Marsha Ettema is the Executive Director at RELC. Marsha earned a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education, with a Kindergarten and Nursery School Certificate from the University of Minnesota. She also earned a Master's Degree in Reading from Northeastern Illinois University. In addition, she recently earned an Illinois Director Credential, which is awarded for a high level of skills and knowledge in child development, management, teaching experience and commitment to the field. Marsha has worked with young children and their families in various capacities for 30 years. She has taught young children in programs in diverse settings including an inner city school, a laboratory school, a children's bookstore, a private for-profit preschool, a YMCA preschool and Head Start. She has directed a Jewish Community Center camp program, a church based preschool, Early Childhood and Exhibit departments of Children's Museums, and a not-for-profit preschool. Marsha has co-chaired the Early Childhood Program Quality Committee and the Evanston Early Childhood Directors' Council. She is also a member of the Every Child Ready for Kindergarten Collaboration. Marsha holds membership in the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the Chicago Metro Association for the Education of Young Children. She is the mother of two grown children.

     Marsha is the recipient of the 2004 Evanston Early Childhood Award, given by Childcare Network of Evanston to acknowledge outstanding contributions to the field.