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DEL News
Jan. 12, 2009
Gov. Gregoire names Karen Tvedt as DEL interim director
OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire today named longtime children’s policy expert Karen Tvedt to serve as interim director for the Department of Early Learning (DEL) until a permanent replacement for founding director Jone Bosworth is appointed.
Tvedt’s appointment is effective immediately.
“Karen has dedicated her career to serving children and families, and I am very pleased she has agreed to serve as DEL’s interim director,” Gregoire said. “I know she will continue DEL’s vital mission of helping ensure all Washington children enter kindergarten ready to succeed.”
“I’m honored that the Governor has asked me to help continue the important work at DEL,” Tvedt said. “I am looking forward to working with DEL staff and partners to make sure we continue to make children a top priority in our state.”
Tvedt served as executive director of the Early Learning Council, a part of Gov. Gregoire’s Washington Learns Steering Committee created to study and improve education. In that role, Tvedt directed work to make recommendations to the Governor and Legislature on improving early learning outcomes for young children in Washington. Among the Early Learning Council recommendations was the creation of a Governor’s Cabinet-level state agency devoted to early learning.
Tvedt also has served as a policy division director for the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Child Care Bureau, and as chief of the state Office of Child Care Policy when child care licensing was housed within the Department of Social and Health Services. She has worked directly with children and families as the director of a child care center in Seattle, as well as a family home child care provider. Most recently, she has worked under contract as a consultant to the Child Care Policy and Research Consortium, part of the federal Administration on Children and Families within DHHS.
Tvedt has a doctorate in Social Work and Social Research from Portland State University and a Master of Public Administration from The Evergreen State College.
DEL has about 200 staff members in 19 offices around the state. The agency is responsible for child care licensing, Washington’s state-funded preschool program (the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program, or ECEAP) and other initiatives and programs to ensure Washington children are school-ready. DEL began operation on July 1, 2006.
The DEL 2007-2009 budget is $334.7 million, which includes state and federal funds.
Founding director Bosworth announced her resignation in December 2008. Her last day in the office was Jan. 9.
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The Washington State Department of Early Learning is a Governor’s Cabinet-level state agency created in 2006 to bring heightened visibility and focus to early learning and help all Washington children reach their full potential. DEL oversees the state-funded comprehensive preschool program, child care licensing, and other initiatives and programs to support parents as children’s first and most important teachers. For more information, visit the DEL Web site at www.del.wa.gov.
For more information:
DEL Communications Manager Amy Blondin
360.725.4919 (office)
360.878.0628 (cell)
amy.blondin@del.wa.gov