EARLY STEPS employs a staff of five: The Executive Director, two Associate Directors, an Executive Assistant and a Development Director.  As School Advisors, EARLY STEPS Directors are experienced educators of color who have taught and worked in admissions at independent schools. Their unique backgrounds allow them to bring a full spectrum of knowledge about the independent school experience for families of children of color.

Jacqueline Y. Pelzer has been Executive Director of EARLY STEPS since 1988. She is actively sought as a speaker at national conferences and seminars and writes from her experience on diversity issues. She has held positions on the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Board, both as Secretary and Chair of the Equity and Justice Committee. This committee’s role is to ensure that diversity issues and initiatives are addressed by the organization and to contribute topics and ideas for continued Board growth and development in this area.