The Center has named Katy Graves to the newly created position of Executive Director. In that role, Katy will serve as the Chief Executive Officer and Educational Leader of the Center, a center of excellence of early childhood education for children ages 18 months to five years old which has served the greater East Hampton community for over fifty years. Mrs. Graves recently retired from the Sag Harbor Union Free School District following five highly successful years as Superintendent of that district.

“The Board of Directors of the Center unanimously selected Katy following an extensive search,” says David E. Eagan, Co-Chair of the Center’s Board of Directors. “Following the passing of our beloved Maureen Wikane last year, the Board undertook a thorough review that determined a new senior management team composed of an Executive Director and an Administrative Director would best serve the Center’s needs as it enters its sixth decade of serving the working families of our community. We then searched for the best candidates to fill those roles. The Board identified and elevated Robyn Mott as our new Administrative Director last September. We are highly confident that Katy is the right person to fill our most senior leadership position. She has demonstrated all the qualities and skills needed to build upon and advance the Center’s leadership role in providing quality and affordable early childhood education and child care to our community.”

“Mrs. Graves’ over thirty years of educational experience, including two decades of building and district administrative leadership, coupled with her life-long passion for early childhood development and education, uniquely positions her to assume this important role,” says Ruth Ann McSpadden, Co-Chair.

“I thank the Center’s Board of Directors for putting their faith in me,” says Katy Graves. “I am excited to devote the next chapter of my career working at the Center with our youngest learners, their families, and educators during such important developmental years. I am looking forward to again working directly with children  and their families each and every day. My family, to whom I promised more of my time, supports me undertaking this important role, leading with and for children and their families.”

Mrs. Graves has completed the Leadership Academy in School Administration at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, holds a Master’s of Science in Health Education from the Sage Graduate School and a Bachelor’s of Science in Home Economics/Clinical Dietetics from SUNY College at Oneonta. She also holds multiple New York State educational certifications including one for School District Leader.