Dear Parents & Guardians,
As 2018 winds down, it allows us to reflect on the past year, both the accomplishments we’ve made as an organization – which should be celebrated – and the things we could improve upon, change, or enhance.
I am excited to share an important update with you regarding a restructuring of our staffing plan and the creation of a new position
.
We have accomplished so much, especially in the face of severe challenges such as 48 flooding in January and staff vacancies this fall. I am proud of our work together and as I look to all we’ve accomplished in our second year of Vision125 strategic plan implementation, it is clear what is needed to further enhance in our work.
Our plan is guided by our 4 Strategic Priorities:
- Evolve program model to achieve mission and theory of change
- Demonstrate impact of our work with children and their parents/caregivers
- Create state-of-the art facilities that achieves our vision and mission
- Build a financially sustainable future for USES.
In my reflection,
I have identified that we need to put more resources and attention to Priority 2 because evaluating our impact is critical to having the best possible success in meeting our mission and providing top quality programming
.
Therefore, we will be making a change in our staffing structure to bring the necessary experience and focus to this priority.
To this end, I have tapped Julie Burkley, to step into a new role as Senior Director of Impact, Evaluation and Learning effective February 2019.
In this role, she will leverage her expertise to lead USES’s efforts related to implementing our impact, evaluation, and learning initiatives. Julie’s deep knowledge and work in our programs will ensure the programs are demonstrating impact and evolving as needed, utilizing data to inform program changes and innovation, and further building a culture of learning. She and Marcie Bilodeau, our Database & Evaluation Manager, will make up this department, moving this exciting and critical work forward. We are being thoughtful with our transition plan so that our new Director of ECE & OST, Kaiti Coffin, can onboard smoothly as she begins January 2.
On Thursday, January 3 from 8-10am,
we warmly welcome all USES families to come and have coffee with Kaiti as you are dropping your children off at the front desk. Please join us and also reach out to Kaiti if you are not able to attend, as she is looking forward to meeting the USES community!
We will begin the search process for the Vice President of Programs immediately, and will aim to involve many of you who will work closely with this person into the search process.
Please join me in congratulating Julie in this important leadership opportunity, and as always feel free to reach out to me directly with any thoughts or questions.
Wishing you a very happy holiday season!
As a reminder, we will be closed on January 1.
Warmly
Maicharia Z. Weir Lytle
