Dee Dee Parker Wright

I have committed my career to helping families form strong attachments to ensure the best possible outcomes for children, particularly where difficulties create barriers to success. I have been Executive Director of Jubilee JumpStart since 2011 following 12 years in Head Start and 4 years at Children's Protective Services, all settings in which racial, socio-economic and language differences have increased the barriers the families faced. While at Jubilee JumpStart, I have led our efforts to achieving NAEYC accreditation twice, implementing a responsive and nurturing parent engagement program, and creating an organizational structure with coaching and development of teachers at its core. I know that children are healthier and can achieve more when they grow up surrounded by nurturing adults who are developing themselves. I strongly believe that building community and connection that best supports vulnerable children and their caregivers requires awareness, naming, and challenging of systems that are inherently and actively biased.