Ann McClain Terrell

Ann McClain Terrell is the Director of the Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation. Prior to serving in that capacity, she was the Director of Innovation and the Director of Early Childhood Education for Milwaukee Public Schools. She has over 35 years of professional experience in the field of early childhood education. In addition to her work for MPS, Ann mentors emerging early childhood leaders and postsecondary students. She has served as adjunct faculty for Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) and presented workshops and seminars locally, statewide and nationally.

Ann holds a Master of Science degree in Educational Leadership from Cardinal Stritch University, a Master of Science degree in Cultural Foundations of Education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from UW-Milwaukee, and an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education from MATC. 

Ann is proud of her community service work and serves on numerous boards, councils and committees including the Cardinal Stritch University College of Education and Leadership Advisory Council, Educare Milwaukee Advisory Committee, and a recent term on the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Board of Directors. 

Ann received the Black Women’s Network Legacy of Leadership in Education Award 2008; the National Black Child Development Institute-Milwaukee Affiliate Early Childhood Recognition Award 2007; and the Community Braining Storming Conference Children’s Advocacy Award 2004. She was appointed Chair of Governor Doyle’s 2004 Quality Counts Early Childhood Task Force, which led to the creation of YoungStar, the Wisconsin child care rating system. She was selected as a 2000 Children’s Defense Funds Early Childhood Leadership Fellow and was recently nominated for the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators Bert Grover Advocacy Award. 

Ann is the proud mother of two daughters, Jenise and Kenisha, and the grandmother of 5 wonderful grandchildren who bring much joy to her life.