Jane D. Leach is the Chief Executive Officer of Future Ready Columbus, a not-for-profit community
organization focused on aligning and mobilizing the work of Franklin County citizens and organizations
so that within this decade all children in our county will be kindergarten ready by age 5.

Leach’s experience as a teacher, elementary school administrator, founder of a 5-Star Step Up to Quality
urban preschool, education consultant and now CEO established her expertise and reflect her passion
for nurturing the whole child and the community’s systems that surround and support each child. She
possesses the rare talent of authentically connecting with children, their families and community,
including the stakeholders who influence their wellness and preparedness for school and thus, life.
Leach is committed to achieving community wide kindergarten readiness because she has seen that
readiness changes the lives of our children, neighborhoods and economy. Indeed, research clearly
demonstrates that 100% kindergarten ready means better health, higher levels of education, higher
lifetime earnings, decreased unemployment, decreased criminal activity, decreased teen pregnancy
rates, reduced remediation costs, and more.

Holding both undergraduate and graduate degrees in education from The Ohio State University, Leach
has received numerous awards for her dedication to the education profession and her leadership in the
community, including Northwest Woman of the Year (The Rotary Club of Upper Arlington), The Living
Faith Award (Columbus Metropolitan Area Church Council), Community Involvement Award (Columbus
City Schools) and The Young Educator Award (The Ohio State University).

Leach has been featured in Columbus CEO, Columbus Monthly, and Columbus Parent. At Future Ready
Columbus, Jane has the privilege of giving leadership to her life’s calling – to love children well and to
courageously work for their present-day and future benefit.

Jane is married to Don Leach. Together, they have two amazing daughters and sons in law, as well as
two fabulous grandchildren.