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Early Learning Nation鈥檚 community of experts, advocates, leaders and readers continues to grow. As much as we鈥檇 like to, we can鈥檛 invite you all over for Thanksgiving dinner, but this might be the next best thing. Imagine we鈥檙e going around the table, and each guest has a chance to respond to the question, What are you most thankful for in the early learning world?
鈥淎s a new mom, I鈥檓 grateful for early learning champions in our homes, classrooms, libraries and community centers who intentionally leverage every opportunity to engage in early learning. Bringing early learning to our young people, specific to their care situation and accessibility needs, is critical in growing minds regardless of social and economic barriers. We all can be an early learning champion.鈥�
鈥�Koy Saeteurn, chief of staff to Sacramento councilmember Eric Guerra
“I am most thankful for this past year that my coworkers and myself were able to stay healthy to be able to stay open for the young children and have a safe environment for them to go to.”
鈥�MaryBeth Holloway, teacher, ACCA Child Development Center, Annandale, Virginia
鈥淒espite the significant and ongoing challenges of this year, we have increased public awareness of the crucial importance of early childhood, and the will of policymakers to make significant and sustained public investments needed to rebuild and strengthen the early childhood care and education system.鈥�
鈥�Barry Ford, president and CEO, Council for a Strong America
鈥淭hese past couple of years have brought on many new challenges, such as virtual learning and mask wearing鈥攏either of which are conducive to teaching young children. The teachers have been heroes during this time and many children have benefitted from their efforts.鈥�
鈥�Meredith Rowe, Saul Zaentz Professor of Early Learning and Development at Harvard Graduate School of Education
鈥淭he early educators who have served as a lifeline for our young kids, families and communities in the COVID-19 crisis.聽 I’m also thankful that finally a light is being shined on their critical roles in shaping the next generation and allowing parents to work.鈥�
鈥�Dr. Christina Weiland, associate professor at the School of Education, University of Michigan
“Educators鈥� unwavering commitment to their kids. The pandemic showed that even in the presence of unfamiliarity and discomfort, teachers keep on teaching.”
鈥�Malcolm Mitchell, Share the Magic Foundation
“I am most thankful for the brave, inspiring, innovative educators who have kept my sons Shaan and Sai engaged over the last year, through books, music, art and more. They’ve kept my sons close to knowledge and curiosity and I’m so grateful for this critical support.”
鈥�Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code and the Marshall Plan for Moms
鈥淭hroughout the pandemic, our early care and education workforce has worked diligently to help families and to provide safe nurturing places for our youngest children. This underpaid, underappreciated workforce cannot be thanked enough.鈥�
鈥�Jillian Herink, executive director for the Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children
鈥淭he dedicated early care and education workforce continues to demonstrate outstanding commitment to our nation’s children through the most challenging circumstances. It is past time for us as a society to recognize their vital work through equitable compensation and benefits.
鈥�Emily Sharrock, associate vice president, Bank Street Education Center
鈥淚鈥檓 most thankful to contemplate the opportunity for equity in early learning across the county, and that we are beginning the conversation that every child has equal access to quality pre-K in order to drive educational and social outcomes for all communities.鈥�
鈥�Dr. Robert Blaine, senior executive and director for the National League of Cities鈥� Institute for Youth, Education and Families
鈥淭he rest of the world finally realized what early childhood professionals and child care providers have known for years鈥攖hat the early years matter and that care givers need to be respected and valued through recognition and wages. There has never been more public funding and emphasis on changing the system and creating financing structures that work for families, providers and employers. We now need to build the bridge between a dying system that never worked that well for anyone and a kinder system where child care providers are equitably compensated, families have equitable access and children can flourish.鈥�
鈥�Jackie Counts, director of the Center for Public Partnerships and Research at the University of Kansas
鈥淭he dedication, patience and hard work of early childhood educators that spark curiosity and provide the critical foundations of learning for children to thrive in school and beyond. The relationships and connections that children form in the early years鈥攁t school, at home and in the community鈥攁re essential for healthy development and I鈥檓 grateful to the many teachers and child care workers who provide a nurturing and safe environment for our youngest learners.鈥�
鈥�Helen Shwe Hadani, fellow at The Brookings Institution
鈥淧ersistence of the advocates who have championed young children for decades; parents of young children who weathered the COVID storm鈥攂alancing so much everyday; providers of care who worked throughout it all, under difficult conditions and deserve so much more support! And people around the world who are working to assure children are protected from crises, conflict and climate.鈥�
鈥�Joan Lombardi, director of Early Opportunities, LLC
鈥淭he incredible marriage鈥攔ight now鈥攐f the world of early learning science and the world of national public policy.聽For the first time in a very long time, there is a way forward to focus resources (people, knowledge, time, marketing and money) on the very early years of a child’s life within the context of their families and communities.聽Finally, we are looking at our historical track record in racial, economic, health and educational inequity with the powerful commitment of policy behind it. It feels like we have the wind beneath our wings, at last.鈥�
鈥�Janice Gruendel, senior consultant to Bridgeport Prospers and research professor at the University of North Carolina Charlotte
鈥淭he early learning educators and caregivers are truly the 鈥榰nsung heroes鈥� of the COVID era.聽Through personal commitment and sacrifice鈥攆inancial, personal and health鈥攖hey have stood up for America鈥檚 children every day.鈥�
鈥�Michael H. Levine, senior vice president of learning and impact for Noggin
鈥淚t is becoming safer for children to be in a variety of settings with caring adults focused on supporting them to grow and learn. I鈥檓 also thankful that the conversation is now centered on what kinds of learning experiences are possible and necessary for early learners, rather than whether early learning could/should happen and who should get access to it.鈥�
鈥�Elizabeth City, senior lecturer on education at Harvard Graduate School of Education
鈥淎ll the champions for children who exist within the early learning field鈥攆rom caregivers and early childhood professionals, to researchers and local leaders across community settings. We have such gratitude and respect for the dedication, commitment and compassion displayed by early learning champions who rally together and support a child鈥檚 most critical early years of life, ensuring they have a strong foundation to thrive as learners and in life.鈥�
鈥�Lesley Graham, managing director for U.S. programs & resources at Save the Children
Although I am not a fan of the struggles we鈥檝e faced during the pandemic, I am thankful for the spotlight that has been placed on early childhood development and education. The field has spoken up and the nation has taken steps towards helping better the infrastructure.
鈥�Nicole Lazarte, teacher, ACCA Child Development Center, Annandale, Virginia
鈥淲e鈥檙e at a time in history when we鈥檙e recognizing through independent, separate fields of study and thought that we鈥檙e talking about the same basic core concepts around early learning, including the primacy of shared, supportive, nurturing interactions and relationships as essential. Recognizing this 鈥榡umping together鈥� (what biologist E. O. Wilson called 鈥榗onsilience鈥�) offers a framework to collectively walk in the same direction towards meaningful positive change.鈥�
鈥�Dr. Dipesh Navsaria, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin鈥揗adison and medical director of Reach Out and Read Wisconsin
鈥淭he early educators who create the responsive, nurturing environments where young children learn and grow. These educators are essential for children, families and the broader economy. Yet they often do it all without access to the fair pay and robust professional supports they deserve and that educators in school districts receive.鈥�
鈥�Nonie Lesaux and Stephanie Jones, the Saul Zaentz Early Education Initiative
鈥淭he ingenuity, persistence, and love that early childhood educators and caregivers bring to their work every single day, and especially during the pandemic. May we finally begin to grant them the respect and rewards they deserve.鈥�
鈥�Gregg Behr, executive director of The Grable Foundation and co-author of When You Wonder, You鈥檙e Learning: Mister Rogers鈥� Enduring Lessons for Raising Creative, Curious, Caring Kids
This story originally published on Early Learning Nation and is now archived on 蜜桃影视. Learn more here.
Mark Swartz writes about efforts to improve early care and education as well as developments in the U.S. care economy. He lives in Maryland.
Articles by Art Hondros