Help is on the Way
We’ve seen the signs of renewed respect for our early childhood teachers in recent weeks. Late last month, Virginia First Lady Pamela Northam paid a visit to a vaccination clinic in Manassas Park to hail our field for its heroic efforts. “Early childhood educators,” she said, “have truly been unsung heroes throughout this pandemic, allowing other frontline workers to remain on the job.”
Virginia’s early childhood educators were among those deemed essential workers in April of 2020, and the state has also acknowledged their value by making them part of Phase 1b, a high-priority group in Virginia’s COVID-19 vaccination plan. The only hitch was many early childhood teachers in the state didn’t realize they were eligible for the vaccine so soon.
A similar issue arose in Los Angeles County, California, where child care workers were able to sign up for the vaccine starting March 1. So, the county put a new vaccination plan in place to keep teachers in the loop and make it easier for them to get the shot. “Child care workers will have a dedicated vaccination site opened for them at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, along with specific early child care and education days at the LA County large-capacity vaccination sites,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, the county public health director, when she announced the plan.
It was news that ended a year of worry for Jeannette Romero, executive director of Pasadena Day Nursery for Child Development. “I’m actually really excited,” she enthused. “You get my true reaction because I had not heard that!”
Now early childhood workers nationwide can share Romero’s sense of relief. President Joe Biden has told states that haven’t yet prioritized child care workers for the vaccine to do so right away. And his directive was concrete recognition of the vital role our early childhood teachers play. “We know that child care programs and early childhood education are essential to healthy childhood development,” said CDC Director Rochelle Walensky at a White House press briefing. “The services these programs offer are important for working parents and provide a safe, stable and nurturing environment for kids to get them ready for school and develop critical social and emotional skills.”
These flattering words come with a big financial investment since the American Rescue Plan Act, signed into law on the 11th of this month, will give some much-needed relief to the early childhood field. The plan will provide $150 billion to the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, along with $39 billion to make child care more affordable and help programs stay open despite low enrollment. In addition, the plan will provide $1 billion to Head Start programs, which play such a critical role in building equity as they give care and education to our nation’s most vulnerable children.
This infusion of funds has inspired applause from leaders in the early childhood field. “The American Rescue Plan is a critical lifeline to save child care, an essential service for families and young children,” said Chad Dunkley, CEO of new Horizon Academy and Kinderberry Hill Child Development Centers. “This legislation is another indication of how essential the child care sector is to a healthy economy,” said Mark Bierley, CEO of the Learning Group. “The American Rescue Plan recognizes the importance of child care and is a much-needed leg-up for America’s families who need support more than ever,” said Tom Wyatt, CEO of KinderCare Education.
And I add my own voice to this chorus of praise for the new plan. It will help our ECE providers recover after their struggles of the past year. It’s also a chance to boost pay for the committed members of the early childhood workforce, who are primarily women of color and often poorly paid. Many of these ECE professionals are CDA holders credentialed by the Council, and their concerns are also ours. We are all committed to stabilizing the early childhood sector, and this funding will be an important part of that effort. The American Rescue Plan Act will renew our field at a time when we need it most. Help is on the way.
A couple of years before becoming a mother, I saw the classic movie Terms of Endearment. Before the opening credits, the film portrayed Aurora, played by Shirley MacLaine, as a worried mom who checked on...
“Every child deserves a champion,” said longtime teacher Rita Pierson in a famous TED talk. She was talking about “an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and...
As Women’s History Month comes to a close, I wanted to share how it is important for us all to reflect on women’s progress in the business world and the importance of supporting and empowering...
My mom called me up some years ago to praise a movie about a pig. As she began to mimic the pig’s squeaky little voice, I started to wonder what this meant and worried my...
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...
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.
Read our monthly e-newsletter and keep up to date on all Council programs and services, as well as the latest news in the world of early care and education. Subscribe today to stay connected with us. You’ll receive timely information on events, webinars, special promotions, and more.
