It’s early… our luncheon is February 6th! Please join us as Sarintha Stricklin, Executive Director of the Jefferson Ready Start Network, discusses our community’s need to improve opportunities and inspire change for children from birth to 5
Sarintha Stricklin, Executive Director of the Jefferson Ready Start Network
Register for the Feb 6th Luncheon Here
Dr. Sarintha Stricklin, Executive Director of the Jefferson Ready Start Network (JRSN), has worked in early care and education for over 30 years as a faculty member, administrator, policy advisor, consultant, trainer, coach, and teacher. In her capacity as Executive Director for JRSN, she oversees a portfolio of over $14 million in grants and projects that support direct services, and professional development for leaders and teachers, and leads agency efforts to coordinate, evaluate, and enhance the quality of publicly funded programs in Jefferson Parish.
Through engagement and partnerships with families, educators, and the community, Dr. Stricklin leads the work of a broad coalition of thought partners within JRSN who are collaborating to create a culture of high-quality, comprehensive early childhood services accessible to families of all income levels. This year, JRSN has had great success in their initial efforts of improving the accessibility and quality of our early childhood education. In September, the network was awarded additional funding to increase enrollment of infants and toddlers into publicly funded seats. These seats allow children in families who are economically disadvantaged to attend high-quality partner programs in Jefferson. In June the Jefferson Parish Council continued its partnership with JRSN by allocating $275,000 for seats for 2023-2024, which has been matched dollar-for-dollar by the Louisiana Early Education Fund.
Dr. Stricklin earned her Bachelor of Science and Masters of Education from Tulane University, and a Doctorate in Education from the University of New Orleans. During her 20 years as a faculty member in the LSU Health Sciences Center Early Intervention Institute, she conducted research on effective practices in early education, served as the Managing Editor for the Journal of Early Intervention, and served on numerous national boards including the International Division for Early Childhood. Dr. Stricklin volunteers her time to numerous community organizations including service on the Board of Directors for the Metropolitan Human Services District and the Plaquemines Parish Community CARE Center Foundation. Throughout her career, Dr. Stricklin has been incredibly active in organizations supporting young children with special needs and their families including past service to the Board of Directors for Families Helping Families of Southeast Louisiana, Board of Directors for Families Helping Families of Louisiana, on the Research Committee for the International Division for Early Childhood Council for Exceptional Children, as a member of the Comprehensive System of Personnel Development for Louisiana State Interagency Coordinating Council, and as the National Membership Chair on the Board of Directors for the International Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children.
Dr. Stricklin is a recognized expert in early childhood education, and countless organizations have leveraged her talents as a speaker, trainer, mentor, workshop host, and more. Her work has been published in many industry journals, used in college programs on early childhood education, and referenced by the media when discussing Louisiana’s early childhood education crisis. Dr. Stricklin is a CLASS Affiliate Trainer and Credentialed Coach, a Teaching Strategies GOLD Credentialed Trainer, and a Frog Street Curriculum Implementation Trainer. She continues her work in early education research by continuing her service as an Editorial Board Member and Peer Reviewer for the Journal of Early Intervention. She recently was named a 2024 Biz New Orleans 500 – an influential, involved, and inspiring business leader.