Invisible Child: A Spotlight on Life in the Shadows
Dasani wakes up before dawn each day at a homeless shelter in Brooklyn, New York. After slipping out from under the covers, she goes to the window. On a clear day, she can see all...
“Education has always been in my blood,” Tameka Donaldson says. “When I was a little girl, there were times when I didn’t feel too well, and my mom wanted me to stay home from school. But I always insisted that ‘I’ve got to go to school. I’ve got to learn.'” And this sense of commitment carried her through an Ed.D. though her grandma was dying at the time. “I was very close to her,” Tameka recalls. “When my counsellor saw how I was grieving, she suggested I put my studies on hold. But I said that ‘my grandmother would have wanted me to go all the way,’ and I succeeded in getting my doctorate in educational leadership and management.”
Now she practices a special kind of leadership as director of the KinderCare Learning Center in Grove City, Ohio, where she’s worked for the past 15 years. She’s a servant leader whose goal is to help her staff develop by giving them a voice. “I always tell my teachers there is no ‘I’ in team,” she explains. “We are like a family, and I let them know how much I need their input. To me, a manager is a dictator, while a leader is someone who also follows. So, I let my teachers help me run the center and listen to their opinions. I give them full rein in their classrooms and make them the first point of contact with the children’s parents.” As a result, her center consistently gets the highest possible score in the Human Sigma 6 Gallup, a widely recognized measurement of leadership, business excellence and employee engagement.
Her center also receives high scores for parent satisfaction because her teachers have both the patience and the training they need. “I have a staff of 12 people,” she says, “and under my leadership, 10 have received their Child Development Associate® (CDA) credential. I always make it a big occasion when they earn their CDAs and encourage them to go on with their education. The CDA is a great beginning.” And it certainly was for Tameka, who earned her credential in 2003, shortly after getting her first job as a preschool teacher.
At the time, she had dropped out of college to stay home and take care of her children. “One day,” as she recalls, “I said, ‘I’m ready to do something with my life.’ So, I walked over to the Edwards Creative Learning Center, a day care that was across the street from my home. I filled out an application and they hired me as an assistant teacher. Within 3 months, they made me the lead teacher. And four years later, I became the center’s director.”
As she rose in her career, she kept advancing her education, but she has never forgotten how it felt to get that first credential. “When I earned my CDA, I was so excited. It gave me such pride and such a sense of achievement to know that I was a qualified teacher.” Now she also helps others make that start in their careers by serving as a PD Specialist for the Council.
“I wanted to become a PD Specialist,” she says, “so I could help other educators in improving their classroom environment and outcomes. I’ve done over 100 verification visits and most of the candidates have enjoyed me being there. Sure, a lot of them are nervous, but they calm down when I tell them ‘I’m not here to hurt you. I’m here to help you get your CDA.’ And when they do earn their credential, I give them my number and tell them to call me if they need advice. I always keep that door open.”
Her ears and heart are also open for the families and children she serves at KinderCare. “Most of the population we work with is economically challenged and many of the children come from single-parent homes. Many of the parents are really stressed because they have no help, so I’m never too busy to talk to them. Sometimes I feel like I’m a psychologist,” she says. And she doesn’t just listen to their problems; she gives them a lot of practical advice. “I point them toward community resources that can help them, whether it’s food or rent assistance,” she explains. And she also urges her staff to give families the ear they need. “I always tell my teachers that the most important part of our job is building relationships with families. Once they trust you and know you’re there for them, it makes your job much easier.”
Tameka puts her soul into her work because she’s firmly convinced that “no child should be left behind” and that “we, as teachers, build the foundation for our students’ future lives.” By partnering with families, she says, “we make sure that every child is excelling as much as they can before going on to grade school.”
Of course, Tameka’s staff still faces some roadblocks as they work with young learners who have behavioral issues. But Tameka won’t give up on a child until she has exhausted every possible resource. “I tell my teachers we don’t know what the children’s lives are like,” Tameka says. “We don’t know what they’re dealing with at home. We need to peel back those layers, the way we did when one child was acting up at 10 in the morning. It turned out that the child was simply hungry, but we had to get down and talk to him on his level to find out.”
There are more young children like him in the area Tameka serves, and a year ago their plight led her to set up a nonprofit, Bridging the Community Together for Success. “We provide meals, warm clothes, household items and anything else they need,” she explains. And this means a big personal investment. Most of the funding for the program comes out of Tameka’s own pocket and she cooks many of the meals she passes out.
While she’s waiting for grants, she’s glad that some of the families at KinderCare have chipped in. She also has some staff members who have made donations, and one teacher has joined her on regular weekly visits to the homeless. “We partner every Sunday to go to a prearranged space,” she says. “We feed the homeless and give them groceries and clothing. Then we have a little service for those who can’t get around and go to church.”
Tameka’s aid to the homeless and needy, like her work with young children and families, is part of her mission as a servant leader. “I feel like God blessed me tremendously,” she says. “I’m not rich, but I feel like I’m supposed to help others, not keep everything for myself. At KinderCare, I serve the children and their parents, along with my staff. And through my nonprofit, I serve the needs of the community at large.”
Despite all she’s already done she has a couple more things on her bucket list. “I’m in the process of writing two children’s books—one on bullying and the other on friendship—that will help children with their lives. I’d also like to do more to advocate for early childhood teachers because this field has a lot of quality people. They don’t get the wages they need to survive and the challenges they face break my heart. I’m ready to expand what I do for others even more because my sole purpose is to serve.”
Dasani wakes up before dawn each day at a homeless shelter in Brooklyn, New York. After slipping out from under the covers, she goes to the window. On a clear day, she can see all...
The CDA Advisory Committee was created to provide insights, perspectives, and best practices to the CDA community and other early childhood professionals. Established during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the members’ first-hand experiences...
Where can you connect with CDA® holders and the wide range of folks who serve them? Turn to the Council Alumni Network (CAN), an online community that brings together current and past CDA earners, CDA...
Professional development is absolutely critical to your success, as well as the success of all the children in your care. Not to mention in most states, you’re required to complete a minimum number of training...
This month marks my second year at the Council for Professional Recognition. When I first arrived at the Council, I was no stranger to the organization or its mission, as I had been involved with...
Schools are microcosms of the world beyond their walls. Factors like race, culture, class and gender set the stage for what takes place in our schools as learners from different groups interact. The conflicts that...
There is no denying the academic and emotional impact of the pandemic on children. News websites and TV newscasts are full of stories about the unknown long-term effects of the past two years on kids....
Finding informative and trusted early childhood educator resources online can be a challenge. That’s why the CDA® Advisory Committee met virtually to learn more about the nonprofit, The Source for Learning (SFL) and its ECE...
Each year I update my professional bio and pause at the part where it says, “Rachel Robertson has worked in the field for over X years”. Not because I can’t believe it or can’t remember,...
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.