Overview
As WestEd’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Jannelle Kubinec brings over 24 years of experience transforming outcomes for children, youths, and their families through research, policy, and technical assistance. Prior to becoming WestEd’s CEO in October 2023, Kubinec served for 12 years in various leadership roles at WestEd that supported growth, innovation, and impact, included leading major federally funded centers, driving major policy changes related to early learning and K–12 funding and accountability systems, and building and strengthening operational systems at WestEd.
Kubinec has dedicated her career to social and public good, with experience in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. She is nationally recognized for her work related to school finance and effective resource allocation. Notable contributions include guiding California through a once-in-a-generation redesign and transformation of its K–12 funding formula and accountability system and serving as principal architect and manager of a diverse team of researchers and policy experts to craft the California Master Plan for Early Learning and Care, which has guided historic increases in funding, improved support for the workforce, and created expansion plans to include all 4-year-old children in transitional kindergarten.
Kubinec brings a deep commitment to WestEd’s mission to promote excellence, achieve equity, and improve learning and education and human development, motivated by her experiences working alongside young children, teachers, and leaders.
Education
- MPP, University of California, Berkeley
- BA in rhetoric, University of California, Berkeley
Select Publications
WestEd. (2020). Master plan for early learning and care. https://www.chhs.ca.gov/home/master-plan-for-early-learning-and-care/
Honors and Awards
Board President, EdSource
2023 Alumni of the Year, Goldman School of Public Policy
National Association of Federal Education Program Administrators Leadership Award
Paul Hood Award, WestEd
Recent Media Appearances
- Transforming Education Through Policy and Practice with Jannelle Kubinec, ML Chat: Conversations with Multilingual Educators
- WestEd names Jannelle Kubinec as new CEO, EdSurge
