Sharon Easterling currently works with the Opportunities Exchange consulting team to support community based Shared Service initiatives. For 22 years, Sharon served as Executive Director of the Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children (DVAEYC), one of the largest local affiliates of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). In that role, she led the organization’s work as the leading provider of professional development services to early childhood practitioners and programs in Southeastern Pennsylvania as well as statewide advocacy efforts to build public will and investments in high quality early childhood education. Sharon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from the University of Maryland and Master of Divinity degree from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She was ordained by the American Baptist Churches in 1990 and has been involved in urban ministry initiatives for over 25 years. Prior to her tenure at DVAEYC, Rev. Easterling served as founding Director of the Preschool Project, pastor of an inner-city congregation, director of a community based preschool, and classroom teacher.