State Senator John A. Kissel, R-Enfield, will introduce guest speaker Dr. Janice Gruendel at Thursday evening’s KITE (Key Initiatives to Early Education) meeting to discuss the state’s early childhood initiative. The meeting will be held tonight, May 29th at 6:30 pm, at the Prudence Crandall Elementary School located at 150 Brainard Road in Enfield.

Dr. Gruendel serves as Senior Advisor on Early Childhood for Connecticut's Governor M. Jodi Rell. She is currently on leave from her position as co-president of CT Voices for Children. She continues as a Lecturer at the Yale University Child Study Center and also serves as a part-time senior consulting fellow on youth issues at CT Voices for Children.

Sen. Kissel arranged to have Dr. Gruendel speak at tonight’s meeting that consists of community leaders, parents and educators. “She is a good friend and the state’s expert on the issue of early childhood education and I so greatly appreciate her accepting my invitation to speak at tonight’s KITE meeting. I have worked with Dr. Gruendel on Connecticut’s Youth Futures Committee over the last two years and she has a wealth of knowledge and boundless enthusiasm. We’re very lucky she is visiting Enfield once again.” said Sen. Kissel.