A little about Jenn O’Connor

Jenn leads both the early childhood team, setting direction and goals for the work, and external relations, ensuring strong relationships with grassroots organizations, coalitions, and statewide partners. 

Prior to joining The Education Trust–New York, Jenn worked on policy and advocacy for several nonprofits, in both Albany and Washington, D.C., including, Prevent Child Abuse NY, Council for a Strong America, Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy, National Governor’s Association, and the National Conference of Insurance Legislators. She also spent a few years as staff in the New York State Legislature. Her background is in early care and learning, maternal and child health, and mental health.  

Jenn holds a bachelor’s of arts in creative writing arts and sociology from the State University of New York-Oswego and a certificate in nonprofit management and leadership from Rockefeller College.
 

Superpower: Resilience! 

What drew you to education? The first 1,000 days of a child’s life are the most important in terms of brain architecture and those years between birth and age three set the foundation for all future learning. Primary caregivers are a child’s first teachers, but kids don’t come with a manual. Policy that supports families is imperative to their success… and that often requires advocacy. I’m drawn to education because, to me, it’s more than classrooms. It’s child care, home visiting, early literacy, and all the resources families and communities need to make those first 1,000 days count. 
 

Why are you passionate about working at Ed Trust? Working at Ed Trust allows me the opportunity to continue my work in the early childhood space AND, with our partners, to create a cohesive, coordinated blueprint for 0-3 in New York State.