The School Readiness Committee is a group of professionals, educators, providers, and advocates who are appointed by the Secretary of Education to provide strategic guidance on state level early childhood policy. 

Recently, the Committee has been engaged in the development of Virginia's Needs Assessment and Strategic Plan, which can be found online here: https://www.vecf.org/federal-preschool-development-grant-b-5/ 

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.

Additionally, the Committee will periodically review the goals and other priorities within the early childhood care and education systems and make recommendations to various policymakers.  

Committee Members

School Readiness Committee Members:

• Maritsa Alger, 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, Sabot at Stony Point
• Dr. Christopher Chin, Director of Community Partnerships, Robins Foundation
• Dr. Walter Clemons, 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, 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, President, Virginia Early Childhood Foundation
• Dr. Bonnie Graham, Professor and Program Head, Human Services and Early Childhood, New River Community College
• Phillip Hawkins, Jr., Teacher, Norfolk Public Schools
• Lisa Howard, President and CEO, Elevate Early Education
• Kim Hulcher, Executive Director, Virginia Childcare Association
• Gail Johnson, President and CEO, Rainbow Station
• Henry Light, Member, State Council of Higher Education for Virginia=
• Dr. Sara Miller, Assistant Professor, Longwood University
• Hunter Moore, Owner and Birth Doula, The Mindful Birth, LLC
• Kim Scheeler, President & CEO, ChamberRVA
• Dr. Christine Schull, Professor, Northern Virginia Community College
• Cecilia Suarez, Director, Owner and Teacher, Creative Learning School
• Gary Thomson, Regional Managing Partner, Mid-Atlantic, Dixon Hughes Goodman
• 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
• Mira Signer, Interim Commissioner, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
• Atif Qarni, Secretary of Education
• Duke Storen, Commissioner, Virginia Department of Social Services