South Shore Stars, a nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive early education and youth development programs through a family-support approach and that has served as a resource for working parents on the South Shore since 1970, recently announced the ongoing search for a new executive director.

Sheri Adlin, the organization’s current executive director, announced her plans to retire at the end of 2020 earlier this year.

The search for a new executive director is being led by John Tarvin, MS, PCC, CMA, principal partner and search consultant at Eos Transition Partners. In addition to conducting more than 40 executive searches and completing dozens of organizational development as well as business and strategic planning engagements for more than 100 nonprofits, Tarvin has firsthand knowledge of South Shore Stars, as he served as the organization’s CFO until 1995.

Eos Transitions has begun to narrow down the field of candidates for the South Shore Stars executive director position, and plans to have an individual in place in the role by October, allowing for some overlap between the new executive director and Adlin.

For the last 25 years, Adlin has been an integral part of South Shore Stars. Under her leadership, the nonprofit has grown to serve over 1,200 children annually, from birth through high school, with a focus on offering a continuum of early education and youth programs concentrating on school readiness, academic achievement, and the healthy development of families. Four goals inspire the focus of South Shore Stars—to enable parents to work; to help children reach their full developmental potential; to facilitate positive youth development; and to improve academic achievement for students at-risk of academic failure. Programs include a family childcare system, an Early Head Start initiative, preschool centers, after school programs, a middle school program and high school program, and a summer camp. Due to the nonprofit's commitment to quality, affordable, year-round care for low-income families and at-risk children, the growth of South Shore Stars has been closely tied to public policies and government funding for early education and anti-poverty programs.

Adlin has more than 40 years of experience in classroom teaching, program development, management, and public policy. Previously, she served on Governor Dukakis’ senior staff where she helped launch an effort that led to the creation of the Governor’s Day Care Partnership, a nationally recognized model for collaboration that resulted in the development of a comprehensive state-wide childcare policy. She also served as Assistant Secretary for Social Policy for the Executive Office of Human Services, overseeing five state agencies.

In addition, Adlin has provided leadership for coalitions aimed at increasing support for low income and immigrant families, including an effort that resulted in the establishment of Quincy Asian Resources. Adlin has served for two decades as the vice president of the Massachusetts Association of Early Education and Care (MADCA), where she advocated for funding and policies to support accessible, affordable child care.

“There is no doubt of the legacy that Sheri will leave behind at South Shore Stars, especially given her leadership over the last 25 years, or half of the organization’s existence,” said Christopher Ernest, CPA, MSM, partner with blumshapiro and chair of South Shore Stars’ Board of Directors. “We are lucky to have her involved in the process, as well as John, who has an expansive knowledge of the organization and understands well the type of person we are looking for to lead this great institution into the future.”

About South Shore Stars

South Shore Stars is a not-for-profit organization that has been a resource for working parents on the South Shore since 1970. The organization’s two interconnected goals are to enable parents to work, and support each child to thrive. Stars’ mission is to provide comprehensive early education and youth programs through a family-support approach. They strive to enhance the development of children from economically and culturally diverse families through collaboration with parents, schools, and local communities.

South Shore Stars has embraced and nurtured thousands of South Shore families and children since their first center-based pre-school childcare center located in Quincy Center. Today, they annually serve over 1,200 children and youth age newborn through 18 years in a family child care system, Early Head Start, preschool centers, school age centers, middle school programs, a high school program, and summer camp, throughout the communities of Braintree (family child care system only), Holbrook (Early Head Start and family child care system only), Quincy, Randolph, Weymouth, and Westwood (summer camp), and surrounding cities and towns. Stars’ core goals are to enable parents to work, help each child reach their full development potential, improve academic achievement for students at-risk of academic failure, and facilitate positive youth development. Stars recognizes the importance of supporting and partnering with parents for children to be the best versions of themselves.

South Shore Stars’ main office is located at 200 Middle Street, East Weymouth, MA. For more information, please call 781-331-8505 or visit www.southshorestars.org.