BOSTON — Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler swore in two new members appointed by Governor Maura Healey to the Board of Early Education and Care, Dr. Kimberly D. Lucas and Jennifer James Price, who attended the first Board meeting of the year this week. Lucas will serve as an expert in the evaluation and assessment of successful preschool education programs and Price will serve as member at-large. The Board of Early Education and Care sets policies and regulations related to the state’s early education and care programs and services.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Lucas and Jennifer James Price to the Board of Early Education and Care. Their unique backgrounds in education, policy, research and workforce partnerships will strengthen our ongoing efforts to promote accessible and affordable early education and care across Massachusetts,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “It was an honor to swear them in and I look forward to our work together ahead.”
“Dr. Lucas and Jennifer James Price bring invaluable experiences and perspectives to the Board of Early Education and Care that will be essential as we continue to transform our early education and care system. We made significant, nation leading efforts this past year, but still have much more work to do. I am grateful to Dr. Lucas and Ms. Price for their willingness to serve at this critical time for the early education and care field, and look forward to continued partnership with the Board on the important work ahead,” said Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw.
“I am delighted to welcome Dr. Lucas and Jennifer Price to our team. Their expertise and dedication to advancing early childhood education will be instrumental as we continue to strengthen our systems and ensure that every child and family in Massachusetts has access to high-quality care. Their unique perspectives will further enhance our ability to support the workforce that plays such a critical role in our Commonwealth’s future,” said Paul Belsito, Chair of the Board of Early Education and Care.
“Young children and their families are the Commonwealth’s future, and early childhood professionals are the engine that keeps our Commonwealth running. I’m excited to return to public service as part of EEC’s Board. I’m thankful to Governor Healey for providing me with this opportunity to bring my expertise as a researcher to serve alongside amazing leaders from across Massachusetts who represent families, those who work directly in the early childhood field, and those who support our early childhood systems. Commissioner Kershaw and the EEC staff have been working hard to create early childhood systems that work for all, and I am fired up and ready to join them,” said Dr. Lucas.
“A strong early childhood workforce is critical to supporting Massachusetts employers’ needs, families’ economic mobility, and larger economy. I am thrilled to join the Early Education and Care Board to provide input and engage with the Healey-Driscoll administration, early childhood programs, employers, and stakeholders on ways to build partnerships with Community Colleges to grow and strengthen our early education workforce,” said Jennifer James Price.
Learn more about the Board of Early Education and Care and the members’ full bios.
Dr. Kimberly Lucas
Dr. Kimberly Lucas is a Professor of the Practice in Public Policy and Economic Justice at the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs at Northeastern University. As the former Director of Civic Research for the City of Boston and Interim Executive Director at MetroLab Network, and in her current position at Northeastern University, Lucas is committed to innovation in government-university collaborations and in making research, data, and design accessible and equitable to meet community needs. Lucas’s research focuses on early childhood policy, and their professional experience includes over a decade of civic innovation in community-engaged research and data focused on the child care market and early childhood systems change.
Jennifer James Price
Jennifer James Price currently leads the newly formed Employer Relations Division at North Shore Community College (NSCC) as Assistant Vice President, prioritizing new relationships with local employers and playing a crucial role in aligning programming to local market demand. Prior to joining NSCC, Jenn served as the Undersecretary of Workforce Development for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD). In her role at EOLWD, she was responsible for the development and oversight of major state and federal workforce development programs and funding streams. As Undersecretary, Jenn brought together industry leaders in priority sectors to create statewide partnerships with education and workforce partners focused on industry hiring needs and talent pipelines. She also led critical cross-agency initiatives to address “cliff effects” in employment and economic mobility opportunities for families and individuals receiving public benefits.
