Dr. Shannon Bracamonte: Putting Humanity First

How do you produce positive change as a leader in the early learning field? For Shannon, the answer begins with self-awareness and connection. “You need to be aware of who you are and how you show up in the world,” she says. “You inspire others when you interact with kindness, show respect and share perspectives. Even if you disagree, having conversations builds connections.”

That philosophy has shaped Shannon’s roles as Program Operations Director at the University of New Mexico Early Childhood Services Center and as Secretary of the Governing Board at the Council for Professional Recognition. Over the past three years, she has worked beside fellow leaders to expand opportunities for early childhood educators pursuing the Child Development Associate® (CDA) Credential™. At the center of Shannon’s leadership approach is the belief that growth happens through relationships, reflection and lifelong learning.

A Lifelong Commitment to Learning

Shannon’s passion for education began long before her professional career. “I was very inquisitive as a child,” she recalls. “My parents inspired me by encouraging me to write about my experiences whenever we took family trips.” Those early writing exercises taught her an important lesson: experiences create knowledge that can be shared to help others grow. “I want everyone to know the wonder of pushing yourself, so you continue to learn and grow,” Shannon says. “The benefits you receive create ripples that benefit the people around you as well.”

That mindset became the foundation of both her personal and professional journey. After marrying shortly after high school and starting a family at an early age, Shannon’s focus shifted toward understanding child development through the lens of motherhood. “As a mom, I began to focus on the development of my children,” she says. “They became the center of everything I’ve studied and strived for over the past 27 years.” And as Shannon’s two sons grew up, she pursued higher education while balancing family responsibilities. She earned a bachelor’s degree in family and child consumer sciences, followed by a master’s degree in early childhood and special education, and later a doctorate in philosophy of education with an emphasis on early childhood education.

Building a Career Through Connection

Shannon’s professional journey reflects a deep commitment to children, families and the early childhood workforce, as well as an ability to grow and adapt throughout her career. She began in a pre-K classroom before transitioning into early intervention services, where she supported children and families one-on-one in their homes. She later served as a child care licensing specialist for the state of New Mexico and as a coach for pre-K teachers, helping educators strengthen their classroom practices and leadership skills.

These experiences paved the way for Shannon’s transition into statewide leadership roles in early childhood education. Eight years ago, she stepped into her current role as Program Operations Director, where she now leads the planning, development and implementation of statewide coaching and consultation services for early learning providers.

Despite the range of positions she has held, Shannon believes one principle has remained constant throughout her career: the importance of human connections. “I had to build a connection with whoever I was working with,” she explains. “It didn’t matter whether I was in the classroom, interacting with families in their homes or managing a large-scale program. The human factor always matters.”

Today, Shannon and a colleague support a statewide team of 80 education consultants who serve approximately 650 programs participating in New Mexico’s FOCUS quality rating and improvement system. These consultants provide on-site coaching, training and verification services designed to strengthen early childhood education programs across the state with Shannon’s guidance.

Although much of her work involves leadership at a systems level, Shannon remains deeply connected to the field itself. In addition to overseeing statewide initiatives, she provides coaching and assessment support for both her team and early care and education programs, ensuring educators receive meaningful guidance and support directly connected to classroom practice.

Inspiring Innovation in the Classroom

One of the most rewarding aspects of Shannon’s work is witnessing educators as they step into leadership roles of their own. She recalls a memorable experience with an assistant educator named Zoe, who transformed children’s natural curiosity about art into a meaningful sensory learning experience. “Zoe realized the children wanted to roll in paint and wanted to create that experience for them in the classroom,” Shannon recalls.

After collaborating with the lead teacher, Zoe covered the classroom in butcher paper, encouraged children to wear old T-shirts and invited them to dance, splash and explore paint freely. The activity became more than creative play—it evolved into an exploration of abstract art and the creative process. Zoe later expanded the experience by creating an immersive sensory station filled with shredded paper. “Watching Zoe engage children in these innovative ways made a real impact on me,” Shannon says. Moments like these reinforce her belief that empowering educators leads to better outcomes for children and families.

Expanding Access and Equity Through the CDA®

As a leader in New Mexico, Shannon is especially keen on expanding educational access for the state’s diverse and multilingual workforce. “I think all educators want to further their careers but sometimes find it challenging to do so,” she says. For many monolingual Spanish-speaking educators, pursuing higher education can feel intimidating or inaccessible. Shannon believes the CDA credential helps remove those barriers by offering flexible, multilingual pathways for professional growth.

One of her most significant accomplishments has been helping reestablish recognition of the CDA within New Mexico’s FOCUS quality rating and improvement system. “For some years before, the state had made a big push for educators to earn associate or bachelor’s degrees,” Shannon explains. “But many educators who weren’t native English speakers lacked the confidence to pursue higher education.”

Reintroducing the CDA into the state system created a more accessible pathway for educators to advance professionally while continuing to serve children and families. The change also opened the door for state-funded CDA scholarships. “Educators can now get their CDA for free,” Shannon says. “They can complete it at their own pace and in their preferred language.”

For Shannon, the achievement represents more than progress in policy on early learning. It also reflects the power of collaboration and relationship building. “I worked with Council CEO Dr. Calvin Moore and fellow board members as we held discussions with state leaders about the value of the CDA,” she says. “We presented fact sheets and data showing how the CDA would benefit the diverse educators and children in the state.”

Meeting the Challenges of a Growing Field

The expansion of universal pre-K in New Mexico has created new opportunities—and new demands—for early childhood programs across the state. “Building the workforce to support many more children can be daunting,” Shannon admits. Still, she views the challenge as an opportunity to strengthen the profession and support the next generation of educators.

Her own life experiences have prepared her well for the task. “I think a lot of people discounted me at the start of my career because I was such a young mom,” she reflects. “But I managed to build a family and raise two boys, who are now fine young men, while advancing my education and moving up the ranks in the early learning field.” Now, Shannon explains that her greatest focus is helping others achieve their own goals.

Leadership Rooted in Humanity

For the coaches and educators Shannon leads, she hopes to model a form of leadership grounded in confidence, empathy and connection. “I want my consultants to see themselves as competent, confident leaders who can make connections with educators and inspire them to be leaders, themselves,” she says. “The teachers, in turn, will build connections in the classroom with the children and families they serve.” That ripple effect, she explains, reaches children and families in powerful ways that lead to positive outcomes.

At a time when the early leaning field struggles to grow quickly to meet rising demand, Shannon believes the solution begins with something deeply human: relationships. “We have to break down the barriers between educators, consultants and early childhood leaders, so we’re all learning and achieving together,” she says. “The early childhood education field needs to put humanity first and acknowledge how much relationships truly matter.” That’s why leadership for Shannon is not about authority or titles. It is about showing up with kindness, listening with respect and creating opportunities for others to grow, as she’s convinced. “That’s how you launch ripples of change that can benefit us all.”