RANDI B. WOLFE, PH.D., PRESIDENT
Randi B. Wolfe, Ph.D., has worked for more than 40
years in early care and education, workforce development, teacher preparation, family support, and systems change. Her practical understanding of children and families reflects her experience teaching preschool, directing a child care center, and creating and directing a family support center. Her theoretical and intellectual understanding is informed by her Ed.M. in Instructional Leadership from University of Illinois and her Ph.D. in Human Development and Social Policy from Northwestern University.
As Associate Professor in Early Childhood Education at Northern Illinois University (1997-2006), Randi taught undergraduate and graduate courses in developmentally appropriate classroom practice, family engagement, child development and working in diverse settings. She also served as faculty team leader for the inter-disciplinary early childhood unit. During her tenure, graduate student enrollment grew by 300% and undergraduate enrollment doubled. Reflecting a commitment to ensuring all children receive an excellent education, Randi was instrumental in infusing into the ECE teacher preparation programs a focus on working effectively in diverse settings, engaging families, and meeting the unique needs of children with special needs and dual language learners.
As Director of Workforce Development at Los Angeles Universal Preschool (2007-2010), Randi created and implemented the Early Care and Education Workforce Initiative which awarded "workforce pipeline" grants to six collaborations of community colleges and universities, aimed at removing barriers and creating pathways to careers in early
care and education. She also developed and instituted the Teacher Stipend Program that provided roughly 225 stipends annually as an incentive to ECE teachers to complete
college coursework and pursue degrees. Randi conceived and built the LA County ECE Workforce Consortium, securing $37 million from First 5 LA to fund the Consortium for
five years. The Consortium, a broad-based coalition of agencies and institutions of higher education, worked together to provide professional development and training to incumbent and future ECE professionals, and to impact ECE systems and policy across California.
In 2011, Randi launched TIKKUN Consulting, Inc. and began focusing on designing and implementing large-scale ECE workforce development initiatives, engaging diverse stakeholder groups (e.g., ECE employers, workforce development agencies, institutions
of higher education, community-based organizations), and advancing systemic efforts to strengthen the delivery and impact of child care and early education.
From 2015-2019, Tikkun Consulting, Inc. led the SEIU Early Educator Training Center in designing, launching and implementing Early Educator Apprenticeships in California to provide an on-ramp to the ECE field by offering paid on-the-job training coupled with coaching and no-cost college coursework. The registered apprenticeships brought together ECE employers, community-based organizations, institutions of higher education and labor. In all, the apprenticeships engaged more than 350 workers, predominantly low-income women of color, recent immigrants and non-traditional students.
As Executive Director of ECEPTS (Early Care & Education Pathways to Success), Randi is currently building an organization whose mission is to advance the rigorous professional development and economic well-being of the Early Care and Education workforce so that all children can reap the full benefits of their early learning and care experiences.
years in early care and education, workforce development, teacher preparation, family support, and systems change. Her practical understanding of children and families reflects her experience teaching preschool, directing a child care center, and creating and directing a family support center. Her theoretical and intellectual understanding is informed by her Ed.M. in Instructional Leadership from University of Illinois and her Ph.D. in Human Development and Social Policy from Northwestern University.
As Associate Professor in Early Childhood Education at Northern Illinois University (1997-2006), Randi taught undergraduate and graduate courses in developmentally appropriate classroom practice, family engagement, child development and working in diverse settings. She also served as faculty team leader for the inter-disciplinary early childhood unit. During her tenure, graduate student enrollment grew by 300% and undergraduate enrollment doubled. Reflecting a commitment to ensuring all children receive an excellent education, Randi was instrumental in infusing into the ECE teacher preparation programs a focus on working effectively in diverse settings, engaging families, and meeting the unique needs of children with special needs and dual language learners.
As Director of Workforce Development at Los Angeles Universal Preschool (2007-2010), Randi created and implemented the Early Care and Education Workforce Initiative which awarded "workforce pipeline" grants to six collaborations of community colleges and universities, aimed at removing barriers and creating pathways to careers in early
care and education. She also developed and instituted the Teacher Stipend Program that provided roughly 225 stipends annually as an incentive to ECE teachers to complete
college coursework and pursue degrees. Randi conceived and built the LA County ECE Workforce Consortium, securing $37 million from First 5 LA to fund the Consortium for
five years. The Consortium, a broad-based coalition of agencies and institutions of higher education, worked together to provide professional development and training to incumbent and future ECE professionals, and to impact ECE systems and policy across California.
In 2011, Randi launched TIKKUN Consulting, Inc. and began focusing on designing and implementing large-scale ECE workforce development initiatives, engaging diverse stakeholder groups (e.g., ECE employers, workforce development agencies, institutions
of higher education, community-based organizations), and advancing systemic efforts to strengthen the delivery and impact of child care and early education.
From 2015-2019, Tikkun Consulting, Inc. led the SEIU Early Educator Training Center in designing, launching and implementing Early Educator Apprenticeships in California to provide an on-ramp to the ECE field by offering paid on-the-job training coupled with coaching and no-cost college coursework. The registered apprenticeships brought together ECE employers, community-based organizations, institutions of higher education and labor. In all, the apprenticeships engaged more than 350 workers, predominantly low-income women of color, recent immigrants and non-traditional students.
As Executive Director of ECEPTS (Early Care & Education Pathways to Success), Randi is currently building an organization whose mission is to advance the rigorous professional development and economic well-being of the Early Care and Education workforce so that all children can reap the full benefits of their early learning and care experiences.
