David Jacobson is the director of EDC’s First 10 initiative, which supports a national network of school-early childhood-community partnerships. First 10 brings together schools, early childhood programs, and community agencies in local partnerships to improve outcomes for children ages birth through 10 and their families. Through the First 10 network, Jacobson has built a community of practice to share lessons learned and best practices. Jacobson brings deep experience in early childhood education, school improvement, applied research, strategic planning, and a commitment to addressing inequality to his work leading First 10.

Jacobson is the author of All Children Learn and Thrive: Building First 10 Schools and Communities, a 2019 report funded by the Heising-Simons Foundation, which presents findings on coordinated efforts to improve teaching, learning, and care during the first decade of children’s lives.

In a variety of publications, Jacobson has advanced the knowledge of community-school partnerships, bipartisan education priorities, building state P–3 systems, and professional learning communities.

Jacobson holds a BA in History and an MA in Philosophy from Brown University and a PhD in Sociology from the University of Chicago.

Lee Anne Larsen is the Director of Early Learning in Maine’s Department of Education. Holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and Family Studies, a Master’s in Elementary Education and a CAS in Literacy Education, she has over 30 years of experience in early childhood and early elementary sectors, particularly school and community-based literacy education efforts in the birth-grade 5 span. In her current position, she coordinates state level initiatives related to early learning and develops policy and technical assistance to support early care and education improvement efforts that focus on whole-child development.

Sue Gallant is the First 10 Community Schools Specialist on the Early Learning Team at the Maine Department of Education. Sue holds a BS in Special Education and Elementary Education from the University of Maine at Farmington, and studied Early Childhood Education at Endicott University. She has over 30 years experience teaching in the Pre-K through grade 3 age span, with a focus on providng inclusive opportunities in the public school setting. Sue became involved with First 10 as the Pre-K Coordinator in a public Pre-K program that operated in collaboration with the local Head Start agency. In her current postion she supports school administrative units across the state as they join with community partners to build a system of support for children and families from birth to age ten.