I will listen to your concerns and work with you to move our community forward.
Paula Polito is a lifelong Jefferson Parish resident whose 32-year career in early childhood education has shaped her into one of Louisiana's most recognized voices at the intersection of business, policy, and community service. As the owner of Beary Cherry Tree Child Development Center — a three-generation family legacy she has led since 1999 — Paula has grown the center into a nationally regarded model of high-quality early care, serving more than 220 Jefferson Parish families.
Her doctoral research at the University of New Orleans focused on workplace inequities for women in the childcare industry, and she has taken that scholarship directly into the halls of power, including testifying before the United States Senate HELP Committee on the state of Louisiana's early childhood education system.
As the 2026 Chair of the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce — the first childcare provider ever to lead the organization — she champions economic development and workforce readiness across the parish. She serves simultaneously as Chair of the Louisiana Department of Education Early Childhood Advisory Board, as a member of the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO), and as an advisory board member for the Jefferson Ready Start Network.
A lifelong Republican, Paula was elected to the Republican Parish Executive Committee for District 5 in 2024. She and her husband Darrin are proud parents raising their family in the same community where Paula was born, attended Archbishop Chapelle High School, and built her life.
A record of leadership recognized by peers, civic organizations, and the early childhood education community across Louisiana and the Gulf South.
Paula's seat at the table — across the chamber, the classroom, the boardroom, and the political arena — reflects a career spent advocating for working families and the small businesses that anchor them.
Three University of New Orleans degrees — including a doctorate examining workplace inequities for women in education — built alongside a full-time career and a growing family.
National certifications in early childhood quality measurement, observation, and educator coaching — the technical backbone of Paula's policy work.