Stacey Owsley Wright

Stacey O. Wright serves as Director of the Missouri Head Start Collaboration Office (MHSCO) at the University of Missouri, where she has led statewide early childhood systems-building efforts since 2005. With more than 20 years of experience in Head Start and early childhood leadership, her work focuses on strengthening coordination among Head Start programs, state agencies, higher education, and other stakeholders to improve outcomes for children and families, particularly those experiencing economic hardship.

Through MHSCO, Wright leads statewide outreach and collaboration initiatives that promote alignment across early childhood education, health, family support, mental health, workforce development, and child welfare systems. She directs Missouri’s annual Head Start needs assessment process, facilitates cross-sector partnerships, and provides leadership on initiatives designed to reduce service duplication and increase access to comprehensive services for young children and families. As Principal Investigator, she has successfully secured and managed recurring federal and state grants supporting system improvement, data expansion, and strategic collaboration efforts throughout Missouri.

Wright is recognized for her leadership in statewide policy development and systems change. She regularly represents the Head Start in state-level planning, advisory, and decision-making bodies, helping shape early childhood policies and practices across Missouri. Her service contributions include leadership have included roles with the Missouri Early Childhood State Advisory Committee, the Missouri Coordinating Board for Early Childhood, the Missouri Early Childhood Comprehensive System Steering Team, the Early Childhood Summit Advisory Committee, the SpecialQuest Birth-5 State Leadership Team, the Missouri Head Start Association Board of Directors, and the Region VII Head Start Association. She has also contributed to numerous statewide initiatives focused on early childhood development, quality assurance, workforce development, home visiting, and strategic planning.

Wright’s work has earned recognition at the regional and national levels, including the Region VII Tom Mayer Award of Excellence, recognition from the National Head Start Association, and the Children’s Defense Fund Emerging Leaders Project. She Her career reflects a sustained commitment to advancing comprehensive early childhood systems, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring that children and families have equitable access to high-quality services and supports.

Research

• Research Lab Website Missouri Head Start Collaborative Office

Areas of expertise

• Enhancing Early Childhood Development, Care, and Learning

Research Summary

Elevating Head Start as an integral partner in Missouri’s early childhood system through collaboration, research, practice, and policy.