Gov. JB Pritzker names first head of state’s new early childhood agency

Gov. JB Pritzker has appointed Teresa Ramos, the first assistant deputy governor for education, as the first head of the state’s new Department of Early Childhood, his office said Monday.

If confirmed by the state Senate, Ramos will oversee the launch of a department that is expected to consolidate functions now under the state’s Department of Human Services, Board of Education and Department of Children and Family Services.

The new department was approved by legislators and signed into law by Pritzker earlier this year as part of a suite of initiatives to enhance early childhood services in Illinois. The department is expected to be fully operational on July 1, 2026, according to the governor’s office. Until then, Ramos will work to build out the agency and her team, a spokesperson for the governor said.

Ramos has already been involved in strategic planning for the new agency, the governor’s office said.

Eventually, the department’s services are expected to include oversight of preschool, interventions for children with disabilities and developmental delays and day care licensing.

Before joining Pritzker’s administration, Ramos held jobs with two education-focused nonprofits, serving as vice president of public policy, research and advocacy at the Illinois Action for Children and director of community engagement for Advance Illinois. She worked on Pritzker’s education transition team in 2018, according to the governor’s office.

Pritzker cited Ramos’ “expertise across education, child care, community engagement and early childhood development” in a news release announcing the appointment.

Ramos’ salary will be $214,988 per year, according to the governor’s office. Her paycheck will not be augmented by the governor’s personal wealth, as has been the case for some of his top aides, a spokesperson said Monday.

The new Department of Early Childhood is intended to streamline access to services for families as well as management for the state, Democratic Rep. Mary Beth Canty of Arlington Heights, the bill’s sponsor, said earlier this year.

State legislators set aside $14 million to create the new agency out of a $53.1 billion budget passed this year.

Day care licensing through DCFS in particular had been a target for restructuring, as some lawmakers and advocates said reassigning that responsibility would better allow the embattled agency to focus on its other services, such as abuse and neglect investigations.

Pritzker has made early childhood education one of his priorities throughout his time in office.