Mamdani appoints new early childhood Education leader amidst program launch

Mayor Zohran Mamdani of New York City named Erica Phillips as deputy chancellor for the Education Department’s Division of Early Childhood Education as the city prepares to launch its free childcare program for 2-year-olds.

Phillips, who previously led nonprofit organizations supporting family childcare providers, will oversee a system serving roughly 150,000 children under age 5.

Her arrival comes at a critical moment, as the division works to resolve a significant backlog of contracts that threatened the viability of some childcare providers. The Division of Early Childhood Education has faced considerable upheaval in recent years. The number of employees fell from around 1,170 under former Mayor Bill de Blasio to 495 in August 2024, impacting the office’s ability to support providers and process contracts.

Current staffing is at 560, with 86 vacancies, but Mamdani recently committed $43 million to hire an additional 200 staff members. Phillips stated rebuilding the workforce is a top priority. Phillips’ appointment also signals a focus on family childcare providers, who were often excluded from earlier expansions of childcare access. These providers frequently operate on limited budgets, with some earning as little as $6 per hour.

Phillips committed to addressing pay parity and ensuring these providers receive adequate compensation, while simultaneously expanding access to childcare for more families. The 2-K program is set to begin this week, and Mamdani aims to make free childcare available to all 2-year-olds in the city during his term, though funding from New York Governor Kathy Hochul is currently limited to the first two years.