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Welcoming New Members to the State Advisory Council

Three closeups and one panoramic photo of people attending the April SAC meeting in person

On March 27, Vermont’s Early Childhood State Advisory Council (SAC) gathered in person for the first time since 2019 to build relationships among members and deepen our understanding of the SAC’s charge and SAC members’ roles. At the meeting, we also marked several transitions in membership. Ilisa Stalberg of the Vermont Department of Health took on the role of Public Co-Chair; Janet McLaughlin, formerly an at-large member, became a public designated member in her new role at the Child Development Division of the Vermont Department for Children and Families (DCF); and Carol Lang-Godin, Executive Director of the Lamoille Family Center and a member of the Vermont Parent Child Center Network, stepped into an at-large seat.

The March 27 SAC meeting recording is now available.

The SAC is the state’s Governor-appointed, primary advisory body on the well-being of children from the prenatal period through age 8 and their families, informing the Governor, Administration, and Legislature on early childhood policy and systems improvements. The SAC brings together early childhood leaders and decision-makers from across sectors to better coordinate and enhance services for young children. The Council is composed of 26 members, including seven public designated members, two legislators, 14 at-large members, and three non-voting members.

The current SAC members are:

Designated Members (and Representing Agency)
Ilisa Stalberg, Public Co-Chair – VT Department of Health
Renee Kelly, Secretary – Head Start Collaboration Office
Shayla Livingston – Agency of Human Services
Janet McLaughlin – DCF Child Development Division
Meg Porcella (interim) – Agency of Education
Jessica Vintinner – Agency of Commerce
Cheryle Wilcox – Department of Mental Health

Appointed Members
Representative Jessica Brumsted – Vermont House
Senator Ruth Hardy – Vermont Senate

At-Large Members (and Representing Organization)
Flor Diaz Smith, Private Co-Chair – Vermont School Boards Association
Libby Daghlian – Parent Representative
Xusana Davis – Vermont Office of Racial Equity
Paul Dragon – Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity
Lexi Duquette – Parent Representative
Eddie Gale – A.D. Henderson Foundation
Dimitri Garder – Global-Z International
Sharon Harrington (interim) – VT Association for the Education of Young Children
Carol Lang-Godin – Lamoille Family Center
Mike McRaith – Vermont Principals’ Association
Dr. Ashley Miller – South Royalton Health Center
Christy Swenson – Head Start Representative
Rebecca Webb – Act 166 Coordinator/Special Education
Heather Wilcoxon – Health Care and Rehabilitation Services

Non-Voting Members
Aryka Radke – DCF Family Services Division
Kendal Smith – Governor’s Office
Miranda Gray – DCF Economic Services Division

Learn more about who is serving on the SAC by reviewing the bios of the current members.

There is no SAC meeting in April. The next meeting, on Monday, May 22, will focus on the Vermont Early Childhood Action Plan and will serve as the annual VECAP Summit. View the agenda for the May 22 SAC meeting or register here.

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