Holcomb Appoints Searles To Early Learning Advisory Committee
Staff Report
INDIANAPOLIS — Gov. Eric Holcomb on Monday, June 13, announced the appointment of Sherry Searles to the statewide Early Learning Advisory Committee.
Searles is the child care and early learning coalition director for LaunchPad with the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce.
Searles joined the chamber staff in October 2018 to oversee the Childcare & Early Learning Coalition, now known as LaunchPad, for the purpose of helping families in the county access high-quality and affordable child care/early learning options.
The chamber said on it’s Facebook page that it was thrilled with Searles’ appointment
Rob Parker, executive director of the chamber, said he believes the governor’s office has picked up on the success Searles has seen with LaunchPad.
When Searles arrived, the community was seeing a decline in the amount of child care capacity available in Kosciusko County.
That’s been reversed.
“We’re seeing an increment of 100-125 seats added every single year she’s been on board,” Parker said. “She’s in year four and I think we’re up about 600 seats … We’re growing child care capacity in Kosciusko County.”
Much of that has involved “first and foremost,” school districts that have welcomed support to provide child care for employees, he said.
He also credited the roles of United Way, Kosciusko County Community Foundation and area businesses.
While other communities have started initiatives to address child care, Parker said he believes the chamber’s involvement is unique in Indiana.
“We are the only one that has really pushed and said this is a workforce issue. That’s why it’s housed at the chamber,” Parker said.
Searles is the former director of Manchester Early Learning Center and a former teacher for Warsaw Community Schools. She has a Bachelor of Science in early childhood education and is a certified HighScope teacher and trainer.
Searles will serve a three-year term with the ELAC, which will end on June 30, 2025.
Other new appointments to the ELAC include Erin Donovan, New Castle, Lisa Johnson, Hammond, Rob Moorhead, Aurora, and Maureen Weber, Indianapolis. Reappointments to the ELAC by Holcomb include Tonia Carriger, Indianapolis and Betsy Delgado, Carmel.
ELAC is working to ensure that children ages birth to 8 years and their families have access to affordable, high-quality early childhood education programs that keep children healthy, safe and learning.
The Governor appoints ELAC committee members who offer guidance and input to the Governor’s Office and Indiana General Assembly.
The panel meets several times a year at various locations across the state. Their work includes reports from workgroups, updates on state and local-funded early learning projects, and presentations from key stakeholders. The Committee hears and votes on recommendations from workgroups and other stakeholders during these meetings.
Staff Reporter Dan Spalding contributed to this report.