Learning Bridge Early Education Center, 1840 Asbury Ave., announced that it has named Laura Byes as the new Executive Director. An experienced and highly qualified educator and administrator, Byes will assume her new role on July 1. She succeeds Lindsay Percival, who has served as Executive Director since 2011.
The Learning Bridge community thanks Lindsay for her dedicated leadership over the past 11 years and wishes her a long, fulfilling and well-earned retirement.
Byes’ background as an early childhood educator, director and consultant, combined with her deep experience in developing strategic plans, increasing funding resources, and promoting community-based relationships, will help advance the mission of Learning Bridge Early Education Center, a quality early care and education program for more than 78 years.
“We are thrilled to welcome Laura as our new executive director,” said Ellen Collar, President of the Learning Bridge Board of Directors. “She will bring experience, enthusiasm and great communication skills to our organization. We are very lucky to have found her and look forward to working with her as we continue to serve children and families in our community.”
As an accomplished early childhood specialist, with over two decades of administration and consulting in federal, state and local early care and education programming, Byes will bring creative and fresh insights to this role. During her time as a consultant, her specialty consisted of implementing strategic planning processes and data management solutions that enhance the quality of early childhood programming.
As the Chief Executive Officer of a child care resource and referral agency in the Bay area of California she increased the quality of care through professional development programing, parent and community outreach, and childcare subsidy. Her extensive efforts as Assistant Vice President for Early Head Start, along with a statewide multisite Migrant and Seasonal Head Start program for a major Hispanic community non-profit in Phoenix, helped stabilize, energize and growin programs.
Throughout her career, Byes has consistently demonstrated her ability to work collaboratively with other professionals, building strong networks that are united in their commitment to providing educational excellence for children from all socio-economic backgrounds. Past colleagues have described Byes as being “a capable and creative executive with strong motivational skills.”
Byes holds a Bachelor of Arts in early childhood education from Northeastern Illinois University and a Master of Education in global and social policy from Arizona State University. She recently relocated back to the Chicago area to be closer to her daughter and their growing family.
Submitted by Learning Bridge Early Education Center