Jeanne Wagner has worked in the field of early childhood education for over thirty-five years. Ms. Wagner taught and directed all aspects of public non-profit preschools in Michigan and New York as well as opening and directing in Florida a privately funded preschool that became a national chain. As the Director of non-profit early childhood programs in Poughkeepsie, New York, Ms. Wagner established a full day kindergarten in response to the needs of working parents. She also fostered community collaborations with Early Head Start to provide wrap around infant/toddler care and with a senior housing facility to provide enhanced health care for preschoolers through a shared nurse. Ms. Wagner supervised full and part time staff, student teachers, interns and volunteers and has worked with numerous Boards of Directors.

Ms. Wagner has been the Executive Director of the Child Care Council of Dutchess and Putnam, Inc. (the Council) for over twenty years, working to promote affordable, quality child care; to support families with information about quality child care and referrals to child care programs; and to strengthen the early childhood workforce through professional development. During her tenure at the Council, the New York State Office of Children and Family Services requested that the Council expand its services to include Putnam County in addition to Dutchess. Recognizing the high cost of child care with limited available assistance, Ms. Wagner has received grants from a private foundation for ten years to provide child care tuition scholarships to qualifying families.

Ms. Wagner has advocated for early childhood issues on local, state and federal levels and serves on several advisory committees to represent the early childhood field. Ms. Wagner is passionate about improving the quality of child care, increasing wages for early childhood professionals, making child care more affordable and accessible, and educating legislators and businesses on the importance of early childhood education not only for children and families, but also for economic development.

In addition to working in the early childhood field, Ms. Wagner taught high school English and was an administrator for a home health care agency.

Ms. Wagner attended Hope College and earned a B.A. in Elementary/Early Secondary Education with a Specialization and Honors in English from SUNY at Oneonta. Ms. Wagner continued her education at SUNY New Paltz, the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, Wheelock College, and Florida Atlantic University.

Ms. Wagner has resided in the City of Poughkeepsie for thirty-five years and is a proud mother and grandmother.