Kansas Early Childhood Recommendations Panel names Melissa Schonberger as new chair

The Kansas Children's Cabinet Early Childhood Recommendations Panel convened on June 20, 2025, to discuss ongoing initiatives and future strategies aimed at enhancing early childhood systems in the state. The meeting focused on the development of a communication guide and recommendations for improving cross-system collaboration among various stakeholders.

The session began with an update on the progress of a draft communication guide, which aims to facilitate better interaction among organizations involved in early childhood education. Panel members discussed the importance of creating an inventory of group members' affiliations with other organizations to enhance cross-participation. This would involve adding standing agenda items to meetings, allowing members to report on their involvement in other groups and share relevant updates. The goal is to ensure that all members are informed, even if they are not present at every meeting.

Further recommendations included formalizing the sharing of updates and opportunities during panel meetings. Members were encouraged to identify key takeaways from discussions and share them with other groups, fostering a feedback loop that enhances communication across the early childhood system.

As the meeting progressed, the panel reviewed the governance structure of early childhood organizations in Kansas. They discussed the need to populate a table outlining these groups, their missions, and how they connect with the early childhood education system. This effort aims to clarify roles and improve collaboration among various stakeholders.

In concluding remarks, the panel recommended that the work group continue its efforts into the next year to finalize the communication guide and establish a process for its ongoing updates. They also proposed adding a summary of key takeaways to future meeting agendas to facilitate information sharing.

The meeting marked a transition in leadership, as Cornelia, the current chair, announced her departure and introduced Melissa Schonberger as the new chair. Schonberger expressed her enthusiasm for the role and her commitment to fostering collaboration within the panel.

The next meeting is scheduled for July 18, 2025, which will serve as an orientation for new panel members. The panel also plans to gather feedback through a post-meeting survey to assess the effectiveness of their meetings and ensure they meet the needs of participants.