Colorado’s only early childhood special tax district has announced that Glenwood Springs resident Samantha Markovitz will become the district’s first full-time executive director. Ready to amplify the community’s voice, Markovitz brings a wide breadth of skills and experiences to drive forth the district’s mission to expand access to early childhood care and education.
“I really am excited and also really humbled and honored to serve our region in this way,” Markovitz said. “It’s a unique and new position … [and] to work alongside the community is a really humbling opportunity.”
Formerly Confluence Early Childhood Development Special Service District, the district has recently been renamed Every Child Parachute to Aspen (ECPA). Coupled with a refreshing new logo, the rebranding is a direct reflection of the district’s commitment to serve every child, family and partner using funds collected by a November 2025 voter-approved 0.25% sales tax on nonessential goods.
Markovitz officially began the role on July 27 and was preceded by Interim Director Kathryn Kuhlenberg, who helped stabilize and build the district’s core foundational systems. To fill the full-time executive director role, ECPA used Duffy Group, a third-party professional recruitment firm. Of the 68 candidates, eight were selected to present and answer questions in front of the district’s board. The process also included participating in a community open house.
“We conducted a rigorous, transparent search, because our families and providers deserve leadership with both deep experience and a commitment to equity,” ECPA Board President Carly Kraemer said in a June 25 press release. “Samantha’s fiscal stewardship, collaborative approach and track record of building accessible systems make her the right leader to translate voter intent into measurable results for children, families and our regional economy.”
Markovitz’s new multifaceted role will include leading the district quickly and thoughtfully to establish clear and authentic avenues for community input, strengthen local partnerships, ensure legal compliance and spearhead long-term sustainable solutions. She will also prioritize the allocation of initial interim funding to address urgent needs.
“It’s the balance between standing up a new government arm while also understanding and realizing the real need and pressure to get dollars out the door,” Markovitz said.
Markovitz, who has a masters in social work with a specialization in organizational leadership and policy practice, has been a longtime advocate for access to early childhood education. While interning as a school social worker for kindergarteners, she recalled many 5-year-olds who needed significantly more emotional and developmental support than the schools could provide. Markovitz quickly realized that in order to help children and families, communities needed to invest earlier and creatively collaborate.
“At my core I really, truly believe in the power of collaboration so that communities can equitably access and utilize the resources they need in order to thrive,” Markovitz said. “My whole career has been turning that belief into action.”
Prior to ECPA, Markovitz was the Early Childhood Initiatives manager for Eagle County. There she directed a $6 million annual portfolio of early childhood public funds. Demonstrating fiscal accountability and alignment with county-wide strategic priorities, Markovitz helped establish Eagle County’s Early Childhood Workforce Stipend Program. The program was created as an investment effort to recruit and retain teachers by providing a $500 monthly stipend for qualified full-time early childhood educators participating in professional development. Noting the program’s success, Markovitz said numerous early childhood program directors expressed a marked increase in their teachers’ quality of life, including better nutrition and rest, which ultimately resulted in better outcomes for children.
“Managing those public funds transparently and effectively yielded real community results. It’s something that I love doing and I took it really seriously,” Markovitz said. “I really hope to bring the community voice and those types of impactful initiatives and grants to our region.”
The executive director role is currently contracted for one year, but Markovitz is committed to the long term. While she will work closely with the ECPA board to establish priority and goal maps, Markovitz is already planning pathways for community engagement. In the short term, she hopes to streamline needs and interests by developing a formal advisory board, whereas in the future she envisions a public online dashboard where the public can access allocation of tax funds and the district’s impact. Ultimately, she wants the district to be an approachable and beneficial entity the public can be proud of and see as an innovative leader.
“Long term, the goal is that Every Child Parachute to Aspen is recognized as a trusted, essential community partner,” Markovitz said. “Early childhood does not exist in a vacuum. It touches housing, transportation, public health, economic development and more. I want this district to sit at the table with all of those sectors to make life in our region better for everyone.”
Every Child Parachute to Aspen invites the community to meet Samantha Markovitz for a Popsicle in the Park on Aug. 18 at Centennial Park Playground in Rifle.
Please RSVP at tinyurl.com/ECPAmeetup