Word Cloud Early Childhood Profession
1. What are the major challenges you face in our profession right now? 2. What will it take for you to thrive over the next decade? 3. Would you encourage a...
Dear Colleagues,
“I have a dream,” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character”—words that stirred a massive crowd when Dr. King pronounced them at the March on Washington in 1963. And Dr. King’s dream still had the power to move us all as we marked his birthday this month. They should also encourage our teachers to keep striving for equity in early learning, a core value here at the Council.
We’re determined to reach it, though our field is facing roadblocks at this time. The hot debate over vaccine mandates has made its way into schools. And it’s not a new issue, as we point out in our blog, Should Teachers Talk About COVID? Teachers have long been in a tricky place as they try to honor both the wisdom of science and the wishes of vaccine-resistant parents. This conflict adds to the stress they now feel from the problems brought on by the pandemic. Loss of loved ones, isolation, and changes in routine have led to a mental health crisis among our kids, and it’s raised alarms nationwide. But our children aren’t the only ones who’ve suffered losses. Our early childhood teachers also have fears and concerns that make it harder for them to help the children heal. So, we must mind our teachers’ mental health, as Dr. Calvin Moore points out.
Dr. Moore also urged our field to reckon more with race in what was among the most popular EdSurge podcasts of 2021. “The U.S. is now focusing more on issues of bias,” he says, “so the ECE profession should seize the moment by stepping up its efforts to nix prejudice early on.”
And this month we profile a few of the folks who’ve gotten the message. Read about Mimi and Hwaida Hassanein, the owners of Kids Villa, where children from all cultures feel loved. Hwaida also has a training center, where she guides people worldwide in getting their CDA®. The credential has opened doors for the diverse teachers she serves. And the CDA has made a difference for Janna Rodriguez, a family child care provider who gives children of color the confidence they need. Janna just earned her CDA and she, too, has more confidence now as a teacher. She also has big plans for the future and hopes to start her own child care center soon.
Janna recently made the news as an advocate for the early childhood field. And advocacy is also on our minds—more and more in these trying days. So, we recently welcomed a new director of public policy to our ranks. A CDA holder, former preschool teacher and attorney, Brionnea Williams-McClary knows the value of the credential as a strong step toward success.
You’ll learn more ways to get ahead when we explore Leading Career Pathways to Equity at our Early Educators Leadership Conference this fall. Check out what’s ahead at the EELC Corner. And don’t forget to join our Virtual Advocacy Day during the week of March 28, 2022. Save the date to tell Congress that having more CDA-credentialed teachers will help more young children receive the early learning they need—now and in the future. Sure, we’ve been making our case for some time, but we shall overcome the obstacles we face. “The arc of the moral universe is long,” as Dr. King knew, “but it bends towards justice.” Together, we can fulfill our dream of equity in education.
With our warmest regards, now and in the future,
The Council for Professional Recognition
1. What are the major challenges you face in our profession right now? 2. What will it take for you to thrive over the next decade? 3. Would you encourage a...
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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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