Staff: Keri Ackerman

Keri Ackerman joined Friends of the Children on May 5, 2025. Keri is honored to support the launch of our 42nd chapter. She is driven to build strong, mission-aligned systems that empower teams to do life-changing work with children and families. Keri is privileged to help lay the operational foundation that will support long-term, intentional mentoring relationships for youth in our community. Her dedication is focused on creating the infrastructure—budgets, HR, compliance, and culture—that allows our mission to thrive.

Before joining Friends, Keri spent over 20 years with KinderCare Education, where she served as a District Leader overseeing 13 centers across two states. During that time, she was deeply committed to creating safe, nurturing environments where children could grow, learn, and thrive. She led high-performing teams, supported center directors in exceeding quality standards, and built strong community partnerships to support children and families.

Keri’s passion for early childhood development and equity has shaped every step of her journey. With a degree in Special Education and Child Development, she has dedicated her career to ensuring that all children, especially those facing systemic barriers, have the support they need to reach their full potential. Today, she continues that work by ensuring every mentor at Friends of the Children will have the support they need to help youth thrive.