Chancellor Samuels Appoints Erica Phillips As Deputy Chancellor For Division Of Early Childhood Education
NEW YORK – Schools Chancellor Kamar H. Samuels today announced his appointment of Erica Phillips as Deputy Chancellor of the Division of Early Childhood Education at New York City Public Schools (NYCPS). A longtime leader in the early childhood education space with over 20 years of experience building community- and provider-centered systems that children and families can thrive in, incoming Deputy Chancellor Phillips will play a pivotal role in delivering on the Mayor’s vision for universal child care, building toward a City where every child under five has access to free, high-quality early care and education in a range of culturally competent settings. Her appointment comes as New York City Public Schools prepares to welcome over 100,000 children for the first day of school, including the City’s first-ever cohort of 2-K students.
Incoming Deputy Chancellor Phillips will also lead the charge on the recently announced overhaul of the NYCPS Division of Early Childhood Education, focused on enhancing communications with providers and families, reforming the early childhood procurement process and rebuilding the division to the levels needed to deliver 2-K to New York City families efficiently and effectively.
“Universal child care is not some distant aspiration. It is an urgent priority for this administration. Our families deserve relief from the crushing cost of raising children in our city. Our providers deserve a system that values their work and pays them what they deserve. And every child should begin life with the care, stability and warmth. That is what Erica will help us deliver as Deputy Chancellor,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “In the weeks, months and years ahead, Deputy Chancellor Phillips and Chancellor Samuels will show New Yorkers what it looks like when government works for every family. Our city will be stronger because of it.”
"Child care isn't a luxury -- it's a critical part of our city's infrastructure and one of the most important investments we can make in our children, and I am proud to work alongside incoming Deputy Chancellor Erica Philips to make this a reality," said Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels. "I am excited to see her apply her vast knowledge and experience as she takes the helm to expand access and create a truly universal child care system for all New Yorkers.”
“In January, our nation saw the seeds of a new and needed child care ecosystem sown by Mayor Mamdani and Chancellor Samuels – an ecosystem that treats child care as the public good it should be, while elevating and centering the small businesses that make this critical work possible,” said incoming Deputy Chancellor Erica Phillips. “As the daughter and granddaughter of early educators and caregivers, early childhood education is deeply personal for me. A quality early childhood education is what everyone deserves, and what I am ready to help deliver as Deputy Chancellor.”
“To raise a child, it takes a village, and to build a universal child care system, it will take our whole city. With Erica’s appointment, we are ushering in a new era, hand in hand with providers and families alike,” said Emmy Liss, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Child Care and Early Childhood Education. “Erica’s background serving our nation’s youngest is exactly what our city needs in our mission to make accessible and affordable child care a reality, and I am excited to partner with her on this critical work.”
The NYCPS Division of Early Childhood Education is responsible for delivering high-quality early care and education to children from birth through age five and beyond, and partnering with schools, community-based providers, home-based providers to that end. From actualizing the city’s vision of universal child care, starting with 2-K this fall, to expanding existing programming across all five boroughs, the work of this division, under the leadership of Chancellor Samuels, ensures that every child receives the strong start in school and life that they deserve.
About Erica Phillips
Erica Phillips is a strategist, operator and people-centered leader with more than 20 years of experience across early childhood and K–12 education, business and nonprofit leadership. Throughout her career, she has worked at the intersection of child development, community development and economic empowerment—building equitable systems that help children thrive, strengthen families and communities, and create meaningful opportunities for educators and caregivers.
Most recently, Erica served as Executive Director of the National Association for Family Child Care, where she led national efforts to strengthen home-based early learning and elevate family child care educators as essential partners in the early childhood system. Under her leadership, NAFCC quadrupled its annual budget, expanded its reach from approximately 4,000 to 40,000 educators and partners, strengthened its national advocacy and accreditation work and developed new partnerships and leadership pathways for educators across the country.
Previously, Erica served as President and Chief Impact and Operating Officer of All Our Kin, a nationally recognized early childhood organization. During her eight years there, she helped grow the organization from $1.5 million to $11.5 million, led a multidisciplinary team of more than 60 people, and expanded its programs into new communities. She also founded Second Home Early Child Care Centers and led human capital strategy at Achievement First, supporting a network of nearly 40 public charter schools and approximately 1,600 employees. Erica began her career as a strategy consultant at Monitor Group.
Erica’s commitment to early childhood is both professional and deeply personal. As the daughter and granddaughter of caregivers and early educators, she learned early that trusted, nurturing relationships can shape a child’s life and strengthen an entire family. As a wife and mother of two young daughters, she also understands firsthand the hopes families hold for their children and the challenges they face in accessing affordable, high-quality care and education.
Erica holds an MBA and a master’s degree in education from Stanford University and a BS in Industrial Engineering from Northwestern University. She is an alumna of the Aspen Institute’s Ascend Fellowship, the Pahara Fellowship and Education Pioneers.
“As a forever educator for whom this work is deeply personal, I know Deputy Chancellor Erica Phillips is the right person for the job,” said Council Member Rita C. Joseph. “She possesses both the personal investment, and requisite leadership and management track record to ensure our youngest learners, and those caring for them receive the experience they deserve."
"Erica Phillips brings deep, hands-on experience to the work of shaping outcomes for New York City's youngest learners for years to come," said Council Member Eric Dinowitz, Chair of the Council's Committee on Education. "As we work to deliver on the promise of 2-K, families across the city need a leader who understands both the systems and the people behind early childhood education. Erica brings that understanding, and I look forward to working with her as we begin a new school year.”
“Erica Phillips is a national leader in early childhood education with impressive accomplishments expanding home-based care and education options for kids across New York City and the country,” said Council Member Lincoln Restler. “Her experience positions her well to deliver affordable childcare for young families in New York City.”
“New York City will reap the dividends of Erica Phillips joining the Mayor’s team at this critical juncture,” said All Our Kin CEO Jessica Sager, an organization where Phillips spent over 8 years building and implementing strategy to train and support family child care providers. “Erica will bring to New York City an unswerving passion and commitment to children, families and educators, as well as her analytical skills, depth of knowledge and ability to lead. It is a win-win for all as the City works to revolutionize early childhood education and care.”
“Erica Phillips brings deep experience and a clear understanding that early childhood education is essential public infrastructure,” said Gladys Jones, Founder and CEO, ECE on the Move. We welcome her leadership at this critical moment. Success must mean more than expanding seats—it must mean listening to families and educators, paying providers fairly and on time, and ensuring that Family Child Care educators in residential settings are respected as full partners in New York City’s early childhood system. ECE on the Move is ready to work with Deputy Chancellor Phillips to build a system that is equitable, accountable, and truly serves every child.”
“A universal birth-to-five child care system in New York will rely on strong partnerships between the city and both center-based and family child care providers,” said Susan Stamler, Executive Director of United Neighborhood Houses. “Erica Phillips, the next Deputy Chancellor for Early Childhood Education, has spent her career developing exactly these types of partnerships. We look forward to working with her to ensure New York’s early childhood education options meet the needs of the city’s families.”
"We welcome the appointment of Erica Phillips as Deputy Chancellor of the Division of Early Childhood Education, whose experience across service development, provider support, and systems-building will be a strong asset to the City as it works to expand child care access while strengthening the systems and investments early childhood programs and their workforce across all modalities need to remain sustainable. DCCNY has long partnered with the City as an advocate for early childhood programs and educators, and for the families they serve, through our labor relations guidance and our Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) services. We look forward to strengthening that partnership with Deputy Chancellor Phillips and ensuring the expertise of the early childhood sector helps inform the system we build together,” said Tara N. Gardner, Executive Director of DCCNY.
“Erica Phillips is a deeply knowledgeable and experienced leader who understands the vital role that family child care plays in early childhood education. We look forward to partnering with her to ensure the rollout of universal child care in NYC and NYS meets the needs of every family and that every child care provider is paid the thriving wages they deserve as our children’s first teachers," said Shoshana Hershkowitz, Campaign Manager for the Empire State Campaign for Child Care.
“I have had the pleasure of meeting and engaging with Erica Phillips, and she’s always been incredibly welcoming, knowledgeable, and approachable. Her passion for early childhood education and her understanding and appreciation of the educators who do this work every day especially those of us in home-based childcare truly stands out, said Ayan Wilson, founder and owner of Everyone’s Daycare Inc., a home-based child care program in the Bronx. “Congratulations to Ms. Phillips on this new chapter, where she will be leading early childhood education within the public school system and overseeing 2-K, 3-K, Pre-K, and the early childhood networks. This such an important role at such an important time in our early childhood community. As an educator I know firsthand having someone in a leadership role that not only understands but also listens and values the work we do every single day. I am excited to see Ms. Phillips step into her new role and looking forward to partnering and working alongside her to continue strengthening early childhood education for our children, our families, and of course educators.”
“Erica Phillips is an authentic, thoughtful leader, a natural relationship-builder and a fierce champion for families and child care providers,” said Susan Gale Perry, CEO of Child Care Aware of America. “At the National Association for Family Child Care, she has brought new voice and strength to the field and helped ensure that family child care is recognized for the central role it plays in giving families the full range of child care choices they need. New York City is gaining a leader who knows how to bring people together, believes deeply in child care as a public good, and understands what it takes to make that promise real for families and providers.”
"We commend Mayor Mamdani and his administration for the appointment of Erica Phillips as Deputy Chancellor of the Department of Education. This choice sends a powerful message that family child care providers are valued partners in building a universal child care system for all New Yorkers, and reflects an understanding of the essential role they play in supporting children, families, and communities across our city. As a longtime leader in the family child care community and former president of the Family Child Care Association, Erica Phillips brings expertise, trusted leadership, and a strong connection to providers on the ground, ensuring that the voices of family child care educators will have a meaningful seat at the table as New York City advances toward universal child care and paves the way for New York State," said Marina Marcou-O'Malley, Co-Executive Director, Alliance for Quality Education.
"Family Child Care is the backbone of New York City. Erica Phillips has committed her career to strengthening child care systems so Family Child Care providers, families, and children can thrive. We applaud the Mayor and Chancellor for appointing her Deputy Chancellor for Early Childhood and putting this workforce at the center of the city's early childhood work," said Jaime-Jin Lewis, Founder and CEO, Wiggle Room.
“Erica is a thoughtful, compassionate leader who understands that strong child care policy must be informed by the experiences of the providers, families, and children it serves. I’m excited to see someone with her knowledge, integrity, and commitment stepping into this role at such an important time for New York City. Her leadership brings both credibility and hope for a stronger, more responsive child care system,” said Tiffany Taylor, CEO of The Baby Play Place, a Brooklyn-based child care program, and a NAFCC State Representative for New York.