Durham PreK Governance Committee
The Durham PreK Governance Committee serves to provide vision and direction to the Durham County preschool expansion effort. In June 2018, Durham County Commissioners voted to support and fund the creation of a system designed to expand opportunities for all 4-year-old children in Durham to attend high-quality early learning programs. Durham PreK focuses on providing families access to preschool programs meeting the highest standards for early learning. The Governance Committee is involved in advising and approving plans, strategies, standards and policies for Durham PreK. Content-specific advisory committees with wider membership/participation support particular focus areas requiring more intensive engagement and input. The intent of the Governance Committee and its advisory committees is to establish an inclusive, community-driven initiative that will enhance public will and engagement and strengthen the resulting system of preschool services developed through the initiative.
Recent Updates
Due to COVID-19, the Durham PreK Governance Committee voted on August 19, 2021 to waive parent fees for the 2021-2022 school year.
Meetings
The Durham PreK program is governed by the NC Child Care Rules, the NC open meetings law, the NC public records law, the NC State Board of Education Policy (Educator Licensure and Teacher Evaluation), the NC Pre-K Program Requirements & Guidance Manual, the NC Foundations for Early Learning and Development and the NC Pre-K Program Fiscal and Contracts Manual, and the Durham PreK Program Requirements. These documents may be downloaded from the Division of Child Development and Early Education website and the Durham PreK website. Meetings will be livestreamed for public viewing on YouTube. Please check below for the link at the start of each scheduled meeting.
March 17, 2022 Livestream Link
Click the link below to join our livestream for the Governance Committee meeting.
Past Recordings
View our Governance Committee Playlist on our YouTube channel.

Dr. Iheoma Iruka
Governance Committee Chair
Research Professor of Public Policy; Fellow and Early Childhood Health and Racial Equity Program Director, FPG

Leigh Bordley
Vice-Chair
Executive Director, LEAP Academy

Dr. Wykeshia Glass
Secretary
Assistant Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Human Sciences at North Carolina Central University


Deric Boston
Director of Durham Head Start

Xavier Cason
Durham Public Schools Foundation Director of Community Schools and School Transformation

Cathy Collie-Robinson
Early Childhood Program Director, Durham Technical Community College

Dr. Anna Gassman-Pines
Associate Professor at Duke University, Sanford School of Public Policy and Associate Director of the Center for Child and Family Policy

Claudia Hager
Durham County Manager

Dr. Nakia Hardy
Deputy Superintendent of Durham Public Schools

Sharon Hirsch
CEO & President, Prevent Child Abuse NC

Michelle Lyn
Chief of the Duke Division of Community Health, Community & Family Medicine Department;
Co-Director of Duke Center for Community and Population Health Improvement;
and Leadership Faculty for the Duke-Johnson & Johnson Nurse Leadership Program

Karen McLeod
Program Supervisor for Care Coordinator for Children, Durham County Public Health

Beth Messersmith
Mom’s Rising

Michael D. Page
Board Chair, Durham's Partnership for Children

Ben Rose
Director of Durham County Social Services

June Shillito
Director of Yates Baptist Child Development Center

Darnella Warthen
Owner and Director of A New Beginning I, II, III and IV
Non-Voting Members

Marsha Basloe
President of CCSA

Dr. Linda Chappel
Senior Vice President of CCSA

Drew Cummings
Chief of Staff, Durham County

Cate Elander
Durham County Early Childhood Coordinator at Durham County Government

Danielle Johnson
Executive Director of Durham’s Partnership for Children
Non-Voting Resource Members

Brittany K Gregory
MPA, Durham’s Partnership for Children, Director of Programs

Monnie Griggs
Child Care Services Association, Senior Director of Quality Enhancement Initiatives for Early Learning

Dr. Marina Mendoza
Child Care Services Association, Senior Director for Scholarship Program

Melinda Rodriguez
Child Care Services Association, Administrative Manager

Jena Fuchs
Child Care Services Association, Sr. Manager, Durham PreK
Governance Meeting Agendas and Notes
All agendas, approved notes, and recordings (when available) for the Durham PreK Governance Committee Meetings will be posted below by date.