Ky.gov

Leadership

The Kentucky Governor's Office of Early Childhood (GOEC) and the Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC) serve as the State Advisory Council for Early Childhood Care and Education. 

We are charged with promoting the vision for Kentucky's early childhood system and advocating for improved quality of early childhood services in order to increase the number of Kentucky children who reach kindergarten ready to succeed and thrive in school and life. 

We do this by working across cabinets to strengthen existing state systems and encouraging collaboration and cooperation to improve early childhood programs. The office works alongside numerous departments, agencies, state, and local organizations.  Departments, agencies, and state and local organizations such as: 

Portrait of Amanda Flanary.
Amanda Flanary
Family/Community Engagement Specialist

Portrait of Denise Gray.
Denise Gray
Director of Communications

Portrait of Brenda Hagan.
Brenda Hagan
Apprenticeship and Transitions Manager

Portrait of Amy Neal.
Amy Neal
Executive Director

Portrait of Savannah Propst.
Savannah Propst
Administrative Assistant III

Portrait of Amanda Riley.
Amanda Riley
Budget Analyst

Portrait of Sally Shepherd.
Sally Shepherd
Deputy Executive Director State Head Start Collaboration Director

Portrait of Juanita Webb.
Juanita Webb
Professional Development Manager

​The Advisory Council Members

The Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC) meets quarterly on the third Thursday. Meetings usually occur in Frankfort, Kentucky from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. During each meeting, the Advisory Council advises on early care and the early education system statewide.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please call Savannah Propst at 502-782-0200 or email her at savannahl.propst@ky.gov.

Portrait of Kevin C. Brown.
Kevin C. Brown
Interim Commissioner Kentucky Department of Education
Portrait of Twila Burdette.
Twila Burdette
Rockcastle Early Childhood Education Council Child Development Center Director
Portrait of Travis Burton.
Travis Burton
Director of Political Affairs, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
Portrait of Danny Carroll.
Danny Carroll
Kentucky State Senate, District 2
Portrait of Jacqueline Coleman.
Jacqueline Coleman
Lt. Governor, Secretary, Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet
Portrait of Anita Dowd.
Anita Dowd
Executive Staff Advisor, Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet
Portrait of Amy Duvall.
Amy Duvall
Past Citizen Member Warren Co. Board of Education Member
Portrait of Kim Fithian.
Kim Fithian
Head Start/Early Head Start Director, Ohio Valley Education Cooperative
Portrait of Eric Friedlander.
Eric Friedlander
Secretary, Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Portrait of Paula Goff.
Paula Goff
Branch Manager, Department of Public Health, Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Portrait of Amy Hood.
Amy Hood
Infant/Toddler & Early Childhood Specialist for Training and Technical Assistance Services, Western Kentucky University
Portrait of Amy Neal.
Amy Neal
Executive Director, Kentucky Governor’s Office of Early Childhood
Portrait of Tamara Parker.
Tamara Parker
Past Sector Member; Fulton Co. Schools, Special Education
Portrait of John Roden.
John Roden
Chair, Early childhood Advisory Council
Portrait of Sally Shepherd.
Sally Shepherd
Kentucky’s State Head Start Collaboration Director, Governor’s Office of Early Childhood
Portrait of Amy Smith.
Amy Smith
Principal and Preschool Coordinator, Pulaski County Schools
Portrait of Sarah Vanover.
Sarah Vanover
Division Director, Department for Community Based Services, Cabinet for Health and Family Services