Children’s Learning Centers of Fairfield County this week announced the appointment of Monica Maccera Filppu as Chief Executive Officer. She will begin her new role at CLC on May 6.
Monica Maccera Filppu
Ms Maccera Filppu has almost 30 years of education and non-profit leadership experience serving organizations in New Haven and Bridgeport, CT as well as Western Massachusetts and Washington, DC. She is currently the Executive Director of Common Ground High School, Urban Farm, and Environmental Education Center, a community non-profit that provides environmental learning and leadership experiences for children of all ages across Greater New Haven.
Previously, she served as Project Director at The New Teacher Project, and was the Founding Executive Director and Principal at Great Oaks Charter School of Bridgeport.
Maccera Filppu began her career as a 1995 Teach For America Corps Member, teaching 3rd grade in Spanish at the Oyster Bilingual School in Washington, DC. She served as Managing Director of Academic Affairs at Teach for America – Connecticut, guiding over 400 teachers to earn their teacher certification.
“Our board of directors is thrilled to bring a leader of Monica’s caliber and talent into our community to guide CLC through its next chapter,” said board chair Noah Lapine. “Monica possesses the qualifications and experience to grow CLC into an even greater, more successful organization that will create a lasting impact on early childhood education in lower Fairfield County.”
Maccera Filppu holds a master’s degree in TESOL/Bilingual Education from Georgetown University, a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the State University of New York at Albany and an Intermediate Administrator Certificate from the CT State Department of Education. She is a Building Hope Impact Award Winner for Community Engagement (2022) and recipient of a Board on Track: Excellence in Governance Award (2016).
“I am honored and excited to have been selected as CLC’s next CEO; an organization that plays a crucial role in Stamford’s educational equity efforts. The shared commitment of CLC’s Board, staff and broader community to “shaping a just future through Early Childhood Education” has been palpable in every interaction I’ve had so far. In addition to raising my own two children, my life’s work has been centered on creating opportunities for all children to succeed. I’m eager to collaborate with CLC’s stakeholders in ensuring the children of Stamford have the early learning foundational experiences to set them up for future personal and professional fulfillment,” said Maccera Filppu.
The Board of Directors is grateful to Interim CEO, Margo Amgott, for her inspired leadership and care during this transition.
Children’s Learning Centers of Fairfield County (CLC) has been a leader in developing and implementing high-quality and affordable early childhood education and care programs since 1902. All of the nonprofit agency’s six locations are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) or approved by Federal Head Start.
The organization’s comprehensive early childhood education includes nutrition, health and family support for children 6 weeks old-kindergarten eligible. CLC’s mission is to build nurturing and innovative early childhood educational experiences for all children and their families.