Secretary appoints Killins as Early Education Commissioner

BOSTON – Massachusetts Secretary of Education Paul Reville today officially appointed Dr. Sherri Killins as the Commissioner of Early Education and Care. The Board of Early Education and Care unanimously recommended Dr. Killins to the Secretary recently, after an extensive search and interview process that began over the summer. She is expected to assume the post on February 2, 2009.

“The Governor and I are firmly committed to early education and care as vital components of our work to transform public education in Massachusetts,” said Secretary Reville. “Sherri Killins has the experience, the knowledge, and the vision to lead our efforts to ensure all children are provided access to the services, support and education that will fully prepare them to take advantage of our comprehensive public education system and set them on the path toward achievement, success and lifelong learning.”

“I am thrilled that we will be bringing aboard a leader of the caliber of Sherri Killins,” said Sharon Scott-Chandler, who chairs the Board of Early Education and Care. “The Board was thoroughly impressed with Sherri’s professional experience, connections to community and commitment to children and families. We are confident that she is the right person to guide the department’s work into a broader comprehensive system of early education and care that is the envy of the nation.”

Dr. Killins has worked as an advocate for children and families in a variety of ways for more than 20 years, both as a provider of direct care and in leadership roles on issues relating to children and families. Since 2004, she has served as Vice President for Human Development and Operations at the Annie E. Casey Foundation, an organization that promotes “public policies, human-service reforms, and community supports that more effectively meet the needs of today’s vulnerable children and families.”

Prior to her work with the foundation, she served as the founding President/CEO of the New Haven Empowerment Zone, was a mayoral candidate in New Haven, Connecticut, and led operations and programs for both the Empowerment Zone Corporation and the Family Preservation Initiative of Baltimore.

Dr. Killins holds a nursing degree from the University of Pittsburgh, a master's of administrative science from Johns Hopkins University, and a doctorate in counseling psychology from the University of Sarasota.