Author: Rosie Delcid

October 22, 2019 – The Board of Trustees for Child Care Aware of Washington welcomes Deeann Burtch Puffert as Chief Executive Officer to lead the non-profit organization, in concert with its six regional partners, as it expands its services and advocacy for families throughout Washington and its commitment to preparing children for success in school and in life.

Puffert spent her entire professional career working on behalf of children, youth, families and providers in the not-for-profit sector.   For the past 34 years, she focused on the issue of early childhood education and has tackled many aspects of the challenges of affordability, accessibility, and quality by addressing workforce, economic and equity system improvements with a myriad of funders, national, state and community partners.

“Deeann’s many years of hands on experience in the early childhood education system, from stepping into a classroom to directing a resource organization, makes her the perfect person to take on the mantle of organizational leadership for CCA,” said Lois Martin, CCA WA Board of Trustees Co-Chair and Director of Community Day Center for Children, Seattle. “She drives organizational performance that results in outcomes for children.”

Puffert worked inside the CCA WA system for 30 years with the King & Pierce Counties regional partner, Child Care Resources (CCR). As CEO of CCR since 2009, Deeann led the organization’s development of a racial equity framework, services for children and families experiencing homelessness, the creation and expansion of Kaleidoscope Play & Learn groups for children in informal care, and a team supporting child care providers in quality improvement efforts and professional development. Child Care Resources also operates the CCA WA Family Center which, last year, helped nearly 15,000 families throughout the state find early childhood education referrals and resources.

“The Board of Trustees recognizes Deeann’s exceptional knowledge of the early learning system in our state and is eager for her to lead CCA WA to further address Washington’s child care crisis with our partners,” said David McRae, CCA WA Board of Trustees Co-Chair and Vice President, Banner Bank.

Prior to employment at Child Care Resources, Puffert worked as a Program Director responsible for the overall management and operation of four NAEYC-accredited centers that served approximately 180 families.

“I am excited to move from my work that has a regional perspective to working with CCA of WA staff to continue their fine work. I also look forward to growing and developing new relationships and partnerships that will continue to move child care and informal caregiving into full partnership within the early learning landscape,” Puffert said.

Puffert joins Child Care Aware of Washington on December 2.

Robin served as the organization’s leader since August 2015 and brought a strong management and legal background to CCA of WA’s mission and work, always focused on positive change for families. Encouraging innovation, Robin advanced the organization’s strategic planning capacity, realized tremendous growth in our services to child care providers and in our family services programs, established Shared Business Services to assist child care providers, and established privately funded projects for Washington’s young children and their families in communities throughout the state. She contributed to the early learning system advocating for improvements and funding for child care programs and by influencing statewide policy on task forces and committees.

“It has been my privilege and great honor to serve as CEO for the last three-plus years. We currently have a dedicated, hard-working and talented leadership team and staff diligently working to ensure that families, children and providers receive quality resources and continual quality improvement for early learning care. I know that as I enter retirement Child Care Aware of Washington will continue to be Washington’s most trusted child care resource and I look forward to seeing the great advancements for children, both in kindergarten readiness and in every day quality early learning experiences.”