“One of my guiding principles is to lead with love. Sometimes this can be perceived as soft or mushy. I disagree. Love is fierce. Love is powerful.
“So much of our work at Strategies for Children is built to support, to include, to listen, to see, to connect and to celebrate. We love a celebration.
“Two things can be true. I can be here to celebrate and honor your leadership Secretary Tutwiler… AND I can be sad to see you go!
“I remember the first time I met you in person. It was at the Rennie Center Condition of Education report release in January 2023. After the program, you were walking down the center aisle, and I walked right up to you and shook your hand and said I’m Amy O’Leary from Strategies for Children.
“And you said ‘Hello. People have told me that I should talk with you.’
“And I said, ‘Great!’ And then I invited you to come to The 9:30 Call.
“And you said, ‘Yes.’ You were scheduled to join us on Thursday, March 2, 2023. It turned out that the morning you were scheduled to be on the call, you also had to be somewhere else with the governor. I mean it was only your third month in, so, like many of our 9:30 Callers, you had to multitask.
I remember you Zoomed in from a space your team had secured, quietly talking while the event was happening in the next room. Instead of canceling and rescheduling, you kept your commitment to join us.
We invited you to attend more 9:30 Calls, our Reception for Reflection for our Advocacy Network for Early Childhood, and to be interviewed for our Eye on Early Childhood blog.
And you always said yes. And you didn’t just come for 10 minutes and then leave. You stayed for the whole time.”
“Secretary Tutwiler, thank you.
“Thank you for your leadership AND your vision for what could be.
“Thank you for every meeting, Zoom, phone call, event, early childhood program visit, listening session, cabinet meeting, press conference, board meeting at all three education agencies, 9:30 Call, Reception for Reflection, and thanks so much for the one thing we won’t be losing, your friendship.
“We wish you all the best in your next chapter.
“I will most certainly be inviting you back to The 9:30 Call once you settle into your new role!”
— Statement of Amy O’Leary, Executive Director of Strategies for Children, at the Department of Early Education and Care’s Board meeting, February 11, 2026