restructuring OEL harvests efficiencies...
by Stacy Howard, Contributing Editor, Consumer Affairs.
The Office of Early Learning (OEL) is benefiting from a recent decision to restructure how we do business. To improve efficiency and effectiveness, Director Brittany Birken mapped out a new way to organize the teams that make up OEL. This plan streamlines business to improve communication. The restructuring created new teams and shifted others to create efficiencies.
OEL is located in two buildings on the south and east of the Capitol complex in downtown Tallahassee. The Director’s Office; Consumer Affairs; and Program, Research, and Policy are located in the Caldwell Building at 107 E. Madison Street. Financial Administration and Budget Services, Accountability, and Project Management are located across the street in the Holland Building at 600 South Calhoun Street.
We’ve highlighted each team and provided team contact information so our customers can contact appropriate OEL staff for any questions or concerns. If you are unsure of whom to contact, please call our main line at 850-921-3180. A call center specialist will be happy to direct your question to the appropriate team.
Executive Management
Brittany Birken, Ph.D., Director 850-921-3198
Matt Guse, Assistant Director 850-921-3165
Program, Research, and Policy
John Hughes, Ph.D., Manager 850-921-3471
- Assists implementation of the School Readiness (SR), Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK), and Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) programs
- Promulgates rules and policies for program implementation and oversees the coalition program plans
- Provides data and research to inform policy and programmatic decisions.
Accountability
Stephanie Gehres, C.P.A., Manager 850-921-3177
- Promotes SR, VPK, and CCR&R program compliance and effectiveness.
- Ensures compliance with federal and state guidelines, assess program outcomes, and identifies opportunities for improved services to Florida’s families and children through reviews of each coalition.
- Conducts reviews of coalition performance. eligibility determination and fraud prevention, and quality assurance. Analyzes and checks all reported facts for accuracy and relevancy.
Consumer Affairs
Stacy Howard, M.S., CFLE, Manager 850-921-3468
- One-stop location for information. Operates as the communication hub for OEL.
- Coordinates statewide training, guides product development, coordinates the Early Learning Advisory Council (ELAC) meetings. Includes eight Technical Assistance (TA) Coordinators.
- Provides provide training and technical assistance to coalition and service provider staff through TA Coordinator.
- Ensures up-to-date and accurate information delivery to internal and external stakeholders. Works closely with partners including Department of Children and Families (DCF), Department of Education (DOE), Department of Health (DOH), Florida State University (FSU) Center for Prevention and Early Intervention Policy, early learning coalitions, and families.
Financial Administration and Budget Services
Thomas Imholt, M.S., Financial Administration Manager
850-921-3174
Bill Ammons, Budget Services Manager 850-921-3131
- Provides oversight to coalitions about the OEL budget and procurements.
- Oversees coalition financial status.
- Processes payments for services provided and monitors expenditures.
- Provides management of statewide contracts.
Project Management
Khalil Zeinieh, MBA, Manager 850-294-2709
- Administers key OEL projects including Early Learning Information System (ELIS), Child Care Executive Partnership (CCEP), Even Start, and Single Point of Entry/Unified Wait List using sound project management principles, processes, and standards.
- Facilitates and coordinates OEL and coalition Business Process and Quality Improvement recommendations and related projects.
- Develops and implements statewide early learning performance measures.
