Zuly believes that education can take you far in life. She’s now the national manager of Early Head Start professional learning programs and a doctoral student, despite coming from very humble roots. “I grew up in a low-income community in Venezuela, where many children didn’t go to school and spent their days on the street,” Zuly recalls. She might have been like them if she hadn’t been one of the few to get an education—and she realized how lucky she was. “As a child, I promised myself that I was going to do something for the children of the world,” she recalls, “and I have kept that promise over the years, mainly by working for Head Start and Early Head Start programs. I believe in the organization’s mission to fight poverty through education because I’m walking testimony that it works.”
And Zuly has advanced this mission in a wide range of roles for more than a decade. She worked for several years in the classroom, providing high-quality early learning to children from different cultures, ethnicities and traditions. She has gone on to specialize in training, mentoring, coaching and curriculum implementation. She has designed and taught early childhood education courses in English and Spanish at the college level, and she has provided technical assistance to family child care providers, parents and teachers at child care centers. She speaks out for these members of the early childhood community as a board member of the Florida Association for the Education of Young Children and as a senior advisor at Latinas United for the Children of America. In addition, she’s also a former Early Head Start and Head Start mom.
And all this experience, as she explains, has equipped her to speak out for her field on the national level. “I feel that having been a teacher and having a child in the Head Start program supported my growth as a professional in ECE,” she says. “It has helped me relate to all the teachers and moms out there and increased my ability to project a message: It’s important to invest in early childhood education, and that means investing in our teachers by increasing their skills,” which is Zuly’s long-term passion.
She has been interested in professional development and training since the early days of her career. “When I was a classroom teacher,” Zuly recalls, “I presented at local and state ECE conferences because I realized how important it is to provide chances for high-quality professional growth to the adults who take care of our youngest learners. And I fell in love with professional development as I moved up the career ladder. So, I became certified in training and coaching to better supervise teachers. I inspire them to be their best so they can help young children be their best,” Zuly says, “and it’s a goal that drives me each day.”
As she works to reach this goal, Zuly draws determination from people who inspired her in the past. “I have had amazing teachers who encouraged me and believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself,” she says. “And I have seen the power of mentoring and coaching many times in the course of my career.” And this type of support is especially needed as we face a teacher shortage, Zuly knows. “When people believe in themselves it’s more likely that they will advance and remain in the early childhood field.”
Early childhood educators also need the tools to succeed, and they can get them at the Academy, Head Start’s home for professional learning, where Zuly does much of her work. “I develop and design early childhood courses, including those for the Child Development Associate® (CDA) Credential™,” she says, “and all the classes we provide are available to the community at no cost. Our programs are in high demand among people who’d like to enter or advance in the early childhood workforce.” And that includes families, Zuly explains, because the Academy offers a special CDA® cohort for parents. “They enjoy the chance to come together as a group to give each other support, as well as get the training they need to enter a new field.”
At the same time, most of the people who earn a CDA through the Academy already work in the early childhood field in some way, Zuly says. “Some are teachers in Head Start or Early Head Start. Others are bus drivers, cooks or volunteers who would like to become qualified as teachers. And the CDA gives them the basic information and skills they need to go on and provide high-quality early learning experiences to help young children succeed.”
The CDA students also enjoy success, like one young woman named Jessica who sticks out in Zuly’s mind. “She was working part time as an aid in the classroom,” Zuly says, “and she was a single mom who was struggling with some personal issues. Yet she managed to earn her CDA, and afterward, she was promoted to lead teacher. Now she plans to earn her college degree and envisions being a center director one day.”
All educators deserve this opportunity to be their best, including the many Latinas with whom Zuly has a special bond. So, she has taken steps to provide educators with training and webinars in Spanish. She also works with Latina leaders to see how they can support the early childhood community, especially Spanish-speaking family child care providers. “Professional development is a big part of it,” she says, “so we want to make sure they can get the high-quality information they need.”
That includes access to CDA coursework, as Zuly explains. “The CDA has the advantage of combining theory with practice, and that makes it easier for teachers to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom. A lot of early childhood education programs don’t provide this type of practical information. And we reinforce the lessons that people get in their CDA coursework by showing videos that depict children in real-life classrooms. That also helps the CDA students to implement what they have learned right away.”
Programs like the CDA allow teachers to be their best for children, yet not enough people are taking advantage of them, Zuly says. “Professional development is taking a back seat now as early childhood settings contend with high teacher turnover. Administrators are focused on maintaining teacher to child ratios and ensuring that staff carry out daily tasks.” These are urgent needs, as Zuly admits. “Still, it’s also important to put the professional development of teachers at the forefront. Early childhood leaders need to take time to reflect and plan what their next steps should be in this challenging time.”
Zuly is doing her part as an advocate for the early childhood profession. “I meet with other early childhood leaders to find new ways to support the field,” she says. “I attend as many conferences as I can, and sometimes I even have the chance to meet with lawmakers and discuss the issues our educators face. I’m eager to talk to anyone with a stake in our field—whether teachers, administrators or families—about what we can do to provide the best possible services to children. And I think if we all work together, we can move the needle ahead.”
It’s challenging, Zuly admits, but she keeps her sense of resolve by thinking of the advice she gives to teachers when they feel overwhelmed. “Many of the educators I serve face challenges,” she says. “They don’t know English well. They have health issues, and they’re struggling to make a good life for their kids. I know it isn’t easy for them, so I tell them to simply focus on one thing at a time. If you’re passionate about something, don’t give up and your passion will take you far.”
Zuly’s own sense of passion for early childhood education has brought her to a position where she can speak out for the field on a national level. “I’m grateful for the opportunity,” she says, “and it comes with a huge responsibility that I have to carry out. So, I’m determined to keep being a voice for communities, families and teachers. I want to make sure I stay connected with them, learn about their needs and serve them in any way I can.”
Zuly is determined to keep moving the needle ahead for the teachers, families and children who she serves. As she pushes on, she draws inspiration from some words that have moved her over the years: “Do not wait for someone else to stand up for the children of the world. Be the person yourself”—stirring advice that comes from Caryl Stern, a former UNICEF CEO, as Zuly explains. “I read her words many years ago when I was a teacher, and they made me see that advocacy wasn’t just reserved for lawmakers. I realized I could also do something to help our children be their best. I could be a voice for the voiceless,” Zuly says. That’s one of the ways she’s keeping that promise she made long ago during her early years in Venezuela. Zuly is still working hard to help the children of the world.
Before a child even steps into a classroom or child care center, their first lessons in life occur within the walls of their home. During their formative years, from birth to age five, children undergo...
As Congress begins negotiating the next round of appropriations to ensure the government is funded for the upcoming fiscal year, it’s important that we work together as child care advocates to amplify our collective voice....
You might have heard the buzz that Congress just passed a new bill funding the government that includes big wins for child care. But are you familiar with the legislative processes that got us here?...
Congress just passed a new bill funding the government that includes big wins for child care. Here’s what was included: According to CNN, the Child Care and Development Block Grant, or CCDBG, will see an...
Happy Year of the Dragon, educators and parents! Now that festivities have begun, this is a wonderful opportunity to introduce young children to the rich traditions and customs associated with the Chinese New Year. Explore...
SPONSORED BLOG The task of sitting down and writing out all of your early childhood education career goals can feel daunting. Where should you start? How far in the future should you plan? And, once...
Shinichi Suzuki believed that “all children have the ability at birth to become persons of high ability,” and held a “Grand Concert” to convince the world it was true. On a sunny day in 1955,...
To our followers – We want to bring your attention to an important matter regarding communication from the Council for Professional Recognition. Recently, a Facebook account impersonating the Council for Professional Recognition responded to people...
SPONSORED BLOG Whether you’re embarking on professional development (PD) to meet state requirements, or you want to invest in your own growth, PD has a number of benefits. First, it helps ensure you’re keeping up...
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.
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.
