New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the appointment of Amber Cartwright as the executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Child Care and Early Childhood Education. Cartwright enters into the role with nearly three decades of experience in child care and early childhood education across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. In this new role, Cartwright will lead strategy and coordinate planning among city agencies; foster innovation in partnership with families, providers, experts, and the private sector; and promote effective communication, policy advocacy, and public engagement among this office.
“It takes a city to raise a child — and in New York City, we rely on the strong leadership of teachers, multiple agencies, dedicated providers, parents, and so many more to give our children everything they need to succeed. I’m confident that with Amber Cartwright at the helm as the next executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Child Care and Early Childhood Education, our children will be in safe, secure, and steady hands,” said Mayor Adams. “Amber understands that high-quality early childhood education is not just a policy priority, but a lifeline for working-class families and a foundation for lifelong success for our children. Her passion and professionalism will ensure that our children have the tools needed to thrive in our city, excel in the classroom, and be set on a path towards success.”
“We are thrilled to have Amber Cartwright serve as our executive director for the Mayor’s Office of Childcare and Early Childhood Education. She brings nearly 30 years of experience across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors in early childhood education into this role,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Ana J. Almanzar. “Her leadership will be crucial in driving innovation, fostering collaboration, and advancing policies that ensure every child in New York City has access to high-quality care and education. We are confident that Amber’s vision and expertise will strengthen our city’s early childhood systems and better support families and providers alike.”
“I am excited to continue supporting children, families, early educators, child care providers, and the organizations dedicated to this critically important work,” said Mayor’s Office of Child Care and Early Childhood Education Executive Director Amber Cartwright. “Together, I hope to cultivate a collaborative early childhood community focused on building a high-quality, accessible, and sustainable early childhood education system — one that gives every child a strong start and a brighter future.”
This appointment builds on the work the Adams administration has done to dramatically increase early childhood education for young New Yorkers and build a sustainable program where demand matches supply. Under the Adams administration, a record 150,000 children are enrolled across the system today, the out-of-pocket costs of child care subsidies have been reduced from $55 per week in 2022 to $5 per week today, and the Adams administration met its commitment to offer a seat to every child who applied for 3-K on time — the first time this has ever been done in the city's history.
Last year, the Adams administration invested $514 million to protect early childhood programs that were previously only temporarily funded with federal stimulus dollars. Mayor Adams and leadership of the New York City Council, also last year, announced a historic joint effort to strengthen early childhood education across the five boroughs and address longstanding systemic issues, while boosting enrollment and connecting families with more Pre-K and 3-K seats. The strategic plan — developed by an unprecedented joint Adams administration-Council working group, chaired by Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Ana J. Almanzar and City Council Speaker Adreinne Adams — is anchored by $100 million in new city investments allocated in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Adopted Budget to implement an action-oriented roadmap for outreach and seat allocation across the city. With the new $100 million investment, the total investment in the FY25 city budget for early childhood education is $3 billion.
About Amber Cartwright
Amber Cartwright enters into the role of executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Child Care and Early Childhood Education with a proven track record of success within the child care sector across nearly 30 years of experience.
Previously, Cartwright was the vice president of core services at Teaching Matters, a professional development organization that works with superintendents, principals, teachers, and school leaders to strengthen institutional practices and improve student outcomes. In that role, Cartwright oversaw and implemented the strategic priorities of core services, expanded the program into new markets, and managed a team of over 60 employees.
Prior to that, Cartwright served as senior executive director for family empowerment and community partnerships, as well as director of professional development, policy, and implementation division in the Division of Early Childhood Education at New York City Public Schools. Within those roles, Cartwright provided strategic leadership and guidance to support district-and community-based early childhood care and assess policy development for early childhood program models.
Cartwright began her career as a family childcare provider and classroom teacher. After her time in the classroom, Cartwright served in several leadership roles overseeing early childhood education programs at the Brooklyn Kindergarten Society, Mosholu Montefiore Community Center, and Phipps Community Development Corporation.
Cartwright earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from The City University of New York (CUNY) York College, a Master of Arts in psychology from CUNY City College of New York, and a Master of Education in early childhood leadership from Bank Street College of Education. She also holds New York state certifications as a school builder and a school district leader.
Cartwright will report to Deputy Mayor Almanzar.
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