The head of the Office of Early Childhood, Myra Jones-Taylor, is resigning from her position effective Sept. 1.
Jones-Taylor was originally appointed as executive director for the newly created Office of Early Childhood (OEC) in June 2013. In May 2014, when the OEC became an independent, cabinet-level agency, she became commissioner.
She was re-appointed to the position in January 2015. Jones-Taylor had previously served as director of the state Office of Early Childhood Planning since 2012, a position aimed at creating a statewide plan for a coordinated early care and education system for young children.
Under her stewardship, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said, the Office of Early Childhood has secured over $50 million in new federal grant money and boosted publicly funded preschool capacity by nearly 3,000 spaces.
“I leave the agency knowing that an uncompromising commitment to do what is right and just for the families we serve is woven into the fabric of the Office of Early Childhood,” Jones-Taylor said.
Jones-Taylor is leaving to seek other professional opportunities, according to a press release announcing her departure.
“Under Myra’s steady leadership, Connecticut has increased access to and availability of early childhood education — it’s so critical,’’ Malloy said. “Her passion, expertise, and dedication to the well-being of children — especially those impacted by poverty — are extraordinary.”
Malloy said he will announce a successor in the coming weeks. In the interim, Deputy Commissioner Linda Goodman will serve as the acting commissioner.
