Community Services for Children announced that Deidra Vachier has been named CEO/president effective March 11.
Vachier has worked at CSC for 24 years in various roles, most recently she served as Vice-President of Early Childhood Development. Throughout her career, Vachier has been an advocate for high quality early learning. She has been responsible for the administration of the Head Start/Early Head Start and Pre-K counts programs, has provided leadership for a staff of more than 300 and is dedicated to continuous improvement for our staff and programming.
Deidra Vachier
In her previous role, she achieved success in advancing the field of Early Childhood Education through continuous advocacy for children and families, guaranteeing fiscal integrity and accountability. She developed and delivered both staff and community professional development. She was also actively involved in ongoing program evaluation for continuous quality improvement and writing new and continuing grants and RFPs to maintain funding in support of a diverse funding stream. She has gained respect in the profession for designing a program and approach that is innovative and recognized as a leader in quality preschool education.
On behalf of the CSC Board of Directors, Camie Modjadidi, M.Ed., Chair, said “The board enthusiastically welcomes Deidra to her new role as CSC’s CEO/president. Deidra has continuously demonstrated her expertise in the field of early childhood education; her dedication to our entire CSC family; and her commitment to continue CSC’s mission. We look forward to the meaningful impact she will make for children and families.”
Vachier is a board member for the Pennsylvania Head Start Association and serves on the Lehigh County Office of Children & Youth Advisory Board. She holds the Pennsylvania Director’s Credential & Quality Assurance System Trainer Certification along with PA Department of Education teaching certification for Pre-K – fourth grades.
Paula Margraf
Vachier succeeds Paula Margraf, who retired from this position after six years as CEO and 23 years of service with the organization.
Community Services for Children’s mission is to prepare young children and their families to succeed in learning and in life through comprehensive, innovative, leading edge services. We believe that every child should have equal opportunity for success, and that early experiences shape the future. We believe that parents are the child’s first and most important teacher, and children grow in the context of the family and community experience. Everyone at CSC is committed to providing the care necessary to ensure that every vulnerable family can have a bright future. Community Services for Children has core values of honesty, innovation, respect, excellence and stewardship, which guide all of our services. Head Start, Early Head Start and The Early Learning Resource Centers serve more than 20,000 kids per year.
Community Services for Children (CSC) is a regional leader in early childhood education, and family services affecting the lives of 20,000 children annually. CSC’s Head Start/Early Head Start of the Lehigh Valley program is recognized as a national center of excellence and innovation. CSC provides early childhood education and family services for economically disadvantaged throughout 17 counties of Northeast Pennsylvania. Headquartered in Allentown, with offices in 10 counties, Community Services for Children is a 501-c-3 not for profit organization employing over 400 individuals who are committed to ensuring a successful future for children.