"Learning is a lifelong commitment, and it is more important than ever now that Universal Preschool is becoming a reality."

Jill Andrews, Ph.D.

Administrator / Owner
Kiddie Kollege of Fairfield, Inc.

Jill was awarded the Level III Illinois Director Credential in February 2002. She has been the Administrator / Owner of Kiddie Kollege of Fairfield, Inc. for 7 years.

Jill has always been involved in educational endeavors for children. She was a charter member for developing a teen center in her town, served on the High School Board of Education for eight years, and was involved in many other community activities that centered around kids. She began her education later in life, at the age of 32, while working full-time and being a mom. The end result was a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Southern Illinois University in 1995.

While serving as chair of a daycare task force for Wayne County, it became evident to the committee that without quality child care, many businesses were unable to attract new employees and that many children in the county were in dangerous situations. Plans were developed to create an educational early childhood center, but no one was willing to take on the task of building and operating the center. Jill decided it was worth the risk and began construction of Kiddie Kollege in 1996.

Since that time, Kiddie Kollege has doubled in size, entered into a Head Start collaboration, and worked with the local Pre-K and other organizations to provide the highest quality early childhood care for the children of Wayne County. Jill says that she has never regretted her decision and that her goals remain focused on bringing new programs to the center that will enhance the quality of the education that is offered to the children the center serves.

Jill continues her leadership in the field of early childhood education by serving as President of SISCAT - an organization for Directors of centers in Southern Illinois. She feels that it "is so important for Directors to stay abreast of the issues that will continue to impact early childhood. This field is rapidly changing and it will be important to understand how new legislation will affect centers."

When asked about the Illinois Director Credential, Jill states that she would recommend that every Director of a center attain the credential, adding that she feels it will help the early childhood field to gain respect from the educational community. She says, "We must all work together with every resource in our communities in order to survive and be able to raise the standards of early childhood care in Illinois. Kids deserve it and it is up to us to see that it happens!"

In her spare time, Jill is involved in community activities such as her local Main Street Program (historical preservation) and is currently on a steering committee to build a new high school in the district. Jill and her husband Bill live in southern Illinois and try to visit their two children, Billy and Carrie, often.