Cynthia D. Jackson

Cynthia D. Jackson is dedicated to producing high quality early learning that achieves positive outcomes for children and parents. As Executive Director of the Educare Learning Network, Senior Vice President at Start Early: Champions for Early Learning (formerly The Ounce), she leads a generative, coast-to-coast network of 25 high quality birth-to-five schools that function as innovative learning hubs for the field of early childhood care and education. In collaboration with Educare Network leaders, and early childhood stakeholders, Cynthia advances practice, research, policy, and innovative solutions for greater positive system-wide impact.  She is devoted to dismantling inequitable systems of injustice to construct high quality equitable early childhood systems that create accessible opportunities for all. Previously she was national director of training and technical assistance for Healthy Families America, Prevent Child Abuse America and Director, Family Focus, Inc. Midwest Learning Center for Family Support. She holds a Master of Science in health education and counseling from the University of North Texas and Bachelor of Science in community and school health education from the University of Illinois, Urbana- Champaign.

The Ideal Learning Principles are aligned across many high-quality early care and education programs and approaches. These principles offer guidance for others in pursuit of professional, program and system development to ensure children and families experience rich high-quality early learning opportunities that position them for a lifetime of success. Rich experiences must start early; in the early years from birth to five.