Early childhood education leader brings over two decades of experience to head universal preschool expansion
Multnomah County, Ore. (Jan. 6, 2026) — Following a competitive recruitment, Multnomah County on Tuesday announced the appointment of Danisa McLean as the director of the Preschool and Early Learning Division, effective Jan. 26, 2026.
As Preschool and Early Learning Division Director, McLean will oversee the continued expansion of Multnomah County’s Preschool for All program. As a landmark voter-approved initiative, Preschool for All provides free, high-quality early childhood education to thousands of families in Multnomah County.
Preschool for All is on track to exceed its growth target for the 2026-2027 school year, positioning the County to achieve universal preschool ahead of schedule. The program has offered 7,460 seats to providers for the 2026-2027 school year — 65% higher than the program's 4,500-seat target and potentially even surpassing the original pre-pandemic target of 6,500 to 7,000 seats. By removing the burden of tuition, the program also helps invest in the local economy by saving families approximately $18,600 per child each year.
The program is also growing local small businesses and the early childhood workforce. For the 2026-2027 school year, it allocated seats to 187 family child care sites, continuing its commitment to supporting smaller, home-based providers. In fiscal year 2025, the program recruited and supported 348 educators entering the early learning field.
McLean joins the County with nearly two decades of experience in early learning, most recently serving as the Interim Executive Director of Early Learning & Engagement and the Director of Child Care Resource & Referral at Mt. Hood Community College. In these roles, she worked in close partnership with Multnomah County to support Preschool for All workforce development and quality improvement.
McLean’s appointment comes at a pivotal time as the program shifts from its foundational phase into broad-scale expansion. With thousands of publicly-funded preschool seats now available, the County is focused on scaling capacity to reach every corner of the community.
"As a champion for early childhood education, Danisa understands that Preschool for All sets our youngest community members up for lifelong success and acts as a lifeline for families,” said Rachel Pearl, the interim director for the Department of County Human Services. "Her leadership will be vital as we move toward our goal of universal access. I am immensely proud of our Preschool and Early Learning team, and I look forward to seeing both our staff and the program flourish with Danisa’s vision.”
Under McLean’s leadership, the program will focus on several key priorities:
- Universal access: Scaling seats to serve all eligible 3- and 4-year-olds.
- Wage equity: Providing preschool educators with competitive wages and benefits.
- Inclusive classrooms: Ensuring preschool environments are culturally responsive and support diverse learning needs.
- Provider sustainability: Supporting small businesses and home-based providers as they participate in Preschool for All.
“I am extremely honored to serve as the new Preschool and Early Learning Division Director,” McLean said. “I entered this profession as an educator motivated by a desire to make a lasting impact. I believe every child deserves the opportunity to dream big, and I look forward to leaning into community partnerships to listen, learn, and build upon the strong foundations already in place.”
Outside of her professional life, McLean is the mother of an only child and enjoys staying active through running, spending time in the outdoors, and reading.
McLean holds a master’s degree in nonprofit leadership and management from Arizona State University. McLean succeeds Rachel Pearl, who has served as the interim Preschool and Early Learning Division director since August 2025. The County offers its deep appreciation to Pearl for her dedicated leadership during this transition period.
For more information on the program or to find a participating provider, visit pfa.multco.us.
###