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President Obama's proposed budget for fiscal year 2017 provides a greater investment in child care and early learning programs, including increased funding for high-quality affordable child care, Head Start, the IDEA program for children with disabilities, home visiting programs, preschool development grants, and the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit. Read More from the White House >>

We have enthusiastically announced the growth of our Steering Committee with the addition of leadership from respected family-centric organizations. Executive Director, Jason Smith, believes the expansion of the Committee will strongly advance the organization’s mission. Mr. Smith cites, “We are thrilled to broaden our organization’s leadership team to include representation from highly respected organizations that bring both related experience and fresh thinking into our group. With the infusion of new perspectives, we aim to develop new and innovative public policy solutions to the challenges facing our state’s children and families.” Approved by the Steering Committee for membership are eight new members representing varying organizations that similarly seek to improve the lives of our community’s children. Representing Toledo Public Schools is Amy Allen, Ph.D. , transformational Leader of Early Childhood Education and Special Education. Having been a classroom teacher for ten years, as well as a member of the University of Toledo faculty for 15 years, Dr. Allen has a comprehensive understanding of both theory and practice in educational settings. The Ohio PTA has designated Jackie Arendt, their Director of Education, as their organization’s representative. In additional to her work with Ohio PTA, Jackie is an Adjunct Sociology Professor for Cuyahoga Community College and Cleveland State University. Jackie also serves as the Vice President of the North Royalton School District Board of Education. Chad Aldis, VP for Ohio Policy and Advocacy, will represent The Thomas B. Fordham Institute. Chad plans and leads Fordham’s Ohio policy, advocacy, and research agenda. He represents the Institute in its work with the media, state and local policy makers, other education reform groups, and the public. Jacqueline Kirby Wilkins, Ph.D., Regional Director, Associate Chair Northeast Ohio from the The Ohio State University Extension will be adding insights to the new team as well. Dr. Kirby Wilkins is highly involved in the Family Policy and Education and Enrichment section of the national Council on Family Relations. Her research interests include parenting, family policy, and improving business efficiency and effectiveness. Representing the American Academy of Pediatrics is Chief Executive Officer, Ohio Chapter, Melissa Wervery Arnold. In her current role, Melissa provides leadership to the Chapter and its membership, as well as serves as Executive Director of Ohio AAP Foundation and Ohio Pediatricians PAC. During her tenure, the Ohio AAP has increased its operating revenue by over 800%, and has been established a successful lobbying program that has secured better reimbursement for physicians, as well as advocated for the passage of various child health legislation. Nancy Santilli, Superintendent of Kenston Local Schools, will represent BASA (Buckeye Association of School Administrators) on the board. As an administrator of a public school district, her primary role is being a leader for both staff and students to develop a sound, research-based educational program. Rounding out the new inductees is David Smith, Executive Director of Horizon Education Centers and President of OACCP (Ohio Association of Child Care Providers)—which he represents on the committee. Mr. Smith has been a leader in early childhood education and afterschool policy on the state and national level, serving as chairman of the Ohio Afterschool Network, president of the Ohio Association of Child Care Providers, and member of the Ohio Child Care Advisory Council and the Governor’s Early Childhood Advisory Board and the National Board of the Early Care and Education Consortium.

Our Executive Director... JASON SMITH Jason ensures that Groundwork consistently achieves its mission and leads a statewide advocacy effort to achieve the organization’s strategic goals. Prior to joining Groundwork, Jason served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for the Superintendent of Columbus City Schools, Ohio's largest school district with over 50,000 students, a $1.3 billion operating budget, and over 10,000 total employees. He advised and collaborated with the Superintendent and Board of Education in the development of the district’s vision, goals, budget and strategic plan. As an ambassador, responsible for establishing and maintaining relationships with education stakeholders, business partners, and elected officials at every level of government, his leadership experience and relationship-building skills enabled him to successfully establish and meet goals within a complex, diverse network of internal and external stakeholder groups to benefit the school district. Previously, Jason also served in Governor Ted Strickland's administration as the Legislation Director at the Ohio Department of Taxation—successfully advocating for issues critical to state and federal tax policy and economic development initiatives. In this capacity, he also utilized his skills as a manager, communicator, and coalition-builder to lead his legislative team in the expansion of several tax policy initiatives and economic development programs. Such accomplishments included the expansion of the state’s job retention, venture capital, and historic building tax credit programs. Jason attended Northwestern University’s School of Continuing Studies where he earned his Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Administration. Jason is also an alum of Western Kentucky University where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in History and Government. >> Find Jason on Linked In ​ Our Policy Associate... DEVIN KEITHLEY Prior to joining Groundwork, Devin worked as a Senior Research Associate for Community Research Partners, a nonprofit research center based in Columbus that works to strengthen communities through data, information, and knowledge. He conducted surveys and focus groups, collected and analyzed secondary data, created maps and infographics, and designed and authored research reports for a wide variety of government and nonprofit clients—including the Early Learning and Development County Profiles for the Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association. Specializing in indicators and benchmarking, Devin led the Benchmarking Central Ohio project for the Columbus Foundation and the Columbus Partnership, and the Global Report for the Columbus Council on World Affairs. He also served as the liaison to the Urban Institute’s National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership.Devin is also as a freelance graphic designer. Previously, he worked as a Senior Graphic Designer for NAVTEQ (currently known as HERE), a provider of geographic information systems data and content for electronic navigable maps, and as a Production Assistant for the World Bank. Devin has a Master’s Degree in City and Regional Planning from The Ohio State University as well as Master’s Degree in Geography from The George Washington University. He also earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Geography with a double minor in International Relations and German from Bucknell University. >> Find Devin on Linked In