABEL, of Science, the Acoustical Society of America, the American neurological development and environment. By showing Deputy Director, First 5 California Psychological Society, and the Cognitive Science Society. Dr. how “nature” and “nurture” are intertwined, Tough explores Kuhl was awarded the Silver Medal of the Acoustical Society of how childhood stresses modify life success and the surprising America in 1997. She received the University of Washington’s ways that parents do—and do not—prepare their children for Faculty Lectureship Award in 1998. In 2005, she was awarded adulthood. Tough helps us understand how early adversity the Kenneth Craik Research Award from Cambridge University, affects childhood emotional, social, and cognitive development and in 2007, the University of Minnesota’s Outstanding in ways that will carry on throughout their entire lives, and what Achievement Award. In Paris in 2008, Dr. Kuhl was awarded we can do about it. *Agenda Subject to Change SPEAKERS

an education consulting company based in Sacramento. Prior to that, Jeff was the Assistant Program Budget Manager for the Education Systems Unit at the Department of Finance. Jeff began his state career in 1997 as a Finance Budget Analyst in the Education Systems Unit. He has served as a Principal Program Budget Analyst in various assignments, primarily working on budget and policy issues surrounding the state K-12 education budget. In addition to working at Department of Finance, Jeff served as both an Education Consultant and later as a Fiscal Staff Director in LINDA ASATO the State Senate, where he was directly involved in staffing budget ERIN GABEL RAFAEL GONZÁLEZ Executive Director, California Child Care Resource negotiations between the Governor and legislative caucus leaders. Deputy Director, First 5 California Director of Best Start, First 5 LA & Referral Network At the local level, Jeff served for 4 years as the County Budget Administrator for Placer County. Erin Gabel is the Deputy Director of the External and Rafael González serves as Director of Best Start Communities for First Linda Asato has been with the California Child Care Resource Prior to working in state and local government, Jeff was an active- Governmental Affairs Division, where she is responsible for 5 LA. He is responsible for implementing Best Start Communities, & Referral Network since 2012. She brings over twenty years duty officer in the U.S. Navy for 10 years, where he served as the Commission’s legislative and public affairs initiatives. Prior a place-based, community-building approach to advance the of successful public sector, non-profit management experience, a surface warfare officer, engineering officer, and targeting and to joining the First 5 California team, Erin was the education implementation of a broad-based, inclusive effort to improve outcomes and a lifetime commitment to child and family advocacy. She intelligence officer. consultant for California State Senate President pro Tempore, for children and families in their respective communities as well as to has extensive experience from community organizing to public Darrell Steinberg, and advised the pro Tem and Senate on a wide achieve policy and systems change. administration, and organizational development and incorporates range of education reform issues that included preschool and Rafael has worked in the spheres of community development, her ground up approach and community connections to the early learning, kindergarten through grade 12 public education, local government, corporate philanthropy, national service, world of policy and public system support. Her work has included and higher education. civic engagement, civil rights, immigrant integration and youth serving as Executive Director of Wu Yee Children’s Services in Before joining Senator Steinberg’s policy team, Erin was the development. He shares a common belief with others in the place- San Francisco, a multiservice and child care resource and referral Director of Government Affairs Division at the California based field that by investing in the capacity of our families and the agency, and working in the San Francisco Unified School District as Department of Education. Erin was responsible for the social infrastructure to support them, and by working from the inside Director of the Intergovernmental and School Linked Services. She Department’s involvement in all state and federal budget and out that parents and other critical community stakeholders will also served as Chief Planner for the San Francisco Mayor’s Office legislative processes. She served State Superintendent of Public improve the social conditions that impact their neighborhoods. With of Children, Youth and their Families. Instruction Tom Torlakson as a policy advisor under different hats the proper alignment of services and collaborative systems in place, Linda has served as Commissioner on the San Francisco Children in the Department, Assembly, and the Senate over an eleven families can have a collective impact on the change we all seek. and Families Commission (First 5 San Francisco) since 2011. She year tenure. Prior to First 5 LA, Rafael was with the Los Angeles Dodgers where has also served as chair of various local planning bodies including the SENATOR KEVIN DE LEÕN Prior to working at the state Capitol, Erin served as Deputy he served as Director of Community Relations and responsible for Early Childhood Interagency Council, the Mayor’s Children and Chief of Staff to Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia. building a strong and proactive partnership with the community. Youth Planning Council, and has served as member of numerous President pro Tem, California State Senate Erin was one of the founding staff members of the Partnership Previously, he served as Chief Service Officer and Director of non-profit boards. for Children and Youth as their first Children Nutrition Project Neighborhood & Community Services for City of Los Angeles Mayor Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles), serves as President pro Tempore She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Director, and now serves on its Board of Directors. Antonio Villaraigosa, where he developed and led “We Serve LA”, the of the California State Senate. He is the first Latino elected to the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, and civic engagement initiative of the City of Los Angeles, and directed the position in over 130 years. a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of California Mayor’s city-wide field operation and community relations team. Senator De Leon is focused on building a more prosperous, at Berkeley. Prior to his service in City government, González was the catalyst in equitable, and sustainable economy for the Golden State. He’s the community-level change efforts of two non-profit organizations. working to make college more accessible and affordable, combat He served as Executive Director of Public Allies – Los Angeles; climate change while building the clean energy economy, improve a community development and service organization that created retirement security for low-income workers, and support California’s opportunities for diverse young leaders to practice leadership and growing diverse communities. strengthen communities in nonprofit organizations in Los Angeles, Last year, Senator De León authored SB 350, which gives the state and Collective SPACE (Social Power through Action & Community the most ambitious renewable energy goals in the nation. In 2012, Education); a community based organization in the MacArthur Park/ he passed SB 1234, a first-of-its-kind retirement-savings program Westlake community with a mission of building an informed and active for low-income workers and SB 535 which requires a quarter of citizenry to bring about social change through grassroots organizing, all cap-and-trade revenue be spent in disadvantage communities. education and leadership development. He also co-chaired the campaign for Proposition 39, which closed Rafael previously served as Director of Civic Education & U.S. a corporate-tax loophole and steered billions to improve energy Citizenship Project Director at the National Association of Latino efficiency in California’s public schools. Senator De León was JEFF BELL Elected & Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund; instrumental in negotiating the new film and TV tax credit program Program Budget Manager, California Department of Finance Affirmative Action Campaign Coordinator at the Mexican American that is now bring production jobs. He also has an extensive legislative Legal Defense & Educational Fund (MALDEF); Campaign Jeff Bell is the Program Budget Manager for the California record on women’s rights, public safety, and worker’s rights. Field Director at Coalition LA & Senior Field Deputy for LA Department of Finance’s Education Systems Unit responsible for Senator De León served four years in the Assembly before being Councilmember Mike Hernandez. overseeing budget and program policies affecting higher education, elected to the Senate in 2010. Before the Legislature, he taught Rafael was born and raised in the downtown area of Los Angeles. He K-12 education, child care, the State Library, and local library grant citizenship courses to immigrants and led opposition to 1994’s graduated from Cal State University at Northridge with a Bachelor programs. anti-immigrant Proposition 187. Senator De León credits his of Arts degree in Chicano Studies. He is currently working on his Prior to his current position, Jeff served as a Director of immigrant mother as his inspiration to help build a brighter future Master’s Degree at the USC Price School of Public Policy. He is Management Consulting Services at School Services of California, for generations to come. married & has three sons. “What excites me the most about taking on my new role are the Rail, the Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Management and opportunities before me to give back to all those students and educators vice-chair of the California Legislative Women’s Caucus. who have made an impact in my life,” Heins says of his optimism now at the During the six years she served in the State Assembly and now as a State start of his two- year term as president after serving as CTA vice president. Senator, Hannah-Beth is an effective advocate for improving public “Working together with my fellow officers and colleagues, we will focus on education, increasing public safety, improving access to health care, what matters most, and that is ensuring that every student has the quality promoting job growth in green industries and others, protecting the education they need and deserve, and that educators are working with environment and protecting the privacy and rights of consumers. parents and our communities to lead education change in California.” President Heins has taught kindergarten through fifth grade, including SANDRA GUTIERREZ music, in the Pittsburg Unified School District in the Bay Area, and is a MARY IGNATIUS member of the Pittsburg Education Association. As the grievance chair National Director, Abriento Puertas Opening Doors for his chapter, which rarely filedgrievances, Heins handled nearly 100 Statewide Organizer of Parent Voices, California Child Care Resource & Referral Network Sandra Gutierrez is the Founder and National Director of Abriendo by his second year. While collaboration is always key, Heins also believes Puertas/Opening Doors. Ms. Gutierrez led the development of in reminding administrators that it is difficult to put students first at Mary Ignatius is the Statewide Organizer of Parent Voices, a parent- Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors-the nation’s first evidence- based, the district level if you’re always putting teachers last when it comes to led grassroots organization fighting to make quality child care comprehensive training program for Latino parents with children resources and respect. He believes standardized testing is not learning, and accessible and affordable for all families. As the Statewide Organizer 0 to 5. Prior to her work with Abriendo Puertas / Opening Doors, that teachers should never be evaluated solely by test scores. since August 2005, she coordinates the work of its 15 chapters Ms. Gutierrez developed a series of training programs to support He’s very hopeful that California’s supportive governor and billions in new and implements the leadership development model Parent Voices children and families involved in the child welfare system for Parents education funding will continue the path of healing that our schools are has crafted for 20 years. Under her tenure, Parent Voices has won Action for Children. She brings over forty years of experience with on. Heins vows that CTA will remain vigilant against attacks from wealthy, campaigns to update income eligibility guidelines to qualify for JOHN KIM subsidized child care, restore a child care program that was eliminated, legal, children’s advocacy and community service organizations. corporate-style reform forces that look at our schools as profit centers Executive Director, Advancement Project, California Office Her multi-faceted career has included founding the first service instead of community centers that can strengthen our cities. and protected child care subsidies for thousands of families. As a organization to assist Central American Refugees, developing health He was elected vice president in 2011 directly from his position as a mother of 2, a first generation daughter of immigrants who grew up Since 1997, John has fought to expand the voice and influence of education programs for the United Farm Workers of America and member of the CTA Board of Directors, where he served five years, in the Bay Area and is committed to social and economic justice, marginalized communities throughout California. Through building new leading campaigns to promote the benefits of preschool to the Latino representing thousands of educators and education support professionals in Mary brings passion and inspiration to her peers in Parent Voices. She tools, coalitions, and institutional capacity, his commitment has been to community. In addition, for seven years, she served as a founding all of Contra Costa County and most of Alameda County. holds a Master of Social Work in Administration and Social Planning ensure that the experience of low-income people and communities of member and State Commissioner for First 5 California where she from Temple University and a Bachelor of Social Work from Rutgers color can no longer be ignored. He served on CTA’s Long-Term Strategic Planning Workgroup that University. Her previous experience includes work with the Kensington established the Advisory Committee on Equity. Ms. Gutierrez serves John started his community-building work as a cultural artist/activist recently developed a comprehensive strategy to move CTA forward around Welfare Rights Union, Community Legal Services in Philadelphia, as an Advisory Board member for the Too Small To Fail Initiative. In and youth organizer in the Bay Area. In 1999, he became the Executive the goals of organizing, advocacy, community engagement and social Instructor- City College of San Francisco, and Project SURVIVE. March 2014, Ms. Gutierrez was named by the White House as a César Director of the Korean Community Center of the East Bay where he was justice. Mary loves to travel and is inspired by the curiosity and wonder that E. Chávez Champion of Change, and in February 2015 she received instrumental in launching new programs in the areas of domestic abuse, His advocacy for at-risk students runs deep. He chaired the CTA Quality her sons bring to this world. the James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award. community development and community technology. Education Investment Act (QEIA) Workgroup, charged with monitoring the progress of the CTA-sponsored QEIA, the landmark 2006 reform John first joined Advancement Project in 2002 to launch the Healthy law. This turnaround program, which ended June 30, 2015, provided nearly City Project, became the Managing Co-Director for the California Office $3 billion over eight years for proven intervention reforms at hundreds of in 2008, and was named Executive Director in January 2015. schools of greatest need. Over the years, John has developed advocacy and research initiatives Heins also chaired the pivotal CTA Teacher Evaluation Workgroup, on issues ranging from community health, redistricting, community which adopted new guidelines in 2011 stressing that reforms for teacher engagement, education, and public finance. Under his direction, many of assessments must focus on strengthening the teaching profession and these initiatives have resulted in the reallocation of tens of millions of public improving student learning, not punishing educators. He was also an and private dollars to the most underserved neighborhoods and have lifted active member of CTA’s Elementary and Secondary Education Act up the voice and power of marginalized communities throughout California. Reauthorization Workgroup. John also has a long track record as a coalition-builder and facilitator and has established a wide-range of partnerships with foundations, community-based In addition, he represented local Bay Area teachers for six years as a SENATOR HANNAH-BETH JACKSON organizations, and elected/governmental bodies statewide. In leadership California member of the National Education Association’s Board of Chair of Women’s Legislative Caucus, California State Senate ERIC C. HEINS at Advancement Project, John has been the driving force in expanding Directors. He is a past president of the Pittsburg Education Association President, California Teachers Association Hannah-Beth Jackson is an educator, former State Assemblymember, the California Office’s budget, staffing, organizational development, and and was bargaining chair for that chapter during its five-day strike in June former Deputy District Attorney, and small business owner. She was Believing in positive, teacher-driven change through collaboration and fundraising efforts. 2000 over health benefits, salaries, and the district’s refusing to provide elected to the California State Senate in 2012 to represent the 19th a student-centered focus on advocacy, CTA President Eric C. Heins His work in the Bay Area was recognized by KQED/Channel 9 as the benefits for domestic partners. Senate District, which includes all of Santa Barbara County and western has spent his professional life fighting at the local, state and national 2001 Local Hero of the Year Award and by then-Oakland Mayor Jerry Active on many human rights issues, Heins was a cadre trainer for Ventura County. Brown with the proclamation of a “John K. Kim Day”. In 2011 he accepted levels for the rights and dignity of all educators and the promise of the LGBT leadership training done by CTA, and the “Breaking the Silence” From 1998 to 2004, she represented the 35th Assembly District in the Unsung Heroes Award from the California Community Foundation, teaching profession. workshops. He chaired the CTA Diversity Committee and served on the the State Assembly. given for “outstanding excellence in community engagement.” He has He believes in connecting core union values with the power of the union’s Equity and Human Rights Conference Planning Committee. Hannah-Beth also co-founded two non-profit organizations, has served recently concluded a term as a member of the Board of Neighborhood 325,000-member CTA gained through organizing, negotiating and He holds a bachelor’s in music from Chapman College in Orange advocating to create a stronger teaching profession and a stronger as policy-maker in residence at UC Santa Barbara and currently serves Commissioners for the City of Los Angeles, and in 2011-12, he was selected County. His master’s in language and literacy education and his reading as adjunct professor at Antioch University. for and completed the prestigious Rockwood National Yearlong Fellowship. union. Over his 24-year California education career, he has been specialist credential are from the University of California, Berkeley. Born Born in Los Angeles, John currently lives in Highland Park with his wife, inspired by colleagues — paraprofessionals, librarians, counselors, in Amsterdam, he speaks fluent Dutch. Heins lives in Malibu with his In the Senate, she is chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Jung Hee Choi, and their two children, Naiya and Ellis. In his free time, nurses, music teachers, campus monitors and office staff — and their husband, David. serves on key committees, including the Budget Committee, the profound dedication to students. Environmental Quality Committee and the Natural Resources John enjoys growing his own vegetables, traveling/hiking with the family, Committee. She’s also chair of the Select Committee on Passenger and playing guitar. DAVID L. KIRP CAMILLE MABEN KAREN MANSHIP JACQUELYN MCCROSKEY Marver Professor of Public Policy, Executive Director, First 5 California Senior Researcher, American Institutes for Research John Mile Professor of Child Welfare , University of University of California, Berkeley Southern California School of Social Work In December 2012, Camille Maben began serving in her current Karen Manship is a Senior Researcher with the American David L. Kirp is a professor of public policy at the University of role as Executive Director of First 5 California. In that role, she Institutes for Research with more than 12 years of experience Jacquelyn McCroskey, the John Milner Professor of Child California, Berkeley, a member of the National Academy of is responsible for staffing the California Children and Families focusing on early childhood program evaluations and and Welfare and Co-Director of the Children’s Data Network at Education, a contributing writer to the New York Times Sunday Commission, in addition to directing the work of the agency and K-12 education policy and finance. She currently serves as the USC School of Social Work, focuses on structure, financing Review and a senior scholar at the Learning Policy Institute. In his its staff. Through her leadership, First 5 California is implementing the Director of the impact study of California’s Transitional and performance improvement in and across the child welfare, seventeen books and hundreds of articles, he has mainly focused on several evidence-based and results-driven Signature Programs Kindergarten program, which examined the implementation of juvenile justice and early care and education (ECE) systems education and youth policy, spanning the age range from cradle to targeted to children, parents, and teachers that focus on quality. TK in the state in its first year and is now investigating outcomes in Los Angeles County. Recent scholarly interests include college and career. Prior to her appointment at First 5 California, Camille served for participating children. Her other work at AIR has focused prevention of child maltreatment, improving access to ECE Improbable Scholars: The Rebirth of a Great American School as the Division Director of the Child Development Division at on statewide early childhood policy and planning and transitions services for at-risk families, and cross-system collaboration. System and a Strategy for America’s Schools, his most recent the California Department of Education (CDE). Part of her into early elementary school. She received her Master’s degree in Dr. McCroskey currently serves on the Los Angeles County book, chronicles how a poor urban school district has brought responsibilities in that role included providing leadership and Urban Affairs and Public Policy from the University of Delaware. Commission on Children and Families and the Policy Roundtable Latino immigrant children into the education mainstream and what oversight to over 700 early care and education contractors with a for Child Care and Development. In 2003, the California nationwide lessons can be drawn from this success. It was selected $1.7 billion dollar budget. She most recently served as Co-Chair of Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers named as the outstanding book of the year by the American Education the State Advisory Council on Early Learning and Care, and also her the California Social Worker of the Year. Research Association. helped win and implement the $52.6 million federal Race-to-the- Website – www.datanetwork.org A former trustee of Amherst College, he has worked with Top Early Learning Challenge Grant. policymakers at all levels of government, as well as foundations She was previously appointed by the Governor to serve as Chief and nonprofits. He served on President Barack Obama’s 2008 of Staff for the Office of the Secretary of Education. She worked transition team, where he drafted an early education policy agenda. closely with the Secretary on the coordination and development Earlier in his career he was the founding director of the Harvard of the Governor’s education policy agenda. Center for Law and Education and an associate editor at the In earlier work at CDE, Camille served as Division Director of the Sacramento Bee. Currently he serves on the boards of Friends of School and District Accountability Division. Her division included the Children and Experience Corps East Bay, and is on the policy the No Child Left Behind Office, oversight of the Categorical advisory council of the Economic Policy Institute, the Campaign for Program Monitoring process, the Title I Policy and Partnerships ASSEMBLYMEMBER KEVIN MCCARTY College Opportunity and Common Sense Media. Unit, and the English Learner Accountability Unit. She served as the Superintendent’s representative to the California Chairman of Subcommittee No. 2 of Education Finance Interscholastic Federation. Camille also served as Senior Advisor California State Assembly to former State Superintendent Delaine Eastin and has worked as Assemblymember Kevin McCarty was elected to the California a consultant to the Assembly Education Committee. State Assembly in November, 2014 to represent Assembly DEBRA MCMANNIS Camille currently serves as a school board member for the Rocklin District 7, which includes the cities of Sacramento, West Director of Early Education & Support Division Unified School District. She has served on the Rocklin Board for Sacramento, and parts of unincorporated Sacramento. California Department of Education over 20 years. As Chair of the Assembly Budget Sub-Committee on Education Debra McMannis brings 25 years of experience in the field Finance, McCarty worked to steer significant investments in of Early Education in the private and public sectors. Prior to funding for early childhood, K-12, and higher education. In 2015, joining the California Department of Education, she worked McCarty helped craft an on time state budget which included the as a teacher and administrator at the San Juan Unified DEBORAH KONG largest education investments in history and increased access for School District implementing state and federal early learning Executive Director, Early Edge California early learning programs and community college, California State programs. She holds an undergraduate degree in Human University, and University of California systems. Development from Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena. She Deborah leads Early Edge California’s day-to-day work and A lifelong Sacramentan, McCarty went to local public schools, also holds a Program Director permit, teaching credential, and collaborates closely with senior staff on vision, strategy and execution. administrative credential. Prior to joining Early Edge California, she was a reporter for 15 years attended American River College, and earned a B.A. in Political at media outlets including the Associated Press, San Jose Mercury Science from CSU Long Beach and an M.A. in Public Policy and News, and Philadelphia Inquirer. Deborah has also acted as a policy Administration from CSU Sacramento. analysis and fund raising consultant to foundations and nonprofits. McCarty lives in the Elmhurst neighborhood of Sacramento with She holds a master’s degree in public policy from UC Berkeley’s his wife Leticia and their twin daughters, Victoria and Barbara. Goldman School of Public Policy and a bachelor’s degree in English with a specialization in Asian American studies from UCLA. KIM PATTILLO BROWNSON JOLENE SMITH DEAN TAGAWA THE HONORABLE TOM TORLAKSON Managing Director of Policy & Advocacy, Chief Executive Officer, First 5 Santa Clara County Administrator for Early Education, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Advancement Project Los Angeles Unified School District California Department of Education Since the passage of Proposition 10 in 1998, Jolene has been Kim Pattillo Brownson is the Managing Director of Policy and instrumental in establishing FIRST 5 as an organization that Dean Tagawa is currently the Administrator, Early Tom Torlakson was re-elected to a second four-year term as Advocacy at Advancement Project. She is a civil rights lawyer supports the healthy development of children prenatal through Childhood Education Division, for the Los Angeles Unified California’s 27th State Superintendent of Public Instruction with extensive experience in law, policy, budget and advocacy. age five and enriches the lives of their families and communities School District. As a lifetime employee of LAUSD, he has on November 4, 2014. As chief of California’s public school Kim leads Advancement Project’s policy and advocacy staff throughout Santa Clara County. As the leader of the Early been an Instructional Director for Early Education, a Staff system and leader of the California Department of Education, across Sacramento, Los Angeles and the Bay Area. Kim Childhood Development Collaborative in 1999, Jolene was Relations Field Director, an Elementary Principal, a Primary Superintendent Torlakson applies his experience as a science provides strategic direction to Advancement Project’s work responsible for developing the original county Strategic Plan Center Principal, an Early Education Center Principal, teacher, high school coach, and state policymaker to fight for on education (early education, school funding, and school that led to the creation of FIRST 5. In 2000, she served as the an Assistant Principal, an advisor in Instructional Support our students and improve our state’s public education system. facilities), public budgeting transparency, governmental Director of Program Development, and worked her way up to Services, a reading coach, and an elementary teacher. He During Torlakson’s first term, he set out on a mission to relations, and state and local campaign advocacy. Prior to Deputy Director, and eventually became the Executive Director has a BA from the California State University, Los Angeles, provide a world-class education for all students from early joining the Advancement Project, Kim was previously an in January 2005. a Masters in Educational Administration, and is currently childhood to adulthood. He directed the change to rigorous education attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union of During her tenure as Chief Executive Officer, FIRST 5 has a Doctoral Candidate in Educational Leadership. He is a new California state standards in English, mathematics, and Southern California, and also worked in the private sector been recognized for its leadership on ensuring that the healthy native of Los Angeles and has served on early education science. He advocated increasing investments in education, litigation at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. Kim began development of our youngest children is viewed as a high priority work groups including the Early Childhood Education helping to pass Proposition 30 in 2012 and leading the effort her legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Dolores Sloviter in the county. Through her efforts, she has worked to engage Workforce Consortium, County of Los Angeles Childcare to give local school districts more flexibility to make spending on the Third Circuit Court of Appeal, and the Honorable Louis and unite the community through strategic partnerships and Planning Commission, and the Partnerships for Education, decisions. He promoted the idea of meeting the needs of the H. Pollak in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Kim holds collaborations to tackle challenging issues such as children’s Articulation and Coordination through Higher Education whole child by expanding pre-kindergarten and after-school a J.D. from Yale Law School and graduated magna cum laude health insurance, early literacy, high-quality early education, (PEACH). Mr. Tagawa has also served on numerous work and summer programs, increasing access to health care and from Harvard College. Prior to law school, Kim worked at the screening and assessment for developmental delays, model court groups in Los Angeles Unified School District to support mental health services, and promoting nutritious food and Boston Consulting Group, where she provided financial and programs, and a cross-disciplinary, cross-sector community high school scholarships, multicultural coalitions, and regular exercise. Under his leadership, the state’s high school strategic planning services to Fortune 500 companies. She is of learning. Under her leadership, FIRST 5 has worked closely instructional technology initiatives. graduation rate rose to an all-time high of 80 percent, with a happily married, and enjoys family hikes with her husband and with policymakers and elected officials at the federal, state, and Aside from his work in education, Mr. Tagawa served in graduation rate hitting nearly 95 percent for those students in two young daughters. local levels to create the necessary change in our laws and in our the US Army for eight years and is the father of twins. In career-preparation programs. politics to improve the lives of the people in the community. his spare time, he enjoys seeing movies, woodworking, and Jolene’s 30 years of public service are based around her strong camping with his family. commitment and dedication to help people in need. As a high school youth counselor, a national trainer, and a Program Manager with the Santa Clara County Health and Hospital System and the Social Services Agency, Jolene has used her expertise in strategic planning, program development, and training and consultation, to ensure that children, youth, and their families receive vital social services.

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Y The Early Learning Water Cooler is a collaborative effort by Advancement Project, the California Community Foundation, Children Now, Early Edge California, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, First 5 California, ZERO TO THREE, and many other organizations to advance early care and learning for California’s children 0-5. Water Cooler efforts aim to bring the needs of California’s youngest children into the larger education conversation.

The Early Learning Water Cooler wishes to send a special thank you to the California Department of Education for its support of this conference. The Early Learning Water Cooler network would also like to thank Lakeshore Learning Materials for sponsoring the printing of Water Cooler conference brochures.

Printing by Lakeshore Learning Materials