Boosting Brains by Building a Parent Nation
It takes a village to raise a child, the old proverb tells us. But we need to expand our perspective, according to pediatric surgeon, social scientist and mom Dana Suskind. In her heartfelt work, Parent...
Aaron “Buddy” Rhodes comes from a family of educators. He grew up with positive male educator role models in his life, such as his grandfather and uncle. He first discovered his passion for teaching while he was in high school, when he would occasionally help his mother in her first-grade classroom. As he became older, he knew he enjoyed being around children and helping them grow, but he was not sure how to pursue his passion for teaching young children, since preschool education did not seem to be an option for men.
Buddy headed to college with plans to achieve a physical education degree. Life, varied interests, and new job opportunities altered his plans, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that his studies and work did not inspire him in the same way that he remembered early education had. About 10 years later, remembering his experiences in his mother’s classroom and the encouragement he received from positive male role models in his life, Buddy finally sought out the opportunity to work as a floater in a few preschool classrooms. Not long after he began, he realized that this—early childhood education — was what he was meant to do all along. Working with young children, families and fellow teachers ignited his passion for child development. Within only six months, Buddy began to work on his Child Development Associate® (CDA) credential. After earning his CDA® , Buddy enrolled at Liberty University, where he earned a degree in Early Childhood Education. Currently, Buddy is the Educational Site Manager for The Campagna Center’s Head Start program in Alexandria, VA.
Buddy says he hasn’t “worked a day in the past 12 years” because he loves how he spends his days. However, he is concerned about the lack of men in early childhood education. Within his education team of 75 people, Buddy is the only male educator.
As we celebrate the men in our life this Father’s Day, it is essential to reflect on the important role men play in the lives of young children. Buddy knows firsthand how important supportive men are in a child’s life. While working at the Head Start program, he’s come to learn that some of his students live in homes without fathers. For many children in his program, Buddy might be their first male role model.
Buddy recognizes that societal factors can unfortunately push men out of the field and even prohibit men from considering early education altogether. For Buddy, earning his CDA ® provided him with a foundation for how to best work with children. To all men who are considering early education, Buddy encourages these men to find a mentor (male or female) and to learn all that you can from this mentorship. Buddy was lucky to have family members to help him through his journey but has also encountered many motivating leaders along the way.
Buddy often reflects on the inspiration he received from his grandfather. The best advice he ever received was from his grandfather who told him at the end of the day, it is not about how much money you have in your pocket but enjoying what you do and taking care of your family. Buddy feels lucky to have found his passion and has a lot of pride in having spent more than a decade helping to shape children’s lives.
It takes a village to raise a child, the old proverb tells us. But we need to expand our perspective, according to pediatric surgeon, social scientist and mom Dana Suskind. In her heartfelt work, Parent...
Dr. Calvin Moore shared that when he first arrived at the Council and took on the CEO role, he was focused on assessing the early childhood education (ECE) landscape, the reach of the organization and...
We have probably all seen the commercials this time of year when you can hear the popular holiday song, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”, playing in the background as parents dance joyously...
Did you know early childhood educators in Maryland have a special benefit that can help them and the children they serve? The Maryland State Department of Education has awarded a $1 million grant to the...
For the first time in three years, the Education Writers Association (EWA) gathered in person for their National Seminar in Orlando last month. The event drew journalists from across the country to hear from leaders...
In April 2022, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) issued new guidance and an Information Memoranda (IM) announcing the long-awaited, family-friendly policy of permitting families and guardians to use proof of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program...
Dasani wakes up before dawn each day at a homeless shelter in Brooklyn, New York. After slipping out from under the covers, she goes to the window. On a clear day, she can see all...
The CDA Advisory Committee was created to provide insights, perspectives, and best practices to the CDA community and other early childhood professionals. Established during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the members’ first-hand experiences...
Where can you connect with CDA® holders and the wide range of folks who serve them? Turn to the Council Alumni Network (CAN), an online community that brings together current and past CDA earners, CDA...
Chief Operations Officer
Andrew Davis serves as Chief Operating Officer at the Council. In this role, Andrew oversees the Programs Division, which includes the following operational functions: credentialing, growth and business development, marketing and communications, public policy and advocacy, research, innovation, and customer relations.
Andrew has over 20 years of experience in the early care and education field. Most recently, Andrew served as Senior Vice President of Partnership and Engagement with Acelero Learning and Shine Early Learning, where he led the expansion of state and community-based partnerships to produce more equitable systems of service delivery, improved programmatic quality, and greater outcomes for communities, children and families. Prior to that, he served as Director of Early Learning at Follett School Solutions.
Andrew earned his MBA from the University of Baltimore and Towson University and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland – University College.
Chief Financial Officer
Jan Bigelow serves as Chief Financial Officer at the Council and has been with the organization since February of 2022.
Jan has more than 30 years in accounting and finance experience, including public accounting, for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. She has held management-level positions with BDO Seidman, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Pew Center for Global Climate Change, Communities In Schools, B’nai B’rith Youth Organization and American Humane. Since 2003, Jan has worked exclusively in the non-profit sector where she has been a passionate advocate in improving business operations in order to further the mission of her employers.
Jan holds a CPA from the State of Virginia and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lycoming College. She resides in Alexandria VA with her husband and dog.
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