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, last week announced that Dr. Jennifer Curtis-Whipple has been selected as the organization’s next executive director. She will assume this role as of March 1, 2021.

Curtis-Whipple will come to South Shore Stars from the Weymouth Public Schools system, where she currently serves as superintendent, a role she has held since 2016. Additionally, she has held the roles of assistant superintendent, principal, classroom teacher and instructional coach over her 25-year tenure with the district.

As superintendent, Curtis-Whipple is credited with garnering multiple grants and donations, and fostering collaborations with many community stakeholders. A highly respected and experienced educator, she has been the recipient of several awards, including the South Shore Stars 40 under 40 award and the Administrator’s Award from the Massachusetts Music Educators Association.

Curtis-Whipple earned an Ed. D in supervision and leadership from Northeastern University in 2012, a master’s degree in education from Cambridge College, and a bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education from Providence College.

“We are excited to have found a candidate with Jennifer’s deep commitment to education and the children and families on the South Shore,” said Christopher Ernest, CPA, MSM, partner with blumshapiro and chair of the South Shore Stars Board of Directors. “We know that under Jennifer’s leadership, Stars will continue to provide the very highest levels of education, academic enrichment and family support to children and their families throughout the South Shore for many years to come.”

“I am thrilled to be joining Stars, an organization that I know well,” said Curtis-Whipple. “I am extremely eager to support the organization’s comprehensive early education and youth development programs that enhance the optimal growth of children from economically and culturally diverse families. This is a wonderful new chapter in my professional career, and I am so excited to begin my work with Stars’ amazing staff, families, and children!”

Sheri Adlin, the organization’s current executive director, is retiring after 26 years and will stay on as long as necessary to ensure a smooth transition. Ernest added, “On behalf of the board and staff, we thank Sheri for so wonderfully and graciously guiding Stars for so many years.”

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.