Janice M. Gruendel
Janice Gruendel has spent her career helping children across the private, public, and non-profit sectors. In 1995, Janice became co-founder and co-director of Connecticut Voices for Children, a non-profit, statewide, citizen-based public education organization devoted to enhancing the well-being of the state's children through research, public education, media, citizen mobilizing, and youth development. She has specialized in ensuring that children have access to quality educational opportunities and the Internet in particular. Working with now Congressman John Lawson, she led ConneCT '96, a marketing and mobilizing effort to bring Internet access to Connecticut schools and public libraries. She involved more than 4,000 volunteers and 100 organizations in wiring 70 percent of Connecticut's schools and 85 percent of its libraries. In addition, Janice has led the CT Girls & Technology Network, the Youth Spirit Awards, and the organization's Young Fellows Program. She served as a member of the leadership team for Connecticut's Promise: First for Kids, a two-year statewide citizen effort created by Connecticut Voices to inform and educate the public on children's issues.
Janice has served recently on the Governor’s Council on Economic Competitiveness and Technology, and on the Lieutenant Governor's Technology and Education Task Force. Prior to co-founding CT Voices for Children, Janice was vice president for Education and Training at Rabbit Ears Productions, Inc. She developed interactive entertainment products for the educational marketplace through production and licensing deals with Microsoft, Macmillan School Publishing, Sunburst Communications, and Lightspan Partnership. She served as co-executive producer of the Emmy-nominated PBS production Mommy, Who'll Take Care of Me, a compilation of five stories about children living with AIDS. While at Rabbit Ears, Janice also co-edited the Yale University Press publication Forgotten Children of the AIDS Epidemic (1995). In 1996, Janice, collaborating with the First Congregational Church of Branford, AIDS Interfaith, and Immanuel Baptist Church in New Haven-assisted in the establishment of Camp Totoket, a summer camp for children living with HIV disease in their families. In 1997, she received the Mondani Friend of Connecticut Education Award from the 32,000-member Connecticut Education Association for the most significant contribution to education in Connecticut.
Before joining Rabbit Ears, Janice held four senior positions in the Connecticut state government. As deputy commissioner at the Department of Children and Youth Services, she supervised thirteen field offices serving 13,000 children, six institutions serving 500 children and managed a $60 million budget. Responsible for child welfare, children's mental health, and juvenile justice and prevention pro grams, Janice developed the state’s first Children's Mental Health Plan and initiated statewide Family Preservation Services to reduce out-of-home placements while keeping children safe.
Janice also served as deputy commissioner at the Department of Mental Retardation, the Department of Health Services, and the Department of Corrections. In each position she challenged the status quo and improved the services that the state provides for children.
Janice has published extensively on issues of economic security, workforce investment, technology and learning, early care and education, and youth at risk. She has been invited to testify before the U.S. Congress and the Connecticut legislature on these and other issues, helping to shape legislation that provides children with opportunity and society with an educated workforce.
Janice holds a Ph.D. in Child Development and Public Policy from Yale University and an Ed.M. in Educational Psychology from Rutgers, and she graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Maryland. Janice's commitment to children extends throughout her family. Husband Herb is the states
Chief Administrative Judge for Family Matters and son David is a teacher and department head at Branford High School. She is also the proud mother of two additional sons, Darren, and Steven, and proud grandmother of three beautiful girls.
Janice has served recently on the Governor’s Council on Economic Competitiveness and Technology, and on the Lieutenant Governor's Technology and Education Task Force. Prior to co-founding CT Voices for Children, Janice was vice president for Education and Training at Rabbit Ears Productions, Inc. She developed interactive entertainment products for the educational marketplace through production and licensing deals with Microsoft, Macmillan School Publishing, Sunburst Communications, and Lightspan Partnership. She served as co-executive producer of the Emmy-nominated PBS production Mommy, Who'll Take Care of Me, a compilation of five stories about children living with AIDS. While at Rabbit Ears, Janice also co-edited the Yale University Press publication Forgotten Children of the AIDS Epidemic (1995). In 1996, Janice, collaborating with the First Congregational Church of Branford, AIDS Interfaith, and Immanuel Baptist Church in New Haven-assisted in the establishment of Camp Totoket, a summer camp for children living with HIV disease in their families. In 1997, she received the Mondani Friend of Connecticut Education Award from the 32,000-member Connecticut Education Association for the most significant contribution to education in Connecticut.
Before joining Rabbit Ears, Janice held four senior positions in the Connecticut state government. As deputy commissioner at the Department of Children and Youth Services, she supervised thirteen field offices serving 13,000 children, six institutions serving 500 children and managed a $60 million budget. Responsible for child welfare, children's mental health, and juvenile justice and prevention pro grams, Janice developed the state’s first Children's Mental Health Plan and initiated statewide Family Preservation Services to reduce out-of-home placements while keeping children safe.
Janice also served as deputy commissioner at the Department of Mental Retardation, the Department of Health Services, and the Department of Corrections. In each position she challenged the status quo and improved the services that the state provides for children.
Janice has published extensively on issues of economic security, workforce investment, technology and learning, early care and education, and youth at risk. She has been invited to testify before the U.S. Congress and the Connecticut legislature on these and other issues, helping to shape legislation that provides children with opportunity and society with an educated workforce.
Janice holds a Ph.D. in Child Development and Public Policy from Yale University and an Ed.M. in Educational Psychology from Rutgers, and she graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Maryland. Janice's commitment to children extends throughout her family. Husband Herb is the states
Chief Administrative Judge for Family Matters and son David is a teacher and department head at Branford High School. She is also the proud mother of two additional sons, Darren, and Steven, and proud grandmother of three beautiful girls.