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Staff Directory
First 5 CA Commission - Staff Directory |
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First 5 Contact Information
Complete Staff Directory
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Since July 2005, Kris Perry has been the
Executive Director of First 5 California
and has helped strengthen First 5
California’s position as a leader in the
early childhood development arena with
its emphasis on the whole child. Under
her guidance, First 5 California has
emerged as one of the primary advocates
for California’s youngest
children and their families.
Kris brings a wealth
of experience to First 5 California,
including having previously served as
Executive Director of First 5 San Mateo
County where she developed several
cutting-edge programs to provide
resources, policy direction and
community leadership for children 0-5
and their families. At First 5 San Mateo
County Kris also led community design
groups to develop large-scale
initiatives such as universal health
care, preschool for all, early brain
development and school readiness
county-wide. She has a particular
interest in developing high-quality
child development programs for working
families with modest incomes. Kris
worked closely with other counties and
was the Chair of the 2003 Statewide
Preschool for All Summit, Chair of the
Association’s Preschool for All task
force and the 2005 Vice President of the
First 5 Association of California.
Kris’ dedication to children and their
families began at the Alameda County
Social Services Agency where she worked
for more than 12 years in various
capacities, including Dependency
Investigator, Family Preservation Case
Manager, Unit Supervisor, Supervising
Program Specialist and Program Manager
with an emphasis on Service Integration
and Agency Planning. She received her
Bachelor’s Degree from the University of
California
Santa Cruz and Master of Social Work from San Francisco State University.
Kris is a Licensed Clinical Social
Worker and a Board Certified Diplomat
who also holds a post-graduate
certificate as a Service Integration
Specialist. In 2003 she completed the
Stanford Graduate School of Business
Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders.
Kris’ vision for First 5 California
includes creating a system of supports
and resources for parents, caregivers,
early workforce professionals, and
children. In her role as Executive
Director, she is instrumental in
steering First 5 California’s strategic
planning process, which guides the
organization and its programs. |
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CHIEF DEPUTY DIRECTOR
Ms. Dale joined First 5 California in 2006 as the Chief Deputy Director. Ms. Dale is responsible for overseeing First 5 California’s day-to-day operations and supporting Executive Director Kris Perry. She also provides policy and strategic direction to First 5 California. Prior to joining First 5 California, Ms. Dale was with the state Board of Equalization as the Division Chief for the Customer and Taxpayer Services Division. Ms. Dale served in the Governor’s Office for Innovation in Government conducting large-scale stakeholder outreach related to e-government and statewide policy development.
Her nonprofit experience includes fund development work for the Sacramento Children’s Home, which for more than a century has provided thousands of children a safe place to call home. Ms. Dale also served as the Director of Community Relations for Mercy General Hospital . Ms. Dale earned her Bachelor's of Public Administration from the University of San Francisco. |
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CHIEF COUNSEL
Ms.
Gauthier is First 5 California’s Chief
Counsel, having joined the organization in
February 2007.
Her responsibilities include
providing legal guidance and opinions
utilizing California statutory and regulatory authority
pertaining to First 5 California programs
and policies.
In addition, Kim serves as the legal
advisor to the state Commissioners and
Executive Director
Kris Perry.
Prior to joining First 5 California,
Kim served as Assistant Chief Counsel to
California Secretary of State Bruce
McPherson and she started her state career
more than six years ago with the Department
of Health Services.
She has been licensed to practice law
for approximately 11 years and is admitted
to appear in numerous state and federal
courts. |
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DEPUTY DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS
Ms. Bupara joined First 5 California in November 2003 as a Public Information Officer. In December of 2004, she was named Deputy Director for Communications. The Communications Office manages First 5 California’s public education and outreach campaigns and contracts, handles all media relations and is responsible for implementing all communications- related responsibilities of the California Children and Families First Act. The Communications Office oversees and guides media technical assistance provided to County Commissions through First 5’s public relations contract.
Ms. Bupara earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism from San Francisco State University and was awarded a Journalism Fellowship to the Poynter Institute at St. Petersburgh, Florida. She is also a graduate of the Institute for Journalism Education (previously housed at UC Berkeley). Prior to state service Ms. Bupara worked as a reporter for several newspapers, including the Sacramento Bee, the Modesto Bee and the El Paso Herald-Post. |
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DEPUTY DIRECTOR, PROGRAM
MANAGEMENT TEAM
Ms. Morgan joined First 5 California as a Child Development Consultant in May of 2000. During her tenure she has been lead on projects related to child development and early learning workforce development such as First 5 CARES, the First 5 Family, Friend and Neighbor Support Project, and the Early Learning Workforce Development Project. She led the program development, evaluation and modifications tied to an emphasis on intentionality and quality care for all young children of one of First 5 California’s largest statewide investments, the First 5 CARES program. She also has been on the Circle of Advisors for KCET’s two Peabody and Emmy award winning Series, “A Place of Our Own”/”Los Niños en Su Casa”, for Seasons One, Two and Three.
Prior to her tenure at First 5
California, she spent seven years at the
Center for Child and Family Studies at
the University of California Davis. She
began as an Infant/Toddler Head Teacher
before becoming an Academic Child
Development Specialist and directing
three full-inclusion preschool programs
while specializing in infant mental
health and supporting healthy families.
She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Earlham College in Indiana and a Master’s of Science in Child Development from the University of California Davis. She also is a certified trainer in the Program for Infant/Toddler Care. |
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DEPUTY DIRECTOR, RESEARCH AND EVALUATION
Ms. Sormano recently joined First 5 California as
the Deputy Director of Research and
Evaluation.
She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in
Economics and a Master’s Degree in
Public Policy.
She has over 18 years of
experience conducting research, managing
research groups and acting as policy
advisor to executives and board members.
Most recently, Stacie was Chief
of Health Strategic Services at the
California Public Employees’ Retirement
System where she used data to inform
health strategy for a $5 billion
program.
Stacie also led the Department of
Consumer Affairs’ measurement efforts
during its participation in the
Governor’s Performance-Based Budgeting
Pilot Project.
Her main focus is creating
operational and outcome measures to
improve overall efficiency and
effectiveness of government programs. |
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CHIEF, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIVISION
Ms. Miller joined First 5 California in
August 2006 as the Chief of Administrative
Services and is responsible for directing
the Financial Management, Contracting,
Personnel, Business Services, Auditing, and
Labor Relations programs. Prior to joining
First 5 California, Ms. Miller was with the
California Department of Education (CDE) as
the Manager of the Funding Allocation and
Administrative Services unit in the Child
Development Division where she managed the
distribution of funding for child care and
development programs, the child care
facilities revolving loan program, a state
operations budget of over $11 million, an
appeals unit charged with ensuring and
resolving due process matters related to
parents and agencies receiving funds through
the CDE, and managed other personnel and
management support functions.
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