SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today announced he has appointed Sarah Neville-Morgan as Director of the California Department of Education Early Education and Support Division.

Neville-Morgan will oversee a division that provides leadership and support to the early learning and care community, providers, and contractors statewide, ensuring high-quality early education programs for young children.

Neville-Morgan most recently served as Deputy Director of Program Management at First 5 California, and she worked as a CDE Child Development Consultant from 2011 to 2013.

“I am pleased to have such an experienced and dynamic early education leader back on the CDE team,” Torlakson said. “Sarah brings tremendous knowledge, dedication, and teamwork that will help provide top-quality services for our earliest learners.”

As State Superintendent, Torlakson has placed a priority on early childhood education and serving the whole child so that young students arrive at kindergarten prepared to learn and able to succeed in classroom settings.

“As CDE realigns its organization to meet the needs of students, teachers, and educators, Sarah will be able to foster deeper collaboration with our partners in early education,” Torlakson said.

At First 5 California, Neville-Morgan managed a team of professional staff and managers focused on closing the achievement gap and enhancing early brain development. She also worked as the Deputy Executive Director of the California Early Learning Council and as an Academic Child Development Specialist at the UC Davis Center for Child and Family Studies.

Neville-Morgan earned a B.A. in Psychology at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana and an M.S. in Child Development at UC Davis.

The California Department of Education is a state agency led by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson. For more information, visit the California Department of Education’s website or by mobile device. You may also follow Superintendent Torlakson on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.