SPOTLIGHT: Nicole Boone, Division of Child Development and Early Education

NICOLE BOONE BBF is pleased to celebrate our work with the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) with our spotlight on Nicole Boone, the P-3 Policy Advisor at DCDEE and part of the Preschool Development Grant (PDG) team.  Nicole has diverse experience in coaching, consultation, planning, and implementation of various techniques with both administrators and teachers, as well as grant management and compliance monitoring. She is dedicated to ensuring that North Carolina’s youngest children and their families receive access to high quality early childhood experiences and services.

What is your background and how did you come to your position at DCDEE? 

When Nicole came to DCDEE in 2017 as a Connectivity Consultant training field staff on NC’s regulatory system, she arrived with years of experience in the early childhood field. Earlier experience included working with families as a referral specialist at One Place in Onslow County (formerly known as the Onslow Partnership for Children). She also worked on consumer education and compliance, providing technical assistance in the field. Her career path took her to Wake County, where she was a DCDEE licensing consultant. She assisted potential and current child care providers to achieve and maintain compliance with applicable child care licensing requirements. She also monitored centers and homes for compliance with requirements.

Nicole is now the P-3 Policy Advisor at DCDEE, a role that is vast and includes many areas that allow her to continue her passion for serving children and families in the best manner. She is part of the PDG team and is the program officer that works with the Building Bright Futures in the new grant that NC received. 

In your role as P-3 Policy Advisor, do you manage multiple areas? 

Nicole’s role varies with concentration on B-3 contracts. She handles program development, contract compliance, ensuring program compliance, technical assistance as needed, and more. She works closely with infant-toddler contracts – Birth-to-Three Quality Initiative (B-3QI), Infant-Toddler Educator AWARD$® Plus, and the Infant Toddler Trauma Informed Care Project – ITTI Care Project. 

Her work is not all reading reports! Nicole shared that she likes to be with people and see the work up close. She learns even more by observing the work and seeing the efforts come to life. For example, she attended the ITTI adult mental health training for part of the day, giving her a chance to hear participant stories. 

What challenges have you seen and how have you worked to eliminate barriers? 

A challenge is always having enough funding to do the important work of the Division. A funding crisis brings anxiety, and it is why the state is always looking at ways to increase resources. 

North Carolina worked hard to submit a strong PDG grant and was chosen as one of 11 states to receive these funds! It means that we have $9M each year funded through the PDG grant to make an impact on high-quality care, support the workforce, and more. It was wonderful to have so many ideas shared by partners and staff. We took so many of the ideas that helped us be innovative and re-imagine the future to strengthen our work. 

Is there a highlight you want to share about your role? 

“When we work in government, we truly serve the communities and the people to ensure that there are quality services for children and families.”

As Nicole shared her highlight, and talked about her work, it was clear that she has a “public service heart.” She smiled and shared that by providing children high quality child care, we might be building the mind and brain of the next governor or president. 

If money were no object, what change would you make to your work or the system? 

If money were no object, she would want to have a system that could provide for every single child to be enrolled in the high-quality child-care facility of their choice. Children would thrive and the workforce would thrive. 

The Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) is a competitive federal grant designed to support the healthy development of young children. Building Bright Futures is one of NC’s partners.