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 and innovators in education. This event is known as the nation’s largest and most influential gathering of education journalists, leaders, experts and communicators,
Highlights from this year’s seminar included Ms. Joyce Abbott, the namesake for the ABC sitcom “Abbott Elementary,” who was interviewed by The New York Times reporter Erica Green. During the Q&A session, Abbott discussed her career as an educator in Philadelphia and the current landscape for public education.
The seminar marked EWA’s 75th anniversary and examined the pandemic’s effects on learning at all levels.
The pandemic took a toll on the childcare workforce and the industry, with nearly 16,000 childcare centers and licensed family childcare programs closing permanently between December 2019 and March 2021 (Child Care Aware of America).
EWA featured a session that focused on “Rising to the Childcare Challenge.” The panel included:
The session was a primer on childcare and early education and the challenges the sector continues to face. Including facts such as:
Some states are looking to incentivize educators with one-time bonuses, as implemented in Washington, D.C. and Alabama. While others, like New Mexico, are taking steps to make significant changes to how early education is addressed in the state. In November, New Mexicans will vote on a ballot measure that would change the state constitution to enshrine a right to education not just for grades K-12 but for children ages zero to five as well. This would make New Mexico the first state in the country with a right to education for young children.
The panel encouraged the journalists to continue to cover this topic from different angles in order to help the public understand the severity of this issue.
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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...
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.
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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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