Dear Colleagues,
“You should never view your challenges as a disadvantage,” said former First Lady Michelle Obama. “Instead, it’s important for you to understand that your experience facing and overcoming adversity is actually one of your biggest advantages”—words that sum it all up for our field this year. The increased stress of teaching during COVID tested our sense of commitment as the pandemic lingered on. Yet many of us came through by taking more safety measures as in-person learning resumed—and became heroes in the process. Child care is now a hot topic as news outlets point out how crucial it is to the economy and working families.
That’s good cause to rejoice as we start the holiday season this year. We all observe the occasion in different ways. And many indigenous people mark the winter solstice, the year’s shortest day, with dances, games and community events that honor nature. It’s important to keep such traditions alive, according to Puhala Kamalamalama, a Native Hawaiian educator we profile this month. Learn how she helps native children feel proud of their past and value who they are so they can go on to have productive lives. Then turn to our story on Gina Pope, an Alaskan Native who serves as a developmental specialist, PD Specialist and member of our CDA Advisory Committee. Gina ventures where few would dare go as she travels by snowmobile, small plane and boat to assess educators and support children in the remote reaches of rural Alaska.
Educators also made their own trips from places countrywide to be at the Council’s Early Educators Leadership Conference this fall. It was a time for “Resilience, Renewal and Reform,” the theme of our recent yearly meeting. Attendees gained tips and tools to improve their practice in the classroom. They also recommitted to equity in education while hearing from our inspiring speakers. Get a taste of what took place while listening to Stephen Zwolak explain how to embed equity, diversity and inclusion in our early childhood programs and Dr. Marquita Davis describe ways to ensure every child has access to quality early learning.
A big step toward the goal of pre-K for all would be the passage of the Build Back Better Act, now before the U.S. Senate. It’s an opportunity that comes with obstacles since this bold plan demands 40,000 more early childhood teachers at a time when their ranks are thin. So, how can we find so many more of the qualified teachers we’ll require? Dr. Calvin E. Moore’s blog offers answers that include lending support to high school CDA programs, as Sandy Spavone has done, and steering more college students toward a field that needs their presence and perspectives.
Our profession also needs your insights on ways to serve young children better. Learn how to speak out for them by reading our new white paper on advocacy in ECE. Lawmakers, as you’ll see, are now more open to our pleas because gaps in child care have led to a dramatic drop in women’s employment. There’s also more commitment to our cause in the White House, where the champions of ECE include current First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. She’s convinced “the responsibility for educating a young person is a responsibility that belongs to all.” And that’s a message we must keep putting across to the public. So, turn the adversities you’ve braved to your advantage at this momentous time. As educators, you are the best advocates for the children and families you serve.
Looking forward to serving you next year,
The Council for Professional Recognition
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Chief Operations Officer (COO)
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 (CFO)
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.
Vice President of People and Culture
Janie Payne is the Vice President of People and Culture for the Council for Professional Recognition. Janie is responsible for envisioning, developing, and executing initiatives that strategically manage talent and culture to align people strategies with the overarching business vision of the Council. Janie is responsible for driving organizational excellence through strategic talent practices, orchestrating workforce planning, talent acquisition, performance management as well as a myriad of other Human Resources Programs. She is accountable for driving effectiveness by shaping organizational structure for optimal efficiency. Janie oversees strategies that foster a healthy culture to include embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion into all aspects of the organization.
In Janie’s prior role, she was the Vice President of Administration at Equal Justice Works, where she was responsible for leading human resources, financial operations, facilities management, and information technology. She was also accountable for developing and implementing Equal Justice Works Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategy focused on attracting diverse, mission-oriented talent and creating an inclusive and equitable workplace environment. With more than fifteen years of private, federal, and not-for-profit experience, Janie is known for her intuitive skill in administration management, human resources management, designing and leading complex system change, diversity and inclusion, and social justice reform efforts.
Before joining Equal Justice Works, Janie was the Vice President of Human Resources and Chief Diversity Officer for Global Communities, where she was responsible for the design, implementation, and management of integrated HR and diversity strategies. Her work impacted employees in over twenty-two countries. She was responsible for the effective management of different cultural, legal, regulatory, and economic systems for both domestic and international employees. Prior to Global Communities, Janie enjoyed a ten-year career with the federal government. As a member of the Senior Executive Service, she held key strategic human resources positions with multiple cabinet-level agencies and served as an advisor and senior coach to leaders across the federal sector. In these roles, she received recognition from management, industry publications, peers, and staff for driving the creation and execution of programs that created an engaged and productive workforce.
Janie began her career with Verizon Communications (formerly Bell Atlantic), where she held numerous roles of increasing responsibility, where she directed a diversity program that resulted in significant improvement in diversity profile measures. Janie was also a faculty member for the company’s Black Managers Workshop, a training program designed to provide managers of color with the skills needed to overcome barriers to their success that were encountered because of race. She initiated a company-wide effort to establish team-based systems and structures to impact corporate bottom line results which was recognized by the Department of Labor. Janie was one of the first African American women to be featured on the cover of Human Resources Executive magazine.
Janie received her M.A. in Organization Development from American University. She holds numerous professional development certificates in Human Capital Management and Change Management, including a Diversity and Inclusion in Human Resources certificate from Cornell University. She completed the year-long Maryland Equity and Inclusion Leadership Program sponsored by The Schaefer Center for Public Policy and The Maryland Commission on Civil Rights. She is a trained mediator and Certified Professional Coach. She is a graduate of Leadership America, former board chair of the NTL Institute and currently co-steward of the organization’s social justice community of practice, and a member of The Society for Human Resource Management. Additionally, Janie is the Board Chairperson for the Special Education Citizens Advisory Council for Prince Georges County where she is active in developing partnerships that facilitate discussion between parents, families, educators, community leaders, and the PG County school administration to enhance services for students with disabilities which is her passion. She and her husband Randolph reside in Fort Washington Maryland.
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