Dr. Sherri Killins is the Commissioner of Early Education and Care for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Since 2009, Dr. Killins has provided leadership in designing and implementing a statewide method to define, measure and communicate quality called the Quality Rating and Improvement system for early education and care, out of school time in multiple environments including family childcare, public schools, center based, and Head Start. Dr. Killins has also positioned four statewide systems mental health, educator and provider supports, community family engagement and information and referral for early educators, children and their, families and providers of early education and out of school time services.
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. From 2006 to 2009, Dr. Killins has worked 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.” She held several roles in the Foundation. Her final position was serving as Vice President for Human Development and Operations.
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.
Since being appointed the Commissioner of Early Education and Care, Dr. Killins received her certificate from Harvard Graduate School of Education PreK-3rd: The Foundation for Educational Success Institute in 2010. Dr. Killins was appointed in 2011 to the Regional Advisory Committee under the U.S. Department of Education. Dr. Killins is the mother of three daughters.