Jennifer Headley-Nordman: President
Grand Rapids, MI – Jennifer Headley-Nordman, a West Michigan school administrator with extensive experience in early childhood education and child psychology, has been appointed as President of First Steps Kent.
Headley-Nordman will lead the organization’s work to strengthen and coordinate the system of early childhood services in Kent County, MI, so that all children enter kindergarten ready to succeed in school and life. She will also work with early childhood advocates and thought leaders around the state and country to advance policies that support the learning and development of young children and the wellbeing of their families.
Headley-Nordman comes to First Steps Kent from Holland Public Schools, where she served as Associate Superintendent of Student Services. She has worked in a variety of nonprofit and educational leadership positions over the last 25 years. Additionally, she has served as the President of the Michigan Association of School Psychologists, and the Executive Chair of the Michigan Department of Education’s Special Education Advisory Committee.
First Steps Kent is an independent nonprofit that works to strengthen and coordinate the system of early childhood services through research and innovation. First Steps is leading a community-wide effort to develop a system of support for children ages 0-5 (and their families) that ensures every young child in Kent County will enter kindergarten ready to succeed in school and in life. First Steps Kent is responsible for the distribution, monitoring and evaluation of the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage, which generates approximately $5.7 million annually for community-based early childhood service providers.
