ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD
Koya Partners is partnering with the Office of Governor JB Pritzker in the search for the inaugural Secretary to lead the newly formed Department of Early Childhood.
Following the passage of Senate Bill 1, Governor JB Pritzker will soon sign into law a bill that launches the formation of a new state agency, the Department of Early Childhood. With an initial transition budget of $14 million the Department will be responsible for childcare and early childhood programs and operations which are currently managed by the state’s Department of Human Services, the Illinois State Board of Education, and the Department of Children and Family Services starting July 1, 2026. In the interim, the Department will be focused on leading the effort to redesign the state’s system of early learning services while planning for the transition of programs from the legacy agencies and building internal bureaucratic capacity.
Reporting to the Deputy Governor of Education, the Secretary will continue the work of making early childhood services in Illinois simpler, better, and fairer.
In fiscal year 2025, the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) will serve as the temporary fiscal agent for the Department of Early Childhood. Given the two-year transition with the legacy agencies and DHS’ role as temporary fiscal agent, the Secretary will also work closely with the Deputy Governor for Health and Human Services.
Prior to the establishment of the Department, the Illinois State Board of Education hired a Transition Director to lead a Transition Team to set the foundation for the creation of the Department. The team included leaders from state agencies, local and national consultants, and external experts. In partnership with the Transition Director, who will report to the Secretary, the Secretary will oversee the continued integration of early childhood programs from various existing agencies into a unified new department, aimed at advancing early childhood systems in Illinois.
Key to the success of the Department will be this responsibility of building and maintaining effective partnerships with external stakeholders and fostering a positive, responsive agency culture to meet the needs of children, families, and early care and education providers across the state.
VISION
A tactical leader with a proven record of experience in state and/or federal government, this leader will come to the role not only with expertise and credibility in the early childhood space but also with desire to examine assumptions in order to reimagine a better way to serve families with young children. In order to continue to make Illinois the best state in the country to raise young children, this leader will demonstrate a commitment to a collaborative approach with their peers in state government and the many constituents and partners throughout Illinois invested in the success of the Department of Early Childhood.
CRITICAL PRIORITIES
The Secretary will work closely with the Governor’s Office, state agencies, local governments, community organizations, and other stakeholders to ensure that Illinois' youngest residents receive high-quality early learning experiences that lay a strong foundation for their future success.
Expectations and priorities for the Secretary of the Department of Early Childhood include, but are not limited to:
- Collaborating with a wide range of constituents including parents, educators, early childhood providers, policymakers, advocacy organizations, and business leaders to build partnerships and support for early childhood initiatives.
- Building the internal bureaucratic foundations of the new Department of Early Childhood and managing the state’s effort to redesign programs and services to make them simpler, fairer, and better.
- Directing the operations and hiring the leadership team of for the agency, resulting in an initial staff of approximately 30 individuals. The size of the agency will grow to several hundred when programs officially transfer to the new Department on July 1, 2026, which is the beginning of Illinois’ fiscal year for 2027.
- Overseeing and managing departmental operations, policies and programs, including the development and execution of a departmental mission and vision in alignment with the Governor’s Office.
- Working closely with the Secretary and the COS of the IDHS as the fiscal agent to ensure sound operations during the transition and smooth transfer to the new Department.
- Promoting innovative approaches to early childhood programs, education, and care that meet the diverse needs of Illinois’ children and families.
- Taking an equity-driven approach to strengthen services, programs, policies, and funding for children.
- Using a data-driven approach to develop policies, budgetary and fiscal requirements, and management strategies necessary to create, adjust, or sustain the agency's administrative goals and procedures for effective program delivery at a statewide level.
- Providing leadership to the ongoing development and implementation of an equity-driven strategic plan that provides direction and priority to the work of the agency.
- Facilitating a partnership between the Department and other State Agencies that serve children and families to ensure a continuity of care and support for children. Embracing change management with a transparent and communicative approach.
- Establishing, maintaining and enhancing effective working relationships with external stakeholders including legislators and organizational partners.
- Fostering an agency culture that is collaborative, diplomatic, and that promotes innovation and creative problem-solving.
- Serving as the primary spokesperson for the Department, representing the state’s early childhood policies and programs to the public, media and legislature.
- Developing and promoting a high-performing team by focusing on recruiting and retaining top talent, offering guidance, coaching, and professional development to direct reports. Establishing a clear vision for the department characterized by collaboration, transparency, and learning opportunities.
- Cultivating strong relationships with the State Legislature, unions and external partners, and overseeing the Department’s response to proposed legislation and programs.
COMPENSATION
The annual salary for this role is set at $214,988 established by the State Legislature.
The State provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. We actively foster a culture of inclusion and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply.
CONTACT
Koya Partners, the executive search firm that specializes in mission-driven search, has been exclusively retained for this engagement. Marissa Delgado and George Theotokatos of Koya Partners will be leading the search process. To express interest in this role please submit your materials here or email directly at [email protected]. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.
ABOUT KOYA PARTNERS
Koya Partners, a part of Diversified Search Group, is a leading executive search and strategic advising firm dedicated to connecting exceptionally talented people with mission-driven clients. Our founding philosophy—The Right Person in the Right Place Can Change the World—guides our work as we partner with nonprofits & NGOs, institutions of higher education, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.
For more information about Koya Partners, visit www.koyapartners.com.