Ellen Ward is the Early Childhood Policy Manager at Prichard Committee and a proud Owensboro, Kentucky native. She began her educational journey at the University of Kentucky, where she earned her degree in Elementary Education. From there, she embarked on an exciting chapter teaching abroad in Russia and Sweden, focusing on schools serving students from refugee backgrounds. Ellen also researched school choice in Taiwan while completing her master’s degree. Passionate about setting Kentucky's youngest learners up for success, she is committed to supporting the creation of an environment that fosters a lifelong love of learning. Fun fact: Ellen was born on Friday the 13th!